Allegheny Land Trust
Helping local people save local land

Nature

This 230-acre property in Plum Borough, owned by the Allegheny Land Trust, has been classified as a biological High Diversity Area. Though recovering from past man made disturbances such as clear-cut logging, coal mining, and railroad construction, there still remains a large diversity of tree species found on this site, including American Beech, Northern Red and White Oak, Sugar Maple, Eastern Hemlock, Hop Hornbeam, American Basswood, Shagbark Hickory, and White Ash. The varied and steep elevation of the site also includes numerous herbaceous plant species such as large-flowered trillium, red trillium, blue and black cohosh, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, and Wild Columbine.

However, in some areas of the site, particularly in the lower areas along the river, man’s activities have invited several exotic and non-native species such as Japanese Knotweed, Garlic Mustard, and Multi-Flora Rose.  Allegheny Land Trust site stewards are actively working to mitigate and remove these species, in vision with the Trust’s goal of returning the site to its natural state.  Also, the Allegheny Land Trust is currently working on several projects that will open Barking Slopes to greater public access and enjoyment.  By adding a parking area and system of hiking trails, this site’s natural beauty will be open for exploration, while delivering breathtaking scenic overlooks of the Allegheny River valley.  Located near the Oakmont Country Club, and near the Lock and Dam Number 3 along the Allegheny River, Barking Slopes BDA is an important ecological asset along the river community, and will be forever preserved for generations to come.