On Memorial Day, my wife and I, along with our dog, Cash, took a drive to Ohiopyle, where we completed two short hikes, the first of which was the Ferncliff Natural Area. Ferncliff is located on a peninsula, created by an exaggerated bend in the Youghiogheny River. The hike follows the Ferncliff Trail, which makes a large loop around the perimeter of this preserved area. 
The parking area is off to the right as you descend PA 381, after the railroad tracks, but before the bridge to the hamlet of Ohiopyle. This was the most crowded hike I have taken, to date. No doubt due to the combination of good weather and Memorial Day at a popular tourist spot.
The hike began easy enough, but the insects were ferocious, causing us to detour quickly to locate bug spray. I normally carry it with me, but today, I had forgotten it. Big mistake. The resident mosquito population found my wife to be especially tasty, leaving a reminder of itchy bumps on her arms and legs .
With errand completed, and bug spray thoroughly applied, we began our hike. There is a bike trail that begins at the trailhead, as well, so mountain bikes are everywhere. Fortunately, the Ferncliff Trail is still a footpath only, no bikes allowed. The trail leads up a short path to a stone marker and the start of the loop. Opting for the left, we followed the trail towards the rushing sounds of the river. 
Upon reaching the river, we turned right and followed the trail along the edge of the water. This trail is not just rocky, it's all rock. Sometimes it's wide and flat, sometimes it's narrow. This is the best that it gets, in terms of views of the river, but the worst as far as crowds go. As this section is close to the parking lot and gives many opportunities for enjoying the Youghiogheny, it is no wonder why it is a popular destination. 
After a short while, the trail turned uphill into the forest. Here, the crowd disappeared. Thankful for some well-received solitude, we followed the trail along the river, which was soon far below us. Due to an environmental discrepancy, the river drops in elevation by 100 feet over just one mile. This produces the effect of now being a great distance above the river without much uphill climbing. 
As we hiked through forests of pine and oak, we took the opportunity to view several nice overlooks of the river and its waterfalls. After a turn to the right, and noticing a bright orange fungus, we passed by a meadow and soon returned to the start of the loop, and then back to our car.
This hike gets a 6/10. The views are nice, but the crowded beginning is a little annoying. Don't get me wrong, I encourage all people to visit these trails and enjoy them, just not at the same time. Also, please don't litter! Come on, people, it's 2010. You should know not to litter. From cigarette butts to potato chip bags to plastic beverage containers, I saw a great deal of litter on the first part of this trail. It is extremely saddening to see such wanton disrespect for the environment. These natural areas are a rarity in our state, and will only continue to exist if we preserve them. Pick up your trash. Despite the early crowds, the majority of this hike will afford you some solitude. The crowds and their litter are seemingly confined to the first portion. Once you enter the forest, you will encounter far fewer people. The path is easy to follow and there are several educational displays throughout the trail. Poison ivy is prevalent, so be aware. We enjoyed this trail, for the most part, as did our dog. Even though the sun was bright, the canopy of trees gives lots of shade. A pleasant walk in the woods, indeed.
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