If you’re looking for directions to Stone Valley Vista in Huntingdon County, you’re in the right place!
Stone Valley Vista is a panoramic scenic overlook located along the Standing Stone Trail, 2.2 miles south of Greenwood Furnace State Park.
The trailhead for the hike to Stone Valley Vista is located directly across the road from the Greenwood Furnace State Park office.
If navigating by GPS, use coordinates 40.65008, -77.75410 to find the trailhead parking lot, easily identified by this large sign on the eastern edge of the lot.
Hiking to Stone Valley Vista
The hike to Stone Valley Vista, as described here, is a relatively straight forward 4. 4 mile out-and-back hike (2.2 miles each way), utilizing a small portion of the 85 mile-long, orange-blazed Standing Stone Trail.
The only trail intersection you’ll encounter on the entire hike is less than 100 yards from the parking lot and pictured below- be sure to stay to the left and follow the orange blazes; DO NOT follow the yellow-blazed trail to the right.
Once you’ve passed that trail intersection, you’ll step out into an open area in front of the historic Greenwood Furnace Church, dedicated in 1867.
You can read a bit about the history of the church on a display near the trail.
Continuing past the church, the trail moves clockwise around some tall deer fence that protects a tree nursery field.
The trail then begins a gradual ascent of Stone Mountain along an old road grade.
A mile into the ascent, you’ll encounter a trail sign at a sharp switchback.
This switchback marks the midpoint of the hike to Stone Valley Vista, and where the hike really begins to feel more like a hike and less like a leisurely walk through the woods.
Approximately a quarter-mile after the sharp switchback, you’ll tackle the most challenging portion of the hike, a rocky ascent to the Stone Mountain ridgeline.
It’s portions of the trail like this that have earned Pennsylvania the nickname “Rocksylvania” among hikers and trail runners.
With the rocky quarter-mile portion of the hike behind you, it’s relatively smooth sailing the last half-mile as you pass through a ridgetop grove of pines on your way to the vista.
The Views from Stone Valley Vista
Your first views from Stone Valley Vista are to the south as you step out into the rock outcropping that makes up the vista.
At 1,933 feet above sea level, Stone Valley Vista gives you a commanding view of the Rothrock State Forest and surrounding Huntingdon County farmland.
If navigating by GPS, you’ll find Stone Valley Vista at coordinates 40.63331, -77.76363.
To your north lies Greenwood Furnace State Park.
If you zoom in with your camera, you can get a clear view of Greenwood Lake at the park.
There’s also a trail register where you can sign the “guest book”, immortalizing your visit to the vista.
Even on a leafless March afternoon, the views from Stone Valley Vista are spectacular,
When you’ve had your fill of Stone Valley Vista, simply retrace your steps back to Greenwood Furnace State Park, a return hike made more pleasant by the fact that it’s virtually all downhill.
Stone Valley Vista in the Winter
The hike from Greenwood Furnace to Stone Valley Vista in the winter is a bit more challenging, but worth the effort.
In the photo below you can make out Route 305 running from McAlevy’s Fort on the left towards Greenwood Furnace State Park on the right.
The view to the south is definitely my favorite though, in any season.
Nearby Attractions
Greenwood Furnace State Park is a 423 acre recreational paradise in the mountains, with the 6 acre Greenwood Lake at its heart.
The Alan Seeger Trail is a short but beautiful loop hike through the Alan Seeger Natural Area in the Rothrock State Forest.
Whipple Dam State Park is a 256 acre recreational area in Huntingdon County, 12 miles south of State College.
Indian Lookout in the Rothrock State Forest is one of three scenic overlooks in close proximity to one another along Colerain Road.
Sausser’s Stone Pile is a massive rock formation along the Standing Stone Trail in the Rothrock State Forest, 5 miles south of Stone Valley Vista.
20 Must-See Attractions in Huntingdon County is your guide to even more great things to see and do near Stone Valley Vista.
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