yost

Yost Run Road - the edge of Centre County

By Michael Hermann; Lizard Tracks, Centre Daily Times

I found there is a road in the small spike of land that forms the farthest point north in Centre County. To make matters more interesting, it is a dirt road on state forest land and it dead ends at a steep gorge high above the Susquehanna River. The road is called Yost Run Road in Sproul State Forest. With fall colors in full swing, it was an easy decision to make the time and do the drive. But then my curiosity got the better of me. It was obvious how to find this road using state Route 144, but I also saw a combination of dirt roads that looked infinitely more appealing. And so this adventure drive unfolded and I discovered one of the most rewarding fall foliage tours in Centre County.

This adventure has two parts: exploring the most northern road in Centre County is the end result, but there is an optional short cut. If you drive a sport utility vehicle, you can follow the shortcut. Traditional passenger cars could, but probably wouldn't enjoy the shortcut. The roads are heavily rutted in places with rock-strewn surfaces that could damage traditional cars.

I use the term shortcut, but in fact it is not. The dirt road shortcut traversing Sproul State Forest is less mileage but the driving time is longer. The roads are not paved, and in places the roads are barely roads. Regardless of your decision, the drive begins on state Route 144 north from Bellefonte. Route 144 is a great road, twisting its way up onto the Allegheny Plateau through places named Runville and Gum Stump. If you do not want to take the shortcut simply stay on Route 144 and follow it to Yost Run Road. The bulk of this adventure, however, is the shortcut.

The shortcut begins immediately after Route 144 crosses Interstate 80. Turn right on the unmarked dirt road and bear left about a half mile later. This is called Hall Road. Street names are abstract pieces of information when there are no street signs to confirm, or contradict, your route. I'll mention them so you can consult your maps and make your own decisions. Without a map you're in trouble, and even with a map you soon realize less than half the roads are shown on paper. Hall Road continues for about five miles and gets rough at times. It seems there is not a tree in sight without a "Posted: No Trespassing" or "Keep Out" sign attached. I believe these signs refer to the land around the road, not the road itself. When this barrage of postings suddenly ends you have reached Sproul State Forest. There are no official signs to that affect - simply an absence of "Keep Out" billboards and a smoother road.

Now, a word of caution and confusion. Depending on who you talk to, or who talks (or yells) at you, Hall Road is, or is not, a public road. It seems the road has a checkered past. A remnant from the mining era, it is a handy way to traverse this part of the county. However, one irate fellow told me it was a private road only accesable to camp owners or fire trucks. A bit further along the same road another fellow told me that was not true and welcomed my passing. Hopefully you'll meet the latter fellow.

As you crest the hill into a large open area it simply takes your breath away. This is unlike most of Central Pennsylvania. The view extends for miles and includes a seemingly endless array of ridges in all directions. The gently rolling landscape, patches of evergreens, stands of younger hardwoods, tall savannah grasses ... a very different and beautiful place indeed. But the beauty is recent and partially misleading. It covers the scars of former strip mining operations across this region. The landscape is different because, in the simplest terms, it isn't really supposed to be like this. The mining operations replanted in accordance with governmental regulations and here it is: a surreal evergreen savannah on the Appalachian Plateau. Regardless of its past history, this rebuilt landscape has a striking beauty all its own. From the top of this plateau roads disappear in every direction. With no signs to be found all I can offer is this: Stay on the main road. When it splits (this is the Kato and Orviston Road) bear left and continue downhill to the headwaters of Beech Creek. The water is clear but the rocks are stained orange from the mining abuse.

Go across the bridge and turn right. You are now in Kato, which exists only as a name on the map. The town of Kato is gone and some stone foundations are all that remain. When the New York Central Railroad was active and the mining operations provided paychecks, this was a town of a dozen homes and a general store. The road will cross a new concrete bridge, which has been spray painted with a variety of cultural messages, and climb away from Beech Creek. This is Panther Run Road. I'm a firm believer that geographical names reflect human experiences, so if the road is called Panther Run Road, and the stream a mile from it is called Panther Run, somebody must have seen a panther before people wrote down names on maps.

Alas, that was before the logging, before the railroad, before the strip mines and before the machine called "progress" consumed this area. I don't think you'll find a panther on this road anymore, but it's a nice thought. Panther Run Road leads directly to state Route 144. Turn left on Route 144 and turn right within a hundred yards.

This concludes the shortcut.

If you did not explore the (long) shortcut through Kato you will find Yost Run Road on the left of Route 144. Yost Run Road is well marked with a sign and is the farthest road north in Centre County. It is a smooth dirt road that runs along the ridgetop for about five miles and dead ends at a cliff overlooking the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. What a view - the river meanders below, the ridgetops unfold as far as the eye can see and the fall colors are spectacular. If you had the foresight to bring a picnic basket, this a good place to relax and sit for a spell. You're now at the end of farthest road north in Centre County.

WHAT TO BRING

* Two free maps showed this route when I drove it: the Centre County Visitors Map available from the Centre County Convention and Visitors Bureau (231-1400) and the Sproul State Forest map (717-923-1450). Maps change, so take a look before you go exploring.

* A full tank of gas and some snacks are a good idea - there are no stores out here. True to the nature of exploration you may get lost. Unless you're really prone to driving in circles you will eventually find a highway back to civilization.

* You can bring a cell phone but if you don't know where you are there isn't much point in calling for help.

You can do the whole trip, including the (long) shortcut, in about four hours. But the area is so inviting you might want to make a day of it.

When you make your living creating maps, as I do, you get curious about places. I got to wondering what the most northern road in Centre County was and where it went. So here it is - enjoy!