Review of Trough Creek State Park and Shawnee State Park in Pennsylvania

 

Balanced Rock, Trough Creek State Park, PA

Our travels took us to Claysburg, PA in the month of April, 2021.  During our one month stay there, we found two of the most beautiful and serene places we’ve encountered anywhere.

It is our pleasure to introduce the Trough Creek State Park and Shawnee State Park, which are both around an hour drive from the town of Claysburg.

Trough Creek State Park is located in the town of James Creek, PA.  It is a scenic gorge formed as Great Trough Creek cuts through Terrace Mountain, eventually emptying into the Raystown Lake.

The park borders the Rothrock State Forest and the Raystown Lake, making the Trough Creek State Park an excellent area to enjoy nature.  Park features scenic views, picnic areas, hiking, and the creek.

Our drive to the Trough Creek State Park started at around 9 a.m.  We packed drinks, lunch, and Toby’s (our Pomeranian) food and headed out for some adventure!

Once we left the town of Claysburg, the roads opened up nicely, revealing gorgeous springtime flowers and blooming trees in the distance. 

We drove onward through small farming communities, passing beautiful farm houses, animals of all types, and beautiful vistas.  The roads were well maintained and curvy, adding to my excitement!

As we cleared the farms and the hilly terrain, the hills eventually became tall mountains.  The climb up the mountains almost reminded us of our trip to Austrian Alps years ago.  Although not as tall as the Alps, the mountains we were climbing still made the drive memorable.

The climb up the mountains was rewarded by the descent down the mountains once we crested the ridge.  We could see miles out into the distance, realizing the elevation gain in our climb up the mountains!

The scenery below us were mesmerizing.  The blooming colors of all kinds were like a Monet’s impressionist painting.  We were blown away by the natural beauty of the area…

Once we had made the descent to the bottom of the valley, we drove through more country roads.  We stopped by at the Raystown Lake area for few minutes to take in the scenery.  It was beautiful!

Raystown Lake 
Another photo!

We arrived at the Trough Creek State Park after another 10 minutes or so.  We found a sign to turn left at the entrance of the park for the main attractions of the park, the Balanced Rock and the Rainbow Falls, then followed suit.

We drove into the park with the creek on our right.  Because it had rained previously, the water looked brown and murky.  We enjoyed the view of the creek to the right, and the mountains surrounding the creek, and made our way further.

We saw a small parking area near the Balanced Rock and Rainbow Falls, then we parked.

We were greeted by the sign for the suspension bridge, which is the way to get to both attractions at the park.

The suspension bridge!
Sign for the suspension bridge and the two main attractions 

I was having the time of my life crossing the suspension bridge!  My wife on the other hand, did not want to cross the bridge.  She was mortified at the murky waters that were raging thanks to previous day’s rain.

Toby, like a good pack member that he is, kept up after me and tried to follow me, even though his mommy couldn’t.  While I was crossing the bridge, I excitedly told my wife that the bridge looked like the one featured in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”  

I prodded my wife and encouraged her to make the crossing!  I promised her it was no big deal!  She eventually came around.

She crossed the bridge ok.  Toby, was kind of stuck between myself on the other side of the creek and his mommy, so I picked him up and brought him over.  We all made it!

We took the sometimes narrow trail next to the creek all the way up to the Rainbow Falls.  

Rainbow Falls 
View of the creek from across the bridge 
Toby at the Rainbow Falls 
Toby enjoying the view of the falls!

We stayed at the Rainbow Falls area, enjoying the view and listening to the serene sound of the falls.  Toby was certainly very excited to be exploring this park.  He kept up just fine, then relaxed by the falls.

After few minutes of rest and recuperation, we headed up the trail towards the Balanced Rock.  We had made it after few more minutes of hiking.

Another photo of Balanced Rock 

We took a moment to enjoy the view of this majestic rock, and to take a breather.  We hadn’t realized how high we were when we were walking up, but we must’ve climbed about 6 stories or so.

After several minutes of marveling at the beautiful scenery, we headed back the same way.  On our way back home, we reminisced about our adventure.  I gently ribbed my wife for our episode at the suspension bridge!  We will always be talking about that trip!

After taking a few days off, we headed off to another adventure on a beautiful Sunday morning.

This time, we chose Shawnee State Park in the town of Schellsburg, PA.  Shawnee State Park encompasses close to 4,000 acres of Pennsylvania’s scenic Ridge and Valley Province.

It is a popular spot for fishing, picnicking, hiking, biking, swimming, and boating.  On that Sunday morning, we arrived to find a very peaceful park already being enjoyed by avid fishermen.

View of the fishing pier at Shawnee State Park 

We looked around the park and we were lulled into a trance like state to see the serene surroundings before us.  The mountains on all sides, the lake, and all the different colors did their part!  The sky was blue, the water was a mirror like image, the grass was green, and other plants were just starting to bloom…It was an absolutely perfect sight to behold…

We continued on toward the Shawnee Lake and the beach area.  We were again mesmerized by the unfolding scenery before our eyes.  We saw a family fishing by the lake, we saw a couple taking down their bikes to ride, and we saw others just enjoying a lazy walk around the lake.  Perfect spring day couldn’t be scripted any better!

The mirror like reflection!
Shawnee Lake
Another view of the lake

We walked around the beach area and the lake area with Toby.  The weather on that Sunday was around 68 degrees.  Like I said, it was a perfect spring day!

We stopped to take in the scenery yet again for just a few more minutes.  Toby got his usual treats and he was certainly happy to be out on another adventure.  We all viewed the beautiful blooming plants for just a few additional moments, then we started to head back.

Our drive back once again utilized my favorite highway in central Pennsylvania, the I-99.  We had a blast looking at ever changing scenery at every bend.  Spring time is an absolutely magical time to be viewing the blooming and blossoming plants.  We were so grateful we could enjoy that scenery!

Completely satisfied at our adventure, we came home to our AirBNB in Claysburg.  We both talked about how beautiful, serene, and idyllic that park was.  We told each other that we would go back next time we’re back in Claysburg area…

We hope you get to enjoy one or both of these awesome parks if you’re ever in central Pennsylvania!  We certainly did!

Thank you all for reading!


Jake

Wandering Money Pig 


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