Laurel highlands hiking trail endtoend potomac heritage. A few years later i ran the whole trail with a friend. Laurel highlands hiking trail i returned to laurel this june in a much better place than a year ago when i ran it for the first time. My husband and i wanted to backpack somewhere in pa after visiting family in pittsburgh so we chose to do a three day, 31 mile trek through ohiopyle on the laurel highlands hiking trail. Laurel highlands hiking trail hiking trail, ohiopyle. The trail affords some great views of the twisting youghigheny river, from high above ohiopyle state park, to the beautiful conemaugh valley, near johnstown, pa.
Substantial portions of the trail fall within,625acre laurel ridge state park. Please be sure to have a reliable emergency contact, should you need. Laurel highlands hiking trail winter overnight hike. Routed signs are posted at intersections of various trails. Large signs indicate access points, and markers appear at every mile. The laurel highlands hiking trail is a 70mile, continuous footpath stretching atop the laurel ridge. The laurel highlands hiking trail lhht is a 70 mile backpackinghiking footpath located in. The laurel highlands hiking trail is a major segment of the potomac heritage national scenic trail, a network of trails between the mouth of the potomac river and the allegheny highlands. Laurel highlands hiking trail map pennsylvania toursmaps. Laurel highlands hiking trail winter overnight hike youtube.
Laurel ridge state park is a,625acre 5,514 ha pennsylvania state park that passes through cambria, fayette, somerset, and westmoreland counties, pennsylvania in the united states. Laurel highlands hiking trail pennsylvania alltrails. We want to make your vacation extra special and hope you fall in love with the laurel highlands. This scenic and popular trail follows 2,700foot laurel ridge in southwest pennsylvania, running from the conemaugh river gorge to the youghiogheny river gorge.
This large park spans cambria, fayette, somerset and westmoreland counties. The laurel highlands hiking trail is a 70mile backpacking and hiking trail in western pa. The laurel highlands hiking trail extends seventy miles from ohiopyle state park to seward, just north of johnstown. The laurel highlands hiking trail is open yearround and is blazed approximately every 100 feet with 2inch and 5inch yellow blazes. Traveling 70 miles along laurel mountain from ohiopyle to johnstown, the laurel highlands hiking trail is a rite of passage for local outdoor enthusiasts. Laurel highlands hiking trail the lhht is being threatened currently into becoming divided due to the foot snowmobile bridge over the pa. Gear hikers ditch after 30 miles on the appalachian trail mountain crossings. Call laurel ridge state park at 412 4553744 prior to your trip for reservations. The laurel highlands hiking trail lhht follows a nearly level ridgeline in southwestern pa for 70 miles. Mar 29, 2015 this map shows the layout of a shelter area on the laurel highlands hiking trail, laurel ridge state park, pennsylvania. The hiking trails of laurel hill state park are listed according to difficulty, arranged from the easiest to the most difficult. The trail goes below the rocks and then starts to climb a hill.
The park is home to the 70mile 110 km laurel highlands hiking trail that runs through the park from the youghiogheny river at ohiopyle to the conemaugh gorge near johnstown. Laurel highlands hiking trail lhht has 5,061 members. One of the easiest trails in linn run state park, adams falls, takes you on a 1mile loop through rhododendrons and hemlocks. The 70mile laurel highlands hiking trail lhht is one of few remote backpacking footpaths in the potomac heritage national scenic trail network. When the guy who wrote a book about it posted a trip on the facebook page for the lhht i thought looks like a great way to. From there it travels for seventyodd miles through the heart of the laurel ridge region, a section of the appalachian mountain range that encompasses forests, state parks, and state game lands. You start with a lungbusting, fivemile climb on sugarloaf road out of ohiopyle that gains about 1700 feet.
The trail affords some great views of the twisting youghiogheny river from high above ohiopyle state park, to the beautiful conemaugh gorge, near johnstown, pa. The 3,000 square miles of the laurel highlands covers 10 state parks and forests, 5 national parks, and lots of local parks. Map key easy hikes moderate trails difficult treks points of interest for more information, check out the dcnr website for each of our parks. The race is run along the entire laurel highlands hiking trail. Elevation profile of laurel highlands hiking trail. Map produced by nysoprhp gis bureau, june 24, 2019. Overnight trail shelters must be reserved in advance. The laurel highlands hiking trail is open yearround and is blazed approximately every 100 feet with.
Experience western pas iconic laurel highlands hiking trail. The trail traverses state parks, state forests, state game lands, other public lands and private lands. Some of the most challenging trail runs in the eastern united states are the laurel highlands ultra races, which are held the second saturday in june. Rei will take the mystery out of planning, preparation and gear. The trail is open year round and marked with 2 x 5 yellow blazes. Most trails are wide, easily followed, and blazed in yellow.
The laurel highlands hiking trail lhht is a 70 mile backpackinghiking footpath located in western pa. As part of the rei coop family, were dedicated to making websites and mobile apps that help outdoor enthusiasts connect, share information and get out into the places they love to play. It is the only pure backpacking footpath followed by the potomac heritage trail. The next mile winds through rocks and mountain laurel thickets, and then the trail levels out and gets easier through open forest. Hiking trails near pennsylvania hiking project hiking. Hudson highlands state park trail map north new york state parks.
Backpacking the laurel highlands trail with roaring run. I havent done the entire laurel highlands trail, but have done 3 sections of it. Turnpike between the donegal and somerset exits being closed due to poor condition. Laurel highlands hiking trail info page danes place. It stretches from the swift whitewaters of the youghiogheny river in ohiopyle, pa, to the beautiful conemaugh gorge near seward, pa. The keystone state is laced with longdistance hiking trails that travel deep woods, stream valleys and high mountain ridges. The first mile goes across a couple of nice streams and heads up a pretty good hill as it threads through a rock city. When using the trail, abide by the governing rules and regulations posted at parking lots and camping areas. The hiking guide to the laurel highlands trail, published by the sierra club, provides natural history and interpretation of the entire 70mile path. One of the most exciting reasons to visit the park is. The,625acre laurel ridge state park stretches along laurel mountain from the picturesque youghiogheny river at ohiopyle, to the conemaugh gorge near johnstown. Trails that lead to and from parking areas and shelters are marked with blue blazes. Laurel highlands hiking trail thru hike with outdoor. Backpacking the laurel highlands hiking trail hiking and.
This major 70mile hiking and backpacking trail from ohiopyle to near johnstown is the main feature of the park. The laurel highlands hiking trail runs from ohiopyle state park to the laurel ridge state park meeting the 1,000foot conemaugh gorge near johnstown. The main feature of the park is the 70mile laurel highlands hiking trail, which provides the setting for a semiwilderness backpacking and day hiking experience. The laurel highlands hiking trail, a section of the potomac heritage trail, begins near ohiopyle state park in southwest pennsylvania. The laurel highlands hiking trail is a 70mile continuous footpath stretching atop the laurel ridge. The laurel highlands a hiking guide paperback january 1, 2000 by monika vucic author 5. It follows laurel ridge through state game lands, forest and other parkland. Laurel highlands hiking trail running trail, ohiopyle. The laurel highlands hiking trail is popular with trail runners due to the diverse terrain and unmatched beauty. This is a pointtopoint race that begins in ohiopyle, pa and ends in seward, pa. I was welltrained, had my nutrition dialed in, had 6 friends running it with me, and 7 friends crewing and pacing.
The main feature of the park is the 70mile laurel highlands hiking trail, which. Run a portion of the trail for a workout, or run the whole trail in one day. The laurel highlands hiking trail is thought by many people to be the finest. Information on how to do that is outlined on instructions for making a backpacking reservation pdf and can be done on the state park reservation system. We will day hike the trails in the roaring run area, hiking two loops before returning to the parking area and then driving to the laurel highlands parking lot on pa 31.
Sheepskin run rock spring run little glade run harbaugh run blue hole cr. My first experience on this trail was in 2001 when i hiked it with a few friends. Warriors path state park hiking trails tennessee state parks. During my first trip we spent 8 days out and had a lot of fun. Also, where i have seen warnings on the water wells about contamination, the pumps still work you could always use the well, but treat the water you get from it. This group is is dedicated to the laurel highlands hiking trail and encourages posts for. If youre familiar with me or my own web site youll know that im a huge supporter of the trail. Laurel highlands trail pahikes hiking pennsylvania. Laurel highlands hiking trail lhht public group facebook. Along the way, there are hemlock groves, mountain streams, hardwood forests and the sounds of wildlife.
All the shelter areas i have seen are along side creeks water shouldnt be an issue. Part of the potomac heritage trail, it is one of the most celebrated pennsylvania hiking trails for its varied terrain and wondrous beauty. Laurel highlands hiking trail keystone trails association. Thru hike of the laurel highlands hiking trail with outdoor adventures. Before the bridge there is a trail that cuts to the right. My wife and i will be staying in somerset for a few days, and are looking for a nice hike with good views for one day.
Laurel highlands hiking trail map pennsylvania 70 miles. The northern terminus is a few miles east of seward off pa 56, and the southern terminus now connects with the great allegheny passage at ohiopyle. Its not marked and not well worn but is discernible. Laurel highlands hiking trail map pdf laurel highlands hiking trail shelters. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. The laurel highlands hiking trail has 2by5inch yellow blazes. There was a surprising amount of variety of terrain and and weather conditions along the trail. Probably the most unusual thing along here is the metal bridge that carries the pht over the pennsylvania turnpike.
The laurel highlands hiking trail, one of the finest natural trails in pennsylvania, extends for over 70 miles from conemaugh gorge near johnstown to the rugged and picturesque youghiogheny river gorge at ohiopyle state park. Wilderness voyageurs will not be providing shuttle service for the laurel highlands hiking trail from november 1 through march 31. Permit area facility details laurel ridge state park, pa. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. I need a suggestion for a good place to start a day hike out and back, maybe 56 hours near somerset. Go long in pennsylvanias laurel highlands backpacker. Laurel highlands trail hike 34 potomac heritage national. The scenery on this hike offers one delight after another. The trail traverses state parks, state forests, state game lands, other public lands. Follow the trail east a little and it will lead you down to a small stream. On this 70miler, see rhododendrons by day and hike light by staying in shelters at night. A local favorite is a ride over sugarloaf mountain to confluence and back. This map shows the layout of a shelter area on the laurel.
694 1055 1072 240 34 108 190 1214 706 772 1183 194 389 137 55 436 1033 496 1344 1111 21 947 958 555 866 641 174 240 1173 535 770 733