Probably the most hiked mountain in Centre County, Mount Nittany offers a moderate climb to many vistas that look out on State College, Beaver Stadium, and other surrounding communities and landmarks.The ‘Nittany’ in Mount Nittany is said to be derived from Indian words meaning protective barrier against the elements. Local folk lore tells of an Indian princess, Princess Nita-Nee, that led her tribe to the safe haven of Nittany Valley. When she died a mountain arose from her burial site, and Mount Nittany was born.The most hiked trails on Mount Nittany are found at it’s southern terminus. But Mount Nittany extends for many miles to the northeast. Another easily hikable trail, but not nearly as used or populated as the trails on the southern tip, is the James Cleveland Trail. Maintained by a local Boy Scout group, this trail ascends to the top of Mount Nittany between the towns of Pleasant Gap and Centre Hall, and visits the site of a plane crash that occured in the 1930s.If you live in Centre County, or just visting, a hike up Mount Nittany should be on your to-do list. Be it the 4 mile white blazed trail or the longer blue blazed trail, the vistas from the mountain top are well worth the climb.If you would like more information on Mount Nittany, or perhaps even donate to help preserve this local landmark, you can visit the website of the Mount Nittany Conservancy.

Source: Mount Nittany – PAHikes

“The Golden Eagle Trail may be the best day hike in Penn’s Woods” – Tom Thwaites, 50 Hikes In Central Pennsylvania.

I think that quote pretty much sums up the Golden Eagle Trail. Located between the towns of Slate Run and Cammal in North Central Pennsylvania, the Golden Eagle Trail offers some amazing views of the Pine Creek valley. This trail, like the Black Forest Trail just to it’s north, is blazed orange and, at just a little over 9 miles, makes for an invigorating hike any time of the year.$6.95Add to CartGuide to the Golden Eagle Trailby Scott AdamsAlso located near the Golden Eagle Trail is the 3 mile out-and-back Bob Webber trail. Ascending the south mountain of Wolf Run, this short hike is very strenuous, but offers an amazing view from the vista at the top. If you enjoyed hiking any part of the Black Forest Trail then you’ll like the Golden Eagle Trail and the Bob Webber Trail as well.

Source: Golden Eagle Trail – PAHikes

Bushkills Falls, often called “The Nigara of Pennsylvania”, is one of the best falls in eastern Pennsylvania. The main fall, Bushkill Falls, is the gemstone and main attraction, but there are many other falls to be viewed from the trails that explore the banks of Little Bushkill Creek and Pond Run Creek.Bushkill Falls opened to the public in 1904 with millions of visitors from all over the world exploring the trails and view the magnificent falls. A small entrance fee is charged to walk these trails and view the breathtaking scenery. Since this is privately owned, Bushkill Falls does not receive any local, state, or federal money for upkeep. Once you see and experience the walkways that perch on the sides of cliffs and over top rushing water and splendid waterfalls, you will soon realize that it was money well spent. The Peters Family does an excellent job at providing access to the many falls and maintaining the many walkways.There are 4 color-coded access trails to the falls. The trails, green, yellow, blue and red, are designed for walkers and hikers of all levels. Green is the shortest with no climbs or descents, and the red trail is the longest being just under 2 miles. All of the trails offer great views and showcase the main waterfall. This area is a great place to take children. The descent to the bottom of the main falls can be long and steep, but the well maintained steps with secure hand railing makes it a convenient hike. With an area to have a picnic, fishing pond, paddle boats,and miniature golf, this is a great family destination.

Source: Bushkill Falls – PAHikes

Yellow Creek State Park is located in Indiana county of Pennsylvania, just off route US422, about half way between Ebensburg and Indiana, PA. Located on the Allegheny plateau of the Laurel Highlands, Yellow Creek State Park offers a variety of activities including boating, fishing, swimming, and hiking. The lake at Yellow Creek offers many opportunities to view migrating water fowl.There are three hiking trails available within the state park. All of the trails are easy to hike and well marked. They make for great hikes with young children. The three trails can offer up to 6 miles of hiking, with the shortest hike being the Laurel Run Trail. The Damsite trail takes you to a vista of the dam at Yellow Creek, while the Ridge Top trail is probably the most demanding as it does ascend to to the top of a small ridge line.Additional information about Yellow Creek State Park and the activities available can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website.

Source: Yellow Creek State Park – PAHikes