Happy Valley is packed with so many things to do and see, it can be overwhelming to know where to go and what to do next. Once you’ve made your way through the list of the most popular outdoor adventures, like hiking up Mount Nittany, biking on a gravel road in Rothrock State Forest, and exploring Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park, searching out less well-known adventures is a great next step. Let us help guide you to some new and exciting experiences in underrated spots and unique places for every interest.

For the weekend explorer: Visit pocket-sized state parks

Penn-Roosevelt State Park packs a lot into its 41 acres. Located a 30 minute drive southeast of State College in the middle of Rothrock State Forest, this tiny park was originally built during the Great Depression by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps as a recreational area. The 195 foot long dam they built to create a small lake still stands as tribute to these men. In addition to admiring the remaining CCC structures and picnicking, this park also provides an access point to a section of the rugged 320+ mile long Mid State Trail for the serious hiker.

Poe Paddy State Park is even smaller, at just 21 acres, and here the highlight is the confluence of Big Poe Creek and Penns Creek, two famous trout streams considered an anglers paradise. Bring a picnic lunch and your fly fishing gear for a relaxing morning pursuing native trout.

Poe Valley State Park is just 4 miles from Poe Paddy, and unlike the first two parks we mentioned, it doesn’t quite count as pocket-sized. It offers 620 acres of outdoor recreation including a 25 acre lake, along with tent and RV campsites, making it a great home base for a weekend spent exploring the other parks and state forests around it.

For the nature viewer: Birding at Bald Eagle

5,900 acre Bald Eagle State Park is packed with dozens of exciting things to do, but did you know that it is located along a major migratory bird flyway, making it a perfect autumn destination to spot a variety of species as they travel south for the winter? With a variety of habitats (forests, mountain ridges, grassy fields, and water/wetlands) you can find almost any species of bird that lives in or travels through Pennsylvania here. Year-round residents of the park range from robins and finches to our state and national birds: the ruffed grouse and bald eagle.

During the autumn migratory season, you may see waterfowl like the Bufflehead, Coot, Sandpiper, and Loon along the lake and wetlands, and spot a Northern Shrike, Red-Shouldered Hawk, or Snow Bunting resting in the forests or flying overhead. Before you go, be sure to visit the state park’s website for a downloadable checklist of common birds and where and when to find them: www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/BaldEagleStatePark

For the dedicated hiker: Find wilderness waterfalls on the Chuck Keiper Trail

Do you love waterfalls and hiking? Then consider making an hour drive north from State College to the Chuck Keiper Trail in Sproul State Forest. The entire trail system is a 50 mile double loop with many different options for exploration. You can enjoy a full day of hiking here, or come prepared for an overnight backpacking trip (Check with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for backpacking regulations).

A special highlight of this area are two waterfalls on Yost Run and Kyler Fork that are beloved by waterfall enthusiasts and photographers for their peaceful wilderness setting. The two falls both feature a 12-15 foot drop of water gently cascading down several rock steps, and are frequently mentioned but rarely visited.

Pennsylvania DCNR advises everyone enjoying this trail system to be aware that as this is a wild state forest area, the trails are not marked or maintained. Dress appropriately and come prepared with a map and compass. Free PDF maps are available from dcnr.pa.gov

For the thrill seeker: Find new challenges on a bike or a rock wall

Meet and Compete with Fellow Bikers

Are you a serious gravel or mountain bike rider looking for a new adventure? Maybe it’s time to enter a race and test your speed and endurance with your fellow bikers. Happy Valley Women’s Cycling sponsors a series of races titled the ‘Seasons of Rothrock Adventures’ in Rothrock State Forest open to all riders regardless of age, identity, or skill level. They currently host 2 gravel bike and 2 mountain bike races each year.

The gravel races take place in the spring and early summer. One of the mountain bike races on challenging single-track trails through Coopers Gap also happens in the summer, but they also offer a unique winter mountain bike race experience along Tussey Ridge in early December where entrants are encouraged to wear ugly holiday sweaters and deck out their bikes with jingle bells. Visit rothrock.hvwcycling.com to learn more about these unique cycling opportunities. If your big race requires new gear or a bike tuneup, Trek Bicycle State College has everything you need.

Climb to new heights

Ever wanted to try free or rope climbing on the rocks around Happy Valley? Climb Nittany in Boalsburg is an indoor climbing gym with classes and clinics for people of all skill levels to learn and grow their climbing skills in a safe indoor environment. For experienced climbers, it’s a great place to go when outside is too cold or wet to climb.

Whatever you love to do outdoors, there’s a new adventure waiting for you in Happy Valley PA!

Notes:

Directions for Yost Run Falls: The most direct access to these waterfalls is from a trailhead on PA-144 north of Snow Shoe, PA located at the following GPS coordinates: 41.175518, -77.879148. The trailhead parking area is marked with a sign for ‘Chuck Keiper Trail: Yost Run Loop’. From this trailhead, the hike to Yost Run Falls is about 1.5 miles, with Kyler Fork Falls only another 100 yards further downstream. Wikipedia has a good CC 2.0 image of Yost Run Falls, all other locations have plenty of images available from DCNR and the sponsoring locations.