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.

What a great place to visit!! A little over an hour from…read morePittsburgh and well worth the drive. I was surprised to learn there were several Buttermilk Falls in the area. Parking lot was spacious and there were restrooms too. There is a pathway down to the falls and also a long walkway around (Mister Rogers Pathway). We chose the long way around which was nice. I can only imagine how beautiful it would be during the fall months. When you arrive to the falls there is an overlook view which is really amazing. You then cross a little bridge and walk down a set of stairs to the waterfall. The stairs were fairly new and manageable- going down and back up. There is an area that you walk and stand under and behind the falls.. I loved that!!! It was so neat. We look forward to returning.

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.

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 :)

This is a lovely area. We had a nice little drive around, and then stopped to do the hike out to…read moreAdam Falls. The small parking area by the trailhead also features an adjacent playground space, plus a nice picnic area. A stream ambles along, and signage indicates that it is stocked with fish. The hike takes you through the woods around to a nice little waterfall, very picturesque in the wood setting. They offer cabins too for those who want to stay onsite and extend their stay.

This is such a cool park that may be overlooked because it is in a secluded little spot in…read moreLigonier, P.A. It has a raging stream, waterfall, natural slides, some old ruins, beautiful trails and natural beauty. It is certainly a hidden gem of this area and should be visited for a joyful weekend excursion. It is especially beautiful in the Fall and Winter, but you can go there year round.

DO NOT GO FULL SPEED ON THE SLIDES!!!!!!!! They are fun but…read moreREALLY fast and you WILL fly off if you don't drag your feet when sliding down. Especially for the curvier slide on the left. My glasses flew off of my face and I thought I was going to fly off of the edge, but instead landed on the ground with a nice bruise on my shin as a souvenir. The plastic "kids slide" is like going down a thin lobster tail and is bumpy on the way down. Anyway. Would come back. The slides are still fun even when moving at a reasonable speed. The rock scramble stairs and the cargo net to get back up are also fun. Yes, I am an adult.

I loved it here and my kids said they never wanted to leave…read moreAn the wild life is so beautiful And the surroundings there were all so peaceful and proper and wonderful and I wish I could live there

Ran/hiked an out-n-back from Ohiopyle to Confluence. Well maintained, flat, wide rail trail right…read morealongside the Youghiogheny River. Gorgeous in the fall with the leaves changing. If you only want to run/hike one direction, call the bike rental shops in Ohiopyle to purchase a return trip by van from Confluence to Ohiopyle.

Great small town to stop along the GAP. Visitor Center is inside the old train station with…read morerestrooms. Local general store and several sandwich and restaurants within just a few steps away. Recommend the Ohiopyle Sandwich and Bakery for a made to order sandwich on wonderful bread with sweet treats too...recommend the cookies.

The Coal & Coke Trail is a neat little biking and hiking trail in Westmoreland County connecting…read moreMount Pleasant with Scottdale. A mere 5 miles in length, it's one of the few Rails-to-Trails I hadn't covered yet. Really, I couldn't justify the time or gas money to do a 10 mile round trip bike ride. A 10 mile hike is of course another story! And that's just what I did as part of my employer's wellness program. I planned the whole thing and of course headed up the hardy group of hikers able to complete the entire 10 mile round trip. The trail begins and ends in city parks at both ends. We began at Willows Park in Mount Pleasant. The address I gave you above is the parking lot and it's based on information from www.traillink.com Drinking water and restrooms are available in the park, but the restrooms appear to be closed in winter. We began by working our way southbound. The trail was built on the roadbed of a Pennsylvania RR branch. As ts name implies, the railroad hauled coke ad coal over the line. The railroad was abandoned for many years, however after 8 years of planning, the trail opened in 2007. Upon leaving town, we hiked through some scenic wooded areas to the town of Bridgeport. At one point we noticed the trail paralleling an active rail line. The forest here is old growth and we crossed one of a few small streams. Beyond the town of Bridgeport, we again entered the woodlands while paralleling Jacobs Creek. Curving to the west as we approached Scottdale, we arrived at the scenic high point of the day. The sewage treatment plant. Yep! The trail even goes through plant's parking lot and is routed onto Sewage Treatment Lane! Well no worries--we crossed Old US 119 and then ducked under the new highway before entering our last stretch of woodlands. Part of the trail is incomplete at Scottdale, so we had to walk down Mildred Street , Bessemer Street, and Mt. Pleasant Road (they're actually all the same street) before reaching Kendi Park. The trail resumes briefly here but this was our rest stop and turnaround point. So this is a pleasant and relatively easy trail to hike or bike. Just remember, there aren't any places to obtain food or water along the path, so be sure to bring adequate supplies of each.

Great place to walk. You can choose to challenge yourself or take it easy. Got lots of great pics…read moreas well

This serene place of conservation, botany, ecology, ornithology, beneficial entomology along with…read morepollinators, sustainability practices and the charitable history and dedication to education and humble respects is a perfect place for a delightful walk of calmness and or exciting discoveries at nearly every step. Contact them at the Westmoreland Land Trust for more information: Grand Re-Opening Autumn 2023.

What a wonderful afternoon out in nature! The falls were beautiful and the hike was pretty easy. We…read morewere visiting some friends up in deep creek and we decided to take it outside and enjoy this beautiful day. So glad we did, it was one of the first "nice" days of spring when we attended. It was pretty crowded, but we still had no issues parking and even enjoyed the scenic drive to the park.

7/5/23. Have been coming here pretty much my whole life! My grandparent took my Mother/aunts when…read morethey were dating what became their husbands. I did the same now grandkids come!

Beautiful scenery! Clean bathrooms. Respectful other campers. Not far from Ohiopyle and there's…read morelots to see and do there too.

Husband and I had a nice drive to Kooser State Park to do a little fishing. It is located off PA…read moreroute 31 between Donegal and Somerset. I think at times it is often overlooked but it has clean restrooms, plenty of picnic tables, camping site, a few hiking trails and pavilions. It is smaller than some of the other state parks. The lake is stocked with trout, but you can also catch perch and blue gill. No boats are allowed and all fishing must be done from the shoreline. It has been years since I was here last. Our family and friends used to swim in the ice cold spring water, but swimming is no longer allowed. The remnants of the old beach can be seen. Nice park for a family picnic and fishing.

I love Fall Run! Everything about it. Great little hiking trails, water falls, and areas for…read morepicnicing. The best part is that if you look closely, you will find that someone has set up little gnome, faeries, and mushroom houses and scenes throughout the property. Usually in and around trees. Finding the little ceramic figures just living their lives in the forest makes for a fun kind of scavenger hunt. And, oh...there are little trolls as well.

There is great scenery in this local park! The linear trail is wide and has multiple bridges…read more Perfect spot for a quick nature fix.