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The Ultimate Fall Foliage Adventure Guide to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is one of the best places in the world to experience fall color. With over 2.2 million acres of state forests the ridges and valleys of Pennsylvania light up in brilliant reds, golds, and oranges from late September through late October.
This guide highlights just some of our favorite fall adventures across Pennsylvania’s public lands all featured on Purple Lizard Maps and ready for you head out and to explore!
Purple Lizard Maps has been exploring and mapping these incredible forests for decades.
Whether you are hunting for those little purple lizards on our maps that indicate something special and worth discovering, or are off for an unscripted outdoor adventure to just see what unfolds, Purple Lizard Maps always make sure your adventure is worthwhile.
(Above is an excerpt from the Purple Lizard Loyalsock State Forest Map - this crop features Worlds End State Park campground, recreation area, and surrounding hiking trails, dirt/gravel roads, vistas, and more!)
Lizard Maps provide you not just some of the best destinations in the state, but all the most useful info and easy to understand cartographic detail you need to find your way to the best that the outdoors in PA has to offer. Get ready for your best fall adventures yet!
Bald Eagle State Forest
Rolling ridges and sweeping quiet farming valleys make Bald Eagle a fall favorite for a destination camping weekend, a fall drive or overloading adventure or a gravel grind that will make memories that last.
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Penn’s View: A classic overlook from Poe Paddy Drive.
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Winklebleck Vista: Sunrise magic east of Woodward.
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Naked Mountain Vista: A rewarding hike with sweeping long-valley views.
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Poe Paddy Tunnel & Bridge: Explore this rebuilt rail-trail surrounded by autumn color.
Pine Creek and the PA Grand Canyon
Pine Creek/ aka “Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania” is a must-see in autumn, bound to bring about those beautiful fall deep breaths we are all craving right now.
PA Grand Canyon: photo credit Miranda Leigh
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Bradley Wales Picnic Area: Remote and stunning canyon views.
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Colton Point Vista & Harrison Lookout: Iconic opposing overlooks on the canyon rim.
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West Rim Trail: Miles of ridge-line hiking filled with endless vistas.
Rothrock State Forest
A timelessly beautiful forest playground well worth the trip. Just outside State College, {A Rothrock is packed with fall color, gorgeous vistas, plenty of gravel and twisty trails. This forest never disappoints the destination traveler. And - there is a brand new 8th edition Lizard Map to guide your way.
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Jo Hays Vista: A quick drive with a sweeping view of Tussey Mountain.
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Stone Mountain Hawk Watch: Fall raptor migration and brilliant foliage.
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Bear Meadows Natural Area: A unique high-elevation bog ringed in color.
Raystown Lake Region
The 8,300-acre Raystown Lake is a spectacular fall destination. Watch the leaves reflect on the water or wind through the beautiful foliage on bike or foot, beautiful views abound.
(Photo credit: Raystown.org)
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Ridenour & Hawn’s Overlooks: Two classic views near the dam.
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Terrace Mountain Trail: Lakeside hiking with multiple viewpoints.
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Allegrippis Trails: Famous flow trails surrounded by colorful ridges.
Moshannon–Quehanna and Elk Country
This is one Pennsylvania at its wildest Lizard Maps so far, and an adventure to the Moshannon-Quehanna area will leave you refreshed and feeling a world away. If you are lucky, and if you venture to the areas that the Elk enjoy, you may also catch a glimpse of one of Pennsylvanias majestic Elk.
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Winslow Hill Road: A top elk-viewing area during the rut.
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Bear Run Trail: Remote hiking with big valley views.
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Black Moshannon State Park: Paddle across tea-colored waters framed in gold.
Michaux State Forest
South-central Pennsylvania’s fall playground is perfect for a short trip to the big views you are craving. Just a short drive from Washington DC, Michaux won't disappoint for those big fall views you are craving.
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Kings Gap State Park: A winding road climb with multiple valley vistas.
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Pole Steeple Vista: A short but steep hike to a sweeping overlook.
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Whiskey Springs & Chimney Rocks: Appalachian Trail highlights with expansive views.
Loyalsock–Worlds End
A classic fall-color region in the Endless Mountains - and one of our favorite trips anytime is a truly breathtaking fall adventure, streams, forest and big views await in this Pennsylvania gem of a forest, perfect for a day trip, weekend getaway or fall camping or hiking adventure.
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Worlds End State Park and the Loyalsock Creek.
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Loyalsock Trail (59 miles) and Old Loggers Path (27 miles).
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Sones Pond, Haystacks Rapid, and Rider Park with endless waterfalls and overlooks.
Ohiopyle–Laurel Highlands
A powerhouse of waterfalls, trails, and history, this western PA map will inspire you for days!
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Ohiopyle State Park and seven other nearby State Parks.
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Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail and the Great Allegheny Passage.
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Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, Ferncliff Peninsula, and the Youghiogheny River.
Cook Forest–Clear Creek
Old-growth forests glowing with color are an experience worth the trip!
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Cathedral Forest in Cook Forest State Park.
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Clarion River corridor with miles of hiking and paddling.
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North Country Trail & Baker Trail segments, Loleta Recreation Area, and Buzzard Swamp.
Tuscarora State Forest
Connecting ridges, valleys, and river corridors, this is a gorgeous forest just a short drive from Harrisburg PA.
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Tuscarora Trail and Standing Stone Trail segments.
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Juniata River access with islands and campsites.
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Colonel Denning, Little Buffalo, and Fowlers Hollow State Parks.
Scotia Barrens (Game Lands 176)
A hidden gem and locals favorite right outside State College Pennsylvania, this little track of land has a big story to tell, and our Purple Lizard Scotia Trails and History Map, produced in collaboration with Clearwater Conservancy does just that.
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Dense network of foot and shared-use trails for easy loops.
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Small lakes, vernal pools, and unique barrens ecology.
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Historic remnants of the 1800s iron industry.
The Statewide Pennsylvania Map: Your Big Picture Guide
While specific Lizard maps help you dive deep, the Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Map shows how it all fits together, so you won't want to plan your fall PA adventures without it.
This one-of-a-kind statewide map highlights:
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124 State Parks and 20 State Forests
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115 rail trails and bikeways, 27 longer distance hiking trails, and 53 MTB destinations
Use this award winning map to plan a multi-day foliage tour in PA linking Pine Creek to Elk Country, or exploring Rothrock, Bald Eagle, and Michaux in one trip. It’s the perfect tool for seeing the big picture of Pennsylvania adventure.
Plan Your Perfect Fall Adventure
Every one of these destinations, and dozens more, are marked on Purple Lizard Maps. Grab the ones you need and plan your own unforgettable fall adventures.
And when you’re ready to roam farther, Purple Lizard also makes maps for West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Ohio. Wherever you roam, there’s a Lizard Map to help you discover the extraordinary. Shop All Lizard Maps
Enjoy your fall adventures!
Want some more fall inspriation? Check out these other Fall Adventure Blogs.
Have some great fall adventure pics? Share with the Lizard Maps community @purplelizardmaps on instagram or Facebook
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