Ohiopyle State Park Pennsylvania Hiking Trail Pictures Maps and Movie

When I Hiked the Ohiopyle State Park area trails, I was amazed at how many different sites could appear around each corner. I felt that my short drive from Akron Ohio had somehow changed into a far away adventure. I thought that this great hiking spot doesn't really exist. I must be dreaming it. How could I have let myself miss the Ohiopyle state park adventure for all of these years?

The Ohiopyle hiking trails show a great geology that has sculptured out in millions of years. And who might that artist be? Time and erosion. I love Geology and this place has it.

The dynamic beauty of the rapids forced me into a long frozen stare upon this never before seen spectacle. Ohiopyle also has many incredible water falls. The entire area awesomatized me.

Ohiopyle State Park is located primarily in Fayette County. Ohiopyle State Park encompasses about 19,052 acres of rugged natural beauty and serves as the gateway to the Laurel Mountains. The focal point of the area is the more than 14 miles of the Youghiogheny [yaw-ki-GAY-nee] River Gorge that passes through the heart of the park. The “Yough” [yawk] provides some of the best whitewater boating in the Eastern U. S. as well as spectacular scenery. Surrounding Ohiopyle Falls is the Falls Day Use Area, the central point for the casual visitor. This area provides parking, modern restrooms, gift shop/snack bar, and overlook platforms with magnificent scenery.

Hiking Trails

79 miles of trails

Always bring a map, water and wear sturdy shoes when hiking. Specific trail maps are available at the park office and the Train Station/Visitor Center.

Baughman Trail: 3.4 miles , difficult - This trail has trailheads at the back of the Middle Yough Take-out Parking Area adjacent to the Train Station/Visitor Center in Downtown Ohiopyle and at the Mountain Biking Trail parking lot. This steep, rocky trail passes Baughman Rock, a spectacular overlook of the Youghiogheny River Gorge.

Beech Trails: 2.7 miles total , moderately difficult The Beech Loop begins at the Kentuck Campground Amphitheater and connects to the Beach Trail and Sproul Trails. The 2.1-mile Beech Trail passes through a forest of towering American beech trees and leads to the Great Gorge Trail.

Ferncliff Peninsula Trails

Ferncliff Trail: 1.7-mile , easy All other Ferncliff Peninsula trails branch off of this loop trail which circles the peninsula. The trailhead is near the Ferncliff Parking Lot adjacent to the Ohiopyle Hotel.

Buffalo Nut Trail: 0.1-mile , easy This short trail is the first branch off of Ferncliff Trail and is a shortcut to Oakwoods Trail.

Fernwood Trail: 0.5-mile , easy This trail features beautiful ferns and the remnants of the old Ferncliff Hotel.

Oakwoods Trail: 0.5-mile , easy This trail passes through a mature hardwood forest.

Great Gorge Trail: 2.6 miles , moderate This trail begins at the Cucumber Picnic Area and crosses several bridges and roads. The trail follows Cucumber Run and passed an area known for its spring wildflowers. The next trail section follows an old tramway used to transport coal to the railroad. A spur of this trail leads up a steep incline to the Kentucky Campground.

Jonathan Run Trail: 1.7-mile , easy The trailhead is along the Holland Hill Road. The trail crisscrosses Jonathan Run and passes by small waterfalls, including Jonathan Run Falls. The trail connects to the Youghiogheny River Trail.

Kentuck Trail: 2.5 miles , moderately difficult This series of trails begins at the Tharpe Knob Picnic Area. A short one-mile loop includes the Tharp Knob Overlook. The trail continues to the Kentuck Campground contact station, briefly follows the road, then descends to meet Jonathan Run Trail. The trail then leads to the Youghiogheny River Trail, and finally splits off and climbs the gorge to meet the Old Mitchell Trail.

McCune Trail: 1.2-mile , easy This trail passes through various habitats and by an old spring house and pond which are all that remain from the McCune Farm.

Meadow Run Trail: 3 miles , easy There are trailheads near the park office, at the waterslides on SR 2011 and at Cucumber Falls on SR 2019. From the waterslides parking lot take the left trail under the SR 381 bridge for 0.7-mile to Cucumber Falls. Take the trail to the right, which leads to a loop trail and the Cascades. This trail is intersected by a path leading to the SR 2011 trailhead.

Sproul Trails: 3.7 miles , easy These five interconnecting loops are just north of the Kentuck Campground, near the second overflow parking area outside of the campground.

Sugarloaf Trail: 3.8 miles , difficult This hiking/biking/snowmobiling trail begins near the Train Station/Visitor’s Center. The trailhead is at the back of the Middle Youghiogheny Take-out Parking Area, to the right of the Youghiogheny River Trail. The trail climbs 800 feet in elevation in two steep areas. The trail connects to the main mountain bike area near Surgarloaf Knob.

Sugar Run Trail: 1.6-mile , moderate This trail connects Old Mitchell Trail to Jonathan Run Trail.

Youghiogheny River Trail: 27 miles , easy

Laurel Highlands State Park Hiking Trail This 70-mile, very difficult, year-round backpacking trail has its southern end in Ohiopyle and it’s northern end near Johnstown. The trail traverses state parks, state forests, state game lands, other public lands and private lands. An overnight shelter area is located every 8-10 miles along the trail and has five adirondack-type shelters with fireplaces, non-flush toilets, a water supply and spaces for 30 tents.

The Ohiopyle section of the trail is 6.3 miles of very strenuous and rocky hiking. There are beautiful overlooks and creeks along the way. Reservations for backpack camping are required and must be made by contacting: Laurel Ridge State Park

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is a segment of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. An enterprise of many partners, the evolving trail network celebrates the heritage of the Potomac and upper Ohio river basins and offers opportunities for hiking, bicycling, boating, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. National Park Service Passport Stamps for the trail are available at the Laurel Ridge State Park Office and at the visitor center in Ohiopyle. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/pohe.

Visit website hikingohioparks.com for more information about hiking Ohio and surrounding states trails.