PA Counties

11 Must-See Attractions in Elk County

Rusty Glessner

The Best Things to See and Do in Elk County PA.

If you’re looking for the best things to see and do in Elk County, you’re in the right place!

Elk County was created on April 18, 1843, from parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and McKean counties.

Elk County historical marker in front of the Elk County courthouse in Ridgway, Pennsylvania. — Elk County historical marker in front of the courthouse.

The county seat is Ridgway, settled in 1824.

The Elk County courthouse in Ridgway, Pennsylvania. — The Elk County courthouse in Ridgway.

The county is named for the eastern elk (now extinct) that historically inhabited the region.

Elk in Potter County Pennsylvania. — Rocky Mountain elk are the species now living in Elk County, PA.

Sparsely populated and heavily forested, it is best known for outdoor recreation and the Rocky Mountain elk herd that now thrive there.

A small herd of elk at the Elk Country Visitors Center in Benezette.

From beautiful waterfalls to soaring vistas to a nature center dedicated to the elk, here are 11 of the best things to see and do in Elk County.

Simply click on the blue text links on the map above or in the descriptions below to read more in-depth information about each destination.

Red Run Gorge Vista in Elk County PA. — Red Run Gorge Vista in Elk County.

1. The Elk Country Visitor Center

The Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette is the epicenter of elk viewing in Pennsylvania!

Entrance to the Elk Country Visitors Center in Benezette.

The Great Room at the Visitor Center (just one of several display-filled rooms) is home to many full-size taxidermy displays, lots of interactive touch-screen displays about elk, and huge panoramic windows that look out onto one of the elk viewing areas.

Full-size taxidermy display inside the Elk Country Visitors Center in Benezette. — Taxidermy displays in the Great Room at the Elk Country Visitors Center in Benezette.

A gift shop with anything and everything you can think of featuring elk and other PA Wilds-related themes is located inside the Visitor Center as well.

Merchandise in the Elk Country Visitor Center gift shop.

There are also 3 elk viewing areas on the grounds (where you have a chance to see real live elk), each one just a short stroll from the Visitor Center.

A map to the elk viewing blinds at the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette. — A map to the elk viewing blinds at the Elk Country Visitor Center.

2. Winslow Hill

Located just a mile from the Elk Country Visitor Center, Winslow Hill is arguably the second-most popular elk viewing spot in Elk County.

Winslow Hill elk viewing area along Winslow Hill Road.

A huge food plot and ample parking makes this an ideal place to check out the PA elk herd.

The view from Winslow Hill elk viewing area near Benezette.

Winslow Hill is especially popular in the fall, during the peak of the elk rut.

Elk bugling in Benezette. — Elk bugling in the food plot at Winslow Hill in Elk County.

3. The Cross on the Hill

The Cross on the Hill near Benezette in Elk County is both an inspiring roadside attraction and a gorgeous scenic overlook!

Benches resembling church pews around the Cross on the Hill in Elk County Pennsylvania. — Benches resembling church pews around the Cross on the Hill.

Erected in 1990, the Cross was envisioned as an interfaith memorial and a place for meditation and spiritual healing.

The Cross on the Hill in Elk County is 13 feet tall and 8 feet across.

4. Decker’s Chapel

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

Deckers Chapel, the smallest church in Pennsylvania, is prominently featured with its white wooden exterior, steep gabled roof, and small belfry topped with a cross. The chapel’s red door, decorated with a seasonal wreath, is flanked by two black metal railings leading up the stone steps. A well-manicured lawn and landscaping surround the building, including a blooming pink hydrangea bush. In the foreground, a large sign reading "Deckers Chapel Est. 1856" is displayed, highlighting the chapel's historic significance. The scene is set under a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds, emphasizing the peaceful and inviting atmosphere of this quaint religious site. — Decker’s Chapel in Saint Marys was built in 1856.

The one-room chapel measures 12 feet by 18 feet, and features 4 “kneelers” and an altar surrounded by various religious artifacts.

Inside Decker's Chapel, the smallest church in Pennsylvania. — Inside Decker’s Chapel, the smallest church in Pennsylvania.

5. Straub Brewery

Established in 1872, Straub Brewery is still producing German-American style lagers at its original location in St. Marys.

A collage of four photos capturing moments from a tour of Straub Brewery in Elk County, PA. The top left image shows the inviting exterior of the Straub Brewery Visitor Center and Tap Room, a historic red-brick building with a vintage truck parked in front and signage welcoming visitors. The top right image features a tour guide passionately explaining the brewing process beside vintage copper brewing equipment, showcasing the traditional craftsmanship still alive at the brewery. The bottom left image highlights three wooden tap handles labeled Straub Light, Lager, and Amber, attached to a keg, representing the brewery’s dedication to quality and tradition in their beer offerings. The bottom right image is a historic black-and-white photograph of Anthony, Peter, and Joseph Straub, three significant figures in the brewery’s history, standing proudly with wooden beer barrels. Since 1872, Straub Brewery has been one of the oldest family-owned and operated breweries in the United States, continuing to produce German-American style lagers and traditional craft beer at its original location in St. Marys, PA.

The Straub Brewery tour offers a lesson in brewing history and craftsmanship at one of America’s oldest family-owned and operated breweries.

6. Table Falls

Table Falls is located in the Elk County portion of the Quehanna Wild Area, a 48,186 acre expanse of wilderness that encompasses parts of 3 counties.

A September view of Table Falls, flowing high and clear on Paige Run.

Located just a few yards from a parking area along Red Run Road, Table Falls is best visited after the spring thaw or recent rainfall.

Winter scene at Table Falls in the Quehanna Wild Area.

7. Marion Brooks Natural Area

The Marion Brooks Natural Area is 975 acre portion of the Quehanna Wild Area, named in honor of local environmental activist Marion Brooks.

Marion Brooks Natural Area Memorial in the Quehanna Wild Area. — Marion Brooks Natural Area Memorial in Elk County.

The big draw here is a 22 acre roadside portion of the Natural Area that is composed largely of white birch trees, making it the largest stand of white birch in the eastern United States.

Roadside fall foliage at the Marion Brooks Natural Area — The Marion Brooks Natural Area in Elk County.

8. Red Run Gorge Vista

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

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

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

Red Run Gorge Vista in the Quehanna Wild Area.

9. Beaver Run Dam Wildlife Viewing Area

The Beaver Run Dam Wildlife Viewing Area is located just off the Quehanna Highway in the Moshannon State Forest.

Beaver Run Dam Wildlife Viewing Area sign in the Quehanna Wild Area. — Beaver Run Dam Wildlife Viewing Area sign along the Quehanna Highway in Elk County.

350 yards from the parking area, down a flat, forested trail, you’ll find a waterfront viewing blind where it’s not uncommon to see wild birds of all sorts, including nesting osprey in the spring.

Nesting osprey pair at Beaver Run Dam in the Quehanna Wild Area.

And of course there’s always a chance to see elk feeding near the dam, which is what draws people from around the northeast to this region of Pennsylvania.

View from the Beaver Run Dam wildlife viewing blind.

10. Blue Rock Swinging Bridge

The Blue Rock Swinging Bridge is a 40 foot-long suspension bridge suspended 12 feet above Little Toby Creek, on State Game Lands 44 in Elk County.

The Blue Rock Swinging Bridge is sometimes referred to as the Little Toby Swinging Bridge.

The Blue Rock Swinging Bridge is a popular attraction alongside the 18 mile-long Clarion-Little Toby Trail, a rail trail that extends from Ridgway in Elk County to Brockway in Jefferson County.

The Blue Rock Swinging Bridge was constructed in 1992.

11. The Little Chapel in the Woods

The Little Chapel in the Woods, also known as the Fred Bartholme Memorial Chapel, is a popular roadside attraction and magnificent scenic overlook just west of Benezette in Elk County.

Exploring the Little Chapel in the woods in Elk County Pennsylvania. — Scenes from the Little Chapel in the Woods.

Nearby Attractions

12 Must-See Attractions in Cameron County is your guide to the best things to see and do in Elk County’s neighbor to the east.

A collage of four diverse photographs showcasing the natural beauty of Cameron County, Pennsylvania. Top left: A wooden sign reading 'Square Timber Vista' amid a lush green landscape with rolling hills. Top right: An old concrete water tower stands next to a tranquil river flanked by green hills under a blue sky. Bottom left: A snowy scene with a stream flowing over small waterfalls, surrounded by snow-laden trees and rocks. Bottom right: Two elk with large, branching antlers standing in a grassy field with a backdrop of a clear blue sky.

10 Must-See Attractions in Clearfield County is your guide to the best things to see and do in Elk County’s neighbor to the south.

Must-see attractions in Clearfield County Pennsylvania.

6 Must-See Attractions in Jefferson County is your guide to the best things to see and do in Elk County’s neighbor to the southwest.

A collage of 4 photos showing some of the best things to see and do in Jefferson County PA.

Discover even more great destinations to explore all across Pennsylvania with the interactive PA Bucket List Travel Map!

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