Origin of the Laurel Mountains
Ancient coastal sediments of sandstibem siltstone, and shale form the rock types of the Laurel Mountains which are located east of Pittsburgh. Pictured above are the Laurel and Chestnut Ridges surrounding the Youghiogheny River.
Some
of the earliest work of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy ties to this
region reaching back to the early 1950’s when WPC worked with Edgar
Kaufmann to protect Ferncliff Peninsula, the first acquisition in the
creation of Ohiopyle State
Park and the first step towards the protection of the unique Youghiogheny
River gorge. It was a few years later that Edgar Kaufmann jr. (sic)
entrusted WPC with Fallingwater.
The Bear Run Nature Reserve, which
surrounds Fallingwater, is our largest natural area (over 5,000 acres),
and probably our most frequently visited with over 20 miles of hiking
trails.
Situated in the northern part of the project area between Laurel and Chestnut
Ridges is an important protection effort of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
The Ligonier Valley Easement program was established to put in place scenic
and conservation easement that works to keep the scenic qualities of this
beautiful valley intact.
Find out more about the 5,000 protected acres that surround Fallingwater at Bear Run