We Spent a Chilly Fall Day Exploring Two Easily-Accessible Waterfalls at Ohiopyle State Park

As soon as the weather starts to turn chilly, I feel relief. I love fall for the same reasons — the gorgeous foliage, fun activities, and delicious seasonal treats — as everyone else. But what I really look forward to is opening the windows to let the cool breeze in, pairing my shorts with a hoodie, and earlier sunsets. Exploring is so much easier when it’s cooler out, so my daughter and I took advantage of a brisk fall afternoon to visit Ohiopyle State Park last October.

Our more than hour-long drive to Ohiopyle State Park, one mid-October afternoon, gave us a small glimpse of the autumn beauty that awaited us. Color popped from some of the trees, many of which had yet to change from their vibrant shades of green, along the turnpike, leaving me a little worried that we might be too early for leaf peeping. That worry evaporated as we pulled into the spacious parking lot, overlooking breathtaking fall colors and just a short stroll from Ohiopyle Falls. (Even when we’ve visited the park during busy times, we never had trouble finding parking in the lot or along the road.)

A winding, paved walkway at Ohiopyle State Park leads to two viewing areas overlooking Ohiopyle Falls. You can also view the falls from the visitor center, which is worth a stop if it’s your first visit to the park. The visitor center has exhibits, maps, bathrooms, and helpful rangers who can answer any questions. A staircase leads down to a floor-to-ceiling window that showcases Ohiopyle Falls. We did this in the summer, to escape the heat and humidity for a bit, but the weather was so lovely and cool on this October day that we went straight to the outside viewing area to snap photos and admire the waterfall, flanked by the fall foliage.

We decided to take a short hike, following the Ferncliff Trail, to the other side of the falls, too. The trail took us from the parking lot, over a bridge with sensational views of the fall foliage, and down a rather steep set of stairs. Wear sturdy shoes for the rocky trail, but that small obstacle is worth the views of Ohiopyle Falls. We walked over large rock formations to get a closer look at the cascade and smaller waterfalls that tumbled into the Youghiogheny River. Then we sat down on one of the large rocks and just soaked up the atmosphere — the tiny cascades, Ohiopyle Falls, the fall foliage, and the crisp air. Other visitors were exploring the rocks, posing for photos and enjoying the views, too.

Since we arrived at the park later in the afternoon, we didn’t have much time to explore. But, before we left, we made the one-mile drive from Ohiopyle Falls to Cucumber Falls. You can’t miss the sign for the parking lot, which is small and fills up quickly as we learned during a summer visit. This time, though, we were lucky, especially since we were trying to get a glimpse of the waterfall before sunset.

A small viewing area, just a short walk from the parking lot, overlooks Cucumber Falls, which is particularly spectacular surrounded by the fall colors. If you want to go to the base of the waterfall, you’ll walk down a long, winding staircase and climb over rocks to get a closer look. It was already getting dark, and a little eerie, so we just snapped a few photos and decided to leave the base for another day.

Have you been to Ohiopyle State Park in the fall? Did you hike? If so, what do you think are the best hikes at Ohiopyle State Park in the fall? What are some of your favorite things to do in fall near Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments! If you’re still planning your fall adventures, add a visit to Keystone State Park to your itinerary. A stroll along the Keystone Lake Loop Trail promises stunning views of the fall foliage. Find more of the best autumn hikes in Pennsylvania on All Trails.