Hiking the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail in Westmoreland County

Hiking the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.

The Cedar Creek Gorge Trail is a beautiful 1.5 mile loop hike featuring two suspension bridges over Cedar Creek in Westmoreland County.

The lower (closest to the trailhead) suspension bridge along the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
The lower (closest to the trailhead) suspension bridge along the trail.

The trail is located in Cedar Creek Park, a 479 acre county park located on the banks of the Youghiogheny River.

Cedar Creek Park is a 479-acre Westmoreland County Park along the banks of the Youghiogheny River.
Cedar Creek Park is a 479-acre Westmoreland County park along the banks of the Youghiogheny River.

An easy hike through a picturesque wooded setting, the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail is a great destination any time of year.

Beautiful fall foliage views along the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
Beautiful fall foliage views along the trail.

Directions to the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail

The trailhead for this hike is located at the end of Evergreen Drive, right next to the spot where Cedar Creek empties into the Youghiogheny River.

Cedar Creek empties into the Youghiogheny River at this spot near the Cedar Creek Gorge Trailhead in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
Cedar Creek empties into the Youghiogheny River at this spot near the trailhead.

This portion of the park is designated as Manderino Riverfront Park, as indicated by a plaque near the parking lot.

A Manderino Riverfront Park monument next to the parking area along the banks of the Youghiogheny River.
A Manderino Riverfront Park plaque next to the parking area along the banks of the Youghiogheny River.

If navigating by GPS, use coordinates 40.17872, -79.77847 to find this large paved lot nestled between the Youghiogheny River and the Great Allegheny Passage.

The parking area next to the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail head in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
The parking area next to the trailhead.

Hiking the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail

The Cedar Creek Gorge Trail can be done as either a loop hike or an out-and back hike, but either way you’re looking at roughly 1.5 miles of hiking if you want to see both suspension bridges.

The Cedar Creek Gorge Trail in Westmoreland County is a 1.5 mile loop hike that features two suspension bridges.
The Cedar Creek Gorge Trail in Westmoreland County is a 1.5 mile loop hike that features two suspension bridges.

The trailhead is easily spotted by looking for the split-rail fence that runs alongside the first section of the trail.

The Cedar Creek Gorge Trailhead at Cedar Creek Park is easily identified by the split-rail fence along the trail.
The trailhead at Cedar Creek Park is easily identified by the split-rail fence along the trail.

The Great Allegheny Passage crosses over and above the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail via the Cedar Creek Bridge, which is quite scenic in its own right.

Cedar Creek Bridge along the Great Allegheny Passage, which passes over the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
Cedar Creek Bridge along the Great Allegheny Passage, which passes over top of the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail.

This bridge also affords you a nice elevated view of the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail.

A view of the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail from the Great Allegheny Passage in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
A view of the trail from the Great Allegheny Passage.

The Cedar Creek Gorge Trail passes through a designated hunting area, so wear bright clothing (ideally an article of blaze orange clothing) if hiking here in the fall.

The Cedar Creek Gorge Trail passes through a designated hunting area, so wear bright clothing (ideally an article of blaze orange clothing) if hiking here in the fall.
The trail passes through a designated hunting area.

The creekside portion of this trail is essentially flat and makes for an easy hike, with benches located at several spots to rest or reflect if you choose.

Benches are located at intervals along the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
Benches are located at several spots along the trail.

The Swinging Bridges along the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail

The Cedar Creek Gorge Trail features two suspension bridges, each one crossing over Cedar Creek.

The Cedar Creek Gorge Trail features two beautiful suspension bridges over Cedar Creek.
The Cedar Creek Gorge Trail features two beautiful suspension bridges over Cedar Creek.

The first one you’ll encounter is located just 200 yards from the trailhead.

Downstream view of the lower "swinging bridge" along the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail, surrounded by brilliant fall foliage.
Downstream view of the lower “swinging bridge” along the trail, surrounded by brilliant fall foliage.

The second swinging bridge is located 0.7 miles from the trailhead.

The upper (furthest from the trailhead) suspension bridge along the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
The upper (furthest from the trailhead) suspension bridge along the trail.

Both bridges are nearly identical and solidly built, with very little sway as you cross them.

The upper "swinging bridge" is located 0.7 miles from the Cedar Creek Gorge trailhead in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
The upper “swinging bridge” is located 0.7 miles from the trailhead.

Other Features of the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail

In addition to the suspension bridges, this hike gives you almost continuous views of Cedar Creek itself.

The Cedar Creek Gorge Trail offers almost continuous views of the namesake Cedar Creek.
The trail offers almost continuous views of the namesake Cedar Creek.

Numerous rock outcroppings jut out over Cedar Creek as well.

Rock outcroppings along Cedar Creek visible from the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail.
Rock outcroppings along Cedar Creek visible from the trail.

You’ll encounter a number of historical markers along the trail.

Monument marking the location of a sawmill at the mouth of Cedar Creek, near the present-day Cedar Creek Gorge Trailhead.
Monument marking the location of a sawmill at the mouth of Cedar Creek, near the present-day trailhead.

Each one commemorates a structure that once existed along what is now the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail.

Monument along the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail marking the location of the former Cedar Creek grist mill.
Monument along the trail marking the location of the former Cedar Creek grist mill.

Although this gorge seems quite serene now, it was once a bustling center of industry and home to a number of people.

Greenwood Homestead monument along the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail in Westmoreland County PA.
Greenwood Homestead monument along the trail.

Once you cross the upper/second suspension bridge, you can either take the obvious upper trail back to the parking area, or simply retrace your steps along the creekside portion of the trail back to where you started.

Beautiful views of the Youghiogheny River near the Cedar Creek Gorge Trailhead in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
Beautiful views of the Youghiogheny River near trailhead.

If you have time and are looking to do more hiking, the Great Allegheny Passage provides mile after mile of smooth, flat surface to do so.

The Great Allegheny Passage passes over the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail and through Cedar Creek Park in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
The Great Allegheny Passage passes through Cedar Creek Park.

You can download a free PDF version of the park map (which includes the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail) from Westmoreland County’s official website.



One of two suspension bridges along the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail at Cedar Creek Park in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
A free downloadable park map is available from the Westmoreland County official website.

Nearby Attractions


17 Must-See Attractions in Westmoreland County is your guide to even more great things to see and do close to the Cedar Creek Gorge Trail.

October afternoon at Mill Creek Falls on State Game Lands 42 in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.
October afternoon at Mill Creek Falls in Westmoreland County.

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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.