Pennsylvania has some of the best natural viewpoints in the country, but some are more terrifying than others…especially if you are afraid of heights. If you are bold and brave (and maybe a little bit crazy), there are several vistas you won’t want to miss!
Some of these views are safer than others (you won’t go tumbling to your death while riding the Monongahela Incline), but others require a bit more of a hike or an extra dose of courage. For these extra-incredible vistas…be careful. Just because that cool rocky outcropping would make a great “selfie” background doesn’t mean you can throw caution to the wind; if you are going to venture out to the edge (of any cliff, secured or otherwise), keep in mind that the extraordinary view you might just catch will be the last one you see as you free fall from the precipice. You have been warned.
- Monongahela Incline
Flickr / dave.harris The Monongahela Incline is the oldest continuously operating funicular in the nation – it was built in 1870.
Flickr / Sonja Stark Of course, the motors, tracks, and cars have been renovated many times since it was built. The steep trip to the top can be unnerving if you stop to think too hard about it. The 635-foot long tracks carry passenger cars at a whopping six miles per hour at a 35 degree grade.
- Kinzua Sky Walk
Flickr / Nicholas A. Tonelli When it was constructed in 1882, Kinzua Bridge was the tallest railroad bridge in the world (at 301 feet). The bridge partially collapsed in 2003 after being hit by a tornado and was removed from the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
TripAdvisor / GlassSA The Kinzua Sky Walk opened up in 2011 and features a glass-bottom observation walkway that allows pedestrians to look down on the forest that is hundreds of feet beneath them.
- Pole Steeple
Flickr / sjfst17 The Pole Steeple Trail in Pine Grove Furnace State Park isn’t a long hike – only about 3/4 of a mile – but the steep climb to the summit will give you an amazing view of the entire State Park, Laurel Lake, and the valley that lies hundreds of feet below.
- The Pinnacle
Flickr / Tiffany There aren’t many more dramatic mountain views in Pennsylvania than from The Pinnacle – a ridge of the Blue Mountains in Berks County. The Appalachian Trail passes right through the area, so it can be busy during the summer months despite the treacherous, rocky trail to reach the summit of the 1000 ft. tall cliff.
- Lookout Point, Leonard Harrison State Park
Wikimedia / Ruhrfisch Leonard Harrison State Park, located in Tioga County, is east of the Pine Creek Gorge (a.k.a. the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania).
Wikimedia / Ruhrfisch The Park is well know for its views of the gorge, which cuts more than 800 feet deep into the land.
- South Lookout, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
Flickr / Jeremy Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is southwest of Kempton and is perched atop Blue Mountain. The trail up to South Lookout is only a short 100-yard path, but if you are looking for a slightly longer hike (though still only a mile long), the rocky, moderate-level trail to North Lookout is right nearby.
Flickr / Nicholas A. Tonelli From the lookout area, you will see Kittatinny Ridge and the valley far below. This spot is especially cool in the fall, when bird migrations begin, but you will find birds of prey floating by nearly all year around. Though the lookout is a safe vista, it’s a bit disconcerting to have turkey vultures circling overhead while you are looking down hundreds of feet into the valley below…
- Hyner View
Flickr / Nicholas A. Tonelli Hyner View State Park, located in Clinton County, is surrounded by the beautiful Sproul State Forest and has one amazing view of the West Branch Susquehanna River Valley.
Wikimedia / Ben Stanfield The spot is also a popular launch point for paragliders and parasailers, so even if you stay safely in the overlook area, their sudden leaps from the side of the sheer cliff will still leave you with an adrenaline rush! (If you have ever paraglided from this spot, we would love to hear about it and see your eye-in-the-sky photos!)
- Raven’s Horn
Flickr / Nicholas A. Tonelli The Tiadaghton State Forest in Lycoming County is home to many hiking trails, but one in particular – the Golden Eagle Trail – will take you to a viewpoint that might make you a bit dizzy. The Trail is a nine-mile hike that will take you right past Raven’s Horn, a rocky outcropping that overlooks the valleys and ridges of Wolf Run and down onto Pine Creek.
- Wyalusing Rocks
Flickr / Mitch The Wyalusing Rocks Scenic Overlook sits 500 feet above the Susquehanna River.
Facebook / Amanda Ophelia, Wyalusing Rocks There is a pullout from Route 6 if you want to stay close to your car, but for the best views, courageous visitors will wander out to the flat rock outcroppings.
Facebook / Jill Buchinsky Adams, Wyalusing Rocks The rocks can be slippery and there are no safety rails, but if you are brave (and careful!) you will get a bird’s eye view that might leave you thinking you are actually flying above the valley (which you might be, should you slip. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!).
Have you braved the way out to any of these terrifying viewpoints and lived to tell the tale? If so, share your story in the comments below! Have you been anywhere else that we might have missed on this list? We want to hear about it!
Flickr / dave.harris
The Monongahela Incline is the oldest continuously operating funicular in the nation – it was built in 1870.
Flickr / Sonja Stark
Of course, the motors, tracks, and cars have been renovated many times since it was built. The steep trip to the top can be unnerving if you stop to think too hard about it. The 635-foot long tracks carry passenger cars at a whopping six miles per hour at a 35 degree grade.
Flickr / Nicholas A. Tonelli
When it was constructed in 1882, Kinzua Bridge was the tallest railroad bridge in the world (at 301 feet). The bridge partially collapsed in 2003 after being hit by a tornado and was removed from the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
TripAdvisor / GlassSA
The Kinzua Sky Walk opened up in 2011 and features a glass-bottom observation walkway that allows pedestrians to look down on the forest that is hundreds of feet beneath them.
Flickr / sjfst17
The Pole Steeple Trail in Pine Grove Furnace State Park isn’t a long hike – only about 3/4 of a mile – but the steep climb to the summit will give you an amazing view of the entire State Park, Laurel Lake, and the valley that lies hundreds of feet below.
Flickr / Tiffany
There aren’t many more dramatic mountain views in Pennsylvania than from The Pinnacle – a ridge of the Blue Mountains in Berks County. The Appalachian Trail passes right through the area, so it can be busy during the summer months despite the treacherous, rocky trail to reach the summit of the 1000 ft. tall cliff.
Wikimedia / Ruhrfisch
Leonard Harrison State Park, located in Tioga County, is east of the Pine Creek Gorge (a.k.a. the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania).
The Park is well know for its views of the gorge, which cuts more than 800 feet deep into the land.
Flickr / Jeremy
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is southwest of Kempton and is perched atop Blue Mountain. The trail up to South Lookout is only a short 100-yard path, but if you are looking for a slightly longer hike (though still only a mile long), the rocky, moderate-level trail to North Lookout is right nearby.
From the lookout area, you will see Kittatinny Ridge and the valley far below. This spot is especially cool in the fall, when bird migrations begin, but you will find birds of prey floating by nearly all year around. Though the lookout is a safe vista, it’s a bit disconcerting to have turkey vultures circling overhead while you are looking down hundreds of feet into the valley below…
Hyner View State Park, located in Clinton County, is surrounded by the beautiful Sproul State Forest and has one amazing view of the West Branch Susquehanna River Valley.
Wikimedia / Ben Stanfield
The spot is also a popular launch point for paragliders and parasailers, so even if you stay safely in the overlook area, their sudden leaps from the side of the sheer cliff will still leave you with an adrenaline rush! (If you have ever paraglided from this spot, we would love to hear about it and see your eye-in-the-sky photos!)
The Tiadaghton State Forest in Lycoming County is home to many hiking trails, but one in particular – the Golden Eagle Trail – will take you to a viewpoint that might make you a bit dizzy. The Trail is a nine-mile hike that will take you right past Raven’s Horn, a rocky outcropping that overlooks the valleys and ridges of Wolf Run and down onto Pine Creek.
Flickr / Mitch
The Wyalusing Rocks Scenic Overlook sits 500 feet above the Susquehanna River.
Facebook / Amanda Ophelia, Wyalusing Rocks
There is a pullout from Route 6 if you want to stay close to your car, but for the best views, courageous visitors will wander out to the flat rock outcroppings.
Facebook / Jill Buchinsky Adams, Wyalusing Rocks
The rocks can be slippery and there are no safety rails, but if you are brave (and careful!) you will get a bird’s eye view that might leave you thinking you are actually flying above the valley (which you might be, should you slip. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!).
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