Fall is my favorite time of the year, especially as the heat of summer gives way to the chilled air and the lush green transforms into brilliant shades of gold, red, and orange. We often don’t have to travel far – sometimes just to our backyard – to admire the season’s colors. While I love sitting on my back porch, breathing in the crisp air, and watching as a leaf drops to the ground every so often, I try to go on a few hikes every fall, too. We’re lucky to have an abundance of hiking trails in Pennsylvania, from simple strolls through the woods to challenging treks, that are particularly enchanting during autumn. For a chill adventure, follow this easy overlook trail to some of the best fall foliage in Pennsylvania.
Nestled within Tioga State Forest in Wellsboro, the Barbour Rock Trail offers a fun and easy way to admire the fall foliage from a scenic overlook. Set your GPS to Colton Road, where you’ll find a parking area and the trailhead for this easy path that tallies around one mile roundtrip. The trail is kid- and dog-friendly, but make sure your pup stays on a leash.
One of the best attributes of this area is its accessibility. A shorter .07-mile path, which starts in the parking lot, also leads to the scenic vista. When you arrive at the trailhead, you’ll see a sign that maps out the one-mile Barbour Rock Trail and the shorter, wheelchair-accessible trail, which is identified by blue dashes.
Listen as the fallen leaves crunch beneath you as you journey past colorful trees on the predominately flat trail, where you might see local wildlife, including chipmunks scurrying along the path and deer hiding behind trees. This is one of those fall hikes that promises plenty of photo-worthy moments.
The highlight of Barbour Rock Trail is the sensational views of Pine Creek Gorge and the surrounding forest. Try to time your visit for peak or near peak of the fall foliage, so you can see this natural wonder at its most colorful. If you go in the morning, you might even be lucky enough to watch the fog rolling in over the gorge.
Learn more on the official website of Tioga State Forest, or stop by the Facebook page of this Pennsylvania forest.
What’s your favorite way to view the fall foliage in Pennsylvania? Have you seen Pine Creek Gorge during the peak of the fall foliage? Let us know in the comments! Autumn’s an idyllic time to go on a scenic hike. Find a comprehensive list of hiking trails, including photos and maps, on All Trails.
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