"True self-care is not salt baths and chocolate cake. It's making the choice to build a life you don't need to escape from." -Unknown
Today we decided to drive down the road and hike at Raymond B. Winter State Park. It's literally located on Buffalo Road (our road) about 17 miles from our home. Plus all 120 state parks in Pennsylvania are free. Raymond B. Winter State Park was originally established in 1933 as Halfway Dam State Park. It's famous for Halfway Lake, which is held back by the first hand-laid stone and cement dam constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
We chose to hike the Boiling Spring and Overlook Loop. We hiked about 2.8 miles through mountain laurel, ferns, blueberry and black berry bushes, pine and hemlock trees. It was a fairly easy trail and it was a beautiful day to be outside.
Halfway Lake is filled by spring fed mountain streams. The water temperature never rises above the low 50s, because much of the lake is filled with water that comes directly from underground. Little Bubbler is an artesian spring located on the west end of the beach. The sand bubbles as the water seeps up through the ground. I felt the water and it was like ice water.
The lake got its name from a historic tavern and barn called the "Halfway House," which was built in the 1800s. It served as a resting spot for teamsters transporting farm produce across Sand Mountain between Lewisburg and Centre Hall.
Mountain laurel everywhere. It was so pretty.
The only pink ones we saw were in the open areas that got lots of sun. We aren't sure if that is why they looked different. The flowers are just amazing.
Part of the trail.
The view from the top. We could just make out the lake and road at the bottom.
A small boulder field we went through. It was along the mountain ridge. It was formed 10-15 thousand years ago during the last glacial period.
Little Bubbler...it's hard to tell from the picture, but there were about six holes where the water was bubbling up.
The beach looking across to the dam.
Our picnic spot.
Looking across to the beach from the dam side.
The dam. People fish from this side of the lake.
The east side of the lake looking towards the beach.
Our hike
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