Pennsylvania’s 9 Most Incredible Hiking Spots
The state of Pennsylvania is an incredibly beautiful and historic area of the United States. With landmarks like Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, Valley Forge National Historic Park, and Gettysburg National Military Park, PA has its fair share of historic sites instrumental in the creation of the USA.
There are also numerous locations that provide some spectacular scenery and incredible landscapes. So with The Wanderer Supply Co. currently located in Pennsylvania, who better to show you the 9 best hiking spots you can find throughout the state!
Just don’t forget to bring along your hiking essentials!
With 26 miles of trails to explore, Ricketts Glen offers hiking for all skill levels. There are some incredible views to see along each trail including lakes, cherry trees, an old growth forest, and picturesque waterfalls.
Living up to its name, the Falls Trail provides you 7.2 miles hiking and 21 stunning waterfalls to view. The terrain is a little difficult to traverse, so this may not be the best trail for beginners, but those who do attempt it will be rewarded with spectacular views of PA’s best waterfalls.
There are also several easy trails offered like the Evergreen Trail, which takes you through one of the last remaining old growth forests in Pennsylvania, or the Beach Trail which will take you right to the shores of Lake Jean.
A part of the expansive Appalachian Trail system in the Blue Mountain Range, The Pinnacle offers one of the best views in PA. This 9.9 mile hike is moderately difficult, but the trails to the top are well maintained and provide a few fun obstacles to explore along the way.
For those who want to fully experience what the mountain has to offer, you can hike to the Pulpit Rock overlook which sits halfway between the bottom of the mountain and the summit. Visitors can traverse the more rocky and challenging trail to this spot and then hike the Ridgeline trail to The Pinnacle overlook.
Contained within the beautiful Tioga State Forest are an incredible variety of hiking trails that display some of PA’s most spectacular views. One of these spots is the Pine Creek Gorge, otherwise known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, which is over 45 miles long and up to 1500 feet deep.
You can hike along the West Rim Trail which is a designated State Forest Hiking Trail that stretches for 30-miles along the western rim of the canyon. Many areas along this stretch have been cleared to provide scenic vistas of the Pine Creek Valley.
There’s also trails like the Pine Creek Rail Trail which was redeveloped from 62-miles of an abandoned railroad track. Those who are looking for an easier path can find the Bourbon Rock Trail, a one-mile loop that overlooks the Owassee Rapids.
With almost 80 miles of trails, Ohiopyle State Park has a variety of hikes to offer every visitor. It’s most well known spot is the Yougiogheny River Trail which spans 27 miles and is part of the Great Allegheny Passage connecting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Cumberland, Maryland.
Yougiogheny is not only rated as easy trail, it is also handicap accessible meaning just about anyone can enjoy this hike. Other easy trails in Ohiopyle include Sproul Trails, Meadow Run Trail, and Johnathan Run Trail.
The park also has its fair share of challenging trails such as the 10.4 mile Sugar Loaf Trail with 800 feet in elevation gain, the 3.5 mile McCune Trail which runs along the highest ridge in the park, and the 2.6 mile Great Gorge Trail that follows an old coal transportation tramway and is well known for it springtime wildflowers.
This 84-mile trail offers a rugged hike that takes you through the steep elevations and valleys of central PA. The Standing Stone Trail is part of the Great Eastern Trail, a 1,600-mile path from Alabama to New York.
Although the entire 84-mile trail is too long for a day trip, there are shorter sections that you can tackle if you’re not up for an extended backpacking experience. There are many of these shorter trails including the Jack Narrows and the Thousand Steps which takes hikers up 1,000 stone steps built by workers of a historic silica mine.
© Chris Evans
For a hike that’s really unique, the Kinzua Bridge in northwest Pennsylvania offers not only incredible views but amazing local history. Original built in 1882 and subsequently rebuilt in 1900, the bridge was used by trains and dubbed the “Eighth Wonder Of The World.” It even held the record of being the tallest railroad bridge in the world for two years.
After standing for over 100 years, the bridge was partially destroyed by an F1 tornado in 2003. Rather than rebuilding it, the state decided to open the still standing portion as a visitors attraction.
The site now includes a skywalk with an observation deck as well as hiking trails surrounding the structure. Kinzua Creek Trail is a strenuous hike that will take you from the top of the valley to the bottom and provide spectacular views of the bridges fallen towers.
Explore 47 miles of trails in Cook Forest State Park where you’ll experience some of PA’s most incredible old growth forests as well as scenic views of the Clarion River Valley. Cook Forest has plenty of trails to choose from that will suite any hikers skill-level.
There are two long-distance trails that pass through the park including the North Country National Scenic Trail and the Baker Trail. They offer a 12-mile hike through Cook Forest landmarks including the Forest Cathedral, Seneca Point and the Clarion River.
For anyone looking to test their tolerance of heights, the park has an 80-foot Fire Tower you can climb. It offers a truly panoramic view of the forest for 20 miles in each direction.
© Zeete
Anyone who grew up in the Lehigh Valley or surrounding areas likely remembers Hawk Mountain from a class trip or summer camp adventure. With the major city of Philadelphia only 74 miles away, the mountain is a popular spot for those looking to get away from all the hustle and bustle.
There are over 8 miles of trails contained in the 2,500 acres of Hawk Mountains protected forest. The most popular is the 4.5-mile Lookout Trail loop where lucky visitors can spot some of the parks protected birds of prey.
Hiking in the Delaware State Forest is done on the 26-mile Thunder Swamp Trail System where visitors can enjoy both day hikes as well as extended backpacking trips. There is an abundance of incredible scenery from mountain streams to a wide variety of forest types.
Permitted overnight camping is allowed in the park which can be obtained for free from the district forest office. If you’re wonderer how to pick out a spot to camp, don’t fret, we’ve got another blog you can read to figure that out.
Conclusion
There’s really no shortage of hiking spots to choose from in the great state of Pennsylvania. From the Allegheny’s to the Appalachian’s and anywhere in between, PA has some incredibly beautiful and scenic spots that will be sure to take your breathe away!
