Train rides, mountain views and road trips: Where to see Pennsylvania’s best fall foliage
Autumnal adventures abound in the commonwealth, from PA’s ‘Grand Canyon’ to a trail that takes you from Maryland to Pittsburgh.
The signs of autumn in Pennsylvania are all around us: The Eagles and Steelers are back on the field, there are fall festivals galore, spookiness abounds, and the state’s 130-plus native tree species are putting on a spectacle of colors.
Pennsylvania has a longer fall foliage season than any other state in the country, according to the commonwealth’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which means you can see the changing leaves though October and even into November in some parts of the state.
“Pennsylvania is home to 124 state parks, 2.2 million acres of state forestlands and a host of other public places to view the splendor and majesty of color fall foliage brings each autumn,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in a press release. “I am hopeful that Pennsylvanians and visitors alike will create unique experiences, whether you’re out viewing foliage from a trail or stopping to leaf-peep from a vista on a scenic drive.”
Whether you want to see the changing leaves by train, hike a mountain and view the autumnal hues from above, or embark on a fall-inspired road trip, you can do so throughout the next month in the commonwealth.
Before you head to any of the following places, you can check the DCNR’s weekly fall foliage reports to see what the colors are expected to be like.
The Great Allegheny Passage
When to go: Early October
Running from Cumberland, Maryland, to downtown Pittsburgh, the Great Allegheny Passage is a 150-mile path that takes riders through valleys and mountains now erupting into fall colors. The picturesque path travels alongside the Casselman, Youghiogheny and Monongahela rivers, crosses the Mason-Dixon line, bisects the Ohiopyle State Park, and ends at the Point State Park. You can stop for sweeping views at the Eastern Continental Divide, the highest point on the path, the historic Bollman Bridge and Ohiopyle State Park, among many other spots that are detailed on the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy’s website.
Laurel Highlands
When to go: Mid-October
Routinely named one of the country’s best places to go for fall foliage, the Laurel Highlands region in southwestern Pennsylvania spans three counties — Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland — and boasts eight state parks, two state forests, and five national parks. There, you can head to Pennsylvania’s highest point, Mount Davis in Forbes State Forest, to see expansive, 360-degree views from the 50-foot observation tower that’s accessible by road. Explore Ohiopyle State Park’s waterfalls and the Baughman Rock Overlook for dramatic views of the Youghiogheny River Gorge. The Packsaddle covered bridge, which was built in 1870 and sits atop a waterfall in southern Somerset County, is surrounded by forest. Still haven’t had enough leaf peeping by waterfalls? Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house in Mill Run was partially built over a waterfall on the Bear Run River. For those who’d rather see the area by car, the Pennsylvania DCNR put together two driving tours of the Laurel Highlands, including this 125-mile route through Westmoreland and Somerset Counties and a 70-mile drive in Ohiopyle State Park.
Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival
When to go: First three weekends of October
Known as the “Switzerland of America” thanks to being nestled at the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, the town of Jim Thorpe draws thousands of people every year for its Fall Foliage Festival. Situated just north of the Lehigh Gorge State Park, itself a spectacle of colors in autumn, the town will hold its annual fall festival on the first three weekends in October. During the event, you’ll be able to take train rides to view the autumnal landscape, eat fall-inspired food, listen to live music, and more. Want to head to other fall festivals? Check this list out from the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
Pennsylvania Route 6
When to go: Mid- to late October
Hop on Pennsylvania’s historic Route 6 for a fall road trip that will take you through 400 miles of the state’s forests and hills. Along the route that traverses 11 counties in northern Pennsylvania, motorists can get a view of the impressive Pine Creek Gorge, otherwise known as the commonwealth’s Grand Canyon; visit the 225-foot-tall Kinzua Sky Walk that provides panoramic views of Kinzua Bridge State Park; and watch as autumn transforms the shores of Lake Erie at the 3,200-acre Presque Isle State Park.
Lehigh Valley
When to go: Mid-October
Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania is full of autumn adventures. You can explore the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, which includes more than 2,500 acres of protected forests. At the sanctuary, you can take in sweeping views from mountaintop lookouts and catch glimpses of the thousands of migrating hawks that pass through the sanctuary each fall. Plus, the facility puts on an autumn lecture series. Also in the Lehigh Valley, you can go foliage watching on a historic covered bridge tour, take scenic chairlift rides at the Blue Mountain Resort, and climb aboard the Coalbrookdale Railroad for its fall foliage tours.