Exploring Red Run Gorge Vista in Elk County

Brilliant fall foliage at Red Run Gorge Vista in Elk County, Pennsylvania.

Red Run Gorge Vista in Elk County is one of the best off-trail scenic overlooks in the Quehanna Wild Area.

Red Run Gorge Vista on an early October morning on the Quehanna Wild Area.
Red Run Gorge Vista on an early October morning in the Quehanna Wild Area.

But just because it’s off-trail doesn’t mean it’s difficult to get to, if you know where to look!

Red Run Gorge Vista on an early November morning in Elk County Pennsylvania.
Red Run Gorge Vista on an early November morning in Elk County.

And that’s exactly what I’m going to show you in this article – how to find Red Run Gorge Vista in Elk County.

Fall foliage at Red Run Gorge Vista in the Quehanna Wild Area.
Fall foliage at Red Run Gorge Vista in the Quehanna Wild Area.

Directions to Red Run Gorge Vista

Red Run Gorge Vista is located less than a half-mile from the Quehanna Highway, which effectively cuts an east-west path through the heart of the Quehanna Wild Area.

Fall foliage along the Quehanna Highway in Elk County Pennsylvania
Fall foliage along the Quehanna Highway in Elk County.

Where to Park

Parking is located at a small lot along the north side of the Quehanna Highway at GPS coordinates 41.26361, -78.25174.

Parking area along the Quehanna Highway for the Red Run Gorge Vista hike.
Parking area along the Quehanna Highway.

The Hike

The first portion of the hike to Red Run Gorge Vista utilizes the yellow-blazed Teaberry Trail, which exits the back of the parking lot.

The Teaberry Trail in the Quehanna Wild Area.
The Teaberry Trail in the Quehanna Wild Area.

After following the Teaberry Trail for a short 0.22 miles, you’ll come to Teaberry Trail Vista.

Teaberry Trail Vista in the Quehanna Wild Area.
Teaberry Trail Vista in the Quehanna Wild Area.

Teaberry Trail Vista

Teaberry Trail Vista has you looking down the Paige Run Gorge, Paige Run being the stream upon which Table Falls can be found far below.

Fall foliage at Table Falls in the Quehanna Wild Area.
Fall foliage at Table Falls in the Quehanna Wild Area.

The Off-Trail Portion of the Hike

From Teaberry Trail Vista, you’ll be heading off-trail to the northeast for 0.4 miles to Red Run Gorge Vista.

A map to Red Run Gorge Vista in the Quehanna Wild Area.
How to find Red Run Gorge Vista in the Quehanna Wild Area.

The Boulder Field

Approximately halfway between Teaberry Trail Vista and Red Run Gorge Vista, you’ll pass through an area I’m calling the “Boulder Field”, for reasons which will be obvious to you when you visit.

Large boulder along the hike to Red Run Gorge Vista in the Quehanna Wild Area.
Part of the Boulder Field in the Quehanna Wild Area.

You’ll find the Boulder Field at GPS coordinates 41.26676, -78.24743.

Boulders along the off-trail hike to Red Run Gorge Vista in Elk County Pennsylvania.
Boulders along the off-trail portion of the hike.

Reaching Red Run Gorge Vista

From the Boulder Field it’s a simple matter of following the ridge through mostly open woods another 0.2 miles to Red Run Gorge Vista, located at GPS coordinates 41.26881, -78.24521.

Panoramic view of Red Run Gorge Vista in early November, 2021.
Panoramic view of Red Run Gorge Vista in early November, 2021.

Along the way you’ll pass some of the largest patches of ground pine I’ve seen anywhere in PA.

Ground pine along the hike Red Run Gorge Vista in the Quehanna Wild Area.
Patch of ground pine along the hike.

The view from Red Run Gorge Vista is to the northwest, in the direction of the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette.

The author at Red Run Gorge Vista on October 12th, 2021.
The view from Red Run Gorge Vista in Elk County.

The Return Hike

The return hike from Red Run Gorge Vista is a simple matter of backtracking to Teaberry Trail Vista, then picking up the yellow-blazed Teaberry Trail back to your vehicle.

Teaberry Loop Trail Vista in the Quehanna Wild Area.
Teaberry Trail Vista in the Quehanna Wild Area.

Nearby Attractions

The Marion Brooks Natural Area, located 1. 4 miles west of the Red Run Gorge parking area, contains a 22 acre stand of forest composed largely of white birch trees, making it the largest stand of white birch in the eastern United States.

Marion Brooks Natural Area white birch in October.
Marion Brooks Natural Area white birch in October.

The abandoned nuclear jet engine testing bunkers in the Quehanna Wild Area are remnants of a secret Cold War-era military-industrial operation that went on here from 1955-1960.

Outside one of the Quehanna nuclear jet engine testing bunkers in Cameron County.
Outside one of the abandoned Quehanna nuclear jet engine testing bunkers.

The Abandoned Kunes Camp in the Quehanna Wild Area is a testament to backwoods construction ingenuity!

Top-down view of Kunes Camp in the Quehanna Wild Area
Top-down view of the abandoned Kunes Camp in the Quehanna Wild Area.

Wykoff Run Falls in the Quehanna Wild Area is a roadside attraction popular with both sightseers and fishermen.

A fisherman at Wykoff Run Falls in Cameron County
Fishing at Wykoff Run Falls in the Quehanna Wild Area.

As mentioned previously, Table Falls is located in the gorge below Teaberry Trail Vista, and you can drive to within a few yards of it.

Table Falls next to Red Run Road in the Quehanna Wild Area.
Table Falls next to Red Run Road in the Quehanna Wild Area.

Decker’s Chapel in Elk County is the smallest church in Pennsylvania, and one of the smallest churches in the entire United States!

Decker's Chapel in Saint Marys is the smallest church in Pennsylvania.
Decker’s Chapel in Saint Marys is the smallest church in Pennsylvania.

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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.