On July 10th, the Rothrock Trail Alliance (RTA) welcomed community members, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, PA DCNR officials, and project supporters to the grand opening of the first phase of an ambitious trail system expansion in Rothrock State Forest. This event marked a significant milestone for trail users, representing years of vision, dedication, and unwavering support.

From the French pique-nique, picnic originally referred to a meal in which everyone contributed something, but evolved to mean dining outdoors or al fresco, especially in scenic surroundings. Picnicking options in Happy Valley come with beautiful views and options for extra fun or a little extra pizzazz. Here are our top picnicking picks in Happy Valley:

Happy Valley is full of breath-taking views, picturesque places and adventures waiting to be discovered. Why not combine them all into one scenic drive? Well that’s just what we did! Pick a nice sunny day or an evening where the sunset is glowing across the horizon and hop in your car, roll down the windows and take a drive through the scenic Raystown Lake Region and Happy Valley.

Yes, Happy Valley offers some awesome restaurants with fantastic menus and enjoyable settings. However, the county also offers some equally amazing outdoor settings perfect for a picnic.

Emblematic of the ruggedly spectacular Ridge and Valley region of the Appalachian Mountains, central Pennsylvania’s 96,250 acre Rothrock State Forest treats adventure lovers to a medley of panoramic ridgelines, rhododendron-sprinkled valleys, spruce-fringed wetlands, and vast swaths of mixed-oak forest.