PA Wildflower Hotspot Guide: 40+ Wildflower Destinations in Pennsylvania

  

So March, April, and early May are the prime times of the year to see early wildflowers. As the leaves begin to grow on the trees, the red blooms begin on the maples, and the flowering trees show off their brilliance, the forest floor comes to life as well. From long fallen brown leaves on forest floors from autumn, new life sprouts up with beautiful wildflowers adding color back to what looked lifeless just weeks earlier. I have updated this list with a few more fantastic destinations that I have stumbled across since we first published this list.

Late May through autumn provide another spectacle as even more flower species bloom. This article will cover some of the finest places in the state to view wildflowers. Since we are based out of Pittsburgh and the time frame is so short with early spring wildflowers, the majority of our early spring wildflower photos will be from Western PA destinations, though we will also cover a some of the greats from central, eastern, and northeastern Pennsylvania as well, particularly when it comes to summer and fall wildflowers.

First, here are several pieces of rules and advice if you are going to visit these places.

Be sure to check with the property if you are a dog owner, for several of these places are not dog friendly and do not allow people that are exploring with their furry friends. The majority do allow you to take pets in, as long as they are leashed, kept on trail, and picked up after. Under no circumstances should your dog be left unleashed in these areas, for obvious safety reasons, but also to protect these sensitive, and often rare/endangered, wildflowers.

Be sure to stay on trail. These wildflowers are very fragile, and any trampling or damage to them can ruin them, especially when it comes to trillium. That is why these places must be specially protected, because so many of their habitats have been destroyed with development.

Because these are wetter areas, ticks are very common, so be sure to put on some bug spray and to comb through your dog's fur, and make sure they are up to date with their Nexgard and Lyme disease vaccines.

These are sensitive ecosystems and it is critical for you and your dogs to stay on trail to preserve the beautiful wildflowers. Many of these specimens of flowers are actually quite rare, so it is critical that you treat these ecosystems with the best care possible.

Additionally, the places that these wildflowers really flourish are areas with above average moisture. That means that you will certainly get muddy, though any trail in Pennsylvania is going to be a muddy mess at this time of the year. Make sure you wear a pair of boots that you do not mind getting dirty. I have a pair of waterproof Keens that have held up like iron, though have seen better days, that I wear specifically on most trails during this time of the year.

Now on to some of the spectacular places to visit for wildflowers. The top seven are our absolute favorite standouts, but the rest are worth a visit as well.

• Wolf Creek Narrows Natural Area - Western PA - Butler County 
• Miller Woods Natural Area of Slippery Rock University (located immediately adjacent to Wolf Creek Narrows Natural Area)

Wolf Creek Narrows Natural Area near Slippery Rock offers some fun hiking in a unique habitat. It is located along Wolf Creek, which is a stunning creek that is more like a small river this time of the year. The skunk cabbages begin to appear throughout March, but as April unfolds, the wildflowers make the forest floor look as if it has been painted with color.

The sounds of the creek are just so relaxing. The hiking trail is short, but really rewarding at just over a mile loop. The first part of the hiking loop goes through the Wolf Creek Narrows Natural Area proper, which is a wetland with many vernal pools.

One of the many vernal pools, with flourishing skunk cabbages

The same view, just three weeks later

This area and the slopes immediately around it are where the wildflowers flourish. The dominant wildflower is the skunk cabbage here, though in a few weeks, I can tell that this location will just be popping with color, for the plants that are covering the forest floor have not yet developed blooms.

Trout Lillies huddled up on a chilly morning

Of all of the places we mention in this article, I believe this will be the last to peak, possibly into late April and into May, and possibly the most spectacular. Virginia bluebell, spring-beauty, trout-lily, and white trillium have all been documented in high abundance at the narrows, with many other species that are rare and threatened.

As far as it comes to the experts, Wolf Creek Narrows is home to one of the most diverse collections of wildflowers in the state, with multiple rare and threatened wildflower species. Since it is a little colder in this location, the flowers are a little behind in growing compared to the other locations, but should be popping in the next few weeks. The other portion of the preserve is filled with a beautiful second growth forest up a pretty steep embankment.

Virginia Bluebells

This location is with us and undeveloped today thanks to ownership and preservation by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the same organization that fought for and won preservation of natural gems like McConnells Mill, Moraine, and Ohiopyle State Parks. This property is a gem to visit for hiking and exploring nature. From early spring through April and May, the sheer quantity of species within this tract, and the adjacent Miller Woods Nature Reserve of Slippery Rock University, and then the following adjacent tract of Wolf Creek Narrows Natural Area offer a diversity of flowers that just cannot be beat.

Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed and cleaned up after. Leashing is critical to preserve the sensitive ecosystem of the park.

For more information on visiting, check out our article on it and the website of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

• Ohiopyle State Park - Western PA - Fayette County:

Wildflowers at Cucumber Falls

Ohiopyle State Park, as you can see from our waterfalls and overlooks guide, is wonderful to visit at any time of the year, but the Great Gorge Trail, Cucumber Falls, the Meadow Run Trail, and Great Allegheny Passage Trail near the Ramcat Raft Launch Area have wonderful and abundant spring wildflowers. My recommendation for seeing terrific wildflowers in Ohiopyle is to park at the Cucumber Falls lot, check out the falls and the abundant wildflowers on the slopes of the gorge, and then head back up, cross the bridge just above the falls, and pick up on the Great Gorge Trail.

Red Trillium

The most abundant wildflowers on that trail are found on the portion of the trail immediately to the right of the end of the bridge, up and down the slopes leading down to the Youghiogheny River. This trail is very well graded and easy to hike, though not quite to the point of ADA compliant. Towards the further end of the trail it has some moderate elevation change, but still nothing too challenging. The trail measures in at 2.6 miles, though this is one way and not a loop, meaning a roundtrip hike clocks in at 4.2 miles. The hike did not nearly feel this long.

White Trillium

This certainly is a great place for a little nature walk/hike for people of all skillsets. Additionally, rainy springs make the waterfalls really swell, and lots of new waterfalls appear that are usually dry. Spend some time hiking anywhere in the park and you will not regret it, especially in the spring. Make sure you have a pair of boots that you do not mind getting muddy, because you will get dirty.

For more information on visiting Ohiopyle State Park, check out our guide to the park. 

• Charles F Lewis Natural Area: Gallitzin State Forest Near Johnstown

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I was amazed by the gorge walls covered with red and white trillium flowers. This location does not get a lot of hype for wildflowers, but between the rugged and challenging hiking up the Clark Run Gorge, and ultimately, the side of the large Conemaugh River Gorge, this spot is both a great spot for challenging hiking and for wildflower lovers. There is even a small waterfall on the hike.

The Charles F. Lewis Natural Area was named after the second president of the legendary Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, which has lead Western Pennsylvania towards preserving and rejuvenating natural areas for the public good. Their efforts lead directly to the creation of state parks such as Ohiopyle and McConnells Mill. This natural area is named in his honor. For more information about the natural area and the other hiking opportunities at Gallitzin State Forest, check out this article. 

• Frew Falls Trail - Slippery Rock Creek

I basically stumbled upon this hike on a random drive, and information is very hard to come by online. I found this spot just by driving and ending up at a pretty bridge with an old mill dam waterfall on Slippery Rock Creek, just north of McConnells Mill State Park and Route 422. Several times I have tried to explore to the south of this spot to see Grant City Falls from its southern edge, but struck out with it being private property. This time, I was cruising and driving around and heard the power of water from the falls on the old mill's dam and had to check it out. I pulled over in a stone pull off area at coordinates: 40.991949, -80.184256 and found a well worn trailhead and a rock city. I was amazed with the beauty and I walked down with CeCe and my camera and started hiking, just expecting this to be a quick stretch of the legs. It is clear that this area is a "party" spot for the locals, with light graffiti on many of the boulders, beer cans, and extinguished camp fires. Upon further research, it appears that some people use the creek as a swimming hole, which is very dangerous and you should not attempt, with how strong the currents are and how big the boulders are within Slippery Rock Creek. Several people die a year by drowning within the creek, from this spot and down through McConnells Mill State Park. 

Even with the vandalism, the beauty of nature still shines through in this spot, with a giant rock city, which feels even more imposing than the ones in McConnells Mill State Park, just a few miles downstream from here. I continued hiking down the trail because I realized that the trail had to end pretty shortly. I started to see some wildflowers begin to pop up and some beginning to bloom as I went further down the trail, where less people seem to go. About half way through on my hike, about a half a mile in, a rolling portion of the landscape was absolutely covered in beautiful white trillium in one of the biggest patches I have ever seen. I continued hiking until I reached a cross stream, and realized that this might be a way to access the ever elusive Grant City Falls, and low and behold, there it was, emerging through some enormous boulders. The northern side of Muddy Creek has access through hiking from the Frew Falls area and I was amazed at its beauty. Muddy Creek carries the outflows from Lake Arthur and it is powerful. Back to the topic of wildflowers though. This hike is a must for any trillium lover. I will say though that it is in the easy to moderate range for hiking, simply because of the rocky setting and slight maneuvering, but minimal elevation change until you reach the area of Grant City Falls.  

Grant City Falls itself has about three or four falls ranging from 4 feet to about 30 feet tall, and there are three other falls along this hiking route, from one seasonal waterfalls that is similar in size and flow to Alpha Falls at about 15-20 feet tall, one waterfall rapid in Slippery Rock Creek that is about 4 feet tall, and a spillway waterfall from the old mill dam. 

This is a fantastic little hike with the added benefit of a tremendous area of trillium growth. Beware though that there is only room for just a few cars to park there, so expect the chance that you may not be able to park to visit this one, but two other places on this list, Hells Hollow in McConnells Mill State Park, and Wolf Creek Narrows, are not too far from this spot. The hike from the parking area to Grant City Falls is about 1.2 miles each way.

Coordinates:

40.991949, -80.184256

• Great Allegheny Passage Bike Trail - Western Maryland and Western PA

Most of the length of the Great Allegheny Passage, throughout its 150 miles from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, has wildflowers along it. It passes through two of the places that we mention in this article, Ohiopyle State Park, and Cedar Creek Park, and passes near Braddock's Trail Park. This is a hotspot for early spring wildflowers, in addition to summer and early fall specimens. For more information on this adventure, check out this article.

• Otto and Magdaline Ackermann Reserve - Western PA - Westmoreland County

This place is a hidden treasure in North Huntingdon Township that offers some really nice short hikes at varying intensity. I have visited this place several times, but during my latest visit this spring, I was awestruck at just how many wildflowers covered the forest floor. It legitimately looked like there had been a dusting of snow with how much cover there was over the fallen brown leaves leftover from the fall.

This property has some easy and relatively level hikes, and some other hikes that are steeper and more challenging. There is even a little waterfall on the property. The property is conserved and is maintained through the Westmoreland Land Trust, though be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the entrance, since it is easy to miss and located in between the yards of two houses.

The woods are located about 200 feet from the road. Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed and cleaned up after. Leashing is critical to preserve the sensitive ecosystem of the park.

For information on visiting the Ackermann Reserve, check out the website of the Westmoreland Land Trust and our article on this awesome place.

• Braddock's Trail Park - Western PA - Westmoreland County

Braddock's Trail Park offers a little bit of everything. It is a great little hiking/nature walking destination, with forest floors that are covered with wildflowers. There is even a little waterfall and some nice little scenic overlooks. Several dozen different species have been documented.

As far as being overwhelmed at the sheer amount of wildflowers in one spot, this and the Ackerman Reserve are the two places that I have truly been awestruck with spring wildflowers. Much of the development for visitors at the park was actually underdone as a project by the Boy Scouts. Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed and cleaned up after. Leashing is critical to preserve the sensitive ecosystem of the park.

For more information on visiting, check out this previous article, and the website for the park.

The following three Western PA destinations are bunched together since they are within minutes of each other.

• Forbes State Forest - Spruce Flats Bog
• Laurel Summit State Park and Forbes State Forest - Wolf Rocks Hike
• Linn Run State Park - Grove Run Trail

This trifecta is fantastic for wildflowers, and all are located within minutes of each other in western PA's Laurel Highlands. Grove Run Trail in Linn Run State Park, and the Wolf Rocks Trail and Spruce Flats Bog in Laurel Summit State Park and Forbes State Forest. The latter two spots can be reached from the same trailhead in Laurel Summit State Park. 

Spruce Flats Bog

I list these three spots as basically being in one location because they are all located almost adjacent to each other and you should spend at least an afternoon exploring all three if you really love wildflowers. As far as impressive wildflowers, Spruce Flats Bog is an absolute must see. The bog is home to some of the only carnivorous plants that are native to Pennsylvania. The bog is also a rare example of a higher elevation bog, which is located within a mountaintop depression. Bogs, like waterfalls, are geologically temporary. They initially start off as open water ponds and lakes, but over time, dirt fills them in and plants begin to grow within them. Eventually the dirt and plants overtake the bogs and meadows and forests grow. This occurred over millions of years and eventually a full forest grew.

Boardwalk over a part of Spruce Flats Bog

Around 1900, lumbermen cut down all of the Hemlocks in this spot, and with this, it ended up reverting this spot back into a bog again. They referred to this as "Spruce Flats" because lumber industry people referred to any short needle evergreen as a spruce, even though hemlocks are not spruces. Spruce Flats Bog was purchased as part of a greater restoration project by the state in 1909.

The bog currently consists of six to eight inches of peat on top, and two to three feet of mud on the lower layer. The peat is very acidic and not suitable for most vegetation that is native to Pennsylvania.

Some hardy evergreens have taken to the bog, cranberries, and several carnivorous plant species have flourished in this setting. The bright red plants and dark green evergreens really pop with the dark peat waters of the bog. A short boardwalk takes you out into the bog.

Trailhead for the Spruce Flats Bog and Wolf Rocks Trail

The Wolf Rocks Trail launches off from the same trailhead as the Bog Trail, and lots of wildflowers can be seen on the longer hike to the beautiful overlook.

Wildflowers on the Wolf Rocks Hike

For an overview of the Wolf Rocks hike, which goes off from the same trailhead that goes to Spruce Flats Bog, check out this article.

Grove Run Trailhead

The Grove Run Trail in Linn Run State Park is relatively easy loop trail with a mileage of 4 miles, with a little bit of moderate elevation change. It follows a small tributary to Linn Run, and wildflowers are seen along the trail, it grows in intensity as you follow the trail and it ascends the Grove Run Gorge, but I still rate the trail as easy to moderate.

A wildflower growing through a fern and the dead leaves from last autumn. These kinds of scenes of  the cycle of life are a huge part of what really inspires me on these spring walks in the woods.

If you are into hiking, do the whole loop, but if you are just going for the wildflowers, launch off from either direction of the loop's trailhead for about a half mile to see the highest concentrations of wildflowers that the trail has to offer.

For more information on visiting all three, check out our previous articles on Linn Run State Park and the Wolf Rocks and Beam Rocks hikes. Spruce Flats Bog is located at the same trailhead as Wolf Rocks. Here are the official websites for Linn Run State Park, and Forbes State Forest, which is home to the Wolf Rocks and Beam Rocks Hikes, and Spruce Flats Bog.

• Trillium Trail - Western PA - Allegheny County, Fox Chapel:

Unfortunately, me and CeCe were unable to walk this short trail together since it does not allow access for dog owners with their dogs. The three of us went to go here a few weeks ago but had to turn around since dogs are not allowed.

Virginia Bluebells

Because of how close this is to Pittsburgh, I was able to take a quick jaunt to the park and check it out without my canine companion. With how short the trail was, it only took me about 25 minutes to do the whole thing. The statistics say it is roughly a mile, but it did not feel like that. It is a fun little nature walk, though not quite level enough to be ADA accessible. Pretty much any trail we mention in this article would be fine to do with children, but this trail is especially easy and close to Pittsburgh.

The trail's little dual waterfall

The Trillium Trail is just one of a series of trails and parks that are spread in a line across the affluent Pittsburgh suburb of Fox Chapel. Spring season with its wildflowers, and the autumn with delayed leaf color are some of the most easily visible natural demonstrations of urban heat islands, which are created from human activity such as the emission of greenhouse gases and the holding of heat from paved areas and buildings.

The flowers at this moment on the Trillium Trail in Fox Chapel are about 3 weeks ahead of where they are at Wolf Creek Narrows, about an hour's drive north of Pittsburgh. These flowers are really popping right now, thanks to the bubble of relative warmth within the Pittsburgh Metro Area. Additionally, a portion of the preserve has been fenced to keep foraging down from white tail deer populations. This section holds most of the preserve of Trillium.

This massive Hemlock caught my attention the most. 

Virginia Bluebells are probably the second most dominant species at the preserve, with lots of them leading up to the small waterfall that is present at the preserve. Another nice option for seeing wildflowers is located nearby at the beautiful Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, but the flowers are not as plentiful there, and it too does not allow dogs 😕

For more information on visiting, check out this link to the Fox Chapel Garden Club.

• Presque Isle State Park - Northwestern PA - Erie

Presque Isle State Park is best known for its beautiful sand beaches, but the peninsula is teeming with flora and fauna. The flora is well balanced, reaching from early spring through the fall. The wetlands are especially great, but the dunes leading up to the beaches are great for wildflowers as well. For more information on visiting, check out our myriad of articles on this fantastic place. 

• Asbury Woods - Northwestern PA - Erie County

Asbury Woods, in Erie County, west of Erie, is a stunning property that has a little bit of everything within its landscape, but the highlight for me is the boardwalk trail that provides a substantial space that traverses the woods and meadows of the upper part of the property with full ADA accessibility. This care for accessibility made me pretty emotional, because I often talk to families with children who have special access needs, but very few public nature areas make accommodations for this. Everyone should have a right to access the healing and relaxing qualities of nature, especially as something that relieves stress, but this is nearly impossible for anyone who requires special access needs. 

Asbury Woods has been diligent with this care and the property is home to wildflowers throughout the seasons, but its meadows are especially vibrant in late summer and early fall.

For more info on visiting, check out this article. 

• McConnells Mill State Park - Western PA - Lawrence County:

Awaiting blooms on the wildflowers at McConnells Mill State Park. My last recent visit had a quick morning snowfall come through

The Hell Run Trail at McConnells Mill comes to life with wildflowers in the spring. The hillsides and hollow valley leading to Hells Hollow Falls are a great place to check out spring blooms. Our last attempt to visit saw a random snow squall, but the flowers still managed to show through the dusting of snow. In late April, the flowers should hit peak.

Hells Hollow Falls in the midst of some spring snowfall

A huge added upside is in seeing beautiful Hells Hollow Falls. While this is the hotspot for wildflowers in the park, you will see them throughout the park as well. For more information on visiting, check out our guide to McConnells Mill State Park and the park's website.

• Black Moshannon State Park - Central PA - Centre County

Black Moshannon State Park is home to numerous great spots for wildflowers, but its bog area really stands out. On the furthest reaches of the park's lake, there is a beautiful bog area that has all sorts of species of wildflowers, even carnivorous ones. Definitely recommend checking out this spot. For more info on visiting, check out this article.

• Hoverter Box Huckleberry- Central PA - New Bloomfield, Perry County

The Hoverter & Sholl Box Huckleberry Colony in Central PA is not very well known and one of the overall oldest living organisms on the planet. This time of the year, its beautiful blue/purple blooms dominate the forest floor. This is a relatively small area, but it is definitely worth a stop if you are located in, or passing through, Central PA.

GPS Coordinates:

40.403941, -77.174757

For more information on visiting, check out this previous article of ours.

• Churchill Valley Greenway - Western PA - Allegheny County

The Churchhill Valley Greenway is a unique spot when it comes to the redevelopment of something, especially in a suburban area. It was a Country Club for many years and then ended up being abandoned. The locals began to use the derelict property, with its long paved golf cart trails for nature walks through the greens that have reverted into beautiful flowery meadows. I've seen many other country clubs get gobbled up and turned into housing developments over the years, but this one has instead been turned into a public park thanks to the efforts of the Allegheny Land Trust. These meadows reach peak in late summer and early fall and are pretty magical.

For more info on visiting, check out this article.

• Latodami Nature Center at North Park - Western PA - Allegheny County:

Skunk Cabbages at the Latodami Nature Center

This place is a lovely gem on the northern edge of Allegheny County's North Park. The park is split into two halves by a road. One half primarily consists of an old farm with a pond, old barn, old farmhouse, picnic grounds, wetlands, a steeply banked forest, and a giant meadow that was once farmland. This half of the park does not have many spring wildflowers, except for some skunk cabbages near the pond area, but it will be vibrant in summer and into fall in the meadow area. The nature trails are just wonderful for some longer, but generally easy strolls through area teeming with birds and white tail deer. The meadow area just bursts with color once the late spring and summer wildflowers grow. The other half of the park goes into a nicely forested hollow with a lovely nature walk. Similar to Braddock's Trail Park, this portion of the park was also improved by the Boy Scouts, who built bridges, benches, trail grading, and even some manmade vernal pools for wildlife. The entire area is teeming with Skunk Cabbages.

The upper meadows section will come to life with wildflowers in the summer and early fall seasons. This is a noted location for birding. 

The fact that they have even been able to preserve this significant chunk of land is pretty impressive when considering how much suburban development has just exploded around the park. The farm area was a strategic land conservation project and was consequential to the region. Countless other farms within a 10 mile radius of the park were snapped up and have been filled with cookie cutter suburban developments and McMansions. When I think of the effort that was made to preserve this pristine spot and keep it from being absorbed into suburbia, I think of one of my favorite episodes of The Wonder Years, "Whose Woods Are These" where the kids fight against a suburban developer who planned to, and succeeded in tearing down "Harper's Woods" a place where the kids all played when they grew up.

Instead of this pristine spot succumbing to suburban development it was saved and it is lovely to explore. When coupled with the rest of what the North Park area has to offer, this is just a lovely place to spend an afternoon, evening, or even a relaxing day. While Skunk Cabbages are the primary spring wildflower you can see at the nature center, summer wildflowers are just radiant at this location.

For more information on visiting, check out this article from Allegheny County Parks.

• Fall Run Park - Western PA - Allegheny County:

Fall Run Park in Shaler Township, just outside of Pittsburgh, is one of my favorite short nature walks/hikes in the immediate Pittsburgh area.

It is home to a nice creek, complete with a roughly 20 foot waterfall and some small cascades. Along the steep banks, and in the meadow above the main waterfall, spring wildflowers bloom and then summer flowers grow as well. This is a lovely small place really brings the community closer to nature. Species include bloodroot, trillium, jack-in-the pulpit, wild geranium, Dutchman’s breeches, spring beauties, violets, and great bellwort.

For more information on visiting, check out this previous article from us.

• Raccoon Creek State Park and the Raccoon Creek State Park Wildflower Preserve - Western PA - Beaver County

Raccoon Creek State Park's Wildflower Preserve is a nice place to hike at, but the wildflowers have never really overwhelmed me. Unfortunately, the Wildflower Preserve itself bans dogs with their owners. The upside is that you can still explore other areas, namely the actual highlights of the state park, with your furry friends and you will still be able to take in some wildflowers that are scattered throughout the state park.

Frankfort Mineral Springs. For more background information on this, and the other fun places the park has to offer, check out this article. 

I was disappointed that the two of us were unable to go into the Wildflower Preserve, so CeCe and I had to "settle" and hike my favorite part of the state park, Frankfort Mineral Springs. No need to fret  if you are a dog owner and want to see wildflowers because there are plenty throughout the state park as well, and they are just as prevalent in many parts as they are in the preserve itself. Even at peak times, in prior years, I was not overwhelmed by the flowers at the Wildflower Preserve like I've been at the locations that I have mentioned earlier in the article, though it is still worth visiting just as a fun hike.

For more information on visiting, check out the park's website.

• Cedar Creek Park - Western PA - near Belle Vernon 

Cedar Creek Park, on the edge of Westmoreland County near Belle Vernon, is a place that is noted for having a great collection of wildflowers. I was not overwhelmed by the wildflowers here, but the location is worth a visit nonetheless as a short hike if you are in the area. Cedar Creek Gorge is filled with a nice second growth forest and has a trail that leads up to it from the Youghiogheny River and the Great Allegheny Passage bicycle trail. It is a great community gathering place. For more information on visiting, check out the park's website. 

• Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve - Western PA - Latrobe

The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve follows a theme seen in some of our other properties. It is located on a farm area that was being threatened by suburban sprawl. The preservation effort and move to make this a public park area was brought about by a community effort and led by Winnie Palmer, the wife of Arnold Palmer. She learned of the situation while she sat on the board of adjacent St. Vincent's College. This property preserves both natural and historic beauty in the area and is a late summer/early autumn peak bloomer with its beautiful meadows. 

• Schenley Park - Western PA - Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh's Schenley Park offers a little bit of everything. While there are not too many early spring wildflowers at the park, summer and early fall are wonderful for seeing wildflowers, especially within the Panther Hollow Section of the park. Schenley Park is also home to Phipps Conservatory, which is home to world class botanical gardens. For more information on visiting Schenley Park, check out this article.

• Moraine State Park to Jennings Environmental Education Center: Glacier Ridge Hike - Western PA

The Moraine State Park to Jennings Environmental Education Center Glacier Ridge Trail takes you across a glacial ridge that has been covered with sediment, dirt, and forest over the years. The conditions are perfect for growing wildflowers and the hike is long, but pretty. As far as hikes go when compared to the others that we have talked about, this is about 13-14 miles from one end to the other, so If you are into doing a slow marathon, park on one end and do it as an out and back. If 13 miles is about your limit, maybe go with a partner and have them park at one end and then park and start at the other, or go part way in and then turn around. Jennings Environmental Education Center is a rare example of a prairie in Pennsylvania and it begins to come to life in early spring, and peaks with summer wildflowers.

For more information, check out the park websites for Moraine State Park and Jennings Environmental Education Center.

• Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve - Central PA - Pequea, Lancaster County

Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve Map, Courtesy of the Lancaster Conservancy

Shenks Ferry is home to one of the most noted collections of wildflowers in the state and it is an absolutely lovely place to hike. Between here and the surrounding nature areas on the western boundary of Lancaster County on the banks of the Susquehanna River, you will be sure to have a great time. More than a hundred different species of wildflowers have been documented on this tract. They have really done an impressive job with conservation in this area of Lancaster County. The topography and geology of this specific location of the Susquehanna River is breathtaking and looks unlike any other area in the state. Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve is dog friendly as long as they are leashed. For more information on visiting, check out the park's website with the Lancaster Conservancy.

• Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area - Central PA - Dauphin County

The Old Field area of Boyd Big Tree Preserve is noted for great summer wildflowers. Map courtesy of DCNR.

People in the Harrisburg area have a really great option to hike in the forest really close by at Boyd Big Tree Park. Wildflowers abound in this tract, which was spared from development, similar to many of these places throughout our list. Instead of it succumbing to suburban sprawl with housing developments, retail, and industry, this tract was saved in 1999 by a developer and ownership transferred to the state. It is a great property to hike around if you are in the area and it is home to a decent collection of wildflowers, though it is more of a summer and early fall blooming centric location. This location is dog friendly as long as they are leashed. For more information on visiting, check out the preserve's website.

• Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania - Eastern PA - Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia

 Photo courtesy of Morris Arboretum

The Morris Arboretum in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia is a gem for relaxing outdoor recreation in Philadelphia. It is the state's official arboretum and it is home to 2500 varieties within 13,000 labeled specimens. This is another place that trends towards more summer wildflowers, though the flowering trees and some spring wildflowers make this a place that you need to check out in the spring, especially the cherry trees in the Japanese section of the park. For more information on visiting, check out the arboretum's website. Unlike most of the places we have listed, there is an admission fee and it is not dog friendly. Unfortunately, the Arboretum is closed to visitors due to the Covid 19 situation.

• Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area - Central PA

While the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area is best known for its late winter bird migration, in which hundreds of thousands of birds have been counted, it is also a great place to check out wildflower specimens. It has a balanced selection of spring and summer wildflowers and is worth a stop if you are in the area. For more information on visiting check out the area's website.

• Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve - Eastern PA - New Hope, Bucks County

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve Map

New Hope is an absolutely beautiful and historic suburb of Philadelphia. Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve is located just off the banks of the Delaware River and near Washington's Crossing State Park. It offers a wild variety of wildflowers that range from early spring all the way through the fall. It was specially cultivated by experts in the Philadelphia region over the better part of the last century to be an excellent preserve for wildflowers. This is a lovely place to visit, though the grounds are closed to the public as a result of Covid-19. For more information on visiting, check out the park's website.  They are also not dog friendly and they charge an admission fee.

• Greenland Tract - Weiser State Forest - Central PA - Dauphin County

The Greenland Tract of Weiser State Forest in Northeastern Dauphin County near Tower City is appreciated as a decent place for wildflower viewing. This spot is particularly brilliant in mid summer-fall, though the short hikes are wonderful year round. For more information on visiting, check out the DCNR page.

• Ann Rudd Saxman Nature Park- Western PA, Greensburg - Westmoreland County:

While not a huge spring wildflower hotspot, this is a really nice place to go for a nice walk in the woods. There are some spring wildflowers, but this place trends towards summer and early fall blooms.

We did see some skunk cabbages and thoroughly enjoyed our time here. This place will really pop in the summer through fall months. While I would not go from a far distance to visit, I certainly recommend checking it out if you are in the area. It is a really nice local conservation project. For details on visiting, check out the Nature Park's website.

• Hawk Mountain - Eastern PA - Orwigsburg, Berks and Schuylkill Counties

Map courtesy of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

While Hawk Mountain is best known for its world renowned raptor migration observation and fantastic scenic vistas, it is also home to a multitude of wildflower species that range from early spring all the way through fall. Unfortunately though, due to the Covid 19 situation, the sanctuary is currently closed to the public. They also charge an admission fee and are not dog friendly. For more information on visiting, check out their website.

• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - Northeast, PA - Pocono Mountains
• Hornbeck's Creek Trail
• Dingman's Falls and Silverthread Falls Boardwalk Trail
• Raymondskill Falls 

Silverthread Falls on the Dingmans Falls Boardwalk Trail

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is a wonderful place to check out wildflowers. This is a terrific destination for people who love hiking, and waterfalls, with the added bonus of beautiful wildflowers. The Delaware Water Gap offers the finest, and tallest, waterfalls that the state has to offer. Hornbeck's Creek Trail offers a plethora of wildflowers with about seventy different species, and beautiful Hornbecks Creek/Indian Ladder Falls. It is a 3.7 mile out and back hike and the most difficult hike of the three places mentioned here in the Delaware Water Gap when compared to Dingman's Falls trail largely consisting of an ADA compliant flat boardwalk, and Raymondskill Falls having a really short hike. I have seen wildflowers at the latter two, but Hornbeck's is the ultimate place to go to see wildflowers in the Delaware Water Gap and the greater Pocono region.
For more information on the Hornbeck's Creek Trail, Dingman's Falls Trail, and Raymondskill Falls, check out this listing from the National Park Service. You can also read more from our articles on Raymondskill Falls and Dingman's/Silverthread Falls.

• Ricketts Glen State Park - Northeast, PA - Endless Mountains Region

Summer Wildflowers on the Falls Trail

While I have not seen Ricketts Glen in early spring, I can vouch for the park being filled with terrific summer and early fall wildflowers, especially in the meadows on the northern edge of the park and within the glens.

Wildflowers in the Hayfields meadows on the northern boundary of the park in summer.

The park is also known for having decent spring wildflowers throughout the park's many glens, slopes, and wet areas. For more information on visiting, check out our guide to Ricketts Glen State Park.

• Worlds End State Park - Northeast PA - Endless Mountains Region

Canyon Vista at Worlds End State Park

The region surrounding Ricketts Glen State Park, including State Game Lands and State Forests, are home to endless adventure and perfect habitats for wildflowers. Heading up to both Canyon Vista within Worlds End State Park, and up to the nearby High Knob Overlook, the forest floors have so many spring wildflowers. 

For more information on visiting Worlds End State Park, check out this article. For more information on going to the nearby spectacular High Knob Overlook, check out this article.

• Hickory Run State Park - Northeast PA - Pocono Mountains

Boulder Field at Hickory Run State Park

Hickory Run State Park in the Poconos is a wonderful hiking and outdoor adventure destination. The Hickory Run Trail is particularly noted as being great for wildflowers. For more information on visiting, check out our guide at this link.

• Erie National Wildlife Refuge - Western PA - Crawford County

Erie National Wildlife Refuge in Crawford County is a wonderful birding destination and place to observe wetland habitats. The wildflowers in the summer and fall are just beautiful, especially when the Lilly Pads bloom.

Summer and Fall wildflowers are abundant throughout the refuge. For more information on visiting, check out this article. 

• Winslow Hill/PA Elk Region - Western PA - Pennsylvania Wilds - PA Great Outdoors Region

PA's Elk Herd is majestic to see in any season, but for wildflowers it is fantastic towards late spring through the summer. Winslow Hill Is a prime grazing pasture for the elk. It is one of the greatest environmental reclamation projects that has ever been undertaken by the state. It was once stripped barren and scarred with strip mines. Restoration projects converted the land rolling hills and meadows, filled with wildflowers and grasses that the state's elk herd and deer thrive on. Late spring and summer as it comes into bloom is simply incredible. For more information on visiting, check out this article.

• Raystown Lake - Central PA - Raystown Lake Region

Seven Points Recreation Area

The area around Raystown Lake trends towards late spring and summer wildflowers, and they are particularly vibrant around the Seven Points Recreation Area. This area is also especially lovely to camp at, so for any of you that are into camping, this is a wonderfully well rounded place to visit. 

For more information on visiting Raystown Lake, check out this article. 

By no means is this a complete list. There are many great places to check out wildflowers across the state, but these are some really decent hotspots. As always, when it comes to our suggestions to see natural beauty, our best suggestion is to look outside your front door. With how much natural beauty is within our state, it is likely that you will run into some great spots for wildflowers.

We have included a map with the locations mentioned within this article.

Saegertown Bridge: A Stunning, Historic, Rare & Valued Historic Bridge & An Overview of French Creek in Northwest PA

I will start by saying that French Creek, also known as the Venango River, is a treasure. This waterway is as substantial as many small rivers and riding along it is so picturesque, especially in the area of Cambridge Springs, Saegertown, and Meadville. For comparison, the Clarion River is of both a similar length, width, and depth, with French Creek's depth monitor actually being much deeper. It starts up in Chautaqua County, New York and meanders through northwest PA and eventually comes to a confluence with the Allegheny River in Franklin. The Venango name is likely derived from Seneca Nation's word Onenaga which means mink. A likely reason for many things in the region having "enango" being included in their names. 

Early on in colonial times, the waterway was used substantially as a connection between Lake Erie and the Allegheny River. Its substantial waterflow was also utilized to make the Erie Extension Canal possible in the Conneaut Lake Erie. The water was raised in Conneaut Lake to make that happen on a canal that ran from Presque Isle Bay, down into Crawford County, and then over to the industrial heavy weight cities of Beaver and New Castle, before meeting with the Ohio River in Beaver County. I am not exactly certain why they didn't just create a routing that utilized French Creek, since it would have taken you right to the Allegheny River, but I am not well versed enough on the history, engineering, and political challenges of that day. The locks and dams on the Allegheny River were probably not complete yet either and navigability of the river probably ended around Kittanning. Additionally, on that canal route, I cannot imagine navigating upstream on the Ohio River was a particularly easy feat either. It only lasted a few decades for it just predated the creation of extensive rail networks that would render the entire line of the "Main Line of Public Works" canals, as clumsy, outdated, and prohibitively expensive to run. For the sake of environmental preservation though, I am glad French Creek was largely spared, since the canal was so short-lived. The canal system though they were a truly impressive feat and they were designed to connect Philadelphia and Pittsburgh via canal and they created impressive workarounds to get across the mountainous terrain of the state. The system becoming derelict and subsequent greed by following industrialists also lead to the main east-west line canal reservoir to break and cause the Johnstown Flood disaster. 

Photo Credit to Historicbridges.org

From the PA Historic Bridge Inventory and historicbridges.org (one of my favorite sites by the way) 

"The 1900, pin connected, single span, 206'-long, Pennsylvania thru truss bridge is supported on ashlar abutments with wingwalls. The polygonal upper chords are built up box sections and the sub-ties are eye bars. The bridge is distinguished as an early example of its type and design. It is the oldest remaining Pennsylvania thru truss highway bridge in northwestern Pennsylvania, and only one other example in western Pennsylvania has an earlier construction date. The bridge is historically and technologically significant."

The road routing in Saegertown and near Meadville takes you either near or across  French Creek many times. In the center of town, this old bridge stands and even has a riverside park that people picnic at and sightsee. On the day I took this picture, there was a snowstorm and the creek and bridge looked just magical. Seeing the old iron and bridge deck covered in snow, and ice chunks flowing through the creek, was really something else. I was struck by the beauty. It was one of those times I was not planning on taking any photos but had my camera bag with me. I get one shot off and the battery died and then I went through my other batteries and all of them were spent too, so I have one shot! I think it caught what I wanted pretty well. I was so awestruck by the beauty and the serenity of the spot in this snow storm. As you continue along the creek up and down from Saegertown, you see a number of classic thru truss bridges that are more modern, and also very beautiful, and you see cottage camps along the creek, and more. It looks like a beautiful place to live. The creek's water health is said to be greatly improved as well, with numerous native freshwater species inhabiting the waters, in addition to the endangered Eastern Hellbender, which is the largest species of salamander in the world. A great read on more of the environmental aspects of this creek can be found through these articles from the French Creek Conservancy and Allegheny College and 

The road rerouting over the years has likely enabled this bridge to be bypassed, restored, and maintained which is something I really value. Pennsylvania does not have that many metal through truss bridges like this, though there are some great examples in this particular region, including this one, and the spectacular ones across Oil Creek in nearby in Oil Creek State Park and the vicinity. This bridge was built by the nearby Youngstown Bridge Company of Ohio. In this region you see a number of Ohio bridge styles you don't see elsewhere in the state since the economies of this area were so interconnected by proximity and industrial might. The tough thing about these iron through truss bridges is the amount of maintenance it takes to keep them around and the inability to do much to fortify them to handle the heavier weight vehicles of today. They were built to carry wagons, horses and pedestrians and their height limits prevent taller vehicles from passing and altering them is difficult to impossible. Additionally, fabricating replacement iron is not really a viable option. With a covered bridge you can restore them by just getting more wood, or modernize them by creating a steel structure underneath and then rebuilding on top to handle heavier vehicles. Since this bridge was bypassed. it is able to hang on. The nearby bridges across Oil Creek are also not main thoroughfare bridges, so they can retain function without having to worry about the heavy ambulances, firetrucks, and trucks that need to pass over a bridge today in order for it to function in a modern setting. 

Go check it out! It is right in town off of the Route 19 and Route 6 routing. 

10 years of Interesting Pennsylvania and Beyond! Thank you for all of the support!

Another year gone by for us here at Interesting Pennsylvania and Beyond. Life is hectic, but adventure is always fun! That is what we aim to take out time for on this page. To cover the beauty that is right around the corner, everywhere in the commonwealth. Over the years we have hit all 67 counties and are still finding new spots, or new scenes from the same spots, as we revisit them. We created this page as one of the first Pennsylvania based travel blog and were unaware of anyone else doing this at the time. We aim to bring attention to the many great things our state had to offer. Some things have been continuously improving in regards to the state capitalizing on its scenic opportunities, and in other places things have fallen sadly short. The first that comes to mind is losing beautiful Conneaut Lake Park. 

Even with tremendous efforts by many, historic Conneaut Lake Park was leveled and a beautiful gem destroyed. The other huge loss that comes to mind is the old Roadside America Miniature Railroad display in Hamburg. Another great attraction lost  There are many ways in which this state needs to step in and preserve and grow many of its scenic and tourism opportunities. I approach this topic at length within this article. Since that article was written, we lost the Blue Streak and Conneaut Lake Park as a whole. 

The most pressing threat right now is the potential loss of the historic coasters at Lakemont Park in Altoona. Both Leap the Dips, the world's oldest coaster, and the zippy Skyliner are at threat right now, with the park announcing they will not operate this year. Hopefully they can be preserved in place, or rehabilitated and run at amusement parks that are great at preserving their historic rides, such as Knoebels Amusement Resort, or even Kennywood. We try to bring attention to these kinds of places so we can help bring awareness and support to them. 

 

Me and the pups at Asbury Woods in Erie County. 

I think my favorite development in the state in the time since we started has been the addition of significant accessibility improvements to some of the trails. The Asbury Woods Boardwalk Trail in Erie County and the Cook Forest Sensory Trail immediately come to mind. They have improved trail portions of significant length to be accessible to people with different abilities. Access to nature is critically important for quality of life, and these efforts are greatly appreciated. 

One primary thing you can depend upon here at this page is that we give you our fully honest opinion at any given time. Nothing is done "for the clicks" here. We tend to keep it positive, but if something needs to be said, it gets said. We work to responsibly spotlight what the state has to offer. Some other pages have not taken this kind of effort and it has led towards unprotected sites getting completely destroyed and unable to be preserved. 

Thank you for these ten years of support!

If you want to help support us, our book on Pennsylvania Amusement Parks is available through the dropdown menu at the top of the page. Thank you so much for your support over the years!

Wintry Views of the Route 40 Historic National Road & Watering Trough in Fayette County

Driving from the southeast through Route 40/National Road back to Pittsburgh is one of my favorite routings. It is scenic and exciting, crosses waterways, and goes up and down hills and curves from Western Maryland. My favorite kind of driving. As we were driving, it was just getting toward sunset and we were seeing some of the first snow that we saw all year. Heading out of Maryland is pretty spectacular on I-68. Getting to see the Alleghenies unfold like that is pretty spectacular, as you glide across the edge of mountains. I enjoy riding on the Turnpike, up through Breezewood, but I really enjoy taking this routing instead, for variety in road conditions makes me more alert on the road. 

In one spot you go through a massive cutout at the top of Sideling Hill, where they have created an observation deck and rest stop in the location of a massive 340 foot road cut into the mountain, one of the largest cuts for any highway in the world. It is visible from very far away, to the point that it looks like a gap in the mountain. 

Our first quick and scenic stop was the Youghiogheny River Lake which is a terrific spot to visit as a campground on a warmer day, or to pass through on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail. At this point, the major rains that we saw earlier in the month had not passed through yet that likely loaded the reservoir up pretty well. Within short distance of here, you can reach Nemocolin Resort and Ohiopyle State Park. 

The one downside to this routing down the summit on Route 40 means that you don't get to see the pretty view from the roadside overlook in the eastbound direction. They have really worked though to capitalize on the beauty and history of this spot lately in the westbound direction with restoring the old springs here that has serviced roadside travelers and residents for centuries, for people and horses to drink, to fill old radiators, to bottle up and take along, and more. The Summit Inn at the top of the hill has serviced many people over the years including Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. It is likely that they topped off their radiators at this old springs. 

Just recently they capitalized on this history and rebuilt it nicely. The spring was home to a house, the Mountain Water Club, and the Drinking Trough Restaurant. It with just the spring going into a stone trough for a very long time and they have since restored it into an attraction. Exhibits have shown what existed here and they have built structures to both illustrate this and capitalize on the beauty of this spot. There is even a small picnic grove for roadside picnics.  

Historical Marker

In addition to seeing the spot, we also stopped to let the pups play in their favorite kind of conditions.

 

Harrisburg Transportation Center: Stunning & Historic Train Station

Harrisburg has an absolutely stunning train station. It was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad from 1885-1887 and was significantly rebuilt after a fire in 1905, giving it its current distinctive shed barn roof, which is one of my favorite aspects of this classic station. The roof is build with the Fink truss and is a testament to the power of this design, which would go on to be used for many industrial purposes. It was also the largest train shed in the world when it was built, and it is one of the only remaining ones today. The station was built in the Queen Ann Style. Everything about this station is grand, from the entrance and ornate lobbies, to the train shed over the tracks. This is a grand entrance into the city that many larger cities should be envious of, especially New York City.

PRR 4859. This sleek GG1 electric locomotive was built at the Altoona Works and designed by GE. It was the first electrified unit to run from Philadelphia to Harrisburg on January 15, 1938. It is registered on the National Register of Historic Places. Adjacent you can see an modern Amtrak locomotive waiting to head back out on the open rails

This was a union station, though never referred to as such, in that it served several other rail companies and several different major lines. Unlike Pittsburgh, which was always referred to as a union station, though it never really was one. You could refer to the current setup as a union station, with the myriad of connections that can be made by bus at the station. The Pennsylvania Railroad operated the same east-west routing the exists today in one way or another with connections as Amtrak does, but it also had a passenger line that ran from Baltimore to Buffalo and a line that ran to Erie (which has another beautiful train station)on the old Philadelphia and Erie Railroad routing. 

These days, the station still pulls large Amtrak traffic, with it being the western terminus of the Keystone Service, Amtrak's 3rd most used route in the Northeast Corridor and its fifth most used overall. The route runs between New York City and Harrisburg, via Philadelphia and Lancaster (which has another stunning train station). 

The second route is the Pennsylvanian which runs from New York City to Pittsburgh, via Philly, Lancaster, Lewistown, Huntingdon, Tyrone, Altoona, Johnstown, Latrobe, and Greensburg. That route only runs one train eastbound and westbound each day. There are plans to add another train that are frequently talked about, but I am not holding my breath on that happening. Harrisburg is also the end of the electricified system. The locomotives run on diesel as they head west. The first major landmark the trains hit as they head westbound out of the station is the stunning Rockville Bridge, the longest stone arch bridge in the world. 

We highly recommend checking out this beautiful train station! It is also located within close proximity of the State Museum and Capitol Building 

Thank you so much for your support over these many years with these calendars. The proceeds help to keep the lights on here. The 2024 edition is available now!

Our 2024 Pennsylvania Wall Calendar features scenes from across the state, including views of:

-The old growth forests in Cook Forest State Park 

-Center City Philadelphia 

-Knoebels Amusement Resort 

-Gettysburg Battlefield in the snow 

-Sailing in Erie 

-PA's Elk Herd 

-Canyon Vista at Worlds End State Park 

-Kinzua Bridge 

-Cowan's Gap State Park 

-Downtown Pittsburgh 

-A vista on the PA 144 Scenic Byway -A holiday scene from Sunbury PA. 

The calendars open up to be 17 inches tall by 11 inches wide (8.5 by 11 pages) and all photos have been taken by us, and the calendars are produced in the USA. The proceeds help us to continue what we do to highlight and bring attention to the many great adventures that this state has to offer. 

It makes for a great gift for someone or for yourself. It is available for purchase through the PayPal dropdown menus at the top of the page and the bottom of this article.

Also available is our book on Pennsylvania's historic amusement parks, Great Pennsylvania Amusement Parks Road Trip. It features Knoebels, Kennywood Park, Hersheypark, Dorney Park, Waldameer, DelGrosso's, Lakemont, Dutch Wonderland, Idlewild, and the sadly former Conneaut Lake Park.

2024 PA Calendar and PA Amusement Parks Book Purchase Options

2024 Pennsylvania Calendar $13.49 USD                                   PA Amusement Parks Book $21.95 USD                                   Book and Calendar Bundle $33.95 USD                                   2 Calendars $25.50 USD                                   3 Calendars $34.50 USD

 

Martin Hill Road and Blankley Hill Road Overlooks: Spectacular Views in Buchanan State Forest

There are a number of pretty roadside overlooks in Buchanan State Forest, several of the prettiest and easiest to find ones are located on Martin Hill Rd and Blankley Hill Rd. They are both essentially the same road and if you follow them you will see at least 3 scenic overlooks looking on either direction of the ridge. 

The Sweet Root Gap Vista is at the top of the gap in which the Sweet Root Natural Area and trail are based. The Mid-State Trail goes through this spot. If you are headed from Maryland's Rocky Gap State Park, a popular destination for Pennsylvanians, it is great to watch the geology unfold by routing yourself through this area. 

The three named vistas in this spot are the Martin Hill Firetower View, Sweet Root Gap Vista, and Rainsburg View.

You can't miss these overlooks if you follow Martin Hill Road and Blankley Hill Rd. I love state forest roads like this that lead towards successions of scenic overlooks like this. Put Martin Hill Rd into your navigation app and you should not have any trouble finding these spots. 

Thank you so much for your support over these many years with these calendars. The proceeds help to keep the lights on here. The 2024 edition is available now!

Our 2024 Pennsylvania Wall Calendar features scenes from across the state, including views of:

-The old growth forests in Cook Forest State Park 

-Center City Philadelphia 

-Knoebels Amusement Resort 

-Gettysburg Battlefield in the snow 

-Sailing in Erie 

-PA's Elk Herd 

-Canyon Vista at Worlds End State Park 

-Kinzua Bridge 

-Cowan's Gap State Park 

-Downtown Pittsburgh 

-A vista on the PA 144 Scenic Byway -A holiday scene from Sunbury PA. 

The calendars open up to be 17 inches tall by 11 inches wide (8.5 by 11 pages) and all photos have been taken by us, and the calendars are produced in the USA. The proceeds help us to continue what we do to highlight and bring attention to the many great adventures that this state has to offer. 

It makes for a great gift for someone or for yourself. It is available for purchase through the PayPal dropdown menus at the top of the page and the bottom of this article.

Also available is our book on Pennsylvania's historic amusement parks, Great Pennsylvania Amusement Parks Road Trip. It features Knoebels, Kennywood Park, Hersheypark, Dorney Park, Waldameer, DelGrosso's, Lakemont, Dutch Wonderland, Idlewild, and the sadly former Conneaut Lake Park.

2024 PA Calendar and PA Amusement Parks Book Purchase Options

2024 Pennsylvania Calendar $13.49 USD                                   PA Amusement Parks Book $21.95 USD                                   Book and Calendar Bundle $33.95 USD                                   2 Calendars $25.50 USD                                   3 Calendars $34.50 USD

 

Ligonier Valley Railroad Remnants along the Lincoln Highway

The Ligonier Valley Train Station is a former depot and headquarters for the 10 mile long shortline railroad that ran from Ligonier to Latrobe with perhaps the most notable contribution of the rail line still remaining, beautiful Idlewild and Soak Zone Amusement Park. This building in Ligonier is beautifully intact. The line itself is gone, with most of the right-of-way being in the beautiful westbound section of Route 30/Lincoln Highway along Loyalhanna Creek. A few stations remain beautifully intact though, including this one, the stations within Idlewild Park, and Darlington, which is adjacent to Idlewild and serves as a museum. Idlewild Park was created as a way to boost ridership on slower days, and it was wildly successful. The success continues today with people driving out to this Family

What is odd about this short line railroad is just how many of the contributing structures of the railroad remain, even though the line is completely gone, with the last trains running over the bulk of the line in 1952. The right of way is easily distinguishable as well, which is neat because the line has been abandoned for more that 70 years, which is almost as long as the line was operational. The legacy of what was brought to the region by the rail line has far outlived the rail line and will certainly benefit the region long into the future with the creation of Idlewild Park and the scenic right-of-way being used for this section of Route 30/Lincoln Highway, not to mention the remaining buildings, which have all found adaptive reuse for the needs of the region. Many lines of this era that have been removed have not retained their legacy as well as this one has as the anchor and foundation of this community and the region as a whole.

 It is definitely worth checking this stuff out if you are in the area. 

Thank you so much for your support over these many years with these calendars. The proceeds help to keep the lights on here. The 2024 edition is available now!

Our 2024 Pennsylvania Wall Calendar features scenes from across the state, including views of:

-The old growth forests in Cook Forest State Park 

-Center City Philadelphia 

-Knoebels Amusement Resort 

-Gettysburg Battlefield in the snow 

-Sailing in Erie 

-PA's Elk Herd 

-Canyon Vista at Worlds End State Park 

-Kinzua Bridge 

-Cowan's Gap State Park 

-Downtown Pittsburgh 

-A vista on the PA 144 Scenic Byway -A holiday scene from Sunbury PA. 

The calendars open up to be 17 inches tall by 11 inches wide (8.5 by 11 pages) and all photos have been taken by us, and the calendars are produced in the USA. The proceeds help us to continue what we do to highlight and bring attention to the many great adventures that this state has to offer. 

It makes for a great gift for someone or for yourself. It is available for purchase through the PayPal dropdown menus at the top of the page and the bottom of this article.

Also available is our book on Pennsylvania's historic amusement parks, Great Pennsylvania Amusement Parks Road Trip. It features Knoebels, Kennywood Park, Hersheypark, Dorney Park, Waldameer, DelGrosso's, Lakemont, Dutch Wonderland, Idlewild, and the sadly former Conneaut Lake Park.

2024 PA Calendar and PA Amusement Parks Book Purchase Options

2024 Pennsylvania Calendar $13.49 USD                                   PA Amusement Parks Book $21.95 USD                                   Book and Calendar Bundle $33.95 USD                                   2 Calendars $25.50 USD                                   3 Calendars $34.50 USD