Beaver Meadows & the Dodo Bird

The Beaver Meadows hiking trail system is pretty cool. It's a network of interconnected trails that circle the mostly-level terrain around Beaver Meadows Lake--4 miles north of Marienville. Last time I tried to hike the biggest loop, I made the mistake of taking my 3 and 4 year old daughters in their little red wagon. What was I thinking? It's largely pinewoods and lakeside savannah, which is great if you're into birds. I prefer denser forest myself. You know: moss, big rocks, ferns, hemlocks. But the Beaver Meadows trails are definitely worth checking out. Sadly, the campground at Beaver Meadows may soon have something in common with the dodo bird: extinction.

Recent literature from the Forest Service indicates that Beaver Meadows Camp Ground is probably going to be closed or turned into an ATV camp (which is to say, an open-air bar where everyone brings his own Coors Lite, and drinking Sam Adams will get you killed). In response to letters from concerned citizens, the Forest Service states, "This campground as it is currently used, although a great place to camp and visit, provides an experience that not enough people are looking for on the ANF, and which is available at other locations on the ANF. It is not a question of quality as much as it is providing too much of something that people want less."

The literature goes on to state that the campground will remain open through 2009, and a 'feasibility study' will be made. If the study finds that the campground could get more use if it was linked to the Marienville ATV trail, then it may remain open. If that option isn't feasible, then it's good-bye Beaver Meadows.

Of course the Forest Service can't be mowing and maintaining a campground that only sees 20% occupancy, and who can blame them if they close it? After all, the government can't afford to be sentimental. But the thing that irks me is that the only way to keep it open would be to link it to the ATV trail. I mean, no offense intended, but aren't ATVs for fat guys who are too lazy to camp and hike? How is it that you almost never encounter another hiker on the Twin Lakes Trail or the Baker Trail, but you can't drive down PA66 on a Saturday without seeing scores of ATV enthusiasts in wanna-be-Harley helmets trying to cross the road at 45mph on their loud machines?

Strangely, Minister Creek Campground--the smallest in the ANF, with its 6 beautiful self-pay camp sites--is pretty well filled up with Ohioans every weekend from May through October. And those who can't get a site in the campground itself end up roughing it in the woods all around the grounds. They just flock to Minister Creek. (I personally find that the word "minister" sends people striding in the opposite direction.) Is it because they love to fish for trout? The spectacular view at Minister Creek Overlook? What takes folks to Minister Creek and not to Beaver Meadows, where today I counted 9 occupied sites out of 38? Let me tell you, though, they were 38 spectacular sites! Deep woods, very private, primitive, quiet. Try to go there before the weather turns, and before it either closes or gets overrun with ATVers in scratch-on tatoos.

THE GOOD NEWS is that even if Beaver Meadows does go the way of the dodo bird, its 34-acre lake will still remain open for fishers, kayakers, and canoers. The little picnic area and the excellent trail system will remain open to the public, too.