Blake Walsh

20 Best Things to Do in Ohiopyle, PA

  • Published 2022/09/22

Among the 120 state parks in Pennsylvania, the borough of Ohiopyle in Fayette County is one of the most popular destinations for the majority of its people.

If you appreciate the genuine beauty of nature and want to have an exciting and thrilling outdoor adventure, Ohiopyle will never disappoint you in terms of its comprehensive attractions.

As they call it, there is no doubt that the state of Ohiopyle has a “bucket list of destinations.”

Without going any further, here are the 20 best things to do in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania:

Visit the Ohiopyle Falls

Scenic view of Ohiopyle Falls

Jim Finke / Shutterstock.com

Ohiopyle was known for its various astounding falls within the town.

There are endless outdoor water activities. One of the great destinations, if you want to have a unique adventure, is to visit the heart of Ohiopyle, the Ohiopyle Falls.

It is one of the widest waterfalls in the state, and no one would want to miss visiting it!

Winter scene at Ohiopyle Falls

David Fulmer, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You can visit the Ohiopyle Falls with your family together with your friends and go kayaking.

It is the perfect place to escape the noise of the crown from the city and enjoy the natural beauty of nature.

Also, Ohiopyle Falls is a great place to see the dawn as it rises over the highlands from its vantage point.

If it is your first time visiting Ohiopyle, head over to Ohiopyle Falls!

Kayaking at Ohiopyle Falls

grandbrothers / Shutterstock.com

Tour the White Water Adventurers Inc

Like Laurel Highlands River Tours and Outdoor Center, the White Water Adventurers Inc also has a lot to offer!

In just less than five minutes, you can arrive at another great destination where you can do endless outdoor activities!

You can do rafting, biking, and lodging!

If you are a beginner and new experienced rafter, try the Lower class category; if you are with your family, the Middle class is the excellent choice; and if you are an extreme adventurer, don’t hesitate to choose the Upper class!

The place is perfect if you want to forget the city’s stresses and limitations of everyday life.

If you are looking for a place where you can spend the night together, nothing to worry about because White Water Adventurers Inc also offers suites!

Visit their site, and make sure to book as early as you can.

Doing all the fun activities in White Water Adventurers Inc will surely give you a memorable vacation in Ohiopyle.

Be Amused at Ohiopyle Trading Post and River Tours

The outdoor water activities in Ohiopyle are indeed worthy of interest, and they all can provide a meaningful vacation for everyone.

You can experience the thrill of all the outdoor water activities in three categories as well – versatile and challenging, adrenaline junkies wanted, and family fun.

You can freely choose between the three based on the level of your skills and braveness!

There is nothing to worry about your safety because you will all be guided by a professional on enjoying and adequately riding the rafting.

For a more fantastic and the best experience, bring your friends and family together and have enjoyable rafting!

You can rent equipment, learn to Kayak, and enjoy the scenic view around the place by riding a mountain bike!

Have a Splash at Cucumber Falls

View from the top of Cucumber Falls

Caleb Foster / Shutterstock.com

Other than the Ohiopyle State Park, Cucumber Falls is the second most famous waterfall in Ohiopyle for various reasons.

Just like in Ohiopyle Waterfalls, you can also enjoy various outdoor water activities in Cucumber Falls with its 30 feet tall one-drop waterfall!

The waters of Cucumber Falls

Tudor ApMadoc / Shutterstock.com

Aside from enjoying its vast water activities, enjoy hiking together with your friends and family.

Regardless of what season you visited Ohiopyle, Cucumber Falls is always a great destination to visit.

Make sure not to miss the beautiful attractions, and bring your camera to capture the stunning views!

The base of Cucumber Falls

Steve Heap / Shutterstock.com

Buy Candies at Ohiopyle Candy Co. Frozen Yogurt and Handmade Chocolates

Just because Ohiopyle has lots of outdoor water activities that you can do, it doesn’t mean that you can no longer enjoy the things downtown.

Why not buy some authentic candies and chocolates at Ohiopyle Candy Co. Frozen Yogurt And Handmade Chocolates?

If you have your child with you, they will surely love this place!

You can have a wide variety of choices – they have gummies, hard candies, chocolates, lollipops, chewing gums, caramels, licorice, sours, frozen yogurt with different flavors, and many more!

Visit the Ohiopyle Candy Co. Frozen Yogurt And Handmade Chocolates, and try their high-quality candies.

Have Fun at Wilderness Voyageurs Rafting & Bike Tours

It is one of the most popular destinations in Ohiopyle when it comes to endless outdoor water activities.

You can take your children with you as the place is safe for kids from ages 5+.

You do not need to have experience in rafting, as the river is genuinely calm, and an expert will also accompany your kids to ensure their safety.

Even the youngest of travelers will enjoy the journey!

Make your way down to the river instead of the busy amusement parks.

In Wilderness Voyageurs Rafting & Bike Tours, you can leave your children raft across the river, for it is guaranteed that they will be at the safe hands of the experts around.

Dine at Ohiopyle Bakery and Sandwich Shoppe

If you want to satisfy your taste buds with sandwiches, baked goods, and smoothies, you need not go any farther; head over to Ohiopyle Bakery and Sandwich Shoppe!

This is one of the outstanding bakeries in the town of Ohiopyle as they have always been consistent in providing good quality products and services since the year 2011.

Located at 85 Main St, Ohiopyle of Pennsylvania, you can enjoy their various products at reasonable prices!

They have cookies, sandwiches, loaves of bread, pizza, and a lot more!

If you are also searching for a tasty and unique cake for a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or any occasion, you should also try theirs.

After spending the whole day doing various outdoor water activities, this is the perfect place to relax!

Head Over to the Ohiopyle State Park

Observation deck at Ohiopyle State Park

Kathy D. Reasor / Shutterstock.com

Cucumber falls is just 4 minutes’ drive away from Ohiopyle State Park.

One of the captivating primary views that you can have in Ohiopyle State Park is the Youghiogheny River Gorge, a wide river that extends throughout the park.

You can do lots of outdoor water activities such as boating, rafting, and kayaking.

Wooden bridge at Ohiopyle State Park

Kathy D. Reasor / Shutterstock.com

Aside from water activities, you can also do hiking and biking at its 11 miles of trail.

If you are also searching for an extraordinary thing to do, you can also do Zip Line at the Outdoor Center and Laurel Highlands River Tours.

The Ohiopyle State Park is worth visiting as nothing could limit you from enjoying the exciting things you wish to try.

Baughman rock overlook at Ohiopyle State Park

VIKVAD / Shutterstock.com

Enjoy at Laurel Highlands River Tours and Outdoor Center

Exterior of Laurel Highlands River Tours and Outdoor Center

gg5795 / Shutterstock.com

If you are looking for a place to enjoy almost all outdoor water activities, why not visit Laurel Highlands River Tours and Outdoor Center?

The place is one of the most visited places in Ohiopyle as it is popularly known for its unique water activity, which is rafting.

Depending on what rapid intensity you prefer, you can enjoy the latter; either lower yough, middle yough, or upper yough.

If you are a beginner, you can start at the lower yough; if you are intermediate, you can choose middle yough; and if you are brave and desire a challenging adventure, why not try the upper yough?

Rafting can be best enjoyed if you ride the boat with your friends and family together with a thrilling experience.

Besides rafting, you can also do camping, mountain biking, trail biking, rock climbing, gem mining, and team building!

Indeed, the place has limitless things to do, and you will never be disappointed with the tremendous activities you can do.

Your vacation in Ohiopyle cannot be completed if you don’t visit.

Enjoy at Laurel Highlands River Tours and Outdoor Center.

Chill Out at Ohiopyle House Cafe

After a tremendous experience of various outdoor water activities, why not take the opportunity to relax at Ohiopyle House Cafe?

You can have all your favorite meals in a pleasant atmosphere while eating in an open-view area.

You can have sandwiches, fries, salad, pizza, seafood plates, beef, chicken, and many more!

What’s best here is that everything is organic and locally produced, and they are maintained to be served fresh.

They are committed to ensuring that their products are indeed farm-to-table.

Besides their delicious dishes, you can also enjoy bottles of beers, shakes, and soda which can surely make you feel refreshed after a productive activity.

Get ready to taste the delicious meals at the most reasonable price at your breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

Have a Slice of Pizza at Paddlers Pizza

The pizza house has become popular among the people for it was often perceived as the best pizza in the town.

You can enjoy lots of unique flavors with special ingredients!

To mention a few, some of their best-selling ones are the buffalo chicken flavor, chicken, chicken bacon ranch, supreme, veggie lovers, and meat lovers.

Given that pizza is their best-selling product, Paddlers Pizza never fails to provide other options such as pasta, salad, ice cream, drinks, desserts, and a lot more!

The service and products are high quality, the staff is speedy in attending to the customer’s needs, and the dining place is spotless!

Enjoy a pizza for a meal and visit Paddlers Pizza with your family and friends!

Have a Ride at Great Allegheny Passage

Bridge at Great Allegheny Passage

Brian Yarvin / Shutterstock.com

Have you ever wanted to experience a long ride using your bike on a 150-mile bike trail?

If yes, why not visit the Great Allegheny Passage?

Riding a bike is a fun thing to do, but it gets more interesting if you set a goal and hang together with your friends at the famous bike trail.

Trail with foliage along Great Allegheny Passage

Brian Yarvin / Shutterstock.com

The Great Allegheny Passage connects you from Point State Park to the mountains of Washington D.C.

This might be your most extended bike trail experience ever in your life, so don’t miss the chance to try it together with your friends or your family!

Indeed it will be a long way and can be tiring, but nothing could ever replace the memorable experience you can have on this longest bike trail in Pennsylvania!

Bridge along Great Allegheny Passage

Rick Szymanski / Shutterstock.com

Spend Time at Falls Market Restaurant & Inn

Exterior of Falls Market Restaurant & Inn

gg5795 / Shutterstock.com

If you and your significant other are looking for a place where you can have a moment together, Falls Market Restaurant & Inn is the perfect place for you.

Yes, from the name itself, it is a restaurant and an inn, but you must remember that it is one of the best in the town!

They have a variety of foods such as soups, sandwiches, chicken, bacon, fries, salads, pasta, burgers, ice creams, and much more.

They have proven to be delicious over the years, and you will never regret every bite of it.

Other than the restaurant, the place is also famous for offering groceries.

So, if you want to fill the fridge at your house, you can visit the place.

As earlier pointed out, you can spend the moments together with your significant other at their Inn.

Make sure to make a reservation if you want to spend the night together after eating at the delicious restaurant!

Enjoy the Coffee at Bittersweet at the Falls

The cafe opened in the year 2019 and has successfully established its second branch in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania.

It is a perfect place to chill out in the morning and an ideal place to have your breakfast.

They sell bread, cookies, fries, cinnamon, and their tastiest best-selling coffee.

Everything was organized, and the atmosphere of the cafe was tranquil!

Admire Nature Views at Baughman Rock Vista Overlook

Scenic view from Baughman Rock Vista Overlook

Marked Imagery / Shutterstock.com

Seen from Baughman Rock in another of Pennsylvania’s best views, a sizable rock protrusion and tall cliff structure positioned along Laurel Ridge.

The river circling the Flats, a sizable horseshoe-shaped peninsula that forms a deep abyss and is encircled by mountains with steep sides that are part of Laurel Ridge, lies in the middle of this expansive view.

The Baughman route leads to the Baughman rock, located east of the town.

View of lush greenery from Baughman Rock Vista Overlook

Marked Imagery / Shutterstock.com

From the peak of Baughman Rock, excellent views of Ohiopyle and the surrounding forests may be seen.

Visitors can also view a tiny fraction of the Youghiogheny River from a great distance.

Beyond everything in sight, there is nothing but forests and mountains.

Engage in Winter Sports during Winterfest

Towards the start of February, Ohiopyle State Park hosts Winterfest, a winter sports festival.

During Winterfest, the Sugarloaf Sled Riding Hill attracts many people to the area.

They provide meals, sleigh rides, snowshoe rentals, snow snakes, and cross-country skiing courses every year.

No extra costs are needed other than for the sleigh rides and food.

Take your sled with you and attend the Winterfest for a fun-filled Weekend.

Catch a Glimpse of Stunning Surroundings at Tharp Knob

The Tharp Knob, a magnificent overlook from one grassland mountaintop with rugged knobs and slopes, offers a picturesque perspective while gazing east of the Gorge and Youghiogheny River that flows over Laurel Ridge.

The Ohiopyle River is largely visible from this location.

Its surroundings resemble numerous untamed natural settings, more comparable to a tiny community.

When viewed from the ridge’s base, the mountain’s top, which rises to around 3000 feet, may be seen from about five miles out.

You may occasionally catch the sounds of trains passing through the neighborhood, as well as the sounds of the running river under specific circumstances.

Visit Ohiopyle High Bridge

In Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania, a bridge called the Ohiopyle High Bridge spans the Youghiogheny River to provide access to the Great Allegheny Passage route.

The span was initially inaugurated in 1912 as a component of the final significant railroad built in Pennsylvania.

It supported the extension of the Western Maryland Railway across Cumberland, Maryland, to Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and was one of two bridges that crossed a wandering part of the Yough at Ohiopyle.

The Low Bridge’s sibling span, located upstream from the town’s well-known waterfall, is only a few feet shorter than the High Bridge.

The 1960s severely diminished the High Bridge’s significance.

The bridge stood abandoned until converted into a crossing for pedestrians and bicycles in 1999.

Enjoy a Weekend Getaway at the Beer And Gear Fest

The finest summer event in Ohiopyle is Beer and Gear Fest!

Beer and Gear take place on the third Saturday weekend in June to honor the skill and originality of their neighborhood brewers!

Keep a record of the date and plan to visit Ohiopyle for a fantastic Saturday filled with live music, merchants displaying the top outdoor gear companies, and endless amazing local beers on tap.

You receive a collectible pint glass, a festive vibe, and free beer tasting at this gathering.

Spend a wonderful summer day with friends, check out the newest outdoor goods from your beloved merchants, and enjoy some of southwest Pennsylvania’s most outstanding beers.

Also recommended is Garrett Street dancing and listening to some fantastic live music.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Once you finish your tour in Ohiopyle, PA, why not visit the other neighboring cities that offer exciting destinations?

Enjoy the Potato Chips at Brenda’s Family Restaurant

In just a 10-minute drive from Ohiopyle, you can arrive at one of the most popular restaurants in Pennsylvania situated at 749 Mill Run Rd, Mill Run, PA.

As the name itself expresses, it is a perfect place to spend time together with your family.

You can try their best selling potato chips that are suitably enjoyable for everyone.

They also sell pizza, salads, pasta, chocolates, pies, cakes; everything is perfect to be shared with your family together!

Final Thoughts

Ohiopyle is one of the best among the states of Pennsylvania in terms of outdoor water activities; there are various destinations that you can visit wherein you can enjoy almost all the water activities that you want.

The fun does not end with engaging outdoor water activities, but you can also enjoy the town’s various shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Refer to this list to discover the 15 best things to do in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania.

© All rights reserved.