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Greenlee Mountain Road
Greenlee Mountain offers exploration along road less travelled NOTE: When this was originally published the roads were not gated. Now they are, so driving this loop is not possible when the gates are closed. The nice thing about the gates is it makes a fantastic bike ride! Greenlee Road is one of the many dirt roads worth exploring in Rothrock State Forest. The road follows the southern base of Greenlee Mountain and connects Whipple Dam State Park with the Big Flat area. As colder weather moves in, this makes a nice drive and gives an opportunity to explore the less populated side of Greenlee Mountain. The busier side of Greenlee Mountain is the northern slope, where Laurel Run Road provides the main corridor between state Routes 26 and U.S. Route 322. Greenlee Road is very simple to follow, yet manages to completely disorient those who explore it. On the map, it appears to follow a southwest-northeast route. However, on the ground it has just enough twists and turns that I've seen the trustiest former scouts become bewildered and ask "Just where are we now?" Like many geographic place names, you'll notice a common thread when you study the map. Greenlee Road follows Greenlee Run in the valley below Greenlee Mountain. Because of the low lying valley route the road follows, you have limited opportunities to use visual clues such as ridgetops. The forest is thick and the stream beautiful as you wind through the valley. Today Greenlee Road is among my favorite drives or bicycle rides. The easiest place to begin is Whipple Dam State Park. The plan is simple: Once on Greenlee Road, bear left at every intersection and you'll return to Whipple Dam State Park. Immediately Greenlee Road begins to climb around the base of the mountain. In the first half mile you are rewarded with great southern views of the valley near McAlevy's Fort. This view is only available when the leaves are off the trees. Whipple Dam sits at an elevation of 990 feet. From there Greenlee Road climbs more than 1,300 vertical feet in seven miles to reach Big Flat at 2,350 feet. The first few miles wander over hill and dale as the road skirts around the southern end of Greenlee Mountain. Then it descends to Greenlee Run and follows the stream uphill to its headwaters. Along the way you'll pass through thick forests filled with mountain laurel and rhododendron. Stop the car at some point and get some fresh air. You'll appreciate the absolute silence along this stretch of road. The stream is accessible in many places although current drought conditions have reduced the flow to a trickle. This month, the forest service has posted a fire ban; you'll see the warning signs. If you smoke, please be cautious. After the stream ends, you'll follow a series of steep switchback turns and enter Big Flat. The sandy soil and pine trees make this a very different place. The road gets rough for a short section but it should pose no problems for an ordinary family car. Continue on Greenlee and you'll reach Keith Spring on the right. This natural spring often runs all year. Soon after the spring the road turns sharply and offers a magnificent vista. Stop here and drink in the view as the valleys spill out to the west. Evenings are spectacular as ridges dance in shadows from a setting sun. This section of road is also called Bear Gap Road on some maps. That name is no longer used: It is now posted as Greenlee. Continue down to Laurel Run Road and a left hand turn will take you back to Whipple Dam State Park in eight miles. If you prefer, a right hand turn will take you to U.S. Route 322 and Boalsburg. During your travels in Rothrock State Forest, you'll notice large yellow gates along the roads. These are seasonal gates, and they will be closed after deer season. The gates serve two purposes. They allow the wildlife to roam the forest without as much human contact, and they keep the humans from crashing their cars along the icy winter roads. Roads like Greenlee become inaccessible by automobile during the winter. By exploring them now, you may decide to return for hiking or cross country skiing after they are gated. Directions From State College take state Route 26 South and head for Whipple Dam State Park. Before entering the park you'll reach a dirt road. Turn right; going away from Whipple Dam. This is Greenlee Road. Stay on it for seven miles until you reach a T-intersection with Laurel Run Road; turn left and return to Whipple Dam. |
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