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Hawk Watch Platform by Greenwood Furnace SP
Hawk Watch Platform by Greenwood Furnace SP
When it comes to overlooks and quiet places, this bird-watching platform offers the best of both. Perched on top of Stone Mountain, about seven miles southwest of Greenwood Furnace State Park, sits a large, wooden platform complete with a bench and railing. It is designed for bird watching, but is perfectly compatible with deep contemplation, creative thought or mindless sunbathing. This wonderful deck allows 360 degrees of discovery straddling the Huntingdon and Mifflin county lines. The views are simply spectacular. The Kishacoquillas Valley spills out to the southeast, dotted with barns and houses. The patterns of farm fields makes a patchwork as beautiful as any of the famous handmade quilts of the same valley. Jacks Mountain rises out of Kish Valley, and from this lofty perspective you can see several other ridges in the distance. On a clear day you can look to the west and follow the valley to Mount Union. To the north and west, the lower foothills rise and fall between McAlevys Fort and the Stone Valley Recreation Area. The Juniata River forms a low spot between Alexandria and Huntingdon, but I can only guess where its exact path lies. The valleys north of Raystown Lake are faintly discernible in front of Tussey Mountain's dominant ridge. On the latest Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources map, this spot is called Hawk Watch and a red symbol marks it as "vista or overlook." I'd call that accurate. As I stepped onto the deck to take in the view a red-tailed hawk passed at eye level a hundred yards out. There is trail register (a metal mailbox) bolted to the deck containing a notebook and pen wrapped in a plastic bag. I read through this treasure book of experiences and reactions written by those before me. I knew a few of the names and somehow felt connected to the others. Their comments were enjoyable and inspiring. More hawks passed overhead and I wondered how this small book and its writings appeared in their keen vision. I suspect the hawks can clearly see every letter but assign no value to them. Humans repeatedly walk to this place, go to this little book, leaf through the pages, add something to it and replace it back in the sacred spot. How was this curious human behavior interpreted by the hawk's instinctive mental patterns? Could the hawk possibly sense that the bird itself was, in fact, the common denominator to this behavior? Almost every entry said "Spotted a hawk -- enjoyed the views." I doubt the birds paid any attention to such insignificant human behavior. These are the type of random thoughts that pop into my head when I stay at the Hawk Watch for too long. Resting in a place like this becomes a surreal experience. I am on a rock field, 1,000 feet above the valley floor, sitting on essentially a front porch without a house. The nearest houses are little white specks in the valley. The hike to the platform is less than a mile and follows a very rocky path. In places it traverses rock fields and, if not for the painted orange marks, one would have no clue to a suggested route. Sneakers will work but hiking boots make it much easier. The trail is lined with wild blueberry bushes that will provide good treats if you get there first. This trail is the northern section of the Link Trail and was built and maintained by the Keystone Trail Association, an organization involved in building and routing many foot paths in Pennsylvania. Contact the association at www.reston.com/kta/kta.html for more information. The Link Trail is a 72-mile foot path that connects the Mid-State and Tuscarora trails. Greenwood Furnace State Park is the northernmost point and Cowans Gap State Park is the southern end, just below the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The preferred direction of travel is southward. Although the platform makes a great destination and offers excellent views, it remains inaccessible for many of our elderly friends. However, they can enjoy a very similar view from the road within a half mile of the trailhead. Allensville Road uses a series of switchbacks to wind up and over Stone Mountain. These also offer inspiring views across the valleys and are accessible to anyone with a car. The dirt roads are well maintained and appropriate for regular passenger cars in fair weather. With the high humidity of summer the views will be hazy on most afternoons. Early morning is your best bet, although sunsets and moonrises can be particularly rewarding. This isn't an easy trail to traverse at night and not a smart place to weather a storm, so plan accordingly. Directions: At Greenwood Furnace State Park (state Route 305) follow signs for the campground. Just before the campground entrance Turkey Hill Road is on the left. Follow to the end (five miles), turn left on Allensville Road. After 1.5 miles look for the orange blazes and small parking area on left. This is the trailhead. To reach more viewpoints by car, continue on Allensville Road another half mile to the summit. |
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