Saturday, April 11, 2026, 10:00 AM
Cedar Creek County Park, Rostraver, Westmoreland County
Leader: Mark Bowers; monarda55@gmail.com; cell: (724) 454-4012
We will join the Westmoreland Bird & Nature Club for a hike in the gorge. Birders will gather at 8:00 AM, flowers at 10:00 AM.
Directions: From Pittsburgh, travel PA 51 south to its junction with PA 201 (just after Bills and Willowbrook Plaza). Continuing on PA 51, travel 2 additional miles to the traffic light for Concord Ln (Honda and Ford car dealership on right) and turn left. Traveling on Concord Ln, turn left onto Municipal Dr. Continue about 0.6 mile and turn left into the main entrance to the park. Follow this park road downhill, cross the bike trail, and turn left to continue through a series of parking lots until you reach the farthest parking lot, near the Gorge Trail and the mouth of Cedar Creek.
GPS coordinates: 40.17867, -79.77847 Google Maps Link to Cedar Creek Gorge lot
Saturday, April 18, 2026, 1:00 PM
Park Gate Lineal Park, Beaver County
Leader: Dawn Wehman; cell: 724-544-0978
Wild Waterways Conservancy has conserved this lineal corridor near the Park Gate neighborhood of Ellwood City. It follows the old Pittsburgh and Lake Erie rail line from Park Gate to the Koppel Bridge. It is approximately 2.5 miles to walk out and back, and is level.
Directions: From Pittsburgh, take the PA Turnpike north to Exit 13, Beaver Valley/PA 18. Turn right to follow PA 18 north for a little over a mile to its junction with PA 351 at Arthur St. Continue on PA 351 East (right onto Arthur, left onto 5th St and right onto unmarked River Rd). Once you make the second left, continue about 8/10 mile to turn left onto Church St in a residential neighborhood. Then turn left onto Railroad St and continue to its end. Parking is available at the end and along the playground area along Railroad St.
GPS coordinates: 40.852774, -80.312353 Google Maps Link to Park Gate & Railroad
Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 12:00 NOON
Otto & Magdalene Ackermann Nature Preserve, Westmoreland County
Leader: Meg Scanlon; Cell: 724-612-6192
Directions: From Parkway East (I-376), the intersection of US 30 and PA 48 can be reached by driving 7 miles on US 30 east/Ardmore Blvd from Exit 78A – Forest Hills, or by driving 5 ½ miles south on PA 48 from Exit 84A – Monroeville. At the intersection of PA 48 and US 30, travel east on US 30 for ½ mile to make a left onto Leger Road (Sheetz on the right-hand corner). Turn left onto Leger Road and travel through the countryside for 2 miles, bearing left at forks. At the base of a hill, continue straight onto Ardara Road when Leger Road turns right. At the top of a hill, look for the green Ackermann Nature Preserve sign on the left and park at the end of the grassy strip between two homes. It may look like you are turning into a lawn, but you will see the kiosk at the end of grassy strip.
Restrooms are not available here, so use the ones at Sheetz. Arrive at 11:30 AM for lunch, 12 noon for start of walk.
GPS coordinates: 40.36107, -79.74418 Google Maps Link to Ackermann
Friday,April 24, 2026, NOON
Bavington Game Lands in Hillman, Washington County
Leader: Loree Speedy; 724-518-6022
For Day 2 of the City Nature Challenge, we will visit the rich and the ruderal in Hillman State Park.
Directions: From Pittsburgh, travel US 22 west. About 2 miles after the I-576 junction, continue about 2 miles to the Bavington exit. Turn right at the end of the ramp, then left onto Steubenville Pike, and travel one mile to make a sharp right hand turn onto Kramer Road at the Kramer Greenhouse/Raccoon Creek Winery. (If you pass this turn, cross the highway bridge and turn around at the Bavington Roadhouse/Inn.) Continue on Kramer Road 0.8 miles and bear left at its intersection with Raccoon Creek Rd. Continue 1/4 mile to the intersection with Knowlton Hill Rd, where we will meet.
GPS coordinates: 40.43680, -80.36670 Google Maps Link to Bavington Game Lands
Sunday, April 26, 2026, 1:00 PM
Penn State New Kensington Woodlands, Westmoreland County
Leader: Mason Heberling
Mason Heberling, curator in the Section of Botany at Carnegie Museum, will show us a population of Narrow-leaved Ramps (Allium burdickii), in a rich woodland. Read about these ramps here. This is also day 3 of the 4-day City Nature Challenge, so BSWP iNats can contribute many spring species.
Directions: Penn State New Kensington is along PA 780 in northern Westmoreland County and can be reached from PA 28 North Exit 14, PA 366 to Valley High School, and left onto PA780 for 4 miles. Turn into the Rt. 780 entrance of Penn State New Ken and continue straight along this road about 1000 feet to park by the soccer fields near the Athletic Center. .
GPS coordinates: 40.54990, -79.69644 Google Maps Link to Penn State New Ken Athletic Ctr
Thursday, April 30, 2026, 1:15 PM
Special Tour of “To Make a Prairie: Pollination and Human Understanding”
Hunt Institute of Botanical Documentation, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Leader: Carrie Roy, Senior Curator of Art & Research Scholar
In January 2025, Carrie Roy presented a preview of this program at our monthly meeting. Please join us for a special tour (for BSWP members only) of the To Make a Prairie exhibit, which explores how humanity came to understand one of nature’s most essential relationships: the intricate partnership between plants and their pollinators..
Directions: The Hunt Institute is located on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University, on the 5th floor of the Hunt Library. Public parking is available at East Campus Garage at 5040 Forbes Ave. Street parking is available on Frew Street and Margaret Morrison Street, but is often limited.
Please arrive at the 5th Floor of Hunt Library at 1:15 PM for our tour. Contact Loree at 724-518-6022 for further information.
GPS coordinates to East Campus Garage: 40.4438, -79.9391 Google Maps Link to East Campus Garage Entrance
GPS coordinates to Hunt Institute: 40.44098, -79.944282 Google Maps Link to Hunt Library on Frew St
Saturday, May 2, 2026, 1:00 PM
Buttermilk Falls off the Cowanshannock Trail, Armstrong County
Leader: Loree Speedy; 724-518-6022
We will meet at the Bernard C. Snyder picnic area, located just off of State Route 1033 and McMillen Rd north of Kittanning. A newly completed 1¼ mile crushed limestone trail leads to a secret Buttermilk Falls!
Directions: Travel PA 28 North to the exit for PA-28N/US 422/ Kittanning. Continue straight onto PA28N/PA66N/New Bethlehem. In 3 miles, turn left onto Iron Bridge Rd. After ¾ mile, make the first right onto McMillen Rd. Continue 2 miles to trailhead parking on the right.
GPS coordinates: 40.85066, -79.50721 Google Maps Link to McMillen Rd Trail Parking
Saturday, May 9, 2026, 1:00 PM
Trolley Line Trail, Erie National Wildlife Refuge, Crawford County
Leader: Yianni Laskaris; wildlife biologist at Erie National Wildlife Refuge.
Trolley Line Trail is a 1.9-mile one-way trail in the Seneca Division of Erie National Wildlife Refuge. Wildflowers and historic bridge foundations are highlights of the primitive trail, which follows an old railroad track. There are some short inclines with rope railings, but otherwise much of the trail is a wooded old rail bed which makes for easy walking.
Directions: From Pittsburgh, take I-79 north to Exit 154 Saegerstown/Conneautville/PA 198. Turn right (east) on PA Rte 198 for 2.9 miles. Turn left on US Rte 19/6 north for 8 miles to Cambridge Springs. Pick up PA Rte 408 and travel east about 5 miles to the corner of Rte 408 and Swamp Road, the trailhead for the Trolley Line Trail.
GPS coordinates: 41.77182, -79.97396 Trolley Line TH
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10:00 AM (Day 1 of 2!)
Dolly Sods Natural Area, Tucker County, West Virginia
Leader: Mary Ann Pike; Mary Ann Pike; cell: (412) 855-8239; mapike@earthlink.net and Loree Speedy; 724-518-6022; loreespeedy@gmail.com
Canaan Valley is approximately 140 miles from Pittsburgh. The Dolly Sods Area ranges in elevation from 2500 to 4700 feet above sea level. Cold temperatures and fog can occur anytime of the year. Please dress for the weather! Also, wear sturdy foot gear! Our second day itinerary is tentative as we will be scouting the area Thursday and Friday. Please feel free to join us Thursday/Friday May 14-15 as we scout the area.
Plan to attend the field trip for one day or both days. For information on accommodations (from resorts to camping) in Canaan Valley and the Davis, WV area, visit GetTuckered. Some suggestions: Canaan Valley Resort; The Inn at Canaan; Milo’s Guesthouse.
We will meet at 10:00 AM in the lobby of the Canaan Valley Resort to caravan and carpool (if desired) to Dolly Sods. Bring a bag lunch; we will stop for lunch along the trails.
Directions: From the intersection of US 40, US 219 south and I-68 in Keysers Ridge, MD, take US 219 south to Thomas, WV. In Thomas, take Route 32 to Davis. Continue on Route 32; about 9-10 miles south of Davis, turn right into Canaan Valley Resort (a well-marked resort of Canaan Valley State Park).
Meet in the lobby; enter the doors and proceed straight to tables at the end of the lobby.
GPS coordinates: 39.0240, -79.46577 Google Maps Link to Canaan Valley Resort
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10:00 AM (Day 2 of 2)
Idleman’s Run Trail & Canaan Loop Rd, Tucker County, West Virginia
We will meet at 10:00 AM in the lobby of the Canaan Valley Resort.
GPS coordinates: 39.0240, -79.46577 Google Maps Link to Canaan Valley Resort
