Ask a local about outdoor fun in Happy Valley, and it won’t take very long before they tell you to head out to Tussey Mountain Ski and Recreation. There’s a good reason. There’s something to do all year round.

Tussey, Nittany, Bald Eagle – Six mountains and the Allegheny Front traverse Happy Valley. All provide excellent opportunities to view picturesque valleys from constructed or happenstance vistas. Vistas can be hard-earned at the end of a rugged hike or a beautiful view that you discover while driving around the county.

The Outdoor Adventure Expo, a free-admission event organized and hosted by Downtown Bellefonte, Inc., highlights the easily accessible natural assets and resources of Bellefonte and the surrounding area by bringing together a dynamic showcase of more than 60 vendors and organizations. This year’s expo is scheduled from noon-5 PM on May 21 at Talleyrand Park.

Snow Shoe’s Rails to Trails continues to grow by leaps and bounds. In December of 2021, the SSRTA was notified that it would be receiving grant funding through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Those grants totaled $258,600, which enabled the group to purchase three key pieces of equipment that will help maintain the trail.

Embark on underground adventures with three local cave tours at Woodward Cave, Penn’s Cave, and Lincoln Caverns. Each provides their own unique experience, amenities, and onsite activities the entire family can enjoy.

One thing that I love about Pennsylvania is its wealth of public hunting grounds. Happy Valley and the surrounding area have more than their fair share of the public land pie. Public land open to hunting includes state game lands that are managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and state forest lands, which are operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. DCNR also handles state parks, many of which are also open to hunting.