Laurel Ridge State Park, Laurel Highlands Hiking TrailTrail mileage within park: 70 milesTotal trail mileage: 70 milesNumber of overnight sites: 8Number of shelters per site: 5Number of tent spaces per site: 25Amenities available: firewood, fireplaces, fire rings and pit toiletsAmenities NOT available: Check in at park office for availability of waterPets allowed: yesReserve sites: 11 months in advance through reservePAOhiopyle State Park, Laurel Highlands Hiking TrailOhiopyle is the southern entrance to the Laurel Highlands Hiking TrailMoraine State Park, North Country National Scenic TrailTrail mileage within (McConnells Mill, Moraine and Jennings): 25.9 miles, Trail mileage within just Moraine = 13.9 milesTotal trail mileage: 4,600 milesNumber of overnight sites: 1  (at Moraine State Park)Number of shelters per site: 3Number of tent spaces per site: 0Amenities available: restroom and fireringAmenities NOT available: firewood and waterPets allowed: YesReserve sites: 11 months in advance through reservePAOil Creek State Park, Oil Creek/Gerard Hiking TrailTrail mileage within park: 36 milesTotal trail mileage: 36 milesNumber of overnight sites: 2Number of shelters per site: 6Number of tent spaces per site: spaces are availableAmenities available: water (Seasonal April 1 to November 1), firewood (when available)

, restrooms, picnic table and fireplacesAmenities NOT available:Pets allowed: YesReserve sites: 11 months in advance through reservePARaccoon Creek State ParkBackpacking trail loop mileage within park: 44 milesNumber of overnight sites: 2Number of shelters per site: 5Number of tent spaces per site: 5Amenities available: water & pit latrines/port-a-johns available 1/4-mile from campsite, fire ringAmenities NOT available: firewood (may be purchased at park office)Pets allowedwildkin backpack wholesale: YesReserve sites: 11 months in advance through reservePAncredible backpackShaded by a dense hardwood canopy, cut by clear, wildflower lined creeks, and pocked with postcard-worthy ridgetop views, the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) is one of the Keystone state’s marquee paths. gregory z55 backpack large

An hour south of Pittsburgh, the Laurel Highlands hover around 2,500 feet, and stay 10 to 20 degrees cooler than the humid valley floor. husqvarna 155 backpack blowerPack light: There are eight shelter sites along the five- to six-day trek. kestrel 68 backpack reviewEach site is equipped with a water pump, outhouses, refuse bins, tent-camping areas, and five Adirondack-style lean-to’s, replete with stone fireplaces and built-in cooking racks.aarn backpack review Do it From the LHHT’s southwest terminus (1), just north of Ohiopyle, head northeast to a 2,200-foot unnamed knob (2). Stop for a jpeg of the the rushing Youghiogheny (sounds like: Yawkagainy) River below. Camp comes early at the Ohiopyle Shelters at mile 6.3 (3).

Next morning, prepare for a 1.2-mile lung-buster that climbs 1,100 feet on stone staircases. Along the way, mushrooms and mosses yield to wildflowers, then towering hardwoods and fern-carpeted groves. At mile 11 (4), soak your head under a six-foot cascade streaming over 360-million-year-old rock. Watch for redback salamanders and wood ducks as you cross a small dam a mile later (5). By mile 16, large swaths mountain laurel, the state flower, line the trail (blooming through June). You’ll pass massive rock outcroppings before arriving at the Rt. 653 Shelters at mile 18 (6). Rise early for the next day’s 14-mile trek, and you’ll have plenty of time for a mid-morning break to watch hawks at an overlook at mile 21.3 (7). Pass the Grindle Ridge Shelters in two more miles (8). ) at mile 26.2 (9), the highest point on the trail. From here, hike down ski slopes, past the snowmaking ponds, and finally up switchbacks to the Rt. 31 Shelters (10). On day three, trek 12 miles through cherry, maple, beech, and hemlock, crossing a hikers’ bridge over the turnpike at mile 36.

Pass the Turnpike Shelters and take a break at Beam Rock (11), an outcrop of 90-foot-high pinnacles. It’s five more wooded miles to the Rt. 30 Shelters (12) at mile 46.5. Start day four with a quick splash in Machine Run (13), a spring 1.5 miles from camp. From here, head 9.5 miles through giant cinnamon ferns sprinkled with patches of blueberry and blackberry bushes to the Rt. 271 Shelters at mile 56.9 (14). The final day is a relatively gentle 13 miles. Be sure to stop at the lookout tower at mile 66 for a view of Conemaugh Gap and shimmering Big Spring Reservoir. From the tower, it’s four downhill miles to the trailhead. Bring Rover In 2008, for the first time ever, dogs are allowed at overnight shelters. Season October is prime time, with colorful foliage and great weather. It’s also when most of the 70,000 annual visitors go (less than one percent are thru-hikers). Alternatively, try spring through midsummer for roaring creeks and lighter traffic. Look both ways Timber rattlesnakes, black bears, and poison ivy are concerns, but the biggest dangers to Zen-ed out hikers are the numerous road crossings.

Be especially aware at US 30 and PA 271. Permits Required for the shelters ($4.50/night; dcnr.state.us.pa/stateparks, 724-455-3744). The Way From Pittsburgh, drive 65 miles southeast on I-76 to PA 31/711/381. Head south 22 miles to Ohiopyle. Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail The 70-mile hiking trail stretches along Laurel Mountain from the picturesque Youghiogheny River At Ohiopyle, Pa. to the Conemaugh Gorge near Johnstown, Pa. The trail features overnight trail shelters that must be reserved in advance. Seasoned backpackers challenge themselves on the steep, rugged areas of the trails. Casual hikers enjoy areas that are reasonably level and pleasant for walking. This major 70-mile hiking and backpacking trail from Ohiopyle State Park to near Johnstown is the main feature of Laurel Ridge State Park. The trail traverses state parks, state forests, state game lands, other public lands and private lands. 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.

www.nps.gov/poheThe Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is open year-round and is blazed approximately every 100 feet with 2-inch and 5-inch yellow blazes. Connector trails lead to and from trailheads and shelter areas and are marked with blue blazes. Mileage monuments are every mile. Yellow bands around trees mark the trail at every major road crossing.A Hiker’s Guide to the Laurel Highlands Trail is available from the Sierra Club Allegheny Group. The guide describes the trail and aids in planning outings. Included in the guide are detailed topographic maps plus information on geology, climate, plants and wildlife.Trail RunningThe Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is popular with trail runners due to the diverse terrain and unmatched beauty. Run a portion of the trail for a workout, or run the whole trail in one day. 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. TrailheadsSix trailheads provide 30-car parking lots, overnight parking and trash receptacles.

Voluntary day use registration mailboxes are located in each of the trailheads for day hikers to fill out information cards for vital park attendance data and for use in an emergency. For overnight use of the trail see the LHHT Regulations section.Shuttling ServicesShuttling services for hikers on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail are available from Wilderness Voyageurs in Ohiopyle. Shelter Area LayoutThere are eight overnight shelter areas, one area every 6 to 12 miles along the trail. Each area contains five Adirondack shelters with fireplaces, two vault toilets and space for 30 tents. Summary of Parking Lots and Trail SheltersFacilityMile Ohiopyle Trailhead0 mi. Ohiopyle Shelter Area6.3 mi. Maple Summit Road Daily Parking11.2 mi. PA Rt. 653 Shelter Area18.5 mi. PA Rt. 653 Trailhead18.8 mi. Grindle Ridge Shelter Area24 mi. PA Rt. 31 Trailhead30.6 mi. PA Rt. 31 Shelter Area32.5 mi. PA Turnpike Shelter Area38.2 mi. US Rt. 30 Trailhead45.8 mi. US Rt. 30 Shelter Area46.5 mi. PA Rt. 271 Trailhead56.9 mi. PA Rt. 271 Shelter Area56.9 mi. PA Rt. 56 Decker Avenue Shelter