Easy Day Trips for Summer Fun

Summertime means vacation, but that doesn’t have to mean hours and hours in a car or a long flight. In Western PA, we are blessed to have a wide variety of getaways within one or two hours to take advantage of warmer days.

Erie Area Lagoon

North

Say the word “Erie” and everyone thinks of Presque Isle. And while Presque Isle is definitely a wonderful getaway spot, there are so many other lesser-known gems. Wintergreen Gorge offers scenic trails for hikers, bikers and walkers. Part of the Greater Erie Regional Trails, the view of Four Mile Creek and the gorge is a highlight of the park.

Erie Bluffs State Park is 12 miles west of Erie and offers 587 acres, including a mile of shoreline and 90-foot bluffs overlooking Lake Erie. Please note that there is no swimming in this day-use park. Little-known fact: folks who engage in rock-skipping contests such as the Rock in River Competition in Franklin love the flat rocks they find in Erie Bluffs.

The Erie Land Lighthouse was the first commissioned lighthouse on the Great Lakes. Also known as the “original Presque Isle Light,” several events are held in the summer months, including Tower Tuesdays, Second Saturdays and Star Gazing.

Wintergreen Gorge

Looking for a beach? An alternative to the Presque Isle beaches can be found at Shades Beach, located at 7000 E. Lake Road. In addition to the family-friendly beach, there are picnic and play areas, plus a few trails.

Christine Temple, director of communications for VisitErie, also shared a few other great stops, including Federal Hill Smokehouse, often voted the best BBQ stop in Pa.; the Lawrence Park Dinor, the only “dinor” in Pennsylvania on the National Register of Historic Places; and Relish Studio & Gallery, a gift shop that features handmade items created from beach glass. VisitErie.com for more information.

South

Rhonda McNally

Heading south in the opposite direction, you will reach one of Rhonda McNally’s favorite spots, Coopers Rock State Forest in West Virginia. “I lead a Pittsburgh-area senior women’s hiking group, and I love to occasionally take the group on what I call ‘field trip’ hikes that are less than two hours from Pittsburgh. When I stumbled across this one in 2024, it was perfect for an early summer ‘new-to-us’ adventure hike. It’s 80 miles from Pittsburgh and less than 15 miles from Morgantown,” the Indiana Township resident said.

McNally was attracted to the variety of hiking options, from short to longer distances and from easy to moderate to more difficult hikes. “I was also curious about the lovely Coopers Rock Overlook that is well known in West Virginia. It was a location that worked well for a day trip from Pittsburgh,” McNally said.

During her initial visit, McNally and her group hiked a six-mile loop that included many sites. “The hike included seeing the historic 1800s Henry Clay Furnace structure, the Coopers Rock Overlook with a stunning view of the Cheat River Gorge, the structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), along with forested ridge, creek and rocky, large-boulder trails. We hiked on the Rattlesnake, Ridge, Rhododendron, Clay Run and Roadside trails,” she said.

Like Erie, you can easily make the visit a day trip or turn it into a multiday adventure. “You could easily expand into a two- to three-day outdoor exploration trip. There are two W.Va. State Park campgrounds at Coopers Rock State Forest with a total of 50 reservable campsites. There are also new ‘stargazing’ two-bedroom A-frame cabins available to rent that are fully furnished, including telescopes for night sky viewing; and some pet-friendly cabins,” McNally said. Less than 15 minutes from Morgantown, there are also numerous bike-riding opportunities on the rail trail along the Monongahela River. “I am already looking forward to my next trip there with my spouse for three nights, four days of stargazing, hiking and biking.”

For more information, visit wvstateparks.com/parks/coopers-rock-state-forest/ or visit their Facebook page.

Joe Downing

Joe Downing also likes to head south but stays closer to Pittsburgh, choosing the Laurel Highlands area. “My favorite hike is Meadow Run Cascades in Ohiopyle State Park. It is a hidden gem because it is not visible from the road and requires a little effort to get to. That effort is rewarded by stops at the natural waterslides, Flat Rock — a large, flat rock formation often used for sunbathing or picnicking — towering rock formations used for rock climbing, and the beautiful cascades where the water tumbles over and around a large stretch of boulders,” said Downing, a Hampton resident.

Downing said the trail is a moderate three-mile hike. “Wear sturdy shoes, as you will encounter mud and wet sections along the way,” he said.

The Laurel Highlands has so many wonderful areas for day trips, including well-known gems like Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob, but also Spruce Flats Bog, a rare high-elevation bog reportedly home to unusual plant life, including carnivorous plants. The bog is located in Laurel Summit State Park. My own family loves nearby Laurel Hill State Park, home to numerous trails and, in August, the well-known bluegrass festival. Stay at the campground in one of the new “glamping” tent sites or nearby in the spacious Huffman Lodge.

Visit www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/laurel-hill-state-park/stay for lodging and camping information and                                  www.golaurelhighlands.com for more information on the Laurel Highlands region.

West

Go west of the city for Raccoon Creek State Park. State parks are one of the greatest resources in Pa., providing so many day- and multiday-trip opportunities. Only 25 miles from Pittsburgh, the park features the 101-acre Raccoon Lake with a beach and miles of trails on 7,572 acres. The park is especially well-known for wildflowers in spring and summer months. Want to stay the night? Rent one of the modern cabins.

Visit www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/raccoon-creek-state-park for more info.

East

Raystown Lake

Head east, and in about two and a half hours is the Raystown Lake region. Raystown Lake itself is overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and features 118 miles of unspoiled shoreline. The largest man-made lake entirely in Pa., running 28 miles through the mountains and valleys of Huntingdon and Bedford counties on 21,000 acres, it offers numerous opportunities for boating, water skiing, swimming, camping or staying at a lodge or cabin. Often referred to as “Pa.’s hidden gem,” not only are there endless trails for hiking and mountain biking, but fishers and hunters love this area as well. From atop one of the mountains looking down on Raystown Lake, you will swear you are in Europe.

Want to stay close to home? Visit Crouse Run Nature Preserve in Hampton Township, “long recognized as a natural area of exceptional significance,” according to the Pine Creek Land Conservation Trust that oversees the area. The well-known conservationist, Pittsburgh native Rachel Carson, did some of her nature studies here while a college student. The area provides trails, creeks and numerous plants and wildlife. Children will love hiking along the trail, skipping rocks in the creek or catching crayfish. For the more ambitious, the trails connect to the Rachel Carson Trail, a 45-mile trail that runs from North Park to Harrison Hills Park, both Allegheny County parks.