Best Fall Hikes Around Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA — Even as extreme heat and wild storms batter parts of the Keystone State, the promise of cooler weather still lingers just around the corner. September is here, and leaves will soon start to show the first hints of the reds, yellows, and burnished coppers of a new season.

Below is a list of some of the best hikes around Pennsylvania to enjoy once the (slightly) cooler weather hits. They also happen to be some of the best places to witness autumn foliage in the region.

Doubtlessly many regional gems have been snubbed, but this list isn't meant to be comprehensive. Each trail was selected for its distinctiveness, range of ecosystems represented, viewpoints offered, and, perhaps most important for a good hike, the sense of adventure afforded.

In most of Pennsylvania, fall foliage is predicted to peak during the week of Oct. 18, according to the 2021 Fall Foliage Prediction Map.

Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon

Pine Creek Gorge on the Allegheny Plateau is sometimes referred to as the "Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania" for its sweeping views and majestic, leafy valleys. Colton State Park and Little Pine State Park are nearby and offer camping, while much of the region is protected as part of Tioga State Forest.

For hikers, one of the most scenic routes is the Turkey Path, accessible from Leonard Harrison State Park. It winds past waterfalls and all the dramatic vistas for which the area is famous.

Forest Cathedral Natural Area

This gem of Clarion County in northwestern Pennsylvania may be easily overlooked by some, but this registered National Natural Landmark is home to one of the region's largest and most impressive old-growth forests.

Old growth forests are important because they're old: they've aged without any major disturbances to their environment, and have evolved unique aspects. They're often a bastion of biodiversity, and they're also known to provide a wide array of corollary "ecosystem services" like flood control and clean water.

But they're more than just useful: these ancient trees are majestic. Towering stands of white oak, birch, American beech, and even the distinctive eastern white pine can be spotted here, according to the Old Growth Forest Network. Fall is the best time to go, as miles of trails take visitors on a tour of a centuries-old autumnal wonderland.

Wissahickon Valley in Philadelphia

A few steps from any trailhead in the Wissahickon, and you instantly forget that you are actually within the city limits of one of the major metropolitan areas on the East Coast. Dense woods line either side of the meandering Wissahickon Creek.

The creek is paralleled by Forbidden Drive, a wide, five-mile-long towpath that runs from Lincoln Drive to Northwestern Avenue in Chestnut Hill. Motorized traffic is strictly forbidden on Forbidden. Miles and miles and hilly side trails afford incredible views of the creek and the valley, and a wide range of diverse tree species whose leaves coat the water and its banks a burnt gold color through autumn.

From RittenhouseTown, head uphill and bear to your left to reach the Orange Trail. From that point, follow the creek up to Kitchen's Lane. This particular stretch of trail is around a mile in length (one way) and provides a sampling of everything the Wissahickon has to offer: rocky trails, narrow wooden bridges, paths over old stone culverts, and a view of the creek at some of its faster-moving points.

Deer, red foxes, turtles, raccoons, and a variety of birds, including the brilliant blue indigo bunting, bald eagles, and falcons can be seen here. You could even spot a coywolf, a new strain of coyote and wolf "evolving before our eyes" in the Wissahickon and surrounding area. A general rule of thumb for the labyrinthine Wissahickon: if you want to avoid people, want a better chance of spotting wildlife, and want to embark on an adventure, then head uphill. If you're lost or you want a more relaxing, smoother hike, head downhill. All paths lead, eventually, to Forbidden Drive, and from there it's easy to re-orient.

Delaware Water Gap

One of the wildest stretches of nature in the otherwise densely developed stretch of land between Philadelphia and New York, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area straddles the Delaware River and offers a dizzying array of canyons, cliffs, waterfalls, and winding trails on either side.

The Water Gap is bisected by the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia. While the AT itself is plenty spectacular here, running along the Kittatinny Ridge and crossing footbridges high over wide-open gorges, some of the most unique day hikes are to be found in the dells and small valleys heading away from the river. Dramatic canyons and paths lined by creeks and waterfalls are abundant here; one of the most majestic is the route along Dunnfield Creek, where a diversity of foliage rains down into the area's waterways.

Evansburg State Park

The lesser traveled part of Evansburg, south of Ridge Pike, is often far less crowded than the more well-known trails near the park headquarters. Sunny days will see anglers hunting trout in the fast flowing waters of the Skippack Creek, but the trails on the slopes above the creek are often absent of all human activity, save for an occasional mountain biker. Hikers can partake in one of the many creekside paths that snake along the water, just feet away from the rapids and babbling brooks of the creek. Some double back on themselves, some come to dead-ends, others spill out onto rock beds that force the hiker to either turn around or ford the creek. The creek lies in a small valley, so steeper and more challenging trails can almost always be found by heading inland from the water. Because this section of the park is wilder, vigilant hikers can expect to encounter white-tailed deer, red foxes, squirrels, groundhogs, beavers, frogs, turtles, and the occasional snake.

Tyler State Park

A romp through Tyler State Park takes you back in time, as old stone buildings, well-preserved woodland, and long stretches of pastoral countryside are all evident on almost any hike. Hikers should be sure to include the impressive, restored Schofield Ford Covered Bridge on any route. The 170-foot long cavernous bridge is also 13 feet high and spans across the length of Neshaminy Creek. The Covered Bridge Trail runs from the edge of the park north of the bridge, across it, before continuing further into the wooded hills of the park. If you follow the loop all the way around, you can eventually pass by the Thompson Dairy House, an 18th century historic site (although it is not open to the public). A range of species are frequently be spotted in the park, including wild turkey, deer, foxes, turtles, and more. Black bears have also been seen in the area.