Vistas and Overlooks

The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, also known as Pine Creek Gorge, is located between Colton Point State Park and Leonard Harrison State Park. The parks have many scenic vistas of spectacular views into the 800-foot deep, glacial flood-water-carved canyon.

How To Get There

From Colton Point: Take Rim Trail, a one mile easy hike that follows the perimeter of the “point” and links all over the overlook view areas together in a mostly flat hike. From Leonard Harrison: Take Overlook Trail, a 0.6 mile more difficult hike that passes Otter View to give you a view of the vista looking south.

Hyner View State Park features a scenic vista overlooking the West Banch of the Susquehanna River known as Hyner Vista. It is a& popular spot for hang gliding.

How To Get There

From PA 44, turn west on Hyner Mountain Road and travel about five miles, just past the entrance to Hyner Run State Park. Turn left onto Hyner View Road. It is a five-mile drive to the view.

Kettle Creek State Park offers a breathtaking view of the Kettle Creek Valley from Kettle Creek Vista.

How To Get There

Travel three miles west of Kettle Creek State Park.

Kinzua Bridge State Park features the Skywalk that provides close-up views of the viaduct and wide views of the Kinzua Creek Valley.

How To Get There

There is a paved walkway to the Overlook at the beginning of Kinzua Creek Trail.

Lyman Run State Park is the home of Lyman Run Vista, a scenic overlook of Lyman Run Lake and it’s surrounding mountains.

How To Get There

Take Spur Line Trail which ascends slowly from Lower Campground up to Rock Run Road. To the right along Rock Run Road is Lyman Run Vista. Hikers can complete a loop by continuing on the road then turning right onto Rock Run Trail.

Halfway Vista in Raymond B. Winter State Park provides visitors with a view of Halfway Dam, the Rapid Run water gap, and several mountains that surround the park.

How To Get There

By hiking the Overlook Trail or driving up McCalls Dam Road.

There are two overlooks in Shikellamy State Park. They are both 360 feet above the river confluence, offering spectacular views of Sunbury, Northumberland, and the surrounding areas. In Shikellamy Marina, the Point Sitting Area offers a scenic view of Lake Augusta and the river.

How To Get There

Shikellamy Overlook: From US 11 the overlook is reached by traveling west on Country Line Road for about 0.25 mile to the park entrance road. Shikellamy Marina: Located off of PA 147 (Bridge Avenue) on Packers Island.

From a birds-eye view, Sinnemahoning State Park sits in a deep narrow valley carved out of a high plateau.

How To Get There

For a spectacular view, climb to the top of Brooks Run Road and go right onto Ridge Road to the Logue Run Vista.

Blue Knob State Park has the second highest mountain Pennsylvania at 3,146 feet above sea level, Blue Knob mountain is only 67 feet less than Mount Davis in Somerset County. Situated in the Allegheny Front overlooking the scenic Ridge and Valley Province to the East. This look out provides unique photography opportunities during low humidity and changes of season.

How To Get There

Northeastern View (second highest point in PA): Accessible via the Expressway Chairlift on leased park lands operated by the ski resort.

Southeastern View: From Chappell’s Field, across from the campground includes a close-up view of the western slope of Blue Knob Mountain.

Southern View: Can be enjoyed from the Willow Spring Picnic Area.

Southwestern View: Accessible via Mountain View Trail along the Appalachian Plateau from the Pavia Overlook.

Cowans Gap State Park offers a 42-acre lake and many hiking trails providing scenic lake and valley views.

How To Get There

Lakeside Trail: Very pleasant, nearly level, scenic trail circling Cowans Gap Lake.

Tuscarora Trail: Once at the junction with Geyer Trail, take the Tuscarora Trail another 2.4 miles south to the top of Big Mountain for a spectacular overlook of the Path Valley and Franklin County.

Knobsville Road Trail: This road climbs to the top of Cove Mountain to a park overlook.

Kings Gap Environmental Education Center is the home of Mansion Overlook, providing a breathtaking view of the Cumberland Valley.

How To Get There

Ridge Overlook: 0.8 mile, most difficult hiking. This linear, ridge-top trail with boulder outcrops and a view of the valley below presents a more challenging hike. Rock Scree and Kings Gap Hollow trails provide access to Ridge Overlook Trail.

Scenic Vista Trail: 2.5 miles, more difficult hiking.This linear trail offers rolling terrain on the way to a pleasant overlook. Benches are strategically placed to relax and enjoy the surrounding view of unbroken forest.

Full of natural and historical features, the 696-acre Pine Grove Furnace State Park is at the northern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in an area known as South Mountain offering views of Michaux State Forest, Laurel Lake, and surrounding mountains.

How To Get There

Pole Steeple Trail: The entire park can be viewed from this quartzite rock outcropping. The trail begins at the Pole Steeple parking lot, along the Railroad Bed Road by Laurel Lake and proceeds up Piney Mountain to the rocky overlook. Be cautious of steep grades and sheer drop, children supervision is advised.

Situated in the forested hills of the Allegheny Plateau cradle Prince Gallitzin State Park allows you to take in the view of the valley and hills along the 1,635 acre Glendale lake from the Headache Hill water tower.

How To Get There

Headache Hill is accessible from Long Road.

Samuel S. Lewis State Park is located on top of the 885-foot Mount Pisgah. It is the highest point in the area and offers a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding Susquehanna River Valley, including surrounding towns and fertile farmlands.

How To Get There

Hilltop Pavilion: There is a wayside panel and coin-operated viewing scope allows visitors to view and identify various points of interest along the river valley.

Hilltop Trail: Winds through a pine plantation, interesting rock formations, and spectacular scenic views. This easy hike also takes visitors past the George E. Stine Arboretum.

The river overlooks of Susquehannock State Park provide panoramic views of the lower reaches of the Susquehanna River. Hawk Point is the park’s main overlook offering a glimpse of the Conowingo Reservoir, the first and largest hydroelectric impoundments on the lower Susquehanna. 

To the left, visitors can see Mt. Johnson Island, the world’s first bald eagle sanctuary, visitors can use the optical viewer or binoculars to spot eagles, osprey, turkey, and vultures.

Wissler’s Run Overlook gives an excellent view of the Susquehanna’s naturally rocky riverbed. The overlook also provides a view of the Muddy Run pump storage hydroelectric plant with the well-known Norman Wood Bridge in the background.

How To Get There

Overlook Trail, a more difficult 0.55 mile hike, will lead to Hawk Point and Wissler’s Run Overlook.

The 541-acre Trough Creek State Park is a scenic gorge formed as Great Trough Creek cuts through Terrace Mountain before emptying into Raystown Lake.

How To Get There

Ledges Trail is a 0.91 mile more difficult hike. Starting at Trough Creek Drive below the park office and ends at Abbot Run Trail. The trail offers a panoramic view Great Trough Creek and the remnants of the old Paradise Furnace schoolhouse along the way.

From the summit of Big Pocono State Park visitors can enjoy magnificent views including parts of eastern Pennsylvania and portions of New Jersey and New York can be seen a long the paved, 1.4 mile, scenic drive.

How To Get There

Rim Road offers multiple stops to view the overlook a long the scenic drive. Lot #3 connects to Vista Trail for another scenic overlook. Indian Trail offers a great view of the eastern cliffs, visible from I-80 and points in Tannersville and Scotrun.

Located in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, Hickory Run State Park provides scenic views overlooking the Lehigh River and Lehigh Gorge State Park.

How To Get There

Fireline Trail: About half a mile from the trailhead is a picturesque overlook of the Lehigh River and Lehigh Gorge State Park.

Skyline Trail: Loops through Gould Trail and heads on to cross Fireline Trail by the Lehigh River and continues on the edge of a steep slope that provides an excellent view of the Lehigh River.

The 6,107 acres of Lehigh Gorge State Park land follow the Lehigh River from Francis E. Walter Dam in the north to Jim Thorpe in the south.

How To Get There

The Lehigh Gorge Trail follows over 20 miles of abandoned railroad grade along the river, providing opportunities for hiking, bicycling, sightseeing and photography.

Bowman’s Hill Tower, located in Washington Crossing Historic Park, is a 125-foot structure completed in 1931 to commemorate the American Revolution. The monument offers a commanding view of the Delaware River and surrounding countryside.

How To Get There

The tower roof can be reached by elevator and 23 stone steps. It is open seven days per week, March through December.

Located in World’s End State Park is an ADA accessible Loyalsock Canyon Vista and nearby High Knob Vista provide outstanding views of the Endless Mountain region. World’s End Vista and High Rock Vista offer stunning views overlooking the park beach.

How To Get There

Loyalsock Canyon Vista and High Knob Vista are accessible via Mineral Spring and Cold Run roads.

World’s End Vista is reached via World’s End Trail which begins at the park office.

High Rock Vista is reached via High Rock Trail which begins at the east side of the Cabin Bridge.

Located in scenic northwestern Pennsylvania Cook Forest State Park offers two scenic overlooks. From the ledges of Seneca Point Overlook you can see the Clarion River Valley and an 80-foot climb up Historic Fire tower #9 provides a breathtaking view of the whole area.

How To Get There

Both are accessible from Fire Tower Road, about 1.5 miles from Route 36.

The Laurel Highlands hiking and backpacking trail runs from Ohiopyle to near Johnstown is the main attraction of Laurel Ridge State Park offering many scenic overlooks along the 70-mile hiking trail.

How To Get There

Six trailheads provide 30-car parking lots, overnight parking, and trash receptacles.

McConnells Mill State Park is located in Slippery Rock Creek Gorge, a National Natural Landmark. The steep-sided gorge contains numerous rocky outcrops, boulders, old growth forest, waterfalls and rare plants. The best view of the gorge is from Cleland Rock.

How To Get There

Cleland Rock overlook is accessible via an unpaved road off Breakneck Bridge Road.

Located in Moraine State Park, Glacier Ridge Trail is a designated part of the North Country National Scenic Trail. The trail winds through forests, crosses streams, and offers scenic views of Lake Arthur.

How To Get There

Glacier Ridge Trail can be accessed at PA 528, Mount Union Road (TR 10050), Bike Rental Building, and McDanels Launch Area.

Located in the southern reaches of the Laurel Ridge, Ohiopyle State Park has the deepest gorge in Pennsylvania. Baughman Rocks and Tharp Knob Overlook offer spectacular views of the Youghiogheny River Gorge.

How To Get There

Baughman Rocks: The trailhead begins at the back of the Middle Yough Take-out parking Area adjacent to the Train Station/Visitor Center in downtown Ohiopyle and at the Mountain Biking Trail parking lot.

Tharp Knob Overlook: The short one mile loop that includes Tharp Knob Overlook is accessible via Kentuck trail, trailhead is located in the Tharp Knob Picnic Area.

Pymatuning State Park is one of Pennsylvania’s largest parks while Pymatuning Reservoir is the largest lake in the Commonwealth. Anywhere along the lake, beautiful vistas of this large body of water can be enjoyed. 

Some of the more unique sights include the dam, the Linesville “spillway,’’ the fish hatchery, and the two causeways across the lake. The spillway is perhaps one of the best-known locations because the fish are so plentiful that the “ducks walk on the fishes’ backs” to compete for the food fed by the visitors.

How To Get There

The Spillway is located near Linesville and can be reached from US Rt. 6.