From Philadelphia in the east to Pittsburgh in the west, Pennsylvania is loaded with great trails for outdoor recreation and adventure. The Appalachian Mountains dominate eastern Pennsylvania where they are divided by the many rugged valleys of the Susquehanna River. Along the spine of the range, hikers and backpackers follow the Appalachian Trail as it crosses from south of Harrisburg through the Pocono Mountains between Scranton and Allentown and to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Surprisingly, however, Mount Davis, the state’s highest point, is far west of the Appalachian Trail, in the Laurel Highlands near Johnstown and Altoona (outside Pittsburgh), an area explored by hikers via the Laurel Highlands Trail.

Along with these nationally prominent trails, Pennsylvania has many areas of local outdoor recreation interest as well. Bucks County near Philadelphia has a great network of biking trails and routes along the Delaware River and around Nockamixon State Park. A scenic drive through the Pennsylvania Dutch (Amish) Country around Lancaster, makes an easy day or weekend trip, great for families from Philadelphia. The Lehigh River near Wilkes-Barre is one of the most popular whitewater destinations in the country, luring kayakers, rafters, and paddlers from all over the northeast. They are joined by hikers and mountain bikers who ride the trails on an abandoned railroad grade at Lehigh Gorge State Park. Pennsylvania even has trails on the shores of Lake Erie, north of Pittsburgh around the town of Erie.