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 make 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.
CONFLUENCE AND YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER VALLEY
Approximately 1.5 hours from Pittsburgh
The small town of Confluence was named for its location at the junction of the Casselman River, Laurel Hill Creek, and the Youghiogheny River. Tucked into the Laurel Highlands, this charming town is the perfect place to start a peaceful fall drive.
One of the area’ s greatest assets is access to the Great Allegheny Passage( GAP), which cuts right through Confluence. This 150- mile non-motorized passageway stretches from Cumberland, Maryland, all the way to Point State Park in Pittsburgh. A favorite outdoor recreation path for hikers and cyclists, the trail is wide and level, making it a good place to park the car and explore the fall scenery on foot.
Stroll under a canopy of hardwood forest, marveling at the colorful display of nature. Cross the pedestrian bridge spanning the Youghiogheny River for some stunning photo ops.
If you’ re up for hiking a bit farther, you’ ll be rewarded with one of the best views in the Laurel Highlands. Near the Confluence GAP trailhead, a signed path leads you to the Joshua C. Whetzel Jr. Memorial Recreation Area trailhead. A well-marked half-mile dirt path climbs through the forest to a small observation area overlooking Confluence, the Great Allegheny Passage, Casselman River and the Youghiogheny River.
The view encompasses miles of forest, rivers and farmland woven together in a rich tapestry of color.
For the next leg of the drive, turn right on Route 281 South, leaving Confluence. About half a mile down the road you’ ll see the entrance for Youghiogheny River Lake Recreation Area / U. S. Army Corps of Engineers on the left. Turn onto Flanigan Road and follow the signs to the dam overlook and picnic area. Enjoy the pristine lake views atop the 184-foot dam, a peaceful spot to conclude your autumn drive.
MOUNT DAVIS AND FORBES STATE FOREST
Approximately 2 hours from Pittsburgh
This drive takes you into another corner of the Laurel Highlands and some of the highest elevations in Pennsylvania. Elevated areas reach their peak fall color before the valleys, so it’ s an ideal adventure for early October. Although Forbes State Forest is about a two-hour drive from Pittsburgh, the journey will be rewarded with spectacular mountain views and dense hardwood forests painted in vibrant colors.
Begin on Mount Davis Road, which winds through the forest to Pennsylvania’ s highest point, Mount Davis, at 3,213 feet above sea level. Follow signs for the observation tower and take a short walk from the gravel parking lot. Climb several flights of metal stairs to enjoy panoramic views that stretch for miles.
Take the short drive to Baughman Rocks( not to be confused with Baughman Rock Overlook in Ohiopyle). Just a mile from the tower, a short trail to the rocks is flanked by mountain laurel, the official state plant of Pennsylvania. There is an observation deck, but the foliage has filled in so much since its creation that the view is obstructed by the forest. The rocks themselves are massive sandstone boulders separated by deep crevices, so watch your step.
Continue to South Wolf Rock Road, which winds peacefully through Forbes State Forest until you reach High Point Lake Overlook. A viewing platform offers a stunning vista of this mountain lake, with calm waters reflecting the brightly colored foliage.
If you’ re not yet ready to head home, explore the network of rural roads surrounding Forbes State Forest, where scenic farmland and forested hillsides provide even more opportunities for leaf peeping. n
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