Pavia Overlook at Blue Knob State Park is located atop the second-highest mountain in Pennsylvania!
And while many people are familiar with the views from Blue Knob Ski Resort on the northeast side of the mountain, you may have never heard of Pavia Overlook on the western side of Blue Knob.
So in the following paragraphs I’m going to show you not only the easiest way to hike to Pavia Overlook, but also what you can expect to see when you get there.
Hiking to the Pavia Overlook
The hike begins at the Mountain View Trailhead along Pavia Road, just a few hundred yards west of the ski resort.
The parking area next to the trailhead is located under some power lines, and can be found at GPS coordinates 40.28741, -78.56580.
From the trailhead, walk around the gate and follow the old forest road for a quarter-mile.
This portion of the hike is very easy, with little elevation change.
After hiking maybe 10 minutes, you’ll come to the intersection pictured below, where you’ll bear right, leaving the forest road.
This intersection is easy to spot, at GPS coordinates 40.28616, -78.56213.
Now heading west, you’ll follow this red-and-white blazed trail for 0.45 miles to Pavia Overlook.
This portion of the hike is quite scenic, passing through a a sea of ferns and hardwood trees.
The entire hike encompasses 0.7 miles, with only 70 feet of elevation change.
While you’re results will vary depending on you pace, I reached the Pavia Overlook 20 minutes after departing from the trailhead.
The Views from Pavia Overlook
Pavia Overlook offers 180° views from the western side of Blue Knob.
Informational signage at the overlook shows you what exactly you are looking at.
To the south. you’re looking in the direction of Bedford and Shawnee State Park.
To the northwest, you’re looking in the direction of the Lost Children of the Alleghenies Monument, and the Johnstown Flood National Memorial beyond that.
When you’ve had your fill of amazing views, simply backtrack the 0.7 mile path to your vehicle.
Nearby Attractions
As mentioned earlier, the summit of the mountain is home to Blue Knob Ski Resort, billed as “the highest skiable mountain in Pennsylvania”.
A small informational marker near the snow tubing area designates the location of the “second-highest point in Pennsylvania”.
The Lost Children of the Alleghenies Monument honors two young brothers who wandered away from their Bedford County home in April, 1856 and perished in the nearby mountains, despite a massive search effort to save them.
The details surrounding how the boys became lost and how they were found continue to inspire stories, songs, and speculation to this day.
Shawnee State Park is located to the south of Pavia Overlook, also in Bedford County.
At the heart of the park is 451-acre Shawnee Lake, used by fishermen, boaters, swimmers, and bird watchers alike.
County Line Vista is located right along the Somerset-Bedford county line in the Gallitzin State Forest.
Skyline Drive Vista is a picturesque roadside overlook in the Gallitzin State Forest, on the eastern edge of the PA Laurel Highlands.
Cabbage Creek Falls (also known as Hogsback Falls) is a picturesque little waterfall tucked away in a small park in Blair County.
69 of the Best Scenic Overlooks in PA is your guide to finding even more incredible scenic views in Pennsylvania!
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