We Escaped Real Life For A Few Hours And Day-Tripped To The Natural Beauty Of Beaver Falls
By Beth Price-Williams|Published June 26, 2024
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Exploring the outdoors is probably my favorite way to spend a lovely day and living outside of Pittsburgh, an ideal launching pad for day trips, means I’m never too far from some amazing natural destinations. On a sun-soaked day recently, my daughter and I filled up our water bottles, stopped at Sheetz for a few snacks, and hit the road, headed for Beaver Falls on a fun day trip in Pennsylvania that took us to Buttermilk Falls and Sahli Nature Park.
Western Pennsylvania is home to a few Buttermilk Falls – one in New Florence and the one we decided to head to on this sunny summer afternoon. Buttermilk Falls Natural Area in Beaver Falls sits along a very busy road and, if you’re not paying attention, you can easily pass by the entrance, despite the large sign.
Once you turn into the natural area, you’ll see a tiny parking lot that fits maybe four or five cars and a narrow road that leads uphill. We took that road to see if there was more parking but arrived at railroad tracks. A dead end. There is a building with parking but neither I nor the driver behind me were sure parking was allowed so we doubled back to the bottom of the hill.
A short, mostly uphill walk leads to Buttermilk Falls. The sound of tiny waterfalls in the stream below the path serenaded us as we made our way to the 40-foot waterfall, which doubles as a swimming hole in the summer.
Be forewarned that there is a lot of graffiti on the rocks and trees and, when we were there, there was a heavy veil of smoke from some visitors hanging out on the boulders.
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It was a warm day, so the waterfall’s pool was busy with families with kids wading and kicking stones. We took a few minutes to admire the waterfall, which you can walk behind, and snap photos before heading back to the car for our next destination, just 10 minutes from Buttermilk Falls.
Since the natural area was quite busy and noisy, we were relieved to find that Sahli Nature Park sat along a quiet tree-lined street, and the park itself was just as quiet. The parking lot fits plenty of cars, but there was only one besides ours.
A bulletin board in the parking lot offered information about the park and maps. Unfortunately, the maps slot was empty so we decided to just start exploring this nature park that’s brimming with fairy-tale scenery, including a footbridge and towering trees. There are also picnic tables and a swing set.
We wandered through the park, passing a pond and fields of flowers, meandering through the woods, and enjoying the stillness. The park has several trails, which are identified by wooden markers, making for an enjoyable few hours.
Have you been to Buttermilk Falls or Sahli Nature Park, a fun day trip near Pennsylvania? Which was your favorite? Share your experience in the comments! After you’ve explored these two natural wonders in Beaver Falls, grab a delicious bite from Jerry’s Curb Service, an old-school drive-in in Pennsylvania. Don’t forget your camera.
