Mt. Pisgah State and County Parks

Stephen Foster Lake at Mt. Pisgah State Park

It is easy to overlook Mt. Pisgah State Park. After all, so many more famous parks are located nearby, whether it be Ricketts Glen, Worlds End or the PA Grand Canyon. Yet this park has a lot to offer and is a worthwhile destination.

The state park is day use only; there is no campground. It features several miles of trails, a pool, and Stephen Foster Lake, which is named after the famous songwriter who once lived nearby.

We decided to hike around the lake on the Oh! Susanna Trail, about a three mile loop. We parked at the Nature Center, walked over to the amphitheater, and walked the trail down through a beautiful old growth maple forest down to the Oh! Susanna Trail, where we turned left.

The trail crossed several meadows with wildflowers and butterflies. We also enjoyed views of the lake and mountains. The trail crossed below the dam and entered a scenic forest of hemlock and pine. The trails at the state park tend to be wide, and have signs at intersections. We hiked along the road for a little ways, and saw monarch caterpillars eating milkweed on the shore. We crossed another field and continued on the Oh! Susanna Trail as it entered the cool forest. We completed the loop and made the climb back to the car.

Another trail at the park popular with hikers is the Ridge Trail, which gradually climbs a forested ridge to the summit of Mt. Pisgah to see the views. The summit is in the adjacent Mt. Pisgah County Park.

You can also drive to the summit, which is what we did. The county park has three vistas, two are narrow, but the third and western vista is more expansive. There are picnic pavilions and primitive camping. The county park is unique in that there is camping at the top of a mountain. The views look over rolling farmland into New York. The western view is great for sunsets and also features a statue of Chief Wetonah. There are plans to expand the trails at the county park and some may already be in place. If visiting the state park, be sure to include the county park as well.