Watson Run Rocks

I call this place "Watson Run Rocks" even though the beautiful brook that passes through this valley is technically the "Watson Branch" of Spring Creek. I don't know what locals in Pigeon and Watson Farm call it, but it's the largest, most fascinating rock city I've ever discovered.

Unfortunately, I chanced across this place on a spontaneous hike, so the photos were taken with a cell phone. They don't begin to capture the scope of Watson Run Rocks, a five tiered collection of gigantic boulders that begins on the creek bank and ascends the valley wall as if in terraces. There are only two very large boulders on the banks of the creek, but if you hike up between them, other, larger rocks fan out in both directions. Strangely, they stand in five rows that are roughly parallel with the stream, far below. Between the rows, there is a narrow expanse of woods, perhaps sixty or seventy feet across. I'd estimate many of the boulders to be between fifteen and thirty feet high. Some of them would honestly make a good rock climbing adventure. But alas, the older I get, the more squeamish I am about heights.

The best thing about this rock city is that it's habitable. There are many shallow tectonic caves that would offer shelter from the elements and great places to camp. Also, if you scramble up onto the boulders, there are some fine ledges, hidden from below, with views. And the coolest thing of all is that this place seems relatively undiscovered. Unlike nearby Bogus Rocks, there's not a single "Zack" or "Travis" or "Hayley" carved into any of the boulders.

The uncool thing about this place is that when you reach the fifth and highest "terrace," thinking you're in remotest wilderness, you can see through the trees to the vehicles passing on PA66.

The grassy, gated forest road that leads to Watson Run Rocks doesn't have a number, but take PA66 south; from the only traffic light in Kane it's on the left at exactly 15.5 miles, from the Marienville ATV trailhead, it's 2.5 miles south. Stay on the grassy forest road, resisting the urge to cross the ATV bridge, and after about ten minutes, you'll see the boulders through the trees.

Back in February, a guy who has a camp at Watson Farm emailed me about one of my posts, but I accidentally deleted his message before replying. Watson Farm Dude, if you're still out there, can you shed any light on this rock city? Is this another historical fortress of the long-extinct Erie Indians?