Ohiopyle State Park Photo: Dancytron (Wikimedia Commons) / CC BY-SA 2.5
United States › Pennsylvania

Ohiopyle State Park

ByWilderness Experts

Fast facts

  • Size: about 20,500 acres (83 km²)
  • River: the Youghiogheny (the “Yough”), with some of the best whitewater in the East
  • Trail links: the southern end of the 70-mile (113 km) Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail and the Great Allegheny Passage
  • Gateway: the village of Ohiopyle
  • Managed by: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

The landscape

Ohiopyle sits on the southern end of Laurel Ridge, where the Youghiogheny River cuts a deep, forested gorge. Ohiopyle Falls drops across the river in the village, and side streams such as Meadow Run and Cucumber Run form waterslides and falls. The Ferncliff Peninsula holds rare plants. Deer, black bears and timber rattlesnakes live here.

Best time to go

Spring brings high water and wildflowers. Summer is peak rafting and very busy. Fall colour peaks in mid-October. Winter is quiet.

Ohiopyle FallsPhoto: Indies1 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Cucumber FallsPhoto: Nicolas Raymond from Bethesda, Maryland, USA · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Baughman Rock OverlookPhoto: bobistraveling · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Great Allegheny PassagePhoto: bobistraveling · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
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Getting there and around

The village of Ohiopyle is the hub, with outfitters, the falls and trailheads. The Great Allegheny Passage runs through the village along the river, and the Laurel Highlands Trail starts nearby.

Things to do

Rafters and kayakers run the Lower Yough, with guided trips for beginners and harder whitewater upstream. Backpackers start the Laurel Highlands Trail, with reserved shelters along the ridge. Cyclists ride the Great Allegheny Passage, and day hikers explore Ferncliff and Cucumber Falls.

Staying safe

The Youghiogheny is powerful and has claimed many lives; boat only within your skills, wear a life jacket, and never swim near the falls or in fast water. Rocks at the falls and waterslides are slick. Watch for rattlesnakes on rocky trails, and leave a trip plan for the Laurel Highlands Trail.

Know before you go

This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm river levels, permits and reservations with Pennsylvania State Parks before you go.

Navigation
Coordinates
39.8672, -79.4630
Magnetic declination
9.5° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

14 places in Ohiopyle State Park

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.

On the trail 4

Route

Campground

Picnic sites

Sights 10

Viewpoint

Waterfalls

Points of interest

Peaks

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Day hikeCar campingWeekend backpackingMulti-day/expeditionRaftingCanoeing & kayakingCycling

Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →

Terrain
RiversForestMountains
Key hazards
Powerful whitewater and drownings on the YoughioghenySlippery rock at fallsRattlesnakesSummer crowds
Best seasons
Spring, Summer, Fall (foliage)
Difficulty
Easy to strenuous
Access / trailheads
The village of Ohiopyle on Route 381, south of Pittsburgh in Fayette County.
Water
Water at developed areas; treat stream water on the trail.
Cell / satellite coverage
Fair in the village, patchy in the gorge.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Emergencies: 911, and contact a park employee. Park office: 724-329-8591.
Permits & regulations
Launch permits are required for private boaters on the Lower Yough. Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail shelters and campsites must be reserved (888-727-2757).
Leave No Trace
Stay on trails, camp only at reserved shelters and sites, and pack out all waste.
Conditions by month

October This month

Average high61°F(16°C)16°C(61°F)
Average low36°F(2°C)2°C(36°F)
Rainfall3.7 in(94 mm)94 mm(3.7 in)
Daylight, mid-month11 h 13 minSunrise 7:27 a.m., sunset 6:40 p.m.

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

Plan a trip here →

Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Chalk Hill station, 7 miles (11 km)11 km (7 miles) away at 1,980 feet (604 m)604 m (1,980 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-09-21

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.

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