My family and I went here for a day trip. We had a great time. I went behind the falls. You can…read morespend a few hours here. Definitely worth your time.

What a beautiful hike! The boys loved the waterfall and furnace. It was like a shaded magical…read morewonderland.

One of the prettiest bike rides I've ever taken! This amazing rails to trail fully paved bike path…read moreis 24 miles round trip through some truly spectacular scenery and woodlands. The largest of 7 wooden bridges along the path spans the Allegheny River and the smaller ones cross several creeks. What you don't see are any roads along this gorgeous wilderness path. There is a slight upward grade during much of the 12 miles from Fishermans Cove to the end of the line - the good news is it's nearly imperceptible until you turn around and head back. You feel like you're flying on your return trip which is really fun! This area is the definition of remote so go prepared with food, water & flat tire supplies. There's decent cell service, so bring your phone. There is also a fairly long tunnel mid-trail with reflectors down the center. A light would likely make you feel a tad more comfortable on a cloudy day. The reflectors work decently to direct you on a sunny day. This bike trail is located slightly over an hour north of Cranberry Township. Google map Seneca Hills Bible Camp which is where you turn off Old Route 8 off I-80. At the T heading to the Bible Camp you head right to Fisherman's Cove to the trailhead. If you're interested in more information and specific directions, here is a link: www.avta-trails.org ' sandy-creek-trail

Wow. This is a spectacular trail!! Such a pleasant ride through the woods crossing the river and…read morecreek multiple times on a paved surface. I don't even know how they managed to get blacktop back into some of these remote areas but they did!! It's mostly shaded as well so even on hot days this would be a great choice when you just want to ride! We started at the western end of the trail called Fisherman's cove. A little tricky to find and accessible by a gravel road about 3 miles off old route 8. Parking here is limited and is roadside so I can imagine it getting pretty crowded on weekends. But it is so worth it. The eastern end is 12 miles out at Van. The ride back seemed a lot quicker since there appears to be a minor downhill heading back although it is an easy ride in both directions. The fact that it's quite remote means there are no road crossings so you can just ride completely carefree!! If you feel up to it you can extend the ride by joining up with other rails to trails and make a long day out of it!! We absolutely loved it and will no doubt be heading back there this fall to enjoy the ride and the scenery! Highly recommended!!

If you live in Pittsburgh or are just visiting the area, McConnells Mill is one of the best day…read moretrips around. It's only about 40 miles north up I-79, so it's an easy drive from the city, but it feels like a completely different world once you get down into the gorge. I've been going there for years with friends and family, and it became my go-to spot to take people when they would visit from out of town. Everyone always loves checking out the historic old gristmill and the red covered bridge right next to it. It's a great, classic view, and if you go during the summer, they usually open up the mill for tours so you can see how it all used to work. The hiking there is fantastic, too, with a good mix of trails depending on what you're up for. You can take a pretty easy walk back to Hell's Hollow Falls, or you can tackle the rougher, rockier trails that run right along Slippery Rock Creek. You definitely want to wear sturdy shoes because the terrain gets steep and the rocks get slick, but the scenery with the rushing whitewater and massive boulders is totally worth it. It's just a beautiful, simple place to get outdoors for a few hours. Whether you want a challenging hike or just want to sit by the water and look at the old bridge, it never disappoints.

Visited this state park for the first time earlier this month and had a blast!…read more I parked at what I think is the main lot, up above the mill itself. I didn't take a tour of the mill (which the park volunteers and staff do offer throughout the day) but I did walk through it and read the information in it about the history of the mill. Definitely enjoyed exploring and learning. That said, I was really there for the trails, so I spent most of my day hiking. I took a loop trail down from the mill and back (with a detour up a short trail to some falls) and it was great! I love being outside and I love a good challenge; these trails were not paved or even at all and I had a great workout navigating them. During hydration breaks I'd find a nice rock to sit on by the water, which was wonderful. It was noisy as heck by the mill because of the families, but the further out I got the more peaceful it got. Definitely met my goal of unplugging for a day during my trek on the trails. I want to come back in the future and begin to try to walk the Slippery Gorge Trail, as it sounds like the gorge is another beautiful part of the park. But that is definitely a long term goal, because that trail is not a short one! I loved visiting this park and I'd be back for sure. To everyone else, PLEASE remember water and wear the proper footwear - while I enjoyed my walk in the park, these trails are definitely not a walk in the park!

This one is going to be a partial review. Why partial? Well, we barely scratched the surface of…read morewhat's at this beautiful state park and I want to come back to see more. On our way from Ohio to the other side of PA, we took a detour to get a look at where the modern petroleum industry got its start in this country. One big downside is that because this was ad-libbed, we entered the per se, "wrong side" of the park which doesn't have a much to see as the other side. Let me explain: As the below map shows, the park is laid out in a thin vertical line. Instead of arriving at the northern end where the Drake Well Musuem is, we showed up at the southern tip by the Egbert Farm Day Use Area. The big problem with that goes back to the adlibbing and not knowing that the bridge that leads over Oil Creek is long term closed to vehicles. It's possible to go around but it's a PIA and we didn't have enough time. www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/OilCreekStatePark/pages/maps.aspx We saw Coal Oil Johnny's House, some of the Blood Farm Area and walked a bit of the snowy/muddy Gerard Trail before we ran out of daylight. uncoveringpa.com/things-to-do-oil-creek-state-park Jim at unoveringpa.com has a great list of stuff to do in the park and later this year I'm hoping to do a longer tour of the area and hit this place up for a few days along with Cherry Springs and Hyner Run. We didn't spend a long time here, but the appetite has been whet for more.

This park is an intriguing blend of history and nature. This is the site of an oil boom town, and…read morethere are a number of historical indicators left memorializing it. An interpretive trail is located near the visitor's center that lets you stroll what used to be an old street in the town. None of the actual buildings remain, but the signage is great. There is a train visitor center where a train still runs through at times. There is also a nice playground and picnic tables available. The Blood Farm area is also beautiful - there's a nice large green space near the Oil Creek, with picnic tables, a playground, and shelterhouses. The Blood Farm Interpretive Trail provides an enjoyable short hike with some information about how the Blood Farm became a site where oil was discovered, and you can still find stopped off oil wells, old equipment and old farm buildings to view. Several waterfalls can be found here during certain times of year; unfortunately, the friendly staff told us that they weren't really running at the time of our visit. Very interesting park!

While working in Beaver County I have passed this sign to Buttermilk Falls countless times, but…read morenever had occasion to stop until yesterday. It was a gorgeous, sunny, unseasonably warm March day & I was the first car in the tiny dirt parking area on the left as soon as you turn in. The Falls is now directly across from the new entrance to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. There is a big stone covered with graffiti on the right. After you park, you just hop out and hit the path and follow the sound of gushing water. it is a short distance to the Falls, but it is uphill and it is steep and rocky and this is not a suitable path for anybody with physical limitations of any sort. It can also be dangerous for young children. It's very beautiful and it is worth the hike up. If you're sturdy footed (muddy & rocky), you can walk right behind the falls and it's quite beautiful. Highly recommended for a sightseeing but I'm sure it gets crowded and warmer weather.

The hiking trail we went on was not to long and had nice scenery. Parking was easy to find. The…read morewaterfall is definitely worth the hike there. You can go under it, go above it, and go behind it! Also lots of smooth rocks to set up towel and sit in the sun.

I love this hike, bike, tubing area. The best is tubing partway down the river and then hiking the…read moretrail back. Its beautiful and relaxing and well kept. If you bring your tube make sure youre prepared to take the air out to hike back.

Absolutely gorgeous rails to trail. The Allegheny River runs literally beside you through the trees…read morewith amazing views on one side and mostly dense forest on the other side (plus some occasional residential). We started our bike ride in Emlenton off Interstate 80 on a perfect fall day and it's nearly flat and paved. I know! Its PA, how is nearly flat even possible? Of course, this means you pedal all the way - almost no coasting, but also no gasping for breath on an incline. Rails to trails inclines are always slight but sometimes miles long. None of that here. There are 2 fairly long, dark tunnels on this trail. I've discovered I'm not too fond of these! Hubby thinks they're like a Disney Ride, me not so much. You absolutely need lights on your bike because they are pitch black inside with reflectors down both sides and down the center. Just something to consider when planning your excursion. We did a nice 25 mile round trip from Emlenton to the Kennerdell Tunnel & back. Hubby did tunnel #2 & I photoed him! I still had to go back thru the 1st tunnel, which was quite enough for me. The beauty of this trail far surpasses my tunnel phobia! It's a clear 5 star!!!

This is a lovely hike in Chautauqua county. There's a very small parking lot to access the hike…read more The trail is wide and well groomed. Even after some rain recently, there isn't really any mud on the trail. The trail takes you up to loop hike where you get some nice view with the gorge.

Finally had the opportunity to come here with a few of my friends while on vacation. For a while…read moregetting here, I thought I was in the wrong area but I assure you, the GPS takes you to the right place. This place is quiet and peaceful! There's a great deal of trails and rivers. Most of which I didn't have time to fully discover but everything here is well maintained! Thankfully not alot of people come here but this place also features an outhouse and a grill. Definitely reccomend coming here!

This place is gorgeous. It's a photographer's go-to. Hikers love it, too. It's pristine and…read morewell-kept. Miles of hiking and gorgeous scenery. There are several falls that are beautiful. Watch out for the stairs--there are a lot! From anywhere in NE Ohio, it's not a far drive, and so worth it.

Oooo, just visited this divine natural area and it is gorgeous! They have a very nice woodland…read morewith a beautiful stream, rock formations, well marked trails and pretty hemlock trees. It is owned by the Audubon Society and is in Sarver, P.A. We went at the end of February and some of the trails were extremely muddy. We had to back track and go different paths because we didn't want to be steeped in mud. You should for sure bring some good boots with lots of traction. It is definitely worth the visit!

A great place to hike not far off of route 28 that's quiet and scenic with lots to see. There's a…read morereally nice pond not far from the beginning of the trail. Great place to take the kids to see wildlife and explore nature plus it's Free.