The 20 Most Beautiful Places In Pennsylvania Will Blow You Away

Sometimes a sight is so beautiful that you can’t describe it in words– whether it’s a waterfall, a canyon, or dinner after a long day. Perhaps nothing is as breathtaking as a vista from your own home state. We’re lucky to call some of the most gorgeous countryside and landmarks in the country our own. Here are 20 of the most beautiful places in Pennsylvania. (See if you agree.)

1. Bake Oven Knob, a lookout along the Kittatiny Ridge in Lehigh County, offers a divine view of the surrounding countryside.

2. Everyone knows of the Great Lakes but few get to admire them in person. Lake Erie is the tenth largest lake in the world and the only Great Lake to border Pennsylvania.

3. Anyone driving into Philadelphia along the Schulykill River will notice Boathouse Row, especially at night when the mansions are illuminated by strings of white lights. The Boathouses, 15 in number, are historic landmarks and national meeting places for rowers.

4. The American Continental Army spent a brutal winter at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War, but today it is host to historic landmarks and many acres of pristine fields.

5. From Mount Washington, Pittsburgh looks more like a painting than a real city. This view is at the top of the incline which is a famous landmark in Pennsylvania's second largest city.

6. Lehigh Gorge State Park is home to Glen Onoko Falls, the magnificent waterfall system located about an hour and a half outside of Philly.

7. Pine Creek Gorge is sometimes called the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, and I bet you can guess why.

8. The Boulder Field at Hickory Run State Park is a national nature landmark that was created during the last ice age. The field consists of huge boulders as far as the eye can see-- not your typical hiking experience.

9. Ohiopyle State Park, near Pittsburgh, offers visitors miles of rapids for kayaking or rafting. The hard part is deciding whether to partake in the adventure, or to watch from the bridge that rises high above the water.

10. Kinzua Bridge used to be a railway trestle. Today it's a 600-foot skywalk, which features a glass floor, that offers sensational views of Allegheny National Forest.

11. How can you admire Pennsylvania without taking a moment to appreciate the quaint beauty of a covered bridge?

12. Cherry Springs State Park offers the darkest skies on this side of the Mississippi-- some even argue that there is less light pollution here than anywhere else in the country. Either way, it makes for excellent stargazing.

13. Here we have the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, captured at night, when it is illuminated by city life.

14. Pennsylvania boasts some of the most expansive and bucolic countryside in the entire country. Between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, you will find miles upon miles of rolling green fields, cows, and farmland.

15. Gettysburg National Military Park honors the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. The expanse of candles lit in memory will send chills down your spine.

16. Bethlehem was once home to Bethlehem Steel, which produced much of the steel used throughout the country. The company has since shut down, but the abandoned steel stacks remain a landmark of Eastern Pennsylvania.

17. Jacobsburg State Park, near Allentown, holds the mysteries of the forest. Dense foliage, babbling brooks, and wildlife that rustles through the leaves wait for you here.

18. The Poconos attract more tourists than perhaps any other outdoors destination in Pennsylvania, for their extensive hiking trails and their ski slopes.

19. Beltzville Lake is a popular fishing and boating destination, as well as a beautiful place to go camping.

20. Bushkill Falls, also known as the Niagara of Pennsylvania, is a series of eight waterfalls in Eastern Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania has it all– skylines, waterfalls, fields, forests. Even if you can’t visit all these places in person, at least you can admire them in photographs. What else would you add to the list of the most beautiful places in Pennsylvania? Let us know in the comments! Here are 10 more unimaginably beautiful places in Pennsylvania you’ll definitely want to check out.

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Beth Price-Williams | November 13, 2020

What is the most scenic state park in Pennsylvania?

Pinpointing the most scenic places in Pennsylvania really comes down to personal taste. However, PA is home to 121 beautiful state parks, some of which are sorely underappreciated. Poe Valley State Park, a tiny park surrounded by the larger Bald Eagle State Park, features a picturesque sandy beach and is popular with hikers. For some of the most scenic views in the state, stop by Laurel Hill State Park, home to a sandy beach, hiking trails, and plenty of lush greenery. Salt Springs State Park is an ideal destination all year around, but its waterfalls are particularly pretty when blanked in snow.

Does Pennsylvania have any natural wonders?

Some of the best Pennsylvania attractions are its natural wonders. (We’ve got a ton of man-made wonders, too.) For some of the best views in the state, visit Mount Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania. Coudersport Ice Mine is a must visit during the summer months. Yep, that’s when the ice mine is frozen. Instead of melting during the summer, the ice melts in the winter at the ice mine. Penn’s Cave is the only all-water cave in the United States, making it a true natural wonder. Climb aboard a boat tour of the unique cave then check out the wildlife park above ground.

What are the most beautiful places in Pennsylvania?

If you’re looking for places to visit in Pennsylvania, you can’t go wrong with checking out some of PA’s most beautiful destinations. Hyner View State Park, for example, is known for its spellbinding views of the West Susquehanna River. If you’re a daredevil, you can even go hang gliding at the park. Erie Bluffs State Park boasts sensational views of the shimmering lake water. Ricketts Glen State Park lays claim to 21 named waterfalls that you can see along one trail (Falls Trail), and Cherry Springs State Park is home to some of the darkest skies on the eastern seaboard. It’s perfect for stargazing.

Featured Addresses

Appalachian Trail, Germansville, PA 18053, USA

Lake Erie, Lake Erie

1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA

Valley Forge National Historical Park, 1400 N Outer Line Dr, King of Prussia, PA 19406, USA

Mount Washington, Mt Washington, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Lehigh Gorge State Park - Rockport Access, S Lehigh Gorge Dr, Weatherly, PA 18255, USA

Pine Creek Gorge, Watson Township, PA 17740, USA

Hickory Run State Park, 3613 PA-534, White Haven, PA 18661, USA

Ohiopyle State Park, 124 Main St, Ohiopyle, PA 15470, USA

Kinzua Bridge State Park, 296 Viaduct Rd, Mt Jewett, PA 16740, USA

Sachs Covered Bridge, Waterworks Rd, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA

Cherry Springs State Park, 4639 Cherry Springs Rd, Coudersport, PA 16915, USA

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA

Bethlehem, PA, USA

State Rte 1010, Nazareth, PA 18064, USA

Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania, USA

Beltzville Lake, Pennsylvania, USA

Bushkill Falls, 138 Bushkill Falls Trail, Bushkill, PA 18324, USA

These 20 Jaw Dropping Places in Pennsylvania Will Absolutely Blow You Away

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