Ryerson Station State Park: Iron Bridge and Lazear Trails (Blog Hike #642)

Trails: Iron Bridge and Lazear Trails

Hike Location: Ryerson Station State Park

Geographic Location: west of Waynesburg, PA (39.88285, -80.43649)

Length: 3.2 miles

Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)

Date Hiked: July 2017

Overview: A lollipop loop, occasionally muddy, occasionally steep, and occasionally overgrown, featuring an overlook high above Ronald J. Duke Lake.

Park Information: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/RyersonStationStatePark/Pages/default.aspx

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=943550
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: In southwestern Pennsylvania, take I-79 to SR 21 (exit 14).  Exit and go west on SR 21.  Drive SR 21 west 22.4 miles to Bristoria Road.  There is a brown highway sign for Ryerson Station State Park at this intersection, which is located at the bottom of a long, steep hill.  Take a sharp left on Bristoria Rd.  Drive Bristoria Rd. east 1.3 miles to the park office, where you should stop to pick up a trail map.  Then continue east another 0.5 miles to the signed Iron Bridge Picnic Area.  Park in the gravel roadside parking lot.

The hike: Tucked deep in the hills and hollows of southwestern Pennsylvania, Ryerson Station State Park protects 1164 acres along the North Fork of the Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek (a very long name for a very small creek, and henceforth simply called “the Creek”).  The park’s name comes from the historic Ryerson’s Fort, which was built by the Virginia Colony some 2 miles downstream from here at the confluence of the Dunkard Creek’s North and South Forks.  The fort operated between 1774 and 1793, and it protected English settlers from attacks by Mingo, Shawnee, and Lenni Lenape people.  The park was established in 1958 as part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s plan to have a state park within 25 miles of every resident.

            True to its rustic nature, Ryerson Station State Park offers limited amenities that include a 46-site campground, 2 cottages, 5 picnic shelters, and fishing in the park’s Ronald J. Duke Lake.  For hikers, the park offers 13 trails that total 13 miles, but many of the trails can be combined to form longer hikes.  This hike features the park’s longest trail, the 2.4 mile Lazear Trail, and leads to a nice overlook high above the lake.  Parts of this hike pass through land that is open to hunting, so wear bright orange in season to prevent accidents.

Iron bridge at trailhead

            The Lazear Trail is a loop that can be accessed directly from picnic shelter #3, but to also see an interesting iron bridge I recommend starting at the Iron Bridge Picnic Area and getting to the Lazear Trail via the Iron Bridge Trail.  To execute such a plan, start by walking across the picnic area’s namesake iron bridge.  Both the superstructure and deck of this bridge are made of iron, and stout stone supports undergird either end.  This bridge carried vehicle traffic in its pre-park days, but today it carries hikers on the Iron Bridge Trail over the Creek.

            After crossing the iron bridge, trails go right and left.  Turn right to continue the Iron Bridge Trail.  The wide grassy trail parallels the Creek as it heads downstream along the edge of a wet meadow.  The first and last parts of this hike pass beside a wetland area, so be sure to wear good bug spray during the warm months.  Also, some wet areas will need to be negotiated if it has rained recently.

Hiking beside the wetland

            At 0.3 miles, the trail curves left to enter the woods and begin heading up Munnell Hollow.  The biggest trees in Munnell Hollow are tulip poplar and sycamore, but quite a few oak, maple, beech, and hemlock also live here.  The small stream that flows down Munnell Hollow makes scenic cascades as it spills over some low rock ledges.

Stream in Munnell Hollow

            0.4 miles into the hike, the Iron Bridge Trail ends at a junction with the Lazear Trail, which goes left and right.  To make the climb more gradual, this hike turns left and uses the right trail as a return route, thus hiking the Lazear Trail clockwise.  Named for a former landowner, the Lazear Trail follows an old two-track dirt road as it climbs on a gradual to moderate grade up Munnell Hollow.  Overall, the trail gains just over 400 feet of elevation over the next mile.

At the next three intersections, continue straight where two side trails exit right and one exits left.  The Lazear Trail is not blazed, but most intersections are signed, and the path is wide and easy to follow in the hollow.  As I approached the top of the ridge, the trail conditions devolved, and I ended up wading through some knee-high vegetation for short stretches.  I saw evidence that the grassy vegetation had been mowed several months ago, but parts of the trail needed clearing again.

Approaching the top of the ridge

At 1.3 miles, the trail curves softly right to leave the old road.  A sign that simply says “trail” marks this turn.  After a sharp switchback to the right, the ridge’s 1400-foot crest comes into sight to the left, and some east-facing views start to emerge to the right.  In another 0.1 miles you reach the overlook that marks this hike’s highest elevation.  A narrow gap in the trees allows you to view the park’s lake over 400 feet below, and a bench allows you to rest near the midpoint of this hike.  Some raspberries grow near this overlook and may provide a snack in season.

View toward park lake at overlook

View east near overlook

A trail appears to head straight downhill toward the lake, but it quickly ends.  The Lazear Trail continues north and soon reenters the forest to begin its descent.  The descent starts gradual, but the grade soon intensifies and involves a pair of switchbacks.  Where the Orchard Trail continues straight, curve sharply left to remain on the Lazear Trail.  Some interpretive signs that describe common flora in the forest and improved trail conditions give this part of the Lazear Trail a front-country nature trail feel.

            As you approach the bottom of the hill, you pass through a nice pine planting just before picnic shelter #3 comes into view downhill to the left.  At 2.2 miles, the spur trail to the picnic shelter exits left.  Turn right to begin the final leg of the Lazear Trail.

Hiking through the pines

            The Lazear Trail now undulates moderately as it heads east with the Creek’s wetland off to your left.  2.8 miles into the hike, you close the Lazear Trail’s loop at a junction with the Iron Bridge Trail.  A left turn and 0.4 miles of retracing your steps along the Iron Bridge Trail return you to the iron bridge and complete the hike.