Allegheny National Forest
“A Land of Many Uses” - and as the slogan claims there are hundreds of things to do any one of the many trails, overlooks, reservoir and bike trails.
Make it a day trip, Kinzua Dam/Allegheny Reservoir is a great recreation area with a beach area for lake side sunning. Have lunch at Wolf Run Marina. Jakes Rock and Rim Rock Overlook for spectacular views.
Cherry Springs State Park
A 35 minute drive. Due to its exceptionally dark skies, Cherry Springs State Park is one of the best places in the eastern U.S. for stargazing. Situated at 700 m above sea level in the largely undeveloped 106,000 hectare Susquehannock State Forest, the Park’s “Astronomy Field” offers an unobstruced 360-degree view.
For a more intimate setting experience the dark skies with a local expert at Potter County Stargazing Tours. PCStargazingTours.com
Elk Country Visitors Center
And 80 minute drive. Benezette is the ”Elk Capital of Pennsylvania” and is located in the heart of the state’s wild elk herd, now numbering nearly 1,400 majestic animals. The best spot to start an elk viewing adventure is at the Elk Country Visitor Center on Winslow Hill. The best time of day for viewing elk is early morning or late evening.
Make it a day trip, Benezette has little gift shops, wine and hard cider stores. Or make a stop in Emporium for lunch at Aroma Cafe.
Griffis Sculpture Park
An 85 minute drive. One of the largest sculpture parks in the United States. The park features over 250 large scale sculptures dispersed through miles of hiking trails. Each sculpture was placed with the natural setting in mind, creating a truly unique experience between art and nature.
Make it a day trip, stop by Ellicottville (aka: EVL) it’s filled with cute shops, good restaurants, micro breweries and bars. Enjoy an afternoon at the Salt Cave Halotherapy Spa. Try Dinas or The Silver Fox for lunch or dinner.
Kinzua Bridge State Park
A 30 minute drive from Lynn Hall. The Kinzua Bridge State Park - A sky bridge and museum. Not so great if you don't like heights but either way the museum is interactive and fun.
Arriving at the Visitors Center entrance you’re greeted by huge steel towers flanking the doorway. The 11,000 sq. ft. building features two exhibit halls with displays showcasing the three E’s – Engineering, Energy and the Environment. Also a great place to shop, the flagship PA Wilds Cooperative Artisan Shop features handcrafted items from the region.
Pine Creek Gorge
The “Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania” begins just south of Ansonia, along US 6 and continues south for about 47 miles. At its deepest point, Pine Creek Gorge is 1,450 feet deep and nearly one mile wide. At Leonard Harrison and Colton Point State Parks, the depth of the PA Grand Canyon is about 800 feet and these parks have the most spectacular scenic overlooks. This area received national acclaim in 1968 when a 12-mile section of Pine Creek Gorge was designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.
Rock City
A 30 minute drive from Lynn Hall. Rock City Park offers a great hiking experience through majestic geological spectacle of enormous rock formations and is often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World. This prehistoric ocean floor is the world’s largest exposure of quartz conglomerate. Hiking involves sometimes slippery moss covered rock crevices and steep inclines.
