By Carol Fisher-Linn
The window is short for the Skybridge season – September, 1 – October, 31 – make your plans now.
According to the Pennsylvania DCNR (Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) fall foliage page “Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state in the nation — or anywhere in the world! From their report: “Pennsylvania offers one of the longest and most varied fall foliage seasons in the world. Each autumn, millions of acres of forest come alive with color, drawing visitors from across the country to experience the magic of the season.” Refer to their page for a daily foliage report once leaf-season starts.
They also tell us this: “Only three regions of the world support deciduous forests that display fall autumn color: Eastern North America, The British Isles and parts of northwestern Europe, Northeastern China and northern Japan. Forests in other regions are either tropical or dominated by conifers. Pennsylvania’s location between 40° and 42° North latitude and its varied topography from sea level on the coastal plain to over 3,000 feet in the Laurel Highlands supports 134 species of trees and many more shrubs and vines that contribute to the display of autumn color.” Note: Ellicottville’s latitude is also 42° North, which is why our hills, also filled with hardwoods, are a sight to behold in leaf season. If you love leaf season In Ellicottville, you will swoon over the views of the thousands of acres of continuous woodlands in Pennsylvania.
The Kinzua Bridge Skywalk, named “One of the World’s Top 10 Most Beautiful Skywalks and Viewpoints in the World” by the Culture Trip, U.K, is an engineering masterpiece with a rich history and one of the most stunning views you’ll see in the Pennsylvania Wilds.” (The Pennsylvania Wilds is a massive 2 million-acre public land and conservation region in north-central and northwestern Pennsylvania known for its deep forests, outdoor recreation, and rural charm, learn more at pawilds.com.)
This is a trip you want to plan for, especially on busy days, because traffic might be backed up or slow-moving going into Kinzua Bridge State Park, and you may have to wait to enter. Hints: Carpool, go in less-than-ideal weather (still pretty to see), arrive early. Opens at 8am to dusk. Parking is not allowed on the side of the road leading into the park. If parking lots become full, incoming vehicles will be turned away.
In a conversation with Wesley Robinson, Press Secretary for the Pennsylvania DCNR, he reminded, “it is best to make a plan to visit the park (better on weekdays). We are glad to be able to open the park for visitors. For the people who can’t get into the Skybridge, there are fantastic fall views at Elk State Park and Bendigo State Park.” Robinson says these are all part of the same park system. Anther option is to see the gorge via the Kinzua Creek Trail, an 0.8 mile out and back rugged trail that leads down to the bottom of the gorge. There is also a trail for cyclists.
The history of the Skywalk and the original bridge is worth knowing. As you visit and look 301 feet down through the small glass deck, you will see bridge wreckage below and beyond, left there intentionally to remind people about the ferocity of Mother Nature. What you see today is a small portion of a famous bridge.
A brief history: Work on the original Kinzua Viaduct was completed in 1882, and it was once the highest (301 feet) and longest (2,052 foot long) railroad viaduct in the world. “In 1900, the bridge was dismantled and simultaneously rebuilt of steel to accommodate heavier trains” as noted by Jackson Township Historical Preservation. Commercial rail traffic ended in 1959 but by the 1980’s and 1990’s scenic excursion trains operated across the viaduct. This was because, in 1963, Pennsylvania Governor William Scranton signed legislation creating Kinzua Bridge State Park thus protecting the landmark from being turned into scrap.
While repairs were underway in July 2003, an F1 tornado with wind speeds reaching 94 mph hit the bridge collapsing 11 of its 20 towers ending the life of the bridge as it stood. Rather than a rebuild, the state converted the remaining standing section into a pedestrian observation skywalk complete with glass floor at the end overlooking the sprawling valley below and beyond. Definitely a must see.