Let’s Move Outside! on Waterford’s Fort LeBoeuf Trail
The Fort LeBoeuf Trail, at four-miles long, was sure to tire out Nutmeg and Nora, our Cairn Terrier rescues, but at the end of the hike they were probably ready to mark a few more trails off their Erie County Recreational Passport. These dogs have built some serious muscles in the year that we’ve had them. It’s a stark contrast to their level of strength when we first adopted them, after they had been housed in a shelter for a couple of months.
This trail was the fourth we completed in the Erie County Let’s Move Outside! program. In order to be entered into the grand-prize drawing, participants must complete 10 trails between June 1 and October 20. Although it was very interesting, the Fort LeBoeuf trail was a challenge to navigate because the roads are not well marked and you’ll have to deal with some traffic. If you go, you might want to make sure you have your smartphone with you, so you can map out where you are, and where you’re headed.
A large portion of this trail is on Niemeyer Road, which is a long, dirt surface. Now, it’s fun and scenic to walk this road, but if you have a small child, you’ll be better off popping that tyke into a backpack rather than a stroller. If you use a stroller, that kid is in for a bumpy ride.
You’ll know you’re on the right road if you see a sign that says “Bridge Closed.” The sign concerned Husband Jim and I, but we kept forging ahead, and as we approached the covered bridge (circa 1875), it was apparent that the bridge was definitely closed to traffic. From a distance, we couldn’t tell if the bridge even had a floor, but as we drew closer, to my relief, it looked like we could cross the bridge and that the floor of the bridge was sturdy enough not to drop us into the creek below.
Just past the bridge lie the railroad tracks, which gently curve and make a great photo op. Make sure that your partner watches for oncoming locomotives while you get some nice perspective shots.
Beyond the tracks, Union Road is clearly marked. You’ll find yourself on a paved surface, but there’s no berm to walk on, so watch for oncoming vehicles. Union Road turns into Donation Road, and you’ll be walking quite a while before you reach the end of the line and have nowhere to turn but left or right. When we went, there was no sign for Depot Road, but the handy smartphone confirmed that it was indeed Depot, so we turned left. Now, keep in mind, Depot Road can be dangerous to walk on. This is because cars and trucks move fast on this stretch, and there’s not much to do when they’re coming, except step off the road as they pass by. If you have little ones, this is where you’ll want to keep an eagle eye on them.
You’ll be thankful when you get off Depot Road and enter the cemetery, which is full of interesting and historic gravestones, including that of Michael Hare, whose stone claims that he was scalped during the French and Indian War and lived to tell about it, to the ripe old age of 115. Fact checkers, please. . .
Most of the historic landmarks are found within the town of Waterford, and this makes for an interesting conclusion of the tour. The last stop is Lake LeBoeuf and Porter Park. In all the years we passed through Waterford on our way to our relatives’ homes, I had never seen Lake LeBoeuf other than through a car window. It’s a beautiful, quiet spot, but Porter Park is unfortunately closed and has been for some time by the looks of it.
Waterford’s claim to fame is its relationship to George Washington. It is the location where our first president delivered a message to the French Canadians at Fort LeBoeuf ordering them to vacate the premises. A statue of Washington sits on the site of the Fort LeBoeuf blockhouse.
The Fort LeBoeuf trail, although long and rigorous, is time well-spent, and it’s fun to imagine what the area looked like long, long ago when George Washington passed through.
Corry—Corry’s Trail of Simple Pleasures
Erie—Perry 200 Commemoration Trail
Fairview Township—Pleasant Ridge Park Trail
Harborcreek Township—Harborcreek Community Park Trail
Millcreek Township—The Greenway Trail
North East—North East Heritage Path
Union City—Union City Area School District Trail
Washington Township—Veterans Memorial Park/Wainer Park Trail
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