Bear Run

---

title: "Bear Run" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rivers-of-pennsylvania", "tributaries-of-the-youghiogheny-river", "rivers-of-fayette-county,-pennsylvania", "scenic-rivers-of-pennsylvania", "protected-areas-of-fayette-county,-pennsylvania"] description: "Stream in Pennsylvania, US" topic_path: "general/rivers-of-pennsylvania" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_Run" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Stream in Pennsylvania, US ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox river"]

Field	Value
name	Bear Run
name_other	Tributary to Youghiogheny River
image	Fallingwater,Dec08.jpg
image_caption	Bear Run beneath Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater
image_alt	Bear Run at Fallingwater
map_size	300
pushpin_map	USA Pennsylvania#USA
pushpin_map_size	300
pushpin_map_caption	Location of Bear Run mouth
pushpin_map_alt	Map of Bear Run mouth location
subdivision_type1	Country
subdivision_name1	United States
subdivision_type2	State
subdivision_name2	Pennsylvania
subdivision_type3	County
subdivision_name3	Fayette
length	4.56 mi
discharge1_location	Youghiogheny River
discharge1_avg	12.94 cuft/s at mouth with Youghiogheny River
source1	Fulton Run divide
source1_location	about 3 miles northeast of Kaufmann, Pennsylvania
source1_coordinates
source1_elevation	2,370 ft
mouth	Youghiogheny River
mouth_location	about 0.25 miles west of Kaufmann, Pennsylvania
mouth_coordinates
mouth_elevation	1,000 ft
progression	southwest and west
river_system	Monongahela River
basin_size	6.44 sqmi
tributaries_left	unnamed tributaries
tributaries_right	unnamed tributaries
bridges	PA 381
::

| name = Bear Run | native_name = | native_name_lang = | name_other = Tributary to Youghiogheny River | name_etymology = | image = Fallingwater,Dec08.jpg | image_caption = Bear Run beneath Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater | image_alt = Bear Run at Fallingwater | map = | map_size = 300 | map_caption = | pushpin_map = USA Pennsylvania#USA | pushpin_map_size = 300 | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Bear Run mouth | pushpin_map_alt = Map of Bear Run mouth location | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = United States | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = Pennsylvania | subdivision_type3 = County | subdivision_name3 = Fayette | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = | length = 4.56 mi | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = Youghiogheny River | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = 12.94 cuft/s at mouth with Youghiogheny River | discharge1_max = | source1 = Fulton Run divide | source1_location = about 3 miles northeast of Kaufmann, Pennsylvania | source1_coordinates = | source1_elevation = 2,370 ft | mouth = Youghiogheny River | mouth_location = about 0.25 miles west of Kaufmann, Pennsylvania | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation = 1,000 ft | progression = southwest and west | river_system = Monongahela River | basin_size = 6.44 sqmi | basin_population = | tributaries_left = unnamed tributaries | tributaries_right = unnamed tributaries | waterbodies = | bridges = PA 381 | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra =

Bear Run is a 5.0 mi tributary of the Youghiogheny River in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Bear Run is in the Appalachian Mountains and part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The Fallingwater house, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is located on this stream at the locality known as Mill Run.

Bear Run is inside the Bear Run Nature Reserve, protected by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Bear Run is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River. The nearest incorporated town is Ohiopyle, once a resort town for affluent Pittsburghers reaching the Ferncliff peninsula via rail. Ohiopyle today is the focal point of tourism in the Laurel Highlands, drawing many of the same visitors as Fallingwater, located a few miles away on PA State Route 381.

Course

Bear Run rises about 3 miles northeast of Kaufmann, Pennsylvania, and then flows southwest and west to join the Youghiogheny River about 0.25 miles west of Kaufmann.

Watershed

Bear Run drains 6.47 sqmi of area, receives about 48.1 in/year of precipitation, has a wetness index of 357.26, and is about 89% forested.

Natural history

Bear Run is the location of Bear Run Watershed BDA. The large forested area of Bear Run, an exceptional value stream, provides habitat for three plant species of special concern.

References

References

1. "ArcGIS Web Application". US EPA.
2. "Bear Run Watershed Report". US EPA.
3. "Get Maps". US Geological Survey.
4. {{cite gnis. 1168914. Bear Run. September 3, 2025
5. "Get Maps". US Geological Survey.
6. U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map] {{webarchive. link. (2012-03-29 , accessed August 15, 2011)
7. "Designing Fallingwater".
8. "Bear Run Nature Reserve".
9. "Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers Program".
10. "Best White Water Rafting, lodging, Hiking, Biking, Vacation Rentals, Hotels in the Laurel Highlands".
11. Goudy, Olivia. (May 15, 2017). "Small Town Life: Ohiopyle a quiet, historic borough within popular state park".
12. "Fayette County Natural Heritage Inventory". Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program.

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