the hemlock and beech forest - photos by Ernie Ostuno

Hemlock Trail Natural Area is located in Laurel Hill State Park in
Somerset County, PA. I visited this site on 8/7/99. This is a small
(less than 6 acres) but impressive stand of hemlocks and hardwoods. The
largest black cherry tree I have seen in Pennsylvania was here (max dbh
~ 40 inches). The biggest hemlock in this stand had a dbh of 47 inches
and had an unusually large trunk; it is one of the most massive hemlocks
(combining girth and height) I have seen anywhere. A trail loops through
the old growth which occurs along a section of Laurel Hill Creek. The
park naturalist told me that in the logging era days, a narrow gage
railroad and several outbuildings were located close to and in the old
growth, and that these were dismantled and moved and the trees left
standing when logging operations shut down.

An interpretive sign showing the big hemlocks of the original forest.	One of the big hemlocks along the trail
The tall trunks of the old growth hemlocks	A rotting log
Big hemlock with smaller hemlock some yellow birch in the understory.	An unusual hemlock that was still alive despite having its trunk snap off about 10 feet from the ground. I had never seen this before. In the background is Laurel Hill Creek, swollen by recent heavy rains.
One of the many salamanders that live here.	The exposed roots of an ancient hemlock, a forest monarch.
the largest hemlock of the group	the forest primeval. I didn't see any adelgids, but I did see quite a few green hemlock needles on the forest floor, so they might be in there. The trees still looked rather healthy though and the abundant rains were no doubt helping with the lushness of the forest.