What a gorgeous hike! There's maybe 1100 steps and it took us 35 minutes to get to the stop with…read moremultiple breaks. The stairs are uneven and steel in places so it was definitely a challenge. The view at the top was so worth it though. Parking is right along the road and it tends to fill up mid Saturday so I definitely recommend getting there early. There's also a porta potty at the base.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g53190-d4170165-r774164462-1_000_Steps_at_Jacks_Mountain…read moreMill_Creek_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905 Took 30 minutes to get to the top with breaks. Totally worth it! Knees were trembling when they got to the bottom.

One of my favorite parts about hiking is talking to other hikers! A few weeks ago, while wrapping…read moreup a different trail, another hiker asked where else I liked to hike. When I admitted I'd never been to Opossum Lake, she looked at me like I was missing out and told me I needed to check it out. Well...challenge accepted! When I got home, I looked it up and discovered it was only about 25 minutes from my house. Somehow, yet again, I had managed to overlook another great outdoor spot practically in my own backyard. A beautiful four-mile trail around a lake? Count me in! I headed out early on a mid-July Sunday morning, hoping to beat both the heat and the crowds. GPS brought me right to the parking area without any trouble, and even though there were already quite a few people there fishing, I had no problem finding a parking spot. The trail itself was fantastic! One of the things I appreciated most was how much the terrain changed throughout the loop. Parts of the trail were covered with crushed stone, others with pine needles, tanbark or natural dirt. It kept the hike interesting without ever becoming difficult. The entire four-mile loop is well-marked, easy to follow and beautifully shaded, making it an excellent summer hike even when temperatures start creeping up. The recent rain left a few muddy spots along the trail, but nothing that slowed me down. PRO TIP: If you're hiking after a rainstorm, use a little extra caution on the wooden footbridges. They can get a bit slick. The trail offered plenty to see along the way. I spotted birds, turtles and beautiful views across the lake and I found myself stopping more than once simply to enjoy the peaceful scenery. One unexpected highlight came when I crossed the spillway bridge. The interpretive signs explaining the history of the dam, the high-water markers and why the bridge was built so high above the creek added a neat educational element to the hike that I wasn't expecting. I always appreciate when a place teaches me something while I'm out exploring. Beyond hiking, it's easy to see why Opossum Lake has become such a popular recreation area. Throughout my visit I saw anglers casting from the shoreline, boats out enjoying the water and families making use of the many picnic areas scattered around the lake. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, paddle or simply enjoy a peaceful picnic, there's plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the scenery. I can already tell Opossum Lake is going to earn a permanent spot on my short list of local hikes. It's close to home. It's easy enough to enjoy without needing to mentally prepare for a mountain expedition. And it's beautiful enough that it never feels like "just another walk." Sometimes you want a huge adventure. Sometimes you just want to lace up your hiking boots, get a few peaceful miles under your belt and spend some time outside. Opossum Lake is absolutely perfect for those days!

'Possum Lake is a great place to go for a quick hike or paddle. My favorite thing is to hike…read morearound the lake in the evening then head out in the kayak. The distance around the lake is, I think, about 3 or 3 1/2 miles and there are some small hills, steps, and mostly dirt or pine-needle-covered terrain. In terms of kayaking, I can paddle around all areas in about an hour. It's a convenient, easy-to-get-to location and it's open until 10pm.

If you're looking for an easy but super cool hike with big payoff, Hammonds Rocks in Michaux State…read moreForest is a must. I stopped by on a warm, sunny October Sunday morning while in the area for the National Apple Harvest Festival (about 30 minutes away), and somehow had the whole place to myself. It was so peaceful--just the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze and the occasional thud of acorns falling from the trees. The walk in is short and easy--basically a flat stroll past a couple of informational signs to reach the boulder outcropping. From there, the fun begins! Hammonds Rocks is about 400 feet long, with massive stone formations to climb, wander, and explore. I spent about 45 minutes hopping from stone to stone, taking photos, and checking out different angles of the formations. Even without climbing, there are plenty of spots to enjoy the view, though the tall trees do block some of it. Still, with the leaves just starting to turn to their fall colors, it was absolutely beautiful. The info signs are worth a pause, too--they really put things into perspective. One noted that when the sediments making up these rocks were deposited, the spot where I was standing was on the shore of a great ocean...530-600 MILLION years ago. Wild. Absolutely mind blowing! As for access: don't panic when Google Maps tells you the next few miles are unpaved. The gravel road is manageable if you take it slow and keep an eye out for some monster ruts. (Speaking from experience: this 40-something woman in her beloved Alfa Romeo made it just fine.) Just don't attempt in winter without knowing what you're getting into--the roads aren't maintained in snow or ice. Overall, Hammonds Rocks is an easy, low-effort, high-reward stop. Whether you're climbing, photographing, or just taking in the history and scenery, it's a great way to spend part of your day in Michaux.

This is the worst camp site ever in the ground. Are the rocks very hard to get a good steak in the…read moreground. The campers that come there are disgusting. There was this fat white woman with her kid kid is noisy and very rude. Very intrusive in my area and she never scolded him once.The rangers are nasty liars they judge you the accuse of things fine for some thing that wasn't posted so they fined us and we didn't know that we couldn't do So we got fine for it

Beautiful area just a short walk to the falls. Easy access and walk. Additional trail, short,…read moreacross the parking lot. Take a rain coat!! Enjoy

We went in the midst of a 90 degree plus heat wave, the falls were more of a trickle…read more Reaching the falls requires a nice little walk through the woods on a paved path.

Worlds End is another fantastic state park in Pennsylvania! There are a lot of sights to see and…read morethings to do. Unfortunately, the weather interfered with our ability to see as much as we had hoped, but we still had a great time! There is a nice visitor center with a variety of historic and nature info available, including some great info on the CCC work that took place in the park (there's a really nice interactive model of a CCC camp too) and how and where the park name is suspected to have been derived from. There is a real snake to look at, as well. A very nice playground is located nearby, and this section of the park also offers easy access to the Loysalsock Creek and the beach with a snack bar, plus multiple picnic tables and shelterhouses. It's beautiful even just to look at the valley walls and the creek itself. There are several gorgeous vistas available, some by foot and some by foot or car. We especially liked the Loyalsock Canyon Vista, which can be reached on foot or by car. It is located next to the Rock Garden, which is a very neat grouping of giant rocks and boulders that is a lot of fun to check out. The park also offers camping and plenty of trails. Worlds End is located within the Loyalsock State Forest, so there is also a lot more that one could explore in the area.

It was a great park that offers some great hike. You need to stay at least 1 night to enjoy the parkread more

By far the best! The service, atmosphere, the food! You get that small town hospitality that it's…read moreknown for. It's the only ice cream place in Williamsburg and they get a good many people from different areas (furthest I met lived in Ebensburg!) just for their tasty food! The owners are so down to earth and take their time with each and every customer. They don't rush you or look overwhelmed. They employ a good many high schoolers, personally I never had a problem with any of them they are just like the owners. A few years ago they put a car port with tables up which is nice! There's also another seating facing the river, a pravillion, and many other shady seating. The trail is right beside them it's my favorite part of Williamsburg. The river sound and shade can make you lose track of time peaceful and certain areas have beaches to picnic or swim. A hot summer day here will make the life stresses leave. With lower trail you'll never stop going it's worth it all.

This is a well maintained trail winding through the woods along the Frankstown Branch of the…read moreJuniata River and made over an old railroad bed so it's nice and flat for the most part. It goes from Alexandria, PA to Williamsburg, PA and a bit beyond. It's great for biking, horseback riding or just walking. You can park at the Alfarata Station in Alexandria or at the Water Street Flea Market, or at the Flowing Spring Station if you're coming from the other direction. There are four other stations along the way.

Nice area to visit. Great for kids. Lots of huge rocks to climb around on. Plenty of parking…read more Concession stand available. Primitive bathrooms. It's free to visit, donations boxes posted at trailhead.

Beautiful fall day in Pennsylvania. Cross country drive from Pittsburgh to Clearfield. We see a…read moresign for Bilgers Rocks and decide to check it out. There were three separate photo shoots happening, including a bride - complete with wedding dress. The locals know what they've got here regarding backdrop opportunities, for sure. The area is very beautiful, and the rocks are house- sized. The area has a large parking area, trail maps, pavilions, camping and a forest snack bar. Definitely worth a day trip for any nature lovers. Maybe worth a weekend for you wilderness lovers!

This smaller state park was a welcome respite for a short walk while driving along I-80. The…read moretrails were well marked and restrooms in good order. We appreciated the close proximity to the Interstate highway.

It's a nice place to hike and ski in the winter they also have snowmobile trails if your daring you…read morecan stay at the many campsites with no facility's I wouldn't in the winter time but summer would be fun

I was staying at Hidden Valley recently and I was looking for a cool place to hike in the area that…read moreI hadn't been to before and I happen to discover this gem. What a great spot for a hike, but an even better place for a swim, relaxing, a picnic on the grass or some sun on the sand by the water. So after we arrived we hit the trail that ran along the water while taking in the small but beautiful lake. We then proceeded to head into the woods. It was a great little hike and the trails were very easy. After we were done hiking we got the huge blanket and the cooler with snacks and drinks in it out of the car and headed over to a shaded spot under the trees. We sat in the grass area in the left corner of the parking lot and listened to music, ate, drank and enjoyed each other's company for a good while. Then after that we packed up our stuff in the car and headed down to the water and enjoyed the lake which is very clean and refreshing and the scenery is absolutely beautiful. I love that they have sand and everyone looked so happy. They also have an area where you can purchase food and beverages but they also have many other great amenities which I am sure can be discovered on here or on their website. I am so glad I discovered this place. I will most definitely be stopping by again when I am in the area. Enjoy :)

As if there wasn't enough parks in the Laurel Highlands, there is Laurel Hill State Park a 3,935…read moreacre natural area of beautiful forest, overlooks, ponds and streams. My recent visit was promising at first, but the rain just kept coming all day long and it "dampened" my spirits completely. I stopped by the main office and got directions to the Jones Mill Dam. Since it was raining so much I gave it some time to clear up, but to no avail. This park is certainly worth checking out and it will be super beautiful later on in the Spring. The wood frogs, spring peepers and other animals will be active. On the same road that this park lies on is two other parks: Kooser State Park and Laurel Ridge State Park, so it is possible to hit those up while in the area. I will certainly make the trip out here later on towards May.