OHIOPYLE AND THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS SCENIC BYWAY
Approximately 1.5 hours from Pittsburgh
The Laurel Highlands offer endless opportunities for scenic fall drives, less than two hours from Pittsburgh. The combination of dense forests, breathtaking waterfalls, and renowned architecture offers an adventure with unique points of interest and plenty of fall photo opportunities.
Start your day at Ohiopyle State Park, which covers more than 20,000 acres and features several waterfalls, scenic overlooks, and opportunities for hiking and biking. The forests are populated with tulip poplars, red and white oaks, sugar maples and more. Make sure you stop at Cucumber Falls to experience the rushing waters of a 30-foot waterfall tucked away in the forest.
Drive east along Route 381 through the Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway. The route winds through steadily climbing elevations, treating leaf peepers to red maples and golden birches along the mountainsides.
Continue just five minutes to Kentuck Knob and experience one of Frank Lloyd Wright’ s astounding feats of architecture amid the vibrant fall colors. Take a tour of the house to see how Wright masterfully blurs the line between nature and structure. The warm red cypress wood and native sandstone building materials blend seamlessly with the surrounding forest.
You’ ve only just gotten a taste of Frank Lloyd Wright’ s designs. Head over to Fallingwater, ending your day with a tour of this similar feat of modern American
OHIOPYLE FALLS
architecture. Be sure to stop at several of the scenic overlooks near Chalk Hill before leaving the area.
LIGONIER VALLEY AND LINN RUN STATE PARK
Approximately 1.5 hours from Pittsburgh
If you’ re in the mood for small-town charm and mountain vistas among the glittering reds and golds of autumn foliage, it only takes a little over an hour to reach this scenic corner of the Laurel Highlands.
Begin your day in historic Ligonier to fuel up at one of the quaint downtown breakfast spots or cafés. This town was the site of Fort Ligonier, a vital British stronghold during the French and Indian War. There are several well-preserved landmarks, including the fort itself, and visitors can take a self-guided tour of the town— just look for the walking tour markers at different buildings. At the peak of fall, the brilliant colors provide the perfect backdrop for this idyllic small town.
Hop onto Route 711 and head toward Linn Run State Park. Follow the road through dense forest for about 10 minutes until you reach Adams Falls. At just 15 feet, these falls are not as tall as some of the others on this list but makes up for it with tranquil beauty. The best time to view them is after a heavy rain, when the cascades are the most impressive.
Drive another 10 minutes down Linn Run Road until you reach Laurel Summit State Park. At 2,739 feet above sea level, this is one of the highest elevations in southwestern PA. Cooler mountain temperatures produce an early peak and
more vibrant color. If you’ re up for a hike, park the car and take Spruce Flats Bog or Wolf Rocks Trail to see the changing trees up close.
ALLEGHENY RESERVOIR AND THE LONGHOUSE SCENIC BYWAY
Approximately 2.5 hours from Pittsburgh
The Longhouse National Scenic Byway, which winds through Allegheny National Forest, is the farthest destination on our list, but it’ s worth the drive for the stunning views.
Begin on Route 59 in the Allegheny National Forest, following along the Allegheny River to the Kinzua Dam area. This is one of the largest dams east of the Mississippi River and was built following the Flood Control Acts of 1936 and 1938. The damming of the river created the Allegheny Reservoir, one of the deepest lakes in Pennsylvania.
Your first stop is the Kinzua Eagle Viewing Platform near the dam outflow. This is a great spot to try your luck at spotting a bald eagle, often soaring above the reservoir or perched in the towering pines. If you don’ t see an eagle, you’ ll still be rewarded with fantastic views of the river valley amid the changing leaves. Hop back on the road and head east for about 4 miles until you reach Kinzua Point. This is a great vantage point for stunning panoramic views of the reservoir and surrounding forest. There’ s also an information center where you can pick up brochures and maps. Now you can descend to Kinzua Beach. You’ ll be looking at the same view from a completely different perspective.
Continue on Route 59, leaving the shoreline behind and heading deeper into Allegheny National Forest. This is the Longhouse National Scenic Byway, a 36- mile loop surrounded by towering oak, cherry and hemlock trees with plenty of great stops along the way to take photos.
The signature stop is Jakes Rocks Overlook, where you can perch atop massive sandstone outcroppings to take in panoramic views of the reservoir and the surrounding autumn forest. Drive south through recreation areas like Elijah Run and Dewdrop for stunning lake views and easy hikes. Complete the drive at Route 321.
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