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.

This lovely conservation area is 450 acres of beautiful forest with lots to see and a very shadowy…read morepast. The ruins of an old pipe factory are very visible and there are informative signs that tell the story. These occurrences took place in the 1800's. There is history of criminals murdered, accidental death(pipe factory), a hanging, an explosion, a drowning, a giant snake sighting, all taking place in the park. For this reason many people think that the sight is haunted by the people who met their fate here. I hate to burst the excitement, but I have never experienced ghosts, or any other paranormal activity while spending time there. In fact, despite it's dark past Dead Man's Hollow is a very tranquil place. If you have been there during May when Spring season really kicks off you will see tons of wildflowers that are spectacular. The pipe factory had a fire and the ground was burned. This happens to be very good for re-growth and as a result we get to experience a lot of beautiful flora. Also, the old pipe factory remains are covered with cool graffiti. The trails are at times narrow, but they are very clean. You are at some point going to climb up and down hills, so it is a very good workout. I would say that the hiking is a bit more challenging. To find it I would suggest searching via a trailhead name and not just the park name. One example would be "cat fish pond trail." There is a nice parking area near that trailhead. There is also another parking area on the other side of the park(more on that later). This other side is closer to the ruins.

We checked out the catfish pond today. It looked promising at first but soon discovered that there…read moreis very little accessibility to fish there. The spots that are open are at an incline sloped towards the pond and are very slippery and hazardous. I do not recommend taking young kids there. My daughter and I fished for an hour or so and only saw bluegill in the 3-4" range and smaller minnows. We used lures and worms and had many bites but the fish were too small to get hooked. We did see many water turtles and even a few babies whose shell was about 2-3" in diameter. We also saw one large snapping turtle appear for a few seconds. There are also a bunch of bullfrog minnows whose bodies were the size of golf balls (early June). It's a cool place to see but we won't be returning to fish.

Crooked Creek Park is an excellent asset to those of us living nearby. Hiking, fishing, and…read moreswimming are available in a clean, well-maintained natural environment. I've lived here more than 40 years and still count my blessings to have this park available. It's also great to see a new generation being introduced to the park through the recently expanded disc golf course. Hard to believe something so nice is still free.

Could use some upgraded facilities. Nice beach area. Usually not too crowded. Water is regulated so…read moreit's safe.

Great park and campsites within an hour drive from PGH. We stayed in the Hillside campground which…read morewas pet friendly. The bathhouse was close by and well maintained. They had a large family bathroom which was great for the little one. However, I think our campsite may have had some poison oak/ivy plants so be cautious. The campsite was also a close hike to the entrance of Keystone state park and the lake. Beautiful views all around!!!

According to Keystone State Park's website, the park traces its history to the early 1900s. The…read moreKeystone Coal and Coke Company built a lake here and transported its water to a facility to wash coal. The executives used the lake also for recreational activities such as boating and fishing, and they built lodges for meetings, vacations, and hunting. In 1945, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acquired the land. Today, the park is about 1,200 acres in size. Its amenities include the lake and sand beach, visitor center, picnic tables, lodging (i.e., cabins, cottages, and yurts), campground for tents, modern restrooms, hiking trails, ball field, boat rental, and fishing pier. Visitors may choose to go swimming, watch wildlife, attend educational programs, hunt in certain areas during hunting seasons, etcetera. This past weekend, a group of my friends and I visited Keystone State Park. I arrived around 11 AM on a Sunday, and I easily found a parking space in a lot. I explored a farmers market that had been set up in nearby tents. We found picnic tables under mature trees for shade. The lake and beach were within walking distance. In June, the water surprisingly felt cold. A friend went fishing. We enjoyed each others' company and the activities at this park, and we feel interested in returning again in the future.

It's a great place to take the family, there are things for all ages from just sitting on the sand…read morewhile soaking up the sun, to swimming to renting a paddleboard or canoe to walking around the dam. There are pavillions, playgrounds, a learing center with educational events (not during Covid-19), a small store to buy hot prepared food (hotdogs, french fries, etc...), cold drinks and other items. The beach area is finally smoke free for those of us who are allergic to cigarettes, it's a true relief. We can enjoy the day without worrying about our eyes swelling shut because the people next to use wont stop smoking and just throwing the butts on the sand. There are designated smoking areas for those who must smoke. Pets are welcome.

Nice and clean. Easy trails. Beautiful on a fall day. Easy…read moreto drive to. Camping is easy

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

After a couple of years of seeing it promoted, we decided to check out Tubapalooza for the first…read moretime. We attended Tubapalooza 2025! We're glad we did! The staff was welcoming and warm, even on this slightly chilly day. The music brought on the right atmosphere, the vibes were fantastic, and the food came when we needed it the most! We got the camping packet that let's you camp for 2 tonight/3 days, and includes the Tubapalooza, and other tubing options each day. There were a vast selection of campsite options. We were surprised that it wasn't packed (especially the night before Tubapalooza). Our campsite was next to the river, it couldn't have been more ideal. The location was calm and the sounds of the river and nature were soothing, even on the few times when the geese went wild. All in all, if we're still living in Pennsylvania, we plan to return next year!

It's a decent run and we did it once before when the water level was below 2.60, and they let you…read morego twice b/c you're only doing half the run. So I've been watching the site for the water level, and only purchased because I saw the water level was above 2.60, but when I get there I'm told they're only running half the course again, despite that the water level was above 2.60. No announcement on the site or on social media. So I feel like I got a bait and switch. I drove 2 hours to get there and I guess I'll call ahead in the future before paying $80.

A lovely park for most ages. There is a playground area for the little ones. An 1+mile path…read morecircling the lake. Corn hole for all. And there are lots of hills that are crew used to roll down. This was also just a small snapshot of the park too. There are lots of ball fields, hiking trails and even an airfield. There is plenty to explore here. The one drawback I would say is the accessibility. It's a far hike from any major highways/roads with lots of curvy roads leading there. It would be nice to have a more accessible with maybe even some bus routes.

Northmoreland is such a chill park. The lake is absolutely beautiful especially in the summer time…read more I wish they pumped the water more to get it moving. You can find people paddle boating during the summer months. The path around the lake is 1.1 miles. There are other parts of the park, but the lake, playground, boat house, and pavilion are part of the central park. The playground equipment is a little faded but still looks to be structurally sound. We rented the pavilion for a graduation party; it was perfect and inexpensive. We had the grilling area, grass, swings and beautiful view of the lake.

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 :)

Oooo, just visited this divine natural area and it is gorgeous! They have a very nice woodland…read morewith a beautiful stream, rock formations, well marked trails and pretty hemlock trees. It is owned by the Audubon Society and is in Sarver, P.A. We went at the end of February and some of the trails were extremely muddy. We had to back track and go different paths because we didn't want to be steeped in mud. You should for sure bring some good boots with lots of traction. It is definitely worth the visit!

A great place to hike not far off of route 28 that's quiet and scenic with lots to see. There's a…read morereally nice pond not far from the beginning of the trail. Great place to take the kids to see wildlife and explore nature plus it's Free.