Ohiopyle State Park: 10 Reasons to Visit One of My Favorite Places

Of all the places I’ve been, Ohiopyle State Park is still one of my favorite places to visit. This Pennsylvania state park sits in the Laurel Mountains in a sleepy corner of the southwestern part of the state. When the town of Ohiopyle was named the best small town in the northeast by the USA Today, I had to share some of the best things to do in the park for people thinking of visiting!

This post is also a great opportunity to introduce my good friend from way back when I was still living near Ohiopyle, Kelly from Adventures with Kelly! After leaving the area, she moved back and has been helping raise awareness and enthusiasm for all the things there are to do in the area around Ohiopyle and Uniontown, PA. Since I no longer live there, she was a great help in helping put this post together.

Without further ado, let’s jump into some of the best things to do in Ohiopyle State Park!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will earn a small commission. This occurs at no added cost to you.

Whitewater Rafting

Probably Ohiopyle State Park’s most popular draw is white water rafting. People come from all around for the chance to experience the Youghiogheny River’s rapids through the confines of Ohiopyle.

You have several different options of white water rafting in Ohiopyle State Park with decisions to be made on what part of the river you want to navigate and, if you’re doing a guided trip, what company to book with.

The two sections of the river where you can raft are the Lower Yough and Middle Yough. There is also the Upper Yough for the most intense rapids, but that section isn’t in Ohiopyle State Park.

• Lower Yough – Grade III and IV rapids, good for experienced rafters or those looking for an adventure
• Middle Yough – Grade I and II rapids, ideal for beginners or those looking for a more relaxed trip

Beyond deciding which section you want to raft, you also have to decide which company to go with. Ohiopyle State Park has four different companies that operate white water rafting trips: Laurel Highlands River Tours, Ohiopyle Trading Post and River Tours, White Water Adventures, and Wilderness Voyageurs. Each company has various options to choose from. It’s best to decide what section you want to raft first and then compare prices and features from each company before booking your trip.

If you’re really feeling adventurous, you can even choose to kayak over Ohiopyle Falls. There are several important safety regulations and stipulations if that’s something you want to do, so make sure to plan ahead of time.

It’s also important to note that river conditions vary by time of year and recent weather. Conditions will be more challenging and treacherous when water levels are deeper, such as in early spring after any snow melts or after heavy rain. Serious injury and death can happen when white water rafting in Ohiopyle State Park. Consider an easier trip if you’re inexperienced and visiting during one of these times.

See the Waterfalls

Ohiopyle State Park has a number of waterfalls for visitors to see. Some are more easily accessed than others, but all are worth venturing here to see.

Ohiopyle Falls is easily the most popular and the most accessible. This river-spanning waterfall is located in the main part of the Youghiogheny River that runs right by town. Near the parking lot is a large wooden deck viewing area, but you can also see the falls from a nice viewing area in the park visitor’s center. A favorite viewing area of mine is from the boulders on the opposite side of the river from Ferncliff Trail. Be careful here as the rocks can be slippery, and there are no barriers to protect you from falling into the river.

Possibly Ohiopyle State Park’s second most popular waterfall is Cucumber Falls. Cucumber Falls plummets off a rockface 36 feet into the pool below. It has a lovely setting in the forest, but Cucumber Falls is also special because you can walk around and behind it for a unique view not many waterfalls offer. This waterfall is easily accessed from a nearby parking lot just outside of town or you can hike to it via the Great Gorge Trail or Meadow Run Trail.

Cascade Falls is another waterfall recommended by Kelly. This waterfall is actually a series of cascades and pools that tumble over a quarter mile along Meadow Run. Regardless of the classification, it’s a sight to behold. You can find Cascade Falls by hiking the 2-mile Meadow Run loop.

Finally, Sugar Run Falls and Jonathan Run Falls are two more waterfalls in Ohiopyle State Park that Kelly suggests seeing. You can view these falls along the 4-mile Sugar Run Loop or biking about three miles from town via the Great Allegheny Passage.

Keep in mind with all these waterfalls your experience may be greatly impacted by the time of year and recent weather. These falls will all have higher flow in early spring when snow has been melting or after recent rainfall.

Take a Hike

Having already talked about a handful of Ohiopyle State Park’s hikes, it should come as no surprise that hiking through the park is one of the best things to do here. With 79 miles of trails throughout the park ranging from every difficulty level, you should have no problem finding a trail for you.

One of my favorite trails is Ferncliff Trail, a 1.7-mile loop that goes around the peninsula opposite from town. This trail is accessed by crossing over the bridge from town and then immediately heading down the steep stairs to your left. My favorite part of the trail is the scenic overlook at Ohiopyle Falls.

Other popular trails include the Great Allegheny Passage, the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, Baughman Trail and Meadow Run Trail.

Do you prefer biking over hiking? Don’t worry – Ohiopyle State Park has you covered with 25 miles of biking trails. Make sure to check ahead to see which trails are open to bikers.

Bike the Great Allegheny Passage

One of the more popular features of Ohiopyle State Park is undoubtedly the Great Allegheny Passage that passes through this part of southwest Pennsylvania. This 150-mile bike trail connects Pittsburgh, PA with Cumberland, MD. Intrepid bikers can continue for another 185 miles to Washington D.C. via the C&O Canal Towpath from Cumberland.

27 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage meanders its way through Ohiopyle State Park, affording bikers and hikers alike plenty of trail to explore the park. This trail is also a nice option if you want to get a bit farther afoot to see some of the other small towns, vistas and historical landmarks in the region.

Biking the Great Allegheny Passage is an excellent option for day tripping to several of the park’s waterfalls, too.

Ohiopyle’s place on the Great Allegheny Passage also makes it a great stop for people in need of a spot to rest as they way make the trek between Pittsburgh and Cumberland. Even if you’re only stopping for a couple hours, I can’t think of any better place to do so!

If you don’t have your own bike, you can rent bikes from several places in Ohiopyle. If you want a bit more speed in your bike, Ohiopyle Trading Post and White Water Adventures offer e-bike rentals.

Ride the Natural Waterslides

If you’re looking for a little more excitement than just wading in the river but you aren’t quite up for the thrill of whitewater rafting, you may be interested in the natural waterslides found at Ohiopyle State Park.

These natural waterslides are what they sound like: a waterslide made from water cutting a channel through the rocky terrain. Over the years, the water has “smoothed” out the rock, allowing people to slide down the rocks like they would a regular waterslide.

However, be warned, I said smoothed in quotation marks there because it’s still a pretty bumpy ride. I’ve never gone down the main waterslide myself, but I’ve watched people do it a couple times. I’ve seen lots of scrapes and bruises. Some people were even wearing protective headgear in case they get thrown around too much. It sounds scary, but everyone I saw was having a blast.

You can find the natural waterslide near Meadow Run not too far from the town of Ohiopyle. You’ll see a parking lot on the side of the road. From there, look for the wooden staircase leading down to the water.

If these waterslides sound a bit daunting, Kelly adds you can find some gentler natural slides at Flat Rock on Meadow Run. These slides can be especially nice if you have little ones looking to have some fun in the water. You can get to these slides after a 0.5-mile hike from the Meadow Run trailhead on Dinnerbell Road.

Sunbathe on a Rock

I admit, sunbathing on a rock may not sound like the most exciting way to spend your time at Ohiopyle State Park, but that doesn’t make it any less popular. On any given day in summer, this is exactly what you’ll find many locals doing.

The section of the Youghiogheny River just adjacent to town is littered with large, relatively flat boulders poking out of the water. These rocks offer visitors great spots to lay down a towel and relax for several hours. Bring a beverage, some food, and listen to the water churn past you while you take in the views. If you get too hot, you can just slide right off into the water to cool off.

If you think you’re going to want to do this, you may want to bring a pair of water shoes. The current can be a bit quick, and the river floor is slippery. It’s usually not too difficult to cross, but you do need to be careful and be attentive of river’s conditions. Unfortunate accidents do happen here. Kelly has witnessed someone who moments before drowned after being swept away, and I’ve seen a golden retriever nearly suffer the same fate.

Take extra caution if it has recently rained. Recent rainfall can increase the flow of the water making it unsafe to cross at certain points. If that’s the case, you can find additional places to sunbathe in Ohiopyle State Park either below Ohiopyle Falls or at Meadow Run.

Visit the Laurel Highlands Falls Area Visitor Center

The Laurel Highlands Falls Area Visitor Center doubles as a visitor center for Ohiopyle State Park and the wider Laurel Highlands region. This state-of-the-art facility offers visitors a place to get acquainted with the park before setting off to explore everything it has to offer.

Within the Laurel Highlands Falls Area Visitor Center is a small shop, guest services including bathrooms and water stations, and a small museum dedicated to the surrounding region. Attached to the museum is an additional viewing area for admiring Ohiopyle Falls.

Don’t forget to pick up your Pennsylvania State Park Passport and stamp here. This book helps collectors and kids alike keep track of all the different state parks they’ve visited in the state.

Visit Ohiopyle State Park During Winter

Ohiopyle State Park isn’t just great during the warmer months of the year. It’s also a fantastic place to visit for winter fun, too. Visiting during winter isn’t something I’ve ever done (unless you count being in the car when a fellow student got stuck on ice during a driver’s education class many years ago – whoops!), but Kelly has nothing but great things to say about Ohiopyle at this time of year.

She enjoys how much less crowded Ohiopyle State Park is during winter and how you have more visibility of the park without all the warm-weather green foliage. These two things plus the opportunity to see some of the waterfalls frozen over give the park a whole different vibe.

There’s still no shortage of activities to do in Ohiopyle State Park during winter, either. Some of the things you can do include cross country skiing, sledding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing.

Visit the Surrounding Area

The Ohiopyle area has way more to offer visitors than just the state park.

For instance, you can visit Fort Necessity National Battlefield and Jumonville Glen where the French and Indian War began (or the Seven Years’ War for my international readers).

Do you want more recent history? About an hour away is the Flight 93 Memorial, where a plane marked for a target in Washington D.C. crashed into a field on 9/11. If history isn’t your thing, drive just a few miles down the road for one of America’s most iconic buildings: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.

Other things you can see are Laurel Caverns, Kentuck Knob, Seven Springs, and, if you’re up for a bit of a drive, Pittsburgh. There’s also a new concert venue, Timber Rock Amphitheater, in nearby Farmington if you want to try to catch a show during your time at Ohiopyle State Park.

You’re sure to find yourself wishing you had more time in the area. Even if none of that strikes your fancy, you can also just wander around the charming small town of Ohiopyle.

Get Up Close and Personal with a Wind Turbine

Just outside of Ohiopyle, you can drive up a lonely mountain road to get near one of the large wind turbines that sit atop the mountain ridge. It’s about as close as you can get to one of these industrial marvels without being an engineer.

If I’m being honest, this might not be the most exciting thing for an adult. On the other hand, I remember my dad taking me here as a kid and being awestruck by it. It’s definitely something to consider doing if you have kids in tow. You can even make it into a learning experience by having your kiddos research ahead of time how turbines work and what their uses are!

Unfortunately, I have no idea if you can still get close to this wind turbine or where exactly it’s even at, but I remember enjoying it so much as a kid that I had to include it. I was too little to remember, and when I asked my dad about it, he only vaguely remembers how to get there. The internet hasn’t been much help when researching this post, either. Consider it an added adventure trying to find how to get to the turbine!

Places to Stay Near Ohiopyle State Park

Kelly, her husband and some friends opened a small hotel in a historic building in downtown Uniontown. The 1848 is right in the middle of things to do in Uniontown if you choose to stay there while visiting Ohiopyle State Park, including the State Theater for the Arts, the Uniontown Farmer’s Market, the newly created Sheepskin Trail and several restaurants. The 1848 has a two-bedroom and studio available through Airbnb.

Besides Kelly’s Airbnb, Ohiopyle has several lodgings in town and nearby featuring different types of stays whether you want very high end, casual or camping.

• Higher end stays
  • Nemacolin
  • The Historic Summit Inn
  • The Stonehouse Restaurant & Inn
  • Seven Springs Mountain Resort
• Casual
  • The Lodge at Chalk Hill
  • Ohiopyle Suites
  • National Trail Motel
• Camping and Cabins
  • Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park
  • Benner’s Meadows Run
  • Tall Oaks Campground
  • Camping within the park

Where to Eat Around Ohiopyle State Park

The Stonehouse Restaurant and Inn is the nicest reasonably priced restaurant nearby. Stonehouse is set in an early 19th century inn for people traveling through the area. It has a fun atmosphere and appetizing American style menu that has yet to leave me disappointed.

For some standard cafe fare in Ohiopyle, head to either Falls Market Restaurant or Ohiopyle Bakery & Sandwich Shoppe. Falls Market Restaurant is located in the large building near the train tracks. It doubles as a cafe and a small convenience store. They also sell ice cream for hot summer days. Ohiopyle Bakery & Sandwich Shoppe is just a few buildings down from Falls Market. It offers similar fare but also has breakfast options, making it one of the few places with breakfast in Ohiopyle.

For a different atmosphere, head over to Falls City Pub & Restaurant. Falls City Pub is the only place open past 7:00 p.m. in Ohiopyle and one of the few places selling beer, it’s where people go who want something a bit livelier. On select nights, they also have live music.

Another option is Paddlers Pizza. This is the only delivery option in Ohiopyle if you don’t feel like going out after a long day of whitewater rafting. I’ve never ate at Paddler’s, but Kelly loves their pizza. They also have some very good reviews online.

Finally, you can head down to Uniontown at the base of the mountain for a wider variety of restaurants to choose from. Some of Kelly’s favorites are Mom Maruca’s, Titlow Tavern & Grille, Dimarco’s, Caporella’s, Marilyn’s on Main, and Meloni’s. If you’re visiting on a Saturday in summer, you can also check out the Uniontown Farmer’s Market to peruse the stands and pick up a picnic lunch or dinner.

It’s important to note that businesses in Ohiopyle tend to close down somewhat early even during summer and there are no gas stations in town. If you’re going to be driving around for food and entertainment, it’s best to make sure you fuel up in nearby Farmington if your gas is getting low.