The 5 Best Outdoorsy Towns to Explore in Pennsylvania

When it comes to outdoorsy towns in Pennsylvania, it’s a simple fact that most towns in the Keystone State could qualify as such. With trails that weave in and out of mountains and waterfalls galore, this state is a nature lover's paradise! Of course, there are a few towns that stand out from the rest.

Wellsboro

Both locals and tourists alike know that the charming town of Wellsboro is best known for its close proximity to Pine Creek Gorge. Sitting in northern Pennsylvania and widely known as “Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon,” the Gorge offers fifty miles of pristine forest and defined cliff faces. Amidst this landscape, trails cut up and down the mountains and cliff sides, and even run along the floor of the Gorge itself, offering excellent hiking and biking opportunities. 

But Wellsboro is more than just the gateway town to Pine Creek Gorge. The town itself offers a quiet, peaceful place to observe nature from a quaint town that looks like it’s out of a postcard. Some people may want to travel far and visit other places like the international dark sky park at Cherry Springs State Park, but others might want to stay close and view wildlife like bald eagles and turkeys from the borders of Wellsboro.

Jim Thorpe

Although this eastern Pennsylvania town is most famous for its charm and European architecture, its great accessibility to nature should be more renowned than it is. Settled in the Pocono Mountains, the town is within a short driving distance to multiple parks, state parks, state forests, sanctuaries, and more. 

The area does become popular with tourists looking to grab a photo during peak fall foliage or take a hike or two in nearby Hickory Run State Park, but fewer people know that the Lehigh River, which borders the town, is a top destination for whitewater rafting. With rapids up to class III, the river offers a fun but not especially dangerous opportunity for people to get out and explore Lehigh Gorge State Park. 

Ohiopyle 

This small nature town in southwestern Pennsylvania has three main outdoor activities that are more popular than anything else: hiking, whitewater rafting, and biking. Part of the reason why the town is such a premier destination for rafting is that the Youghiogheny River offers every class of rapid except for the extreme expert levels (which most advise not traversing), meaning that everyone is welcome on the water. 

Then, regarding biking, the famous Great Allegheny Passage runs directly through Ohiopyle, making it a hotspot for bikers looking to take a breather. But, bikes can also go on many of the famous hiking trails, mainly in the expansive Laurel Highlands. For options closest to Ohiopyle, the Jonathan Run Trail and the Meadow Run Trail are amongst the most popular. 

Benton 

As a gateway town to one of the most popular state parks in Pennsylvania, Benton is no stranger to nature-loving visitors. Ricketts Glen State Park has one of the most famous waterfall trails in the country, with the Falls Trail/Ricketts Glen Falls Loop, and the other trails within the park are certainly nothing to sneeze at. 

Located in east-central Pennsylvania, Benton has Fishing Creek running through it. This creek is named as such for a good reason — it is an incredible place to do a bit of fly fishing, with trout the main catch. Additionally, if visitors want more water activities outside of waterfall chasing and fishing, Lake Jean lies just to the north of Benton and offers boating and swimming. 

Stroudsburg

Sitting on the New Jersey border, far east of Pennsylvania, Stroudsburg is a top-rated adventure town in Pennsylvania because of its proximity to several famous landscapes. There’s the Delaware Water Gap, the Pocono Mountains, the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Big Pocono State Park, and more.

Due to this, Stroudsburg is known for being an outdoorsy hotspot in every season. With hiking, biking, watersports, horseback riding, and more offered during warmer months, and fall foliage viewing and winter sports available during the colder months. It is, however, perhaps best known for hiking, with the Appalachian Trail close by and multiple waterfalls available for easy viewing.

Pennsylvania is a state known for being gorgeous in every season and during any type of weather. But, more than that, the natural landscapes of Pennsylvania host activities that can be enjoyed during every season, with the majority of visitors wanting to experience the excellent hiking, biking, and fishing potential, in addition to participating in watersports and winter sports. So, why not visit and try it out?