Southern Exposure

Fall leaves should reach their peak in the southern counties of Pennsylvania this weekend. Sugar maple, some red maples, sycamore, sassafras and white ash are trending toward orange. Individual tuliptrees are half green and half bright yellow. Cllusters of aspen are yellow, too. Other red maples and black gums are showing shades of red. Some oaks are showing dry brown leaves and other trees have dropped their leaves due to extremely dry soils. For more details on destinations, live foilage cams and more, go to fallinpa.com.

One suggestion is to check out the Sideling Hill Creek area in Bedford and Fulton counties. Sideling Hill Creek begins on mountain slopes in southcentral Pennsylvania, then meanders through narrow agricultural valleys and below steep parallel ridges of Pennsylvania and Maryland before joining the Potomac River, 80 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Biologists consider Sideling Hill Creek an outstanding natural resource, rich in rare plants and animals, and containing diverse habitats.

Throughout its 25-mile serpentine course, Sideling Hill Creek presents constantly changing habitat mosaics. Every bend reveals distinct environments that support different forms of life. At many points along the creek, undercutting by the stream over thousands of years has exposed unique shale outcrops, sustaining plant species uncommon to western Pennsylvania. Sideling Hill Creek is one of the healthiest streams in central Appalachia. Relatively free of pollution and development, the watershed and stream support several species of special concern.

DIRECTIONS:
From Pittsburgh, follow the Pa. Turnpike to exit 11 (Bedford). After exiting the toll area, go south on Business 220. Go a short distance, then left again onto Rt. 220/30 toward Cumberland and go 2.0 miles to an interchange with U.S. Rt. 30. Take U.S. Rt. 30 east toward Everett, Pa. At the Everett exit, take Business Rt. 30. In a short distance, watch for Rt. 26 south, which is the second traffic light in the town of Everett. At the second light, make a right hand turn and follow Rt. 26 south toward Clearville, Pa. Be careful in Clearville where Rt. 26 bears to the right. Continue straight on the hard surface road for 0.6 mile to a "Y" and bear right toward Purcell. Just after the "Y" you will have entered the upper watershed of Sideling Hill Creek. (The remainder of the directions are incorporated in the text. )

We offer a more detailed information guide on the Sideling HIll Creek Area Drive/Walk.

Take a guided, autumn hike with WPC science types through the Laurel Ridge on Saturday, October 22, 2005.

For related information on the Sideling Hill Creek Watershed, go to the Upstream/Downstream video on our website.

Today's photo, from WPC's archives, is an autumn pasture scene in the Sideling Hill Creek area.

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