Pennsylvania has no shortage of state parks that offer beautiful hikes and family-friendly things to do. The Ohiopyle Falls area in Ohiopyle State Park is no different.
About 1.5 hours southeast of Pittsburgh in southwestern Pennsylvania, the Ohiopyle Falls area offers hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, and other fun things to do! We share some of our favorite Ohiopyle hikes and what you need to know before your visit below.
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Where is Ohiopyle State Park
Ohiopyle State Park is located in southwestern Pennsylvania, about 1.5 hours southeast of Pittsburgh. The park encompasses more than 20,000 acres, offering several hiking trails, fishing, and camping. The Youghiogheny River cuts through the park, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to go kayaking and whitewater rafting.
Travel Tip: Google Maps will direct you to one of the entrances of the Ohiopyle State Park, not to the visitor center area itself. Use one of the businesses in town, like the Ohiopyle Old Mill General Store, for your destination to get to the Ohiopyle Falls area and the visitor center.
Ohiopyle Falls Area
The Ohiopyle Falls area is a popular destination for tourists. Between the Ohiopyle Falls, Cucumber Falls, and the Natural Slides on the Meadow Run, visitors can experience gorgeous waterscapes and sights. In addition to the water attractions, Ohiopyle the town has several restaurants and cafes, bicycle rental shops, and whitewater rafting tour companies. The town is small (population less than 100!) but the area still has a lot to offer.
Ohiopyle Falls Area Hikes
There are many hiking trails close to the Ohiopyle Falls area. The trails can range from short to very long, and easy to difficult, depending on what you are looking for. If you are hiking with kids in Ohiopyle, we recommend hiking the Meadow Run trail and/or the Ferncliff Peninsula trails.
Meadow Run Trail
- Trail Location: There are three entrances to the Meadow Run Trail.
- The closest entrance to the Ohiopyle Visitor Center is at the natural waterslides, at PA 381 and Ohiopyle Road. There is a small parking lot and stairs down to the slides and trail.
- The second closest entrance to the trail is at Cucumber Falls, on Ohiopyle Road. There is a small parking lot with overlook access, should you want to see the falls without completing the trail. There are stairs for trail access.
- The third entrance is further down on Dinnerbell Road, about a mile from the visitor center. There is a larger parking lot with access to the trailhead.
- Trail Length: Varies – If you enter at the natural slides and hike to Cucumber Falls and back, the trail is about 1 mile. If you start at either end of the trail, the loop is about 1.5 miles. There is a 3-mile loop if you include the trail to Cascade Falls.
- Trail Difficulty: Easy to Intermediate – There are some steep sections and other areas that you have to hug the rocks and boulders, but overall, the trail is easy enough for kids to complete!
Ferncliff Peninsula Trails
- Trail Location: The entrance to the trails is off Mill Run Road, just across the Youghiogheny River. You can park at the Ferncliff Natural Area parking lot off of Mill Run Road or park at the visitor’s center and cross the Great Allegheny Passage bridge to access the trailhead.
- Trail Length: Varies – There are several looping options for you on the Ferncliff Peninsula, but the large loop is 1.5 miles. You can make it longer by exploring the offshoot trails.
- Trail Difficulty: Easy – don’t forget to get a different view of the Ohiopyle Falls from the peninsula!
Other Things to in Ohiopyle Falls Area
For a small town, Ohiopyle has a lot to offer! If you enjoy being outside in nature, you won’t be bored.
Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater Rafting on the Youghiogheny River is a super fun way to spend a day in the Ohiopyle Falls area. Several companies offer guided tours and boat rentals. The Youghiogheny ranges from Class I/II to Class IV/V, so you can book tours for a beginner level and still have a lot of fun!
Whitewater rafting tours range from 3-6 hours, depending on the company and tour type. Some companies allow children as young as 4 to participate. Visit the PA DCNR website for the list of licensed, commercial outfitters.
Bike Riding on the Great Allegheny Passage
The Great Allegheny Passage is a 150-mile trail that connects Pittsburgh, PA, to Cumberland, MD. The trail passes through Ohiopyle, where visitors can access the passage. There are several bicycler rental companies in town, or you can bring your own!
Riding a bike down the Great Allegheny Passage to the town of Confluence and back is a popular activity. The 11-mile trip is slightly uphill as you head to town, so the ride back feels a little easier. Stop in Confluence for lunch or a snack before you make the return trek to Ohiopyle.
Grab a Bite to Eat
Thanks to the town of Ohiopyle, there is no shortage of cafes and restaurants to patronize. On a beautiful day, many of the cafes offer outdoor seating to enjoy the views and sounds of the Ohiopyle Falls. You can even reward yourself after your hike or bike ride with some ice cream!
Visit Fallingwater, The Frank Lloyd Wright House
About four miles from the Ohiopyle Falls area and visitor center is the famous Fallingwater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Visitors can tour the grounds or house for a fee. Fallingwater is open Thursday-Tuesday, from 9 am – 4 pm, and reservations are required.
Things to Know Before You Visit Ohiopyle Falls
Before you visit the Ohiopyle Falls area, here are some things you’ll want to keep in mind:
- There are no picnic tables near the visitor center. The visitor center and observation areas have recently been renovated, so there may be picnic tables might be on the way. But during our visit (June 2021), there were no picnic tables to be found! However, there are many benches to sit and view the falls. Some are flat and served as a nice place to eat our lunch. There are, however, two picnic tables near the train station at the Great Allegheny Passage.
- Two of the observation areas are accessible by wheelchair/stroller. There are three large observation decks and one large area by the visitor center where you can view the falls clearly and pose for a photo or two. One of the observation decks is accessible by wheelchair or stroller. The other two decks require stairs to enjoy the view. Closer to the visitor center, there is an area with an unobstructed view of the falls. This is also accessible.
- You can walk to the Great Allegheny Passage from the parking lot. The GAP trail access and its train station are a short walk from the visitor center parking lot. The GAP trail is accessible for wheelchairs, strollers, and, of course, bicycles. The train station has turned into an information center with multiple single bathrooms. Next to the building is a seating area. There are two picnic tables there.
- There are two public bathrooms in the Ohiopyle Falls area. The Ohiopyle Visitor Center has a public restrooms that are open during park hours. The entrance to the bathrooms is on the side of the building. A water fountain is also available to fill up your water bottles. The second public bathroom is at the Great Allegheny Passage train station. The bathrooms are single occupancy and large enough for a stroller or wheelchair.
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