Two state parks, one ridge apart

Julian Wetlands (Bald Eagle Creek floodplain)

Floodplain wetland on Bald Eagle Creek just downstream of Julian, between Old 220 and the creek — waterfowl, herons, spring peepers. Viewing is from the road shoulder along Old 220. There is no designated parking, trail or public-access signage here, so stay on the road and do not enter the parcel without permission.

Ralph's Majestic Vista

Rock outcrop on the Allegheny Front Trail in Moshannon State Forest, looking out over the Bald Eagle Valley toward Julian and State College. The best fall-color view near Julian, Pennsylvania; the Front colors earlier than the valley below. Park at the Underwood Road pull-off and walk 0.6 miles; Ralph's Pretty Good View is 0.2 miles farther (about 1.4 miles round trip). Public state-forest land; hunting is allowed in season.

PA 504 fall drive — Unionville to Black Moshannon

About 12 miles and 20 minutes on PA 504, the old Rattlesnake Pike, climbing from Unionville on the Bald Eagle Valley floor up the Allegheny Front through Moshannon State Forest to Black Moshannon State Park. The quickest way to see fall color change with elevation; Underwood Road, for Ralph's vistas, branches off along the way.

Ralph's Pretty Good View

Second Allegheny Front Trail outcrop, 0.2 miles past Ralph's Majestic Vista in Moshannon State Forest, with another view over the Bald Eagle Valley near Julian, Pennsylvania. About 1.4 miles round trip from the Underwood Road pull-off. Public state-forest land; hunting is allowed in season.

Canoe Creek State Park

Sunnyside Paddle Park

Kayak and canoe put-in on Spring Creek just above its confluence with Bald Eagle Creek at Milesburg.

Poe Valley State Park

Poe Paddy State Park

Bald Eagle State Park

5,900-acre park on the 1,730-acre Foster Joseph Sayers Lake at the foot of Bald Eagle Mountain. Two campgrounds, beach, boat launches, and the LEED Gold Nature Inn. Best birding in the valley.

Black Moshannon State Park

Black Moshannon State Park offers a bog boardwalk, a tea-colored lake, trails, and a setting for an unhurried park visit west of Julian. Choose your activity and arrival area using DCNR’s official park map. For the Bog Trail boardwalk, use Boating Area 3. Download the map in advance because cell coverage can be unpredictable. Visitor information: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/black-moshannon-state-park

Snow Shoe Rails to Trails — Gillentown Trailhead

Main trailhead for the Snow Shoe Rails to Trails system — ATV, UTV, dirt bike, snowmobile, and hiking on former rail and logging grades above the Bald Eagle Valley. Permit required (SSRT).

Black Moshannon Lake Boat Launch #1

Main launch on Black Moshannon Lake — electric motors only. Seasonal kayak and canoe rental at the boat concession beside the launch (verify hours with the park office).

Black Moshannon Bog Trail

Boardwalk and gravel trail, about a quarter mile each way, through the plateau bog in Black Moshannon State Park, from Westside Road to a viewing platform. Pitcher plants, leatherleaf, cranberry and blueberry; the bog's tannins are what color the lake.

Black Moshannon Bog Trail — viewing platform

Viewing platform on the Bog Trail boardwalk at Black Moshannon State Park. This pin marks the destination, not a parking entrance. DCNR identifies Boating Area 3 as the approach for the accessible boardwalk; use the official park map and trail description when planning your arrival. Trail information: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/black-moshannon-state-park/hiking

Underwood Road — Ralph's vistas parking

Gravel pull-off on Underwood Road, a compacted-dirt state-forest road off PA 504 in Moshannon State Forest. Park here for Ralph's Majestic Vista (0.6 miles on foot) and Ralph's Pretty Good View (0.8 miles). Underwood Road is itself a scenic drive in October.

Prince Gallitzin State Park

Blueberry Trail

Get a taste of the Black Moshannon Bog Natural Area on this short loop. Parking is available at the Mid-State Airport. The trail is abundant with many berries which also attracts a variety of wildlife, including many bird species. 1.0 miles · Easiest · Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR. Photo: Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Hay Road Trail

Once used by farmers who harvested marsh grasses, this grassy, old road eases through a mature, mixed oak forest with a black cherry understory. 1.1 miles · Easiest · Yellow blazes · Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR. Photo: Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Indian Trail

This trail leads travelers through changing scenery of open oak woods, pines, clearings, and an unusual grove of hawthorns. 0.8 miles · More Difficult · Yellow blazes · Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR. Photo: Molly Des Jardin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Lake Loop Trail

This flat loop connects two bridges for an easy walk along the lake's northern shoreline. The trail offers a visit to the beach and the dam. Pets are prohibited on the beach. Please walk pets to the back of the beach house. 0.7 miles · Easiest · Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR. Photo: Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Moss-Hanna Trail

On its way through the Black Moshannon Bog Natural Area, this trail travels through pine plantations, hemlock bottomlands, wetland edges, hardwood forests, grassy openings, blueberry patches (ripens between mid-June and mid-August), and beaver ponds. Two boardwalk sections allow exploration of a big marsh and an alder swamp. Waterproof footwear is recommended since some sections of trail are often wet. 4.8 miles · More Difficult · Yellow blazes · Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR. Photo: Chris M Morris, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Seneca Trail

This trail weaves through a typical second growth forest of oak and cherry, which shades stumps of pine that were logged out over a century ago. 0.8 miles · Easiest · Yellow blazes · Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR. Photo: Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Shingle Mill Trail

This path ventures from the parking area near the dam and follows beautiful Black Moshannon Creek. The trail continues north of the Huckleberry Road bridge and connects to Allegheny Front Trail. 0.5 miles · More Difficult · Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR. Photo: Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Ski Slope Trail

Begin at the beach parking lot for a trek up the mountain. Enjoy the views from the highest point in the park, including an old ski slope. At the PA 504 crossing, try to decipher the old Philadelphia-Erie Turnpike mile marker. 2.2 miles · Most Difficult · Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR. Photo: Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sleepy Hollow Trail

Explore a hemlock-birch forest and woodlands of cherry and oak. This trail is recommended for spring wildflowers. Look for evidence of a 1984 selective timber cut which removed trees killed by years of spongy moth defoliation. Young trees provide good food and cover for turkeys, deer, and songbirds. The trail starts near Pavilion 1. 1.1 miles · More Difficult · Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR. Photo: Ruhrfisch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Snowmobile Trail

This trail connects to gravel roads and trails open to snowmobiles, horses, and mountain bikes on surrounding state forest land. This grassy old road provides a trip through an oak forest with an open understory. The trail begins at the Beach Parking lot, which is plowed in winter. 0.6 miles · Easiest · Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR. Photo: Molly Des Jardin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Star Mill Trail

With fine views of the lake and opportunities to see wildlife, this trail travels through pines, a climax forest of beech and hemlock, and an uncommon stand of balsam fir. 2.0 miles · Easiest · Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR. Photo: Chris Rycroft, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Tent Hill Trail

Begin near Campsite 22. This trail drops down to the lake shoreline and connects the campground with Lake Loop Trail. 0.2 miles · More Difficult · Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR. Photo: Molly Des Jardin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Allegheny Front Trail

The Allegheny Front Trail (AFT) is a roughly 41.5-mile loop around Black Moshannon State Park through Moshannon State Forest, made for a multi-day backpacking trip: most hikers need 5 to 6 days for the whole loop, but shorter trips are possible using connecting trails and forestry roads. It is marked with yellow blazes (double blazes mean a change in direction); the two main cross-connectors are the Shingle Mill Trail and the Moss-Hanna Trail. The AFT follows old logging and haul roads, state forest roads, other hiking trails and Native American paths, with fantastic vistas in the southeast and northeast. It crosses steep hillsides and valleys, wetlands, mixed forest, thick rhododendron and streams, some without bridges, so be prepared to get wet. Look for its logging past along the way: old splash dams, huge white pine stumps, and the foundations of old camps and the Plume Forge. Mileage markers along the trail help with trip planning. About 41.5 miles · Most Difficult · Yellow blazes · Moshannon State Forest and Black Moshannon State Park. Trail data: PA DCNR Explore PA Trails. Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Beaver Meadow Trail

A trail on the Allegheny Front plateau between Black Moshannon State Park and Julian. Open to hikers, bikes and horses. Surface: dirt. Trail line © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), available under the Open Database License.

Dry Hollow Trail

A trail on the Allegheny Front plateau between Black Moshannon State Park and Julian. Open to hikers. Trail line © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), available under the Open Database License.

North Run Trail

A trail on the Allegheny Front plateau between Black Moshannon State Park and Julian. Open to hikers, bikes and horses. Surface: dirt, grass and gravel. Trail line © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), available under the Open Database License.

POA Trail

A trail on the Allegheny Front plateau between Black Moshannon State Park and Julian. Open to hikers and horses. Surface: grass. Trail line © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), available under the Open Database License. Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Rattlesnake Trail

A trail on the Allegheny Front plateau between Black Moshannon State Park and Julian. Open to horses. Surface: grass. Trail line © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), available under the Open Database License.

Ridge Trail

A trail on the Allegheny Front plateau between Black Moshannon State Park and Julian. Open to hikers, bikes and horses. Surface: grass and gravel. Trail line © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), available under the Open Database License. Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Whipple Dam State Park

Penn-Roosevelt State Park

Greenwood Furnace State Park

Reeds Gap State Park