Summer may be winding down, but there’s still plenty of time to squeeze another adventure into the season. Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania is one of those places where you can pack an incredible amount into a single weekend: whitewater, waterfalls, biking, hiking, sightseeing, good food, and plenty of time to simply enjoy the mountains.
At the heart of it all is Ohiopyle State Park, a roughly 20,500-acre playground centered around the Youghiogheny River Gorge.
Here are some of the best ways to make the most of the remaining days of summer!
Take on the Yough
If you’ve never experienced Ohiopyle from the river, put whitewater rafting near the top of your list.
The Lower Youghiogheny, or Lower Yough, is the classic Ohiopyle whitewater experience, with Class III and IV rapids running through the river gorge. If you’re inexperienced, DCNR recommends taking this section with an authorized rafting outfitter.
Want something a little more relaxed? The Middle Yough features Class I and II rapids and is a popular choice for families and those looking for a gentler river experience.
Either way, getting wet on the Yough is about as close to a quintessential Ohiopyle summer day as you can get.
There are so many great options for white water rafting trips including
Wilderness Voyageurs
Laurel Highlands River Tours
White Water Adventurers
Ohiopyle Trading Post
Bike the Great Allegheny Passage
Bring your bikes, or rent some when you arrive, and spend a few hours exploring the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP).
About 27 miles of the 150-mile GAP pass through Ohiopyle State Park. The former railroad grade provides a relatively flat, crushed-limestone route that’s great for anything from a short family ride to an all-day excursion.
One of the best parts? You don’t need to be a serious cyclist. Pick a direction, ride as far as you’d like, enjoy the scenery along the Yough, and turn around when you’re ready.
Plan your GAP trail trip with this interactive map!
See Ohiopyle Falls
You really can’t visit Ohiopyle without stopping to see Ohiopyle Falls.
The powerful waterfall sits right in the heart of the park and makes an easy stop whether you’re spending an hour in town or an entire weekend exploring. The park also recommends combining the falls with a stroll through the Borough of Ohiopyle.
Take your time, grab some pictures, watch the river, and enjoy one of the views that defines Ohiopyle.
Learn more about Ohiopyle Falls here!
Chase Another Waterfall
Don’t stop at Ohiopyle Falls.
Cucumber Falls is one of the park’s most recognizable natural attractions. This approximately 30-foot bridal-veil waterfall is accessible from the Cucumber Falls area as well as via the trail system.
If you want to make waterfall hunting part of the day’s adventure, Jonathan Run Trail passes several smaller waterfalls, while Meadow Run offers the Cascades.
Hike Ferncliff
For a hike that puts you right in the middle of Ohiopyle’s scenery, explore the Ferncliff Peninsula.
The 1.7-mile Ferncliff Trail follows the peninsula near the river and passes Ohiopyle Falls, Washington’s Overlook and Lovers Leap. Along the way, you’ll walk among mature hemlocks, white pines and giant oaks.
And that’s just one option. Ohiopyle State Park has approximately 79 miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy walks to serious backcountry hikes.
Try the Natural Waterslides
Looking for one last distinctly summer experience?
Head for Meadow Run’s natural waterslides, where flowing water has carved channels through the rock. DCNR permits visitors to ride the water through two natural slides, although caution is essential because this is a natural water feature with inherent hazards.
It’s an Ohiopyle experience that’s hard to duplicate anywhere else.
Find an Incredible View
Not every adventure has to involve getting soaked or working up a sweat.
Take some time to simply enjoy the scenery.
Baughman Rocks provides a view into Pennsylvania’s deepest gorge, while Tharp Knob offers a beautiful overlook and picnic opportunity.
A late-summer evening is a particularly good time to slow things down and appreciate why so many people return to the Laurel Highlands year after year.
Visit Fallingwater
Give your legs a break and spend part of the day exploring one of America’s architectural treasures.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater was designed in 1935 as a vacation home for the Kaufmann family and famously integrates the house with the waterfall and landscape surrounding it.
If you’re planning a late-summer visit, don’t assume you can simply show up. Fallingwater recommends planning four to six weeks ahead during peak months including July and August.
Make It a History Day
There’s plenty to explore beyond the state park.
Nearby Fort Necessity National Battlefield takes visitors back to the opening of the French and Indian War and young George Washington’s early military career. During summer, the National Park Service offers programming that can include talks, tours and historic demonstrations.
Pairing Ohiopyle, Fallingwater and Fort Necessity can turn a weekend getaway into a combination of outdoor adventure, architecture and American history.
Eat Something Good Afterward
After rafting, biking or hiking all day, you’re going to be hungry.
Ohiopyle has several casual places where shorts, hiking shoes and a little river water on your clothes don’t feel out of place. Grab a meal, find something cold to drink, get an ice cream, and spend some time walking around town before heading back to your vacation rental.
Sometimes that’s the best part of an Ohiopyle day…when the adventure is over, but you’re not quite ready for the day to end.
Don’t Let Summer Get Away
You don’t need a week-long vacation to enjoy Ohiopyle.
Come for a couple of days. Raft the Yough. Ride the GAP. Chase waterfalls. Hike through the woods. Visit Fallingwater. Eat something good. Sit around a fire in the evening. Then wake up and do it all over again.
Summer isn’t over yet.
When you’re planning your final summer escape, make Ohiopyle Getaways your home base. Choose from our vacation rentals near Ohiopyle and give yourself more than a day to experience everything the Laurel Highlands has to offer.
Book your Ohiopyle Getaway → Check Availability Now!