Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Map PDF Free Download

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Map PDF Download Info

Laurel Highlands:

Fayette County, Somerset County, and Westmoreland County make comprise the Laurel Highlands in southwest Pennsylvania. There are roughly 600,000 people living there.

The Laurel Highlands, located about 55 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, are centred on the Allegheny Mountains’ Laurel Hill and Chestnut Ridge. The Laurel Highlands are the highest mountains in Pennsylvania, with Mount Davis in Somerset County being the highest at 3,213 feet (979 m). The Laurel Highlands experience often cooler and wetter weather than most other areas of the state because of the height.

Camping, hiking, mountain biking, hunting, whitewater kayaking, trout fishing, wildlife viewing, downhill (and cross-country) skiing, and golf are all popular activities in the Laurel Highlands.

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail:

The 70.1-mile (112.8-km) Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail mostly follows the Laurel Hill geologic formation in southwest Pennsylvania. It starts at Ohiopyle State Park, generally follows the northeast, and finally ends at Conemaugh Gorge, which is close to Johnstown. The trail’s construction got under way in 1970. It has been referred to as the best path in the state’s southwest and one of Pennsylvania’s most well-liked backpacking ttrails

Features of the Trail:

The trail Is mostly level, making it suitable for winter activities like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, with the exception of the first seven miles at its southwest end. The route passes through the counties of Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland, and Cambria, frequently following ridgetop county borders. A portion of the path is located inside the boundaries of several unconnected parcels of Laurel Ridge State Park. Also, it passes through a few additional adjacent state parks, as well as sections of Forbes State Forest, several Pennsylvania State Game Lands, and some private land. The path is identified by yellow blazes, while a number of side trails leading to parking areas or shelters are identified by blue blazes. As intermediate trailheads, parking spaces at highway intersections often include drinking water.

Description of the Laurel Highlands:

• The traditional direction of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Path Is from southwest to northeast. Ohiopyle State Park serves as the trailhead for the southwest. Throughout the first 6 miles of its length, the trail follows the Youghiogheny River east through the park (9.7 km). The first overnight shelter location is reached just before mile 6, after which the trail generally turns to the northeast. The trail begins its only big ascent after leaving the river valley as it climbs to the summit of Laurel Hill. The trail exits the park and enters State Game Lands No. 111 at around 7 kilometres.
• The trail first enters Laurel Ridge State Park just before 15 miles, where it continues to the northeast. The second overnight shelter is located on the path just past 17 kilometres. At roughly 19 miles, the path passes the Laurel Ridge State Park office and PA Highway 653, and at roughly 24 miles, it exits the park and joins Forbes State Forest. The third overnight shelter is soon after here on the trail. The trail crosses some private property at about 26 miles, travels through Seven Springs, and then continues just west of Seven Springs Mountain Resort.
• The trail returns to the state forest at about 29 miles and then enters another section of Laurel Ridge State Park before crossing PA Highway 31 at around 31.5 miles. After 32 miles, the fourth overnight shelter spot is reached. At around 37 miles, the trail crosses the Pennsylvania Turnpike. When it was determined that the original pedestrian bridge over the turnpike was unsafe for pedestrians and in need of repair, it was shut down in 2009. The hiking trail was cut off as a result until the bridge was restored in 2012. This section of the path passes through three different sections of Laurel Ridge State Park as well as the state forest.

The Laurel Ridge State Park and Laurel Mountain State Park are a short distance from the trail, passing through 38 miles, 5 miles, and 64 miles of an overnight shadow. The trail follows the edge of the gorge above the Conemaugh River, with several vistas, and ends after 70.1 miles at a parking lot.

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Map PDF Free Download