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Slippery Rock Gorge Trail
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The Slippery Rock Gorge Trail, part of the New York-to-North Dakota North Country National Scenic Trail, extends from Hells Hollow to Eckert Bridge. A number of geologic features occur all along the trail. Those within Hells Hollow are described here. |
| The first part of the Slippery Rock
Gorge Trail coincides with the Hells Hollow Trail, or parallels it across Hell Run.
The geologic features along this part are the same as for the Hells Hollow Trail.
Shortly after the trails split, note
the orange streams flowing from the hill above into Hell Run. These orange streams
contain water seeping from the abandoned deep coal mine mentioned in the description of
Hells Hollow. Hell Run here flows over Vanport Limestone, which neutralizes the
acidic water from the mine. As a result, Hell Run is listed as an exceptional value
stream despite the acid mine drainage into it. |
Abandoned Coal Mine
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Acid Mine Drainage
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After the Slippery Rock Trail leaves the bank of Hell Run and enters a tributary hollow, it passes the entrance of another long abandoned coal mine. Where the trail crosses the stream, note the confluence of the orange stained stream flowing from the old mine (from the left looking upstream) versus the other stream.
Again, the caved mine entrance is marked by the gray shale waste piles.
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| The trail then returns to the rim of Hells Hollow, where it
passes well above Hells Hollow Falls, then into another tributary valley. As the
trail follows the east side of this second tributary valley back towards Hells Hollow,
you may notice cobbles and boulders of igneous and metamorphic rocks. These rocks,
called erratics, are foreign to the bedrock in this area. They were glacially
transported here from Canada. |
First Natural Bridge
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Second Natural Bridge
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When the trail once again reaches the rim of Hells Hollow,
look to the right of the trail. Notice the natural bridge made of Vanport Limestone.
A little further along, the trail encounters another natural
Vanport Limestone bridge. This time, the trail actually crosses over the natural
bridge. |
Third Natural Bridge
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Cave
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The last location of geological significance to note in the
Hells Hollow portion of the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail is a short distance beyond the
second natural bridge. Again, the trail passes over a natural bridge. This
time, water is flowing under the bridge. The stream may be seen emerging from a
small cave to the north (left) of the trail, passes under the trail and bridge, and
emerges in a small waterfall on the other side. The inside of the cave exhibits
scalloped walls, which are common in caves. A number of Vanport Limestone outcrops
are present along the trail in this area. Some have the walking fern on them, which
anchors the tip of its leaf to the limestone, and releases the other end. It then
repeats the process and "walks" across the outcrop. I'm not sure where
it's going or what it does when it reaches the end of the outcrop. |
| From here, the trail continues down Hells Hollow to its
confluence with Slippery Rock Creek. The trail continues upstream along Slippery
Rock Creek, sometime along the stream, sometimes along the rim or in side hollows.
It passes many outcrops of various rock units, landslide areas, and flat areas of glacial
outwash. It ends at Eckert bridge, where the North Country Trail continues along the
Kildoo Trail to McConnells Mill and Alpha Falls. |
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