The Day We Met Freckles The following is one of my many memorable experiences growing up at Watoga State Park. “Ronnie, Johnny, Vicki,” Dad yelled. “Come with me. I have somethin’ to show ya.” Of course, we followed. Thus began the story of Mom’s Bandannas for Freckles while I grew up at Watoga. “Look what …
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Current Happenings in and around Watoga State Park via Watoga Update November 4, 2019 The Riverside Campground sits empty now, the gate was closed last week for the 2019 camping season. Riverside will reopen as it does every spring, on April 1, 2020. It is now a winter sanctuary for dog-walkers and beavers that can …
Background The very first time I saw the Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, it was from a distance of 12 miles and approximately 11 hours before I would start the climb to its summit. It rises straight up out of the pine-clad hills, an ostentatious imposition on a terrain that abhors any vertical challenge to its …
The Watoga State Park Foundation has available a Watoga memorial bench with plaque. The bench is durable and high quality. Also, it includes a memorial plaque and is made in the USA. You can memorialize a loved one with a minimum donation of $500. Watoga will place the bench in a mutually agreed location on …
Let’s Talk Snakes Brian Hirt, one of Watoga’s volunteer trail workers had already put a full morning’s work into the Arboretum on Sunday, May 19. Then he decided to finish out the day by continuing his trail marking project on the Allegheny Trail. He had marked several miles of trail when he ran out of …
Jim Meads, Professor Emeritus, Glenville State College, was Park Naturalist at Watoga in 1967 and 1968. Here are Jim’s stories from his time at Watoga. Background Judy and I have been married 52 years this July, 2019. Watoga State Park is such a special place for us. We started our wonderful life together here. In …
The 2019 Wild Edibles Festival is Coming Soon to a State Park Near You Watoga State Park Naturalist, Chris Bartley, is visibly excited about this year’s Wild Edibles Festival. When I stopped at the park headquarters to talk to him last Thursday, he started off our conversation discussing the major, and likely better, changes to …
Ken is out west (Ohio) for a few weeks, scouting places to come back from, and I miss his daily reports on trail conditions. Wind rain stay on the job. Though he’s taking time off, the rain has been on the job soaking the soil, the winds have blown, and the mercury has been jumping …
Green Day Hike Saturday, March 16. Be sure to wear your green for this 2019 Special Event at Watoga State Park. And join us at 10:00am at the parking lot just a half mile above Cabin 2 along Island Lick Road as we venture along Monongaseneka Trail. Along the way, we will discover the different …
Today’s trail-work was concentrated on the Pine Run Cabin Area Trails. Two of the classic cabins are open in the winter months. Consequently, I have noticed that the robust folks who rent these cabins, at this time of year, are often hikers. Pine Run Hiker Advantages Subsequently, those staying in this area have access to …