Adventure is Where You Make It
Local, cheap fun that still feels like a vacation, this is the perfect description of a senior trip. Desiring to embark on the ever cliche senior trip, my friends and I looked at the semi-local Ohiopyle State Park. No, this is not in Ohio. It's in Pennsylvania. The name comes from the Lenape, one of the many Native American tribes who lived in the region. "Ohiopyle is derived from Unami, the language spoken by the Lenape people and is derived from a phrase that means "it turns very white," referring to the magnificent waterfalls and white water that runs through the area.
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| A view of one of the walled tents. Image courtesy of TripAdvisor |
While there are a few hotels or cabins available, I recommend camping. Ohiopyle is quite honestly in the middle of nowhere and to truly experience the park you should be out in nature and camping. Now if tent camping is not really your thing, there are walled tents available, which are on a raised wooden platform, contain bunk beds, lights, and an outlet to charge your phone. This is a good idea if many members of your group have never camped before or are not that outdoorsy. A tent rental also comes with a covered picnic table and a firepit. If there is supposed to be a lot of rain during your trip it would be a good idea to stay in a walled tent. They are on higher ground, are raised above the ground, and the canopy wall is thicker than normal tent material which means you should stay dry. The last night we were camping a massive storm came through and flooded some of the campsites. Our normal tent neighbors did not enjoy a nice, dry sleep.
Hiking Trails
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| A view from Kentuck Trail. |
In Ohiopyle, there are a variety of outdoor adventures with different levels of courage required. Let's start out at the least scary, hiking trails. There are a variety of hiking trails that range from strenuous to easy. Since Ohiopyle is such a large park it is very likely that you will be hiking for hours and not run into another person. These trails are a great way to explore nature and enjoy the gentle beauty. Be aware though some trails are open to hunting, so try to wear bright colors and not all black like my friends!
Cucumber Falls
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| The water at the falls can be very frigid. |
Another great adventure is Cucumber Falls. This picturesque waterfall is a popular spot for visitors. Located on one of the hiking trails, the pool at the bottom of the falls is a great place for a little swim. If that's not your thing you can admire the falls from the nearby rocks. You should be capable of walking over uneven surfaces if you want to get near these falls.
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| You can also view Cucumber falls from the top. |
Whitewater Rafting
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| Image courtesy of Jim Kelly |
Last but certainly not least, Whitewater Rafting. This is by far the most dangerous, but the most fun adventure you can find in Ohiopyle. The Youghiogheny River runs through the town of Ohiopyle. It offers class II-IV rapids. In Whitewater, the difficulty and danger are organized by classes I-V with V being the most difficult. If you have never experienced Whitewater rafting you should go on the Middle Yough. This is class II rapids and is very safe and easy. However, if you have experience or are looking for a little adventure, you should try the Lower Yough, which is class III-IV rapids. If you do this there is a possibility of falling out of the raft in a rapid. This can be scary but as long as you keep your toes above the water you will survive. The worst part is being embarrassingly hauled back into the raft by your lifevest. Regardless of if you stay in the raft or not, be prepared to get wet.
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| Sometimes everyone falls in. Image courtesy of Thomas Upton |
If you ever feel like you need more adventure in your life or you're missing out on nature, I suggest a visit to this great state park. Regardless of the season, there is always something to do. However, if you want to camp and raft I recommend the summer, rafting is not fun in October.
In what part of Pennsylvania is this state park located? I really like this part because it doesn't seem overpopulate, but there is still a good variety of activities to participate in. Is it expensive to rent a campsite or go white water rafting? This sounds like a great adventure!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures and a great job of talking about your trip to this wonderful PA State Park. I've been to a few other hiking trails and state parks in Pennsylvania, such as Bushkill Falls and Seven Tubs, and they've all been incredible to experience. I love hiking and getting to be close to nature, so this Ohiopyle State Park looks like something I should check out. Thanks for sharing your adventures, it was fun to read about them!
ReplyDeleteThis honestly sounds like such a good time. While I'm not sure I'll ever get the chance to visit this park because I'm not from PA and will usually only be here for school, if I ever get the downtime or chance, I'd love to go!
ReplyDeleteAs someone who spent their entire life in large cities, camping seems like a very foreign way to spend one's leisure time. Given the choice, I would much rather stay in a hotel with a hot tub and room-service than to sleep under the stars. However, the "walled tents" seemed to provide a good balance between the two.
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