A sign marks the Laurel Highlands Trail in Ohiopyle State Park, Pa. (Compass Points Media / flickr) http://www.flickr.com/photos/compasspointsmedia/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
EDITORS NOTE: Ohiopyle and the Laurel Highlands Trail are the subject of a Trail Blazes hiking guide, available here from Compass Points Media.
Ohiopyle became one of those places I would often hear about but had yet to visit. “You’re from Pennsylvania?” people would say. “Ever been to Ohiopyle? You gotta hike Ohiopyle.”
Okay, okay.
My chance came last weekend, and I can say Ohiopyle just can’t be seen in one day. Too many trails, too many waterfalls, too many adventure opportunities in a 19,000-acre park about 90 minutes south of Pittsburgh.
If you’re inspired to see the heart of Ohiopyle’s mixed hardwood forest, serene ravines and lazy vistas of the Youghiogheny River, gear up for this 12.6-mile out-and-back hike on the Laurel Highland Trail, completed as either an overnight hike or a one-day, honkin’, quad-bustin’ trip.
DIRECTIONS: Hook up with U.S. 119 South and follow that for 14 miles until you make a lefthand turn at East Crawford Avenue. After 1.3 miles, turn left at PA Route 711, which you will take for 8 miles. PA Route 711 turns in PA 381 South, which you take for about 10 miles into Ohiopyle State Park and the town of Ohiopyle. Pass the town, cross the bridge and take the first right. The parking lot is on the right, across from the Falls City Restaurant and Pup.
Sugarloaf Knob and the Youghiogheny River. (Compass Points Media / flickr) http://www.flickr.com/photos/compasspointsmedia/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
HIKE ON: The yellow-blazed Laurel Highlands Trail begins on the other side of a gate and follows a dirt road for a fifth of a mile, where it turns left at a hiking trail sign. This backpacking trail moves through state park land for 70 miles between Ohiopyle and Johnstown.
The first 1.7 miles have an easygoing feel, paralleling the river and railroad tracks, passing trickling streams, rhododendrons and large boulders. But then the trail begins busting up the side of the mountain, climbing 260 feet over just a quarter of a mile to a photogenic view of the Youghiogheny River, the railroad and 2,667-foot Sugarloaf Knob.
The trail levels out from there for 0.85, passing through an oak, maple and beech forest where the Monogahela tribe mysteriously disappeared as Europeans began to arrive, never to be heard from again. The trail turns right at a sign and descends 400 feet for 0.4 mile into a ravine created by Rock Spring Run. Cross the stream on a log bridge, then hike uphill for 460 feet over 1.2 miles to another view of the river and Sugarloaf Knob.
Another 1.2 miles brings you to a beautiful river known as Lick Run. Cross on a log bridge and continue for 0.25 uphill to a blue-blazed sidetrail leading to the shelters. Find five shelters, a pair of privies, a water pump and intermittent stream. This is your camp spot or turnaround point.
View Ohiopyle State Park – Laurel Highlands Trail, Pa. in a larger map
