There’s something special about Ohiopyle in autumn. The hot summer days give way to crisp mountain air, the forests explode with reds, oranges and golds, and familiar waterfalls and overlooks suddenly look completely different.

Fall is also a great time to slow down. Instead of trying to squeeze every possible activity into a summer afternoon, spend a weekend hiking, biking, sightseeing, exploring the Laurel Highlands—and enjoying a cool evening around the fire.

Pennsylvania DCNR notes that fall color in the Laurel Highlands begins developing in October, with peak color typically occurring around mid-October.

Here are some of the best ways to experience fall in Ohiopyle.

See Ohiopyle Falls Surrounded by Fall Color

Start with the centerpiece of Ohiopyle State Park: Ohiopyle Falls.

The roughly 20-foot waterfall is impressive any time of year, but autumn adds an entirely new backdrop as the surrounding hillsides change color. The main observation area makes this an easy stop even if you aren’t planning a long hike.

Bring the camera. You may find yourself taking considerably more pictures than you planned.

Take a Fall Foliage Drive

Sometimes the best way to see autumn in the Laurel Highlands is simply to get in the car and explore.

DCNR actually features a Discover Fall Scenic Driving Tour through the Laurel Highlands. Its southern loop covers approximately 70 miles, passing through valleys and ridges and connecting Ohiopyle with other state park lands and scenic viewpoints. DCNR recommends allowing at least two and a half hours for the loop.

Or make your own route. Follow the winding mountain roads around Ohiopyle, Farmington, Mill Run and the surrounding Laurel Highlands and see where the colors take you.

Look Down on the Yough from Baughman Rocks

For a big fall view, head up to Baughman Rock Overlook.

From here, you’re looking across the Youghiogheny River Gorge and miles of forested hillsides. DCNR identifies Baughman Rocks as a viewpoint over Pennsylvania’s deepest gorge.

When those hillsides are covered in autumn color, it’s one of the views that makes a fall trip to Ohiopyle worth the drive.

Hike Through the Changing Forest

Fall may be the perfect hiking season in Ohiopyle: cooler temperatures, colorful forests and 79 miles of trails from which to choose.

For a classic Ohiopyle hike, explore Ferncliff Peninsula Natural Area. The 1.7-mile Ferncliff Trail follows the peninsula near the Youghiogheny River and passes Ohiopyle Falls, Washington’s Overlook and Lovers Leap while traveling through mature hemlocks, white pines and giant oaks.

For more waterfalls, Jonathan Run Trail is another great choice. The 1.6-mile trail crosses Jonathan Run and passes numerous small waterfalls along the way.

Visit Cucumber Falls

Cucumber Falls is worth seeing in every season, but the combination of falling water, exposed rock and autumn leaves makes it an especially beautiful fall destination.

You can make it a relatively quick sightseeing stop or turn it into part of a longer hike. The Cucumber Falls Trail travels along the river, passes Entrance Rapid and continues through mature hemlock forest before reaching the falls.

Bike the GAP Through the Fall Colors

You don’t have to put the bicycles away just because summer is over.

Approximately 27 miles of the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage pass through Ohiopyle State Park. The trail follows an old railroad grade and has a relatively flat crushed-limestone surface, making it accessible to riders who aren’t looking for a serious mountain-bike workout.

Ride a few miles or make an afternoon of it. Either way, biking beneath a canopy of changing leaves with the Youghiogheny River nearby is an entirely different experience from riding the same trail in midsummer.

And be sure to stop on the Ohiopyle High Bridge to take in the view.

Find the Perfect Fall Photograph

If you enjoy photography, autumn gives you almost too many choices.

Try Ohiopyle Falls early in the day, Cucumber Falls surrounded by fallen leaves, the Youghiogheny River from one of the GAP bridges, or the sweeping gorge from Baughman Rocks.

Another option is Tharp Knob. The one-mile Tharp Knob Loop leads to an overlook with an outstanding view of the Borough of Ohiopyle.

And don’t forget the smaller details—colorful leaves floating down the Yough, mist above the river on a cool morning, or the first frost of the season.

Visit Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob

Fall is also a wonderful time to explore the architectural attractions surrounding Ohiopyle.

Spend part of your getaway touring Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Fallingwater, then explore nearby Kentuck Knob. With the surrounding Laurel Highlands dressed for autumn, the landscape becomes part of the experience.

This makes an especially good choice for a cooler or overcast fall day when you want something different from a long hike.

Enjoy Ohiopyle When Things Slow Down

One of the pleasures of fall is simply experiencing a different side of Ohiopyle.

Walk around town. Grab something to eat. Take an easy stroll along the river. Stop at the falls without worrying about what adventure you need to rush off to next.

Ohiopyle State Park remains open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset, although individual facilities and services have seasonal hours.

Sometimes a cool afternoon with nowhere you have to be is exactly what a mountain getaway should be.

Spend a Cool Evening Around the Fire

After a day of exploring, head back to your vacation rental, put on a sweatshirt and enjoy the evening.

Build a fire. Make some hot chocolate. Cook dinner together. Sit outside under the stars. Or relax in a hot tub while the temperature drops around you.

Fall is made for cabin getaways.

Make a Weekend of It

Ohiopyle in the fall isn’t about one attraction.

It’s waking up to cool mountain air. Seeing the hills covered in color. Hiking to a waterfall. Riding the GAP. Exploring Fallingwater. Taking the long way back just because the scenery is beautiful. Then spending the evening relaxing with the people you came with.

And if you time your visit around mid-October, you may catch the Laurel Highlands near the height of its fall color.

When you plan your autumn adventure, make Ohiopyle Getaways your home base. Choose from comfortable vacation rentals near Ohiopyle and give yourself an entire weekend to enjoy one of the most beautiful times of the year in the Laurel Highlands.

See the colors. Explore Ohiopyle. Stay awhile.

Book your fall getaway → Secure Your Stay Today!