Pennsylvania is one of the best states to see fall foliage. The many mountains, hills, and waterfalls show off great displays of fall colors every year. We spent almost two weeks exploring trails and parks in eastern Pennsylvania to find the best hikes and views. Listed below are our favorite trails to see fall foliage in eastern Pennsylvania.
1. Mount Minsi at Delaware Water Gap
Length: 5.5 mile loop trail
Difficulty: Moderate
How to Get There: The trail parking lot can be found on Google Maps by searching for “Parking for Appalachian Trail to Mount Minsi”. If the parking lot, which is pretty small, is full, there is 4 hour street parking on Main Street. This was more than enough time for us to complete the hike.
Fees: Free
When to Go: Mid to Late October
Map: Mount Minsi Via Appalachian Trail
The 5.5 mile loop trail to Mount Minsi is a popular place to hike in autumn. Because of its close proximity to New Jersey, there were many people day-tripping to Pennsylvania to hike this trail. The parking lot near the start of the trail was full when we got there around noon in early October, so we parked down the road on Main Street across the street from the Presbyterian Church of the Mountain, where 4 hour parking is allowed.
After walking to the start of the trail near the parking lot, continue along the narrow gravel service road, Lake Road, past the pond. We came across many people who weren’t sure they were going the right way here. But continue further along the trail until you come to a fork in the path. I recommend going left and doing the trail clockwise. This will take you up the rocky trail to the viewpoint and back down the less exciting gravel service road.
The trail going up the mountain was pretty busy and we had to step aside a few times to let people by since the trail was narrow. Eventually, you will come to the first viewpoint, Minsi Lookout, where you will see Mount Tammany in New Jersey and the river down below. In my opinion, this is better than the view from the peak of Mount Minsi, so if you’re short on time, you can stop here and go back down the trail the same way you came. Continuing up the trail, which is steeper than before, you will come to a radio tower at the peak of Mount Minsi. Continue past it and you will come to another lookout. After that, you will go back the way you came until you reach the service road, which will turn the trail into a loop back down to the trailhead.
2. Falls Loop Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park
Length: 7.4 mile loop trail
Difficulty: Difficult
How to Get There: The address for the trailhead at the bottom of the glen is:
Rt. 118 Trailhead Parking, Fairmount Township, PA 18656
I recommend parking at this lot and starting the hike from the bottom of the glen to the top.
Fees: Free
When to Go: Mid-October
The Falls Loop Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park was my favorite hike in Pennsylvania. There were no overlooks over mountain views here, but the fall foliage around the 21 waterfalls on this trail was just as good.
From the Route 118 parking lot, the trail starts out fairly flat and gradually becomes steep as you climb higher up the glen. The trail becomes a loop at Waters Meet. I recommend staying left on the Ganoga Glen side and going clockwise around the loop to the Glen Leigh side. I believe this side of the loop trail has slightly better views than the other side. Going this way first will allow you to see the front of the waterfalls as you go up instead of from the back as you go down. The trail turns into multiple stone stairs that can be wet and slippery, so wear good hiking shoes or boots.
Once you reach the top of the glen, you can continue straight to get to Lake Rose Trailhead Parking, which has a modern restroom. This is a good place to take a break and eat lunch or a quick snack. Then you can return to the loop trail and continue down the Glen Leigh side via the Highland Trail. This side of the loop is also beautiful and unique, still with more waterfalls. It seemed slightly less busy than the other side. It was also nice to finish the trail going downhill.
3. Canyon Vista Trail at Worlds End State Park
Length: 4 mile loop trail
Difficulty: Moderate
How to Get There: The address of the trailhead is:
Canyon Vista Trailhead, PA-154, Muncy Valley, PA 17758
This parking lot is pretty small. If it fills up, you can park down the road at the Canyon Vista Family Campground.
Fees: Free
When to Go: Mid-October
Map: Canyon Vista Trail
The Canyon Vista trail starts out deceptively flat as it follows along a river from the trailhead if you choose to go counterclockwise, which I would recommend. The whole trail is very well marked with blue markers. There are a few great spots on the trail to walk out to the river and view the mountains the river cuts through. We saw some beautiful fall colors. Once you cross the road as the trail leads away from the river, it becomes much steeper and pretty relentless. The trail was pretty wet and muddy in some sections, so wear good hiking shoes.
Eventually, the trail leads up to the Canyon Vista, where you will get a wonderful view of the canyon and river below. The fall foliage was very nice. Continuing along the trail, you will now be going back downhill. Shortly after Canyon Vista, you will walk through a small area with massive boulders, which was pretty interesting. This trail does have a wide variety of landscapes. Eventually the trail will lead you back down to the main road where you can either cross it and continue on the trail back to the trailhead or just walk a couple hundred feet down the road back to the trailhead.
If you don’t want to hike this trail, there is a gravel road that leads up to Canyon Vista where there is a parking lot.
4. Joseph Plumb Martin Trail at Valley Forge National Historical Park
Length: 5 mile loop trail
Difficulty: Easy
How to Get There: The easiest way to get on Joseph Plumb Martin Trail is at the Visitors Center. The address for the visitor center at Valley Forge is:
1400 North Outer Line Drive
King of Prussia, PA 19406
To get to the visitor center by bus, take SEPTA Bus Route 125, which stops at the visitor center. SEPTA Bus Route 139 also stops near the visitor center.
Fees: Free
When to Go: Late October to Early November
Map: Joseph Plumb Martin Trail
Valley Forge National Historical Park was a surprise for us. We hadn’t expected the area to be so scenic. The leaves had just started to change color when we were here, but I can imagine that they would look even better a little later.
The Joseph Plumb Martin Trail is a 5 mile fully paved loop trail that winds through several historically significant sites at Valley Forge. It is heavily trafficked, by both walkers and bikers. It is recommended to go counter clockwise to end the trail going downhill. This trail has beautiful views of meadows and fields.
Want to know more? Check out our travel guide for Valley Forge National Historical Park for other amazing hikes.
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