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| GRAND CANYON'S WEST RIM, HIKES AND VIEWS OF PA |
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Not too far (About 1 hour) Northwest from the camping site in PA lies the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Running between the towns of Ansonia and Blackwell PA. There's two good ways to experience this little spot. 1) by Mountain biking the River trail (which I will write up next) and 2) by a mix of hiking, driving the West rim trail.... 
The really good thing about this area is primitive camping is allowed for FREE in specific areas and for a small fee more civilized camping is allowed along with parking and services. So one could drive to the canyon and stay the whole weekend pretty economically. Then spend a day driving the West rim and another day biking the Pine Creek Trail which runs the bottom of the canyon. If you are really adventurous you can take a day or two and hike the entire 30 mile West Rim Trail of the canyon instead of driving and get twice the scenic views and skip the camping fees as they are free for thru-hikers... |
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Ok you have a general idea of the views and the choices of how to see the Canyon. I started up North in Ansonia PA and follow the signs for the West Rim. Follow along the signs and watch for scenic overlooks and you will be fine or grab yourself a map. Here's an idea of the roadsigns and trail signs as they are not the average street but rock road and single file paths. 
And it doesn't take long at all to get into good views.. As always the camera is nice but to be standing on the edge, smelling the pines and hearing the river down below echo up through the canyon is a whole other experience (so find a free weekend and get on up there) 
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Views at most overlooks are soo wide that I would have to paste about all these together to get a panoramic view but here's a view to the south
From here jump back in the car or get your pack on your shoulders and get on down the trail to the next "vista"
You'll notice this view shows the Pine creek and a path running beside it. The river has a pretty good flow and
they allow rafting, canoing and kayaking but there must me a minimum depth so check with PA State parks to see if
you can legally be on the water.
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The park also has building and pavilion facilities which can be reserved or just pull up and use if you wanna take a chance that it will be free. I went up on a weekday and several were open for anyone to use. Really nice idea if you wanna have a little cookout. 
Right across from the pavilions is still a pretty good view 
If you get jaded at the sight of looking at another view of "the big hole in the ground" take the trail and you'll appreciate the height and view. 
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Don't be too hasty in jumping on the side trails cause some of them lead all the way to the bottom of the canyon in 4 mile -one way distances. And Yeah it's steep.... 
Some of the views are getting overgrown and it's tempting to crawl down over the edge and get a better view 
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While looking at such a HUGE view don't forget to look at the little details right at your feet 
Before you say "Awww, isn't that cute" notice the spider who is probably gonna dine on Fly and inch worm tonight...
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Don't skip the little side road that takes you out to the "Bradley Wales" area. It has picnic sites and restrooms along with 2 or 3 good scenic overlooks and a few campfire pits, although the signs clearly say no camping.... 
The views are really good from here and you can reach them from the road. 
One would need an awful wide lens to get this panoramic view in one take 
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Drive or hike another 1/2 mile to the South in the Bradley Wales area and you'll get another view 
which was really cool that we got to see a set of at least 3 deer crossing the river. 
Here's my feeble attempt at zooming into that distance and trying to make out the deer, as poor as the detail is I could tell ya it was 3 grizzlies, but they are deer: 
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Although the canyon is a great view don't forget to watch for wildlife on the trail or roadside if you're driving cause these little trailside cabins are loaded with game 
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Turn the next corner and find another wide open view. An attempt at piecing together a landscape...Oh wow that's a pretty poor landscape attempt. If you like to see them in 3 individual pieces check the 3 links below the main pic   
Northeast East Southeast |
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Crawl into the sunsetting in the West and get the last hours of the canyon 
Keep heading south on the West Rim trail or the gravel road and you'll end up at 414 (which runs east west) and take it East and you'll go down the canyon to the Pine Creek into the tiny town of Blackwell, which has fine facilities and a few good views of the creek. Although if you really want good views from the bottom up take some of the miles on the trail.. Which I'll put up soon.. 
Here's one off the bridge lookin further South. 
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