Linn Run State Park
Linn Run State Park is just outside of Pittsburgh by about an hour. It is one of the lesser know state parks with lot of personality and several waterfalls and water items. It also has a lot of great picnic areas, camping, and cabins available year round.
The cabins can run mostly right on the lakes with fireplaces, electric, beds, and everything that you can possibly need. But they are only available for weekly rentals during the summer. Most of the cabins are right on the water and you can hear the water running down or sit outside and watch.
The rate for the cabins in the summer range form $224 to $482 during the summer for Pennsylvania residents and $270 to $562 for out of state residents. It is only a bit less. Check the State website for reservations.
There is several parking areas but the two most important are listed below as they have the best places to start hikes from.
Grove Run Picnic Area
The Grove Run Picnic Area has a playground, picnic areas, hiking trails, and a wonderful stream of water coming down the mountain. It is a great little area with several trail heads. If your into fishing, they have a great place to clean up the fish before throwing them on the grill.
Grove Run Trail is a 3.8 mile loop that starts as you cross the creek and choose to go up the hill or to the right. I did a bit of the trail but I didn’t have time complete the trail. What I did see looked wonderful.
Adam Falls Picnic Area
Adam Falls Picnic Area has a wonderful views, parking, a playground, and several hikes. I went on two different hikes in this area. I could recommend both of them. One follows the stream down and the other goes up to the waterfall. I only had the day but I could have spent several days roaming around the area.
Next to the parking area is a great big stream and a bridge to cross.
Once you cross the bridge, if you walk to the left then you have a great picnic area and a wonderful hike that should not be missed.
Just image having a wonderful picnic or barbecue sitting along this stream. The water is so clear that you an see the rocks.
Flat Rock Trail
The trail is nice and wide most of the way. It is about 1 mile long but you don’t even notice because you keep seeing wonderful things along the way. It is overwhelming how beautiful it is.
I love how the trees just want to live. The roots are over the edge but they hang on to the banks of the stream.
As you walk down the trail, you will come along this amazing rock cabin that was once a home. Take a look around and in the back. They have a great view of the stream.
Just down the way from the ruins is flat rock. During the summer, their are lots of people playing in the water but I was around in February. But flat rock is wonderful looking.
Down the way from flat rock is the waterfall like feature.
Plus the beautiful pond like area at the bottom of the waterfall like feature. But the water is so clear that you can almost see the bottom as you stand over it.
The walk back is just as wonderful as the walk back. It is also a wonderfully flat trail. It is great for all ages and those that don’t do a lot of exercise.
Adam Falls Trail
Adam Falls Trail to the waterfall is straight up a small hill as you cross the bridge from the parking area. The trail to the waterfall is a bit uphill but not to bad of a hike.
On the right side of the trail, you have this beautiful view of the water falling down towards the parking area.
Easy for everyone to take to the waterfall but once across from the bridge at the Waterfall, the trail becomes a bit thinner.
To get a great view of the waterfall you have to cross the bridge and go to the right.
Once across the bridge, the trail goes around to the top through a bit of rocks but I like the trail on the other side that go up to the next bridge. It is wider and easier to keep on.
Plus you can see all kinds of differ views of small waterfalls going up to the second bridge.
This is a really great walk with so many things to see.