Local State Parks and Trails

 

Keystone

Phone: 724-668-2939

6 miles of trails
The six miles of trails are open year-round for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. All trails are rated from easy to moderate with parking available at most of the trailheads. All trails are foot traffic only, except for Lakeside Trail, which is open to bikes.

Davis Run Trail (easy hiking) is a 2.5-mile trail that meanders through wetlands before reaching an upland forest of mixed conifers and mature hardwoods. Along part of the trail the conifers form a scenic tunnel.

Lake Side Trail (easy hiking) is a 2-mile loop around the lake on park roads and walkways. This scenic and fairly level path offers an excellent view of waterfowl and other aquatic life. Bikes are permitted.

McCune Run Trail (easy hiking) is a short trail that leads to an abandoned beaver pond and a wetland meadow. The trail crosses over the remnants of an old beaver dam and connects to Davis Run Trail.

Pine Trail (easy hiking) is a short loop trail through plantations of red, white and table-mountain pine trees. About halfway through the trail, hikers can view farm fields and large chestnut oak trees.

Stone Lodge Trail (easy to moderate hiking) is a 1.4-mile path that starts from the James A. Kell Visitor Center parking lot. This challenging walk starts with a fairly steep climb that winds through hardwoods to ridgetop conifers. With a keen eye you can find remnants of an old springhouse and homestead, nearby large hemlock trees.

 

Laurel Ridge

Phone: 724-455-3744

Laurel Ridge Hiking Trail

This major 70-mile hiking and backpacking trail from Ohiopyle State Park to near Johnstown is the main feature of the park. The trail traverses state parks, state forests, state game lands, other public lands and private lands.

The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is open year-round and is blazed approximately every 100 feet with 2-inch and 5-inch yellow blazes. Connector trails lead to and from parking and shelter areas and are marked with blue blazes. Mileage monuments are every mile. Pets are permitted.

A Hiker’s Guide to the Laurel Highlands Trail is available from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club. The guide describes the trail and aids in planning outings. Included in the guide are detailed topographic maps plus information on geology, climate, plants and wildlife. www.alleghenysc.org/

Large wooden signs mark trail access points at every major highway crossing. Six 30-car parking areas provide starting points and water. In addition, voluntary day use registration booths are located in each of the parking areas and the trail user is encouraged to fill out information cards for vital park attendance data and for use in an emergency. For overnight use of the trail see below Laurel Highlands Trail Regulations.

 

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.

 

Linn Run

Phone: 724-238-6623

6 miles of trails
Many of Linn Run’s hiking trails connect to many miles of trails in Forbes State Forest.

Mountain bikes are NOT permitted on hiking trails.

Adams Falls Trail is a 1-mile loop that features a mountain waterfall tucked in among rhododendron and hemlock. This trail passes by large boulders and is very rocky.

Iscrupe Trail is a 0.75-mile trail that follows the original Linn Run Road and was used by early visitors to the Adams Falls Picnic Area.

Flat Rock Trail is a 0.5-mile trail that ends at a large, smooth rock in the stream Linn Run. Swimming is not permitted in this area. Please be cautious, the rocks are very slippery!

Grove Run Trail is a 4-mile loop that starts with a gentle slope behind the Grove Run picnic area and becomes progressively steeper. Part of this trail follows Grove Run.

 

Moraine

Phone: 724-368-8811

Hilltop Trail: 1.1 or 3 miles, moderate hiking, green blazes
Access to this trail is adjacent to the entrance of Bear Run Boat Launch. You can hike this trail on a 1.1 mile short loop or a 3-mile long loop. Trail conditions range from flat grassy areas to steeper sections. The trail passes through different stages of forest regeneration, by bluebird boxes and the remains of a springhouse.

Sunken Garden Trail: 1.9 or 3 miles, moderate hiking, pink blazes
Access to the trail can be found by making the first right off of Pleasant Valley Road adjacent to Pleasant Valley Boat Launch. This trail will take you on either a 1.9-mile short loop or a 3-mile long loop. Both sections of trail are mowed and include moderate inclines. The longer section offers slightly more rugged terrain. The trail offers views of Lake Arthur from the short loop, white pine stands and a small pond on the long loop, and lake edge wetlands. This trail is a cross-country ski trail in the winter.

Five Points Trail: 1.5 mile, easy hiking, light green blazes
This loop trail is near Lakeview Beach and the cabin colony. The trail meanders though forests and by a small pond. Pleasant Valley Trail 2.6 miles, easy hiking, yellow blazes Access to this trail is directly across Pleasant Valley Road from the Pleasant Valley Picnic Area. This mowed trail offers an easy hike through the hills and valleys of the South Shore. The trail provides access to both the Windy Knob and Bear Run picnic areas, crosses the Hilltop Trail, and ends at the intersection with Sunken Garden Trail. Making a left on the Sunken Garden Trail will return you to the trailhead. The trail passes through wooded and open grassy areas and is a cross-country ski trail.

Pleasant Valley Trail: 2.6 miles, easy hiking, yellow blazes
Access to this trail is directly across Pleasant Valley Road from the Pleasant Valley Picnic Area. This mowed trail offers an easy hike through the hills and valleys of the South Shore. The trail provides access to both the Windy Knob and Bear Run picnic areas, crosses the Hilltop Trail, and ends at the intersection with Sunken Garden Trail. Making a left on the Sunken Garden Trail will return you to the trailhead. The trail passes through wooded and open grassy areas and is a cross-country ski trail.

Wyggeston Trail: 1.5 to 4.5 miles, moderate to difficult hiking, orange blazes
The northern end of the trail can be accessed from Christley Road just west of PA 528 and the southern terminus from Old Route 422. This trail can be hiked either as a 1.5-mile loop, or a 3-mile or 4.5-mile trail that will not return you to your point of origin. This trail has rougher, rockier terrain and is a more challenging hike than the other trails on the South Shore. The extra effort is well worth it because the trail takes you into a remote, undeveloped section of the park and by an old house foundation, stone fences and a historic oil pump house.

Glacier Ridge Trail: 14 miles, difficult hiking, blue blazes
This trail winds through forests, crosses streams and offers scenic views of Lake Arthur. Designated as part of the North Country National Scenic Trail, this trail extends 14 miles from the western end of Moraine State Park to Jennings Environmental Education Center. The trail can be accessed at many points, such as PA 528, Mount Union Road (TR 10050), Bike Rental Building and McDanel’s Launch Area. The Link Road Overnight Shelter is available to backpacking on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact the park office for backpacking information.

 

Ohiopyle

Phone: 724-329-8591

9 miles of trails

Rugged trails traverse the gorge. Please wear appropriate clothing, including boots. For your safety and to protect the resource, please stay on the trails.

Alpha Pass: 1.5-mile, blue blazes, moderate hiking
This trail is at the northern end of McConnells Mill State Park and is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail. This trail begins at the Alpha Pass scenic vista and follows the east bank of Slippery Rock Creek. There is an exit to the Point Parking Area or the trail follows the creek to the Old Mill.

Hells Hollow: 0.5-mile, easy hiking
This trail begins at the Hells Hollow parking lot and follows and twice crosses Hell Run on its way to a limekiln and Hells Hollow Falls. Although the main trail is smooth and level, the section by the waterfall can be slippery.

Kildoo: 2-mile loop, moderate hiking
Kildoo trail is south of the Old Mill and begins at either end of the covered bridge. This trail is a delightful walk along Slippery Rock Creek. The first 400 yards of the trail on the east bank of the creek is paved for the self-guiding interpretive/nature trail. The trail continues on rocky terrain to Eckert Bridge where hikers cross Slippery Rock Creek and hike up the west side of the creek to the covered bridge. The western section of the trail has blue blazes and is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

Slippery Rock Gorge: 6.2 miles, blue blazes, moderate to difficult hiking
Part of the North Country National Scenic Trail, Slippery Rock Gorge Trail begins jointly with Hells Hollow Trail at the Hells Hollow parking lot. The Gorge Trail splits off just before the second footbridge. The first two miles of the trail follows the upper Hell Run Valley. The rest of the trail follows the Slippery Rock Creek Gorge north for just over four miles to Eckert Bridge. At about the 3.5-mile point, the trail descends into the deepest part of the gorge. This broad alluvial flood plain is known as Walnut Flats. The trail then becomes more difficult, traversing very steep terrain. At the 5-mile point, the trail crosses uplands then drops back down to creek level and follows along the creek bank to Eckert Bridge.

Hikers should allow a minimum of six hours to hike to Eckert Bridge and back. This is not a loop trail. If you only plan a one-way trip, please set up a shuttle.

 

 

Raccoon Creek State Park

Phone: 724-899-2200

Trails

The 44 miles of trails offer a wide variety of hiking options to meet the needs of the casual day hiker as well as the overnight backpacker looking for a challenge within a wilderness setting, and also biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing.

Backpacking

Multi-use Trails

Biking, horseback riding, hiking permitted

Appaloosa: 3 miles, easy hiking with a few moderate hills, yellow blazes
The main equestrian trail, Appaloosa, can be accessed via the equestrian parking lot off PA 168 and the connecting Appaloosa Spur Trail. The trail winds along rolling forested hills of maples, oaks, hickory and cherry. Near its western end, the trail passes an old homestead and spring house. Connector Trail No. 4 (hiking only) off of Appaloosa Trail leads to one of the overnight backpacking campsites.

Appaloosa Spur: 0.7-mile, easy hiking, yellow blazes
Appaloosa Spur Trail connects the Equestrian Trailhead parking lot on PA 168 to the Appaloosa Trail.

Buckskin: 1-mile, moderate hiking, yellow blazes
The Buckskin Trailhead on Nichol Road provides access to Camp Trail, Pinto Loop Trail and Heritage Trail. The trail passes through a steep, densely forested stream valley.

Nichol Road: 3.5 miles, easy to moderate hiking
Nichol Road is the gateway to most of the trails in the western section of the park. Several loop hikes of varying lengths can be created using Nichol Road and connecting trails.

Palomino: 1.1-miles, easy hiking with a few moderate hills, yellow blazes
Palomino Trail follows an old roadbed for most of its length beginning and ending on Nichol Road.

Pinto Loop: 1.7-miles, easy hiking, yellow blazes
Pinto Loop Trail has very little elevation change. The wide path and passes through a mix of forest meadows. These features make it an excellent cross-country skiing trail.

Lake: 1.9-miles, easy hiking with one moderate hill, blue blazes
This trail is for hiking and biking only, and there are some biking restrictions.

Lake Trail follows an old road along Traverse Creek, which leads to the northwest shore of Raccoon Lake. During the 1800s, Traverse Valley was the location of several pioneer homesteads and gristmills. An elaborate two-story stone springhouse dated 1846 still exists near the western end of the trail.

Hiking Only Trails

Beach: 0.3-mile, difficult hiking
Connects the “D” loop in the campground with the swimming area on Raccoon Lake.

Camp: 1.4-mile, moderate hiking, white blazes
Camp Trail provides access to the south shore of the Upper Lake, a favorite area for wildlife and waterfowl viewing. Modern cabin users can access Camp Trail via Connector Trail No. 1 (blue blazes), located behind cabins 5 and 6.

Cross-country Skiing: 2.1 miles, easy hiking, white blazes
This trail is great for cross-country skiing. Accessed from the Main Picnic Area near shelter No. 6, the trail follows an old roadbed, crosses the main park road to meet Heritage Trail, then follows Heritage Trail through pine forest and small meadows. The trail loops away from Heritage along a hilltop, then crosses over Heritage into a pine plantation. The trail crosses the main park road again and returns to the trailhead at the Main Picnic Area. A fireplace and picnic tables in shelter No. 6 are available as a warming and rest area.

Forest: 6.2 miles, moderate hiking with a few difficult hills, white blazes
Running through the northern part of the park, Forest Trail transects several stream valleys that feed into the 101-acre Raccoon Lake. After leaf fall, the high ridges offer scenic views of the lake. Spring wildflowers are spectacular along many sections of the trail. The trail passes through an old stone quarry site. The quarried stone is still visible today in park culverts, retaining walls and old cabin foundations. The trail crosses PA 18 near the park office and continues on through forested stream valleys to the western trailhead along Nichol Road. Connector Trail No. 6 leads to the overnight backpacking campsites.

Heritage: 9.5 miles, moderate to difficult hiking, blue blazes
This is the longest trail in the park. It runs along the southern border of the park and passes through land settled by Beaver County’s first settlers. In the western section, the trail follows some of the first wagon roads begun in the early 1800s. In addition to the main trailhead, Heritage Trail can be accessed by connector trails at the boat trailer parking lot (C7), campground (C8), Camp Trail Trailhead Parking (C9), Buckskin Trail via Connector Trail No. 10 (C10) and at two points along the main park road near the roadside picnic areas. A variety of options exist for loop hikes using these access points and connecting trails.

Heron: 0.5-mile, moderate hiking
This short trail connects Wetland Trail to Nichol Road and Palomino Trail.

Mineral Springs Loop: 1.2-mile, easy to moderate hiking, white blazes
This loop trail begins and ends across from the park office. Mineral Springs Loop passes through one of the park’s historic areas, once known for the “healing qualities of the mineral water.” Above the springs are the remains of the 1800s Frankfort Mineral Springs Resort. A detailed brochure on the history of this area is available at the park office.

Upland: 0.6-mile, moderate hiking, blue blazes
This short trail begins across from the park office and connects to Mineral Springs Loop.

Valley: 1.1-mile, moderate hiking
Cut in along a steep section of Traverse Valley, the trail passes through an open hardwood forest joining with Beach Trail above the swimming area. Beach Trail connects the “D” loop of the campground to the swimming area.

Wetlands: 1.2-mile, easy hiking
Wetlands Trail follows the North Shore of the Upper Lake and continues up Traverse Valley to Nichol Road. This wetland habitat is one of the best areas in the park to observe wildlife like beaver, muskrat, turtle, wood duck, goose and deer.

Wildflower Reserve: 5.6 miles of trails for hiking only
The hiking trails wander through fields, forests, meadows and along Raccoon Creek. In the end of April, guided wildflower walks are very popular. To protect the wildflowers, pets are prohibited. Hikers must stay on the trails.

Visit: Friends of Raccoon Creek State Park

Click "Trails" on the left-hand side bar for in-depth trail details or click "forms and maps" on the left-hand side bar for topographic and non-topographic maps.

 

Oil Creek State Park

Phone: 814-676-5915

Gerard Hiking Trail: Easy to moderate 36-mile loop. Yellow blazes, white blazes on connector trails.

This trail tends to be rolling with relatively short ascents and descents, which can steep in sections. Most ascents and descents range from 100 to 300 feet. Circuitous trail occasionally traverses very steep banks along Oil Creek Gorge and side glens carved by small streams.

 

 

North Country Trail

The northern tier of states offers some of the most outstanding scenic beauty to be found anywhere in America. The "North Country" is a land of diversity whose beauty is accentuated by its distinctly changing seasons. As you travel the North Counrty, the hills, valleys, lakes and streams, show how the glaciers molded the landscape. Historic sites along the way tell the story of how America was settled and grew as a nation. This is a linear trail that will be 3,200 miles in length when completed; Pennsylvania's section will be approximately 200 miles in length when completed, and is presently over halfway completed. This discription follows the 90-mile segment through the Allegheny National Forest.

For more information visit: http://www.nps.gov/noco

 

Horseback Riding:

Moraine	16 miles of trails
Ohiopyle	9.4 miles of trails A separate parking area is off of Grover Road and has a fenced paddock and nearby water. Mountain bikes also use the trails. Trail-Side Stables offers trail rides in Ohiopyle State Park.
Raccoon Creek	The 16 miles of bridle trails are in the western part of the park.

 

Fishing:

Allegheny Islands	The Allegheny River is a warm-water fishery.
Keystone	The 78-acre Keystone Lake has warm water and cold water fishing, with trout stockings throughout the year. Warm-water fish are largemouth bass, tiger muskellunge, northern pike, black crappie, yellow perch, carp and brown bullhead catfish. A fishing area by the spillway is ADA accessible. Fishing is prohibited at the beach, and boat launching and mooring areas. Abandoned mine drainage limits the fishing quality in the stream below the breast of the dam. Keystone Lake is a Big Bass Lake and special regulations apply.
Kooser	The four-acre Kooser Lake provides good fishing for trout, bass and bluegill. No boating is permitted. Night fishing is prohibited.
Laurel Hill	The 63-acre Laurel Hill Lake has bass, trout, catfish, sucker, bluegill, perch, crappie and sunfish. Laurel Hill Creek and Jones Mill Run are excellent trout streams. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.
Laurel Ridge	Many native trout streams cross the hiking trail.
Linn Run	Linn Run offers trout fishing.
McConnells Mill	Fishing is permitted anywhere along Slippery Rock Creek with the exception of the dam structures. The best fishing is for trout and bass. Trout are stocked several times throughout the season. There is a fly fishing only, catch and release area by Armstrong Bridge.
Moraine	The 3,225-acre Lake Arthur is a warm-water fishery. Common species are northern pike, largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie and bluegill. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks muskellunge, walleye, channel catfish and hybrid striped bass.
Ohiopyle	The Youghiogheny River provides good wilderness trout fishing. In cooperation with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, fingerling trout are stocked throughout the entire section of river within the park. An all-tackle trophy trout program exists on a 8-mile section of the river from Ramcat downstream to the SR 381 Bridge in Ohiopyle. Meadow Run also provides fine trout fishing for anglers who prefer smaller stream fishing. A delayed harvest artificial lures only section is on a 2.2 miles section from SR 2011 bridge (Dinnerbell Road) to the mouth.
Point	The Allegheny River is a warm-water fishery.
Raccoon Creek	The 101-acre Raccoon Lake has bluegill, sunfish, bullhead catfish, yellow perch, walleye, muskellunge, crappie, sauger, largemouth and smallmouth bass. Cold-water fish like brook and rainbow trout are stocked and found both in the lake and in feeder streams. There is an accessible fishing pier on Raccoon Lake. The twelve-acre Upper Lake provides catch and release fishing year-round.
Ryerson Station	The 52-acre Ronald J. Duke Lake has trout, warm-water game fish and panfish. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks the lake with trout in spring and late fall. An ADA accessible fishing area is by the park office.
Yellow Creek	The 720-acre Yellow Creek Lake is well stocked with most warm-water game fish and panfish typically found throughout the Commonwealth. These include smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, tiger muskellunge, yellow perch, bluegill and catfish. There is an accessible fishing pier on the north shore. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission big bass regulations are in effect on Yellow Creek Lake.

Information on obtaining a PA fishing license