Hiking the Mitchell Trail at Ohiopyle State Park

Selfie at Sugar Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.
The author at Sugar Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.

The Mitchell Trail at Ohiopyle State Park is a scenic and lesser-traveled trail at the park, and an alternate route to the waterfalls on Jonathan Run, Sugar Run, and Fechter Run.

The author at Lower Jonathan Run Falls in the spring of 2019.
The author at Lower Jonathan Run Falls.

What follows is an illustrated, step-by-step guide to finding and hiking the Mitchell Trail, visiting the waterfalls mentioned above.

A copy of the official Ohiopyle State Park map showing where to find the Old MiItchell Place parking area.
A copy of the official Ohiopyle State Park map showing where to find the Old Mitchell Place parking area.

How to Find the Mitchell Trail at Ohiopyle State Park

The Old Mitchell Place sign along Sugar Run Road at Ohiopyle State Park.
The Old Mitchell Place sign along Sugar Run Road at Ohiopyle State Park.

The Mitchell Trail begins at the Old Mitchell Place parking area along Sugar Run Road.

GPS Coordinates for the Old Mitchell Place Parking Area:

39.913918, -79.500453

When you see the sign for the Old Mitchell Place, stay to the far right and proceed up the hill. You’ll pass the Sugar Run Trail sign (see photo below). This IS NOT the trail you will be using for this hike, although I will mention it again later.

Sugar Run Trail at Old Mitchell Place
Sugar Run Trail at Old Mitchell Place

Just past the Sugar Run Trail will be the helicopter landing zone.

The helicopter landing zone next to the Old Mitchell Place parking area at Ohiopyle State Park.
The helicopter landing zone next to the Old Mitchell Place parking area at Ohiopyle State Park.

And just past the landing zone, on the same side of the road, will be a clump of trees and what looks like a wide, mowed ATV path (see photo below). THAT is the start of the Mitchell Trail.

A view of the Mitchell Trail from the Old Mitchell Place parking lot.
A view of the Mitchell Trail from the Old Mitchell Place parking lot.

Here’s a satellite view to sum things up.

A map of where to park and where to pick up the Mitchell Trail to hike to the waterfalls on Jonathan Run.
A map of where to park and where to pick up the Mitchell Trail to hike to the waterfalls on Jonathan Run.

Hiking the Mitchell Trail

Map of the best alternate hiking route to visit the waterfalls on Jonathan Run at Ohiopyle State Park.
Map of the best alternate hiking route to visit the waterfalls on Jonathan Run at Ohiopyle State Park.

From the parking area proceed to the unmarked trail head. Although there is nothing here to indicate this is the Mitchell Trail, trust me – it is. The trail is freshly blazed with yellow paint and easy enough to follow.

The unmarked trail head for Mitchell Trail at Ohiopyle State Park.
The unmarked trail head for Mitchell Trail at Ohiopyle State Park.

At .15 miles into the hike you’ll encounter and pass this “No Vehicles” sign.

"No Vehicles" sign along the Mitchell Trail at Ohiopyle State Park
“No Vehicles” sign along the Mitchell Trail at Ohiopyle State Park

Just past this sign, the trail passes though Mitchell Field, an old farm field slowly being reclaimed by the forest. At certain points you can make out old fence posts and barbed wire among the trees.

The yellow-blazed Mitchell Trail as it passes through Mitchell Field at Ohiopyle State Park.
The yellow-blazed Mitchell Trail as it passes through Mitchell Field at Ohiopyle State Park.

At .52 miles into the hike you’ll come to the “Y” intersection pictured below. STAY TO THE RIGHT to continue on the yellow-blazed Mitchell Trail Spur. If you follow the Mitchell Trail sign to the left, you’ll make a big loop and end up back at the parking lot.

Intersection of the Mitchell Trail and the Mitchell Trail Spur at Ohiopyle State Park
Intersection of the Mitchell Trail and the Mitchell Trail Spur at Ohiopyle State Park

At .66 miles into the hike, stay to the LEFT at this double yellow blaze.

Left turn blazes along the Mitchell Trail, Ohiopyle State Park
Left turn blazes along the Mitchell Trail, Ohiopyle State Park

At 1.1 miles into the hike, stay to the RIGHT at this double yellow blaze.

Right Turn along Mitchell Trial Spur at Ohiopyle State Park
Right Turn along Mitchell Trial Spur

At 1.15 miles you’ll come to the top of a “staircase” built into the hillside you’ve been descending.

Stairs leading to Sugar Run Falls along the Mitchell Trail Spur, Ohiopyle State Park
Stairs leading to Sugar Run Falls along the Mitchell Trail Spur, Ohiopyle State Park

At the bottom of the staircase you’ll come face to face with the first waterfall on this hike – Sugar Run Falls.


Sugar Run Falls

Selfie at Sugar Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.
The author at Sugar Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.

Sugar Run Falls is an intricate staircase of rock and water, somewhere in the neighborhood of 25-30 feet tall. It doesn’t always have exceptional flow, being on a smaller stream, but when it does it is something to behold.

High spring flow at Sugar Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park
High spring flow at Sugar Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park

Sugar Run Falls makes for one of the more interesting winter waterfalls at Ohiopyle State Park.

A winter scene at Sugar Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.
A winter scene at Sugar Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.

Next Stop: Jonathan Run

Intersection of the Mitchell Trail Spur and the Great Allegheny Passage at Ohiopyle State Park
Intersection of the Mitchell Trail Spur and the Great Allegheny Passage at Ohiopyle State Park

Another 1/10th of a mile down the Mitchel Trail Spur you’ll step foot onto the Great Allegheny Passage. From here you’ll hang a right on the GAP and hike the smooth, flat bike trail for 2/10ths of a mile.

Intersection of the Jonathan Run Trail and the Great Allegheny Passage at Ohiopyle State Park.
Intersection of the Jonathan Run Trail and the Great Allegheny Passage at Ohiopyle State Park.

At 1.41 miles into the hike, you’ll arrive at the intersection of the Great Allegheny Passage and the Jonathan Run Trail. Proceed up the Jonathan Run Trail, and take note that it was recently re-blazed in RED (used to be blue).

Red blazes along the Jonathan Run Trail at Ohiopyle State Park
Red blazes along the Jonathan Run Trail at Ohiopyle State Park

At 1.5 miles into the hike, you’ll arrive at/above Lower Jonathan Run Falls.

Fall foliage at Lower Jonathan Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park
Fall foliage at Lower Jonathan Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park

Lower Jonathan Run Falls

Without a doubt, Lower Jonathan Run Falls is the most difficult waterfall in the park to access. An unofficial “user trail” leads you from the Jonathan Run Trail down to stream level.

The user trail leading from Jonathan Run Trail to Lower Jonathan Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.
The user trail leading from Jonathan Run Trail to Lower Jonathan Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.

If you have any doubts about your ability to ascend/descend this steep stream bank, DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS PORTION OF THE HIKE! You can still see and hear the waterfall from the top of the stream bank.

If you do make the descent, you’ll be treated to sights like this.

Angelic light at Lower Jonathan Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park
Angelic light at Lower Jonathan Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park

Lower Jonathan Run Falls is remarkable in the winter. But use extreme caution getting down to stream level. Personally, I always hike with microspikes on my boots this time of year.

Winter selfie at Lower Jonathan Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park
Winter selfie at Lower Jonathan Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park

Next Stop: Upper Jonathan Run Falls

Intersection of the Kentuck Trail and the Jonathan Run Trail at Ohiopyle State Park
Intersection of the Kentuck Trail and the Jonathan Run Trail at Ohiopyle State Park

Continuing up the Jonathan Run Trail, you’ll arrive at an intersection with Kentuck Trail at 1.77 miles. Kentuck Trail will be on your left, Jonathan Run Trail will continue straight, and an unmarked but obvious user trail will be to your right, directly opposite the Kentuck Trail. TAKE THE UNMARKED USER TRAIL TO YOUR RIGHT. This will lead you down the stream bank to Upper Jonathan Run Falls.


Upper Jonathan Run Falls

A selfie at Upper Jonathan Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.
The author at Upper Jonathan Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.

At best, Upper Jonathan Run Falls is a 10-footer, but the sheer intricacy of it makes it a superb subject for photography.

A summer scene at Upper Jonathan Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.
A summer scene at Upper Jonathan Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.

Be cautious when visiting Upper Jonathan Run Falls in the winter – a thin but invisible glaze of ice usually coats most of the rocks downstream.

Winter arrives at Upper Jonathan Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.
Winter arrives at Upper Jonathan Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.

Next Stop: Fechter Run Falls

The newly-completed bridge over Jonathan Run, above Upper Jonathan Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.
The newly-completed bridge over Jonathan Run, above Upper Jonathan Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.

Continuing up the Jonathan Run Trail, you’ll encounter a newly-rebuilt footbridge over Jonathan Run (this one completed fall of 2018) at 1.83 miles into the hike.

The intersection of the Sugar Run and Jonathan Run Trails.
The intersection of the Sugar Run and Jonathan Run Trails.

At 1.89 miles into the hike, you’ll come to the intersection of Jonathan Run Trail and Sugar Run Trail. TAKE SUGAR RUN TRAIL TO YOUR RIGHT.

The footbridge over Fechter Run along the Sugar Run Trail at Ohiopyle State Park.
The footbridge over Fechter Run along the Sugar Run Trail at Ohiopyle State Park.

At 2 miles into the hike, you’ll encounter this small footbridge over Fechter Run.

The user trail leading from Sugar Run Trail to Fechter Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park
The user trail leading from Sugar Run Trail to Fechter Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park

Just past the footbridge, Sugar Run Trail passes through a large blow down that has been chain-sawed to allow passage through it. A user trail JUST BEFORE the blow down leads you to the base of Fechter Run Falls.


Fechter Run Falls

Fechter Run Falls is probably the least-visited waterfall at Ohiopyle State Park, and it takes a lot of rain or snow melt to make it look like much of anything. But when it gets going, it’s an exquisite waterfall that you can get right up next to.

Selfie at Fechter Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.
Selfie at Fechter Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.

Some of my favorite fall foliage shots at Ohiopyle have been at Fechter Run Falls.

Fall foliage at Fechter Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.
Fall foliage at Fechter Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.

And it’s a fine spot for ice formations in the winter.

Ice formations at Fechter Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.
Ice formations at Fechter Run Falls, Ohiopyle State Park.

The Return Hike

By the time you reach Fechter Run Falls, you’ve covered a little over 2 miles, and seen the 4 waterfalls that make this such a gratifying hike.

Fall foliage at Upper Jonathan Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.
Fall foliage at Upper Jonathan Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.

So what’s the best way to get back to your vehicle?

You could simply back-track and make this a 4 mile hike. The upside of that is that you’ve already traversed the trail and everything will be familiar to you.

Selfie above Lower Jonathan Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.
The author above Lower Jonathan Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.

Or you could continue along the Sugar Run Trail, and it will bring you out back at the Mitchell Place parking lot (remember the Sugar Run Trail sign you saw when you first pulled into the lot?). This option will shave a little less than a mile off the return hike, but the trade-off is it’s a steeper trail. So the choice is yours.

Personally, I usually retrace my steps so that I can get another look/listen at the waterfalls.

Fall foliage leaf swirls at Sugar Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.
Fall foliage leaf swirls at Sugar Run Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.

Nearby Attractions

Hiking the Ferncliff Trail at Ohiopyle State Park will introduce you to a 1.8 mile loop hike around the historic Ferncliff Peninsula, along the banks of the mighty Youghiogheny River.

An autumn view of Youghioghney River from the Ferncliff Trail at Ohiopyle State Park.
The Ferncliff Trail along the banks of the Youghiogheny River.

10 of the Best Hiking Trails at Ohiopyle State Park will show you even more exciting hiking opportunities inside the confines of the park.

Tharp Knob Overlook at Ohiopyle State Park.
Tharp Knob Overlook along Kentuck Trail at Ohiopyle State Park.

10 Must-See Waterfalls at Ohiopyle State Park will introduce you to even more sights and sounds along nearby creeks, streams, and rivers.

Rusty Glessner behind Cucumber Falls.
The author behind Cucumber Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.

Baughman Rock Overlook is one of the finest scenic overlooks in the Laurel Highlands.

The author photographing an autumn sunrise at Baughman Rock Overlook.
The author at Baughman Rock Overlook.

Fallingwater, located just a few miles from Ohiopyle, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and was voted by the American Institute of Architects as “the best all-time work of American architecture”.

Fallingwater as seen from the "Classic View" on the Visitor Center map.
Fallingwater in Fayette County, PA.

Kentuck Knob in Fayette County is another nearby Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, built in 1954 for Isaac and Bernardine Hagan, founders of the Hagan Ice Cream company in nearby Uniontown, PA.

The sandstone walls and cantilevered roof over the patio surrounding Kentuck Knob.
The sandstone walls and cantilevered roof over the patio at Kentuck Knob in Fayette County.

Fort Necessity in Fayette County is the site of the first battle in what would become known in North America as the French and Indian War.

The modern-day replica of Fort Necessity at the National Battlefield in Fayette County PA
Fort Necessity in Fayette County.

Laurel Caverns in Fayette County is billed as “Pennsylvania’s Largest Cave”, and is a great way to spend an hour or two BENEATH the Laurel Highlands!

The overhead Grand Canyon of Laurel Caverns.
The overhead Grand Canyon of Laurel Caverns.

Still Not Convinced You Need To Hike the Mitchell Trail?

Then check out this video!


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Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.