Ohiopyle State Park: 3 Day Itinerary

Whether you’re an avid hiker, a water sports enthusiast, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat, Ohiopyle State Park has something to offer everyone. Located in southwestern Pennsylvania, this state park boasts over 20,000 acres of rugged wilderness, stunning waterfalls, and picturesque hiking trails. Below is a three-day itinerary to get your travel planning started. So, pack your bags and get ready to explore the natural beauty of Ohiopyle State Park.

Entrance Fee:

FREE

Lodging:

Ohiopyle State Park has one campground, open from April through mid-December. The Kentuck Campground has over 200 campsites for RV and tent camping. A portion of the RV sites do have full hookups. The park also has camping cottages, yurts, and walk-in sites. Reservations for all camping within the park can be made here: Ohiopyle Camping.

Dining:

There are no food options inside the park, but there are several picnic areas if you plan on bringing food with you. Highly recommend eating at the Tharp Knob picnic area. The views are gorgeous😊

There are several food options just across the street from the Visitor Center in the lovely town of Ohiopyle. Please check their hours before visiting, as most are only open seasonally or on certain days of the week. Personal recommendations: Falls City Pub, Falls Market Restaurant & General Store, Bittersweet Café, and Paddlers Pizza.

Must Know Before You Go:

I recommend booking rafting tours in advance.
Parking is minimal at most trailheads. Start your day early to secure a spot, especially if you visit on the weekend.
Swimming is permitted in the Natural Water Slide Area. Please use caution and review water safety before swimming.
This park has lots of water and can get very muddy😊 Proper footwear for hiking is recommended.

Cell Service:

There is limited cell service throughout most of the park.

3 Day Itinerary

Friday

Flatrock/Meadow Run Cascades Loop-

Park in the Meadow Run Lot off of Dinnerbell Rd. The trailhead immediately splits into 3 trails that will all interconnect at some point. I recommend taking the middle trail toward Flatrock. You will end up looping around and coming back via the trail on the far right. This loop is approximately 2 miles with about 300+ ft of elevation gain.

You will reach the Flatrock area about 0.5 miles from the parking lot. After exploring the area, continue the path south towards the cascades. Trail signage is not great the rest of the way. As you head upstream, the water should remain on your left😊

Lower Cascades is 0.5 miles from Flatrock. You will have an obstructed view of the Upper Cascades from the Lower Cascades area. To explore the Upper Cascades, head further up the main trail (0.2 miles). If you plan on exploring the rocks in the Upper Cascades area, please use extreme caution- any rocks underwater are EXTREMELY slippery.

After exploring the Upper Cascades area, head back 100+ ft towards the main trail and follow the yellow blazes up the hill towards the rock-climbing area. Just a little past the rock-climbing area is a straight path through the trees to the parking area. From the Upper Cascades area to the parking lot is approximately 0.8 miles.

Natural Waterslides of Meadow Run-

From the Meadow Run Lot, jump in your vehicle and take a quick drive down to the Natural Water Slides lot. Walk down the steep set of stairs just off the parking area, and the waterslides will be right there! Explore upstream as far as you would like, as the entire area is so beautiful! Swimming is permitted in this area.

*If you do not want to move your vehicle, start the Meadow Run Trail heading toward the Natural Water Slides first, and take the longer loop around to Flatrock and the cascades. If you include the Natural Water Slides, the above trail will be 3 miles roundtrip instead of 2.*

Ohiopyle Falls-

For the last stop of the day, park in the large Visitor Center Lot. There are several viewpoints along the river of the stunning Ohiopyle Falls. We were there last on a Friday evening, and had the place to ourselves!

Saturday

Baughman Rock Overlook-

If you are an early riser, plan on catching the gorgeous sunrise at the Baughman Rock Overlook. Several trails lead to the overlook, but because you’ll spend most of your day on the water, I would drive up to it instead. The overlook is off Sugarloaf Road, just a few minutes from the Visitor Center.

Rafting-

Next, it’s time to get on the water! Several companies offer rafting adventures on the Youghiogheny River. They offer rafting for all skill levels, and most companies allow anyone over 4 to participate. I recommend scheduling your rafting adventure in advance.

Recommendations for Guided Tours:

Laurel Highlands River Tours

Ohiopyle Trading Post

White Water Adventurers

Wilderness Voyageurs

Experienced boaters with your own equipment must secure a launch ticket before heading out. Permits can be obtained on the lower level of the Laurel Highlands Falls Area Visitor Center/Ohiopyle State Park Office .

Cucumber Falls-

After spending some time on the river, make Cucumber Falls your last stop of the day. The falls have their own parking area right off Ohiopyle Road. You can see the stunning 30 ft falls from the overlook just off the parking lot. If you would like to hike down to the base of the falls, it’s a very short but steep walk down.

And that’s a wrap on day 2😊

Sunday

Fechter Falls/Upper Jonathan Run Falls/Lower Jonathan Run Falls/Sugar Run Falls–

4 gorgeous waterfalls on one trail- sign us right up! This was definitely our favorite Ohiopyle trail😊

Below, you’ll find the shortest route to all four falls😊

From the parking lot, take the Jonathan Run Trail for 1.2 miles. Then, veer left on the Sugar Run Trail for 0.2 miles. Just past the first footbridge (the water under the footbridge is Fechter Run) is a narrow path on the right side of the Sugar Run Trail that leads to Fechter Falls.

After exploring Fechter Falls, backtrack to the Jonathan Run Trail to continue another 0.2 miles to Upper Jonathan Falls. It is not labeled, but there is a short trail off the main path to the falls.

After Upper Jonathan Falls, continue the Jonathan Run Trail for another 0.3 miles to Lower Jonathan Falls. The base of this waterfall is by far the most difficult to reach. If you are interested in making your way to the base of Lower Jonathan Falls, it is a steep and muddy climb down the hillside that will require using several sets of ropes already in place. Make sure you have proper footwear before attempting the descent.

From Lower Jonathan Run Falls, continue the Jonathan Run Trail for another 0.1 miles until you reach the Great Allegheny Passage (watch out for cyclists!). Head left and continue for 0.2 miles. At 0.2 miles, you’ll head left on the Mitchell Field Trail for 0.1 miles before reaching Sugar Run Falls.

After Sugar Run Falls, backtrack to the parking lot for approximately 2.1 miles.

Tharp Knob Overlook-

After the Jonathan Run Trail, jump in your vehicle and head to the Tharp Knob Picnic Area. Park at the end of the parking lot, near the restrooms. It is just a short walk from there to some stunning views of the surrounding area. It’s also a great spot to eat lunch😊

Ferncliff Trail-

The last hike of the weekend is the beautiful Ferncliff Trail. Parking is available just past the Visitor Center on the other side of the walking bridge. The trail is an easy 2 miles roundtrip and will take you to more stunning views of Ohiopyle Falls, the Youghiogheny River, and the Ferncliff Peninsula. It’s a beautiful way to end your time at Ohiopyle State Park!