Walters Reserve

King Reserve

The King Reserve is the largest of the conservancy holdings. The 96 acres is shaped like a crooked dagger between Crowfoot and Mamont Road. The tip of the dagger extends across Crowfoot Road and adjoins the Sloan Elementary School property.
Because of its size, this is the most diversified of the nature reserves with the greatest variety of plants. It features a small intermittent stream named Sylvan Run and a short section of a tributary of Haymaker Run. Meadows, shrub thickets, and both secondary succession and mature forest make up the remainder of the habitats.

Access is gained from a small parking lot on the south side of Crowfoot Road close to the entrance trail on the opposing berm marked by a sign.

Some caution is recommended because of a rifle firing range on the rod & gun club property. Stay on the upper or most northern trails. Posted signs will keep you informed of the danger. Be sure to heed these warnings, particularly when you are hearing rifle fire, which may occur any time or day of the week. Potter's Corner was recently added to the King Reserve. This 3 acre parcel has a large diversity of trees and a pristine stream and will be used by local school students in environmental studies.

Tomer Reserve

This is our smallest property rounding out at about 17 acres with parking lot access along Twin Oaks Lane. A powerline that cuts across the reserve was clearcut by Allegheny Power in September 2000.
Tomer is the least diversified of the reserves, primarily because of its size and the powerline, but it has some unique features. It contains the only known hackberry tree on our properties and a sizable American chestnut tree that thus far shows little sign of the chestnut blight. Both these trees grow right along the loop trail that traverses the reserve. The woods has both mature and secondary growth timber and offers a short, but aesthetic walk in a charming patch of forest. A windfall at the middle of the loop trail provides a fair amount of brush for bird and mammal habitat. The loop trail ascends gradually beginning at the parking lot and circles downhill to the intersection of Twin Oaks Lane with Sardis Road. You complete the loop back to the parking lot by walking on Twin Oaks Lane, or you can return via the powerline meadow. Birders will appreciate walking along the powerline in the spring and summer as nesting and migrating birds move back and forth across the cleared meadow beneath the lines.

Flinn Reserve

This saddle-shaped 20-acre property is located along Boxcartown Road with two arms stretching to School Road South. Currently there is no parking lot or any trails. The land is mostly on slope with a level shrub meadow of gray and flowering dogwood on top. Being abandoned pastureland it is colonized by pioneer trees and invasive plants. The area bordering Boxcartown Road is still meadow which gradually gives way to shrubs and trees as you ascend the hill. The trees slowly increase in maturity as you approach the summit. Although highly disturbed in the past we are surprised at some of the plant diversity and need to spend more time there. Since the majority of the trees are red maple, tulip poplar and sassafras, it is probably the most colorful reserve in the fall season and worth just a drive by. As yet there are no trails or parking lots planned for Flinn and it is not marked yet with an identifying sign.

McGinnis Reserve

This latest acquisition of 52 acres sits on a high hillside along Hunter/Wallace Lane and Route 286. Most of the property is wooded with a meadow on the north edge and the Power Company has clearcut a strip beneath the utility poles along Hunter Lane. A parking lot has been placed beneath this powerline on Hunter Lane south of the intersection with Wallace Lane. The woods are relatively young with a maturing stand of pioneer trees in the higher elevations. Some late successional trees, however, are already well established. What appears to be an old logging road climbs the hill from the meadow. To the left of this trail as you climb the hill is an unusually large stand of black cohosh, a tall flowering plant that blooms in July, and a very impressive old hollow snag that won't be standing too much longer. The boundary line crosses the 1400-foot contour line making it one of the highest places in Murrysville. Being our newest acquisition, we are still learning about it.