Located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Ohiopyle State Park is a natural park and tourist destination that has scenic overlooks, hiking trails, whitewater rafting, and number of other outdoor activities for visitors. This park is located along 27 miles of the Youghiogheny River, including a 14-mile stretch along a beautiful natural gorge, and covers over 19,000 acres of land in the Laurel Mountains.
Motorized vehicles are prohibited in Ohiopyle State Park, but there are a number of recreational opportunities for visitors who want to park at the entrance and enjoy nature. There are around 30 miles of trails for bicycling, including one trail that is part of the Great Allegheny Passage, which connect Cumberland, Maryland and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The park has a bike rental shop, or the trail ca be used for walking, jogging, and cross-country skiing. There are also separate trails for horseback riding, which can also be used by cyclists.
Hunting and fishing are also extremely popular in Ohiopyle State Park in designated areas. The Youghiogheny River is stocked with track during the entire season, and there is a 3.5-mile stretch where anglers can participate in the annual all-tackle trophy trout program. Around 18,000 acres of the park are open to hunters a trappers during certain seasons, so guests can also hunt for species like deer, turkey, and squirrel. Over the winter, the park also allows the training of hunting dogs, which is really helpful to hunters who have new dogs.
By far, the most popular activity at Ohiopyle State Park is white water rafting. This stretch of river is known as one of the best for white water rafting along the east coast, and the park has a number of rafts, kayaks, and canoes that can be used to take on the challenge. For guests who want to take on the more intense class II and class IV rapids along some sections of the river, guides are available through the park. Guided trips are also available for guests who are very new to boating and want to learn new skills on the water in a safe way. Laurel Highlands River Tours, Mountain Streams and Trails Outfitters, Ohiopyle Trading Post, White Water Adventures in Ohiopyle, and Wilderness Voyageurs are the outfitters that are licensed to run guided private trips in this state park.
For those who want to stay on dry land, there are also a number of lookout spots where visitors can view the waterfalls and rapids along the river. The Cucumber Falls is a 30-foot waterfall along the Meadow Run Trail not far from the entrance to the park, and the Cascades waterfall is located next to the park office. There are also observation decks to see certain waterfalls in the Falls Day Use area, a part of the park that is meant for visitors who aren't interested in using one of the park's many campsites. Before leaving, guests should also check out the Ferncliff Peninsula National Natural Landmark, which was designated in 1973 and is home to a number of rare plants.
Ohiopyle State Park is open year-round, as there are a number of unique outdoor activities, including cross-country skiing and sledding, during the winter months in this park. To learn more, call the office at 724-329-8591.
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