If you’re looking for the best things to see and do in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, you’re in the right place!
The county was founded in 1795 and is named for Somersetshire, England.
The county seat is Somerset, a central stage for the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794.
The county makes up one-third of the Laurel Highlands region in western PA (Fayette and Westmoreland counties making up the other two-thirds).
Somerset County is one of the snowiest inhabited locations in the United States, with the highest elevations of the county averaging 150+ inches of snow each winter.
From beautiful waterfalls to scenic overlooks to bike trails to national memorials, here are 21 must-see attractions in Somerset County, Pennsylvania!
Simply click on the blue text links in the descriptions below to read more in-depth information about each destination.
1. Laurel Hill State Park
Laurel Hill State Park is comprised of 4,062 acres of mountainous, wooded terrain in central Somerset County.
At the heart of the park is the 63 acre Laurel Hill Lake, a fantastic spot for swimming, boating, fishing, and bird-watching.
Surrounding the lake are nearly 20 miles of trails, perfect for spending a few hours or an entire day exploring the forest.
2. Kooser State Park
Kooser State Park occupies 250 wooded acres along Route 31 in Somerset County.
Initially constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s, the focal point of the park is 4-acre Kooser Lake.
3. The Covered Bridges of Somerset County
Exploring the Covered Bridges of Somerset County introduces you to the county’s 10 remarkable covered bridges, in all their historic glory.
This write-up provides maps, directions, photos, and descriptions of all 10 Somerset County covered bridges, along with links to even more extensive articles for a few of the bridges.
4. Cole Run Falls
Cole Run Falls lies on a beautiful mountain stream in the Forbes State Forest.
Despite its rugged appearance, Cole Run Falls is located just a few yards from a state forest road and is easily accessible spring through fall.
5. Mount Davis – The Highest Point in PA
Mount Davis in the Somerset County portion of the Forbes State Forest is the highest point in Pennsylvania!
At 3,213 feet above sea level, this idyllic mountain setting is home to some incredible views of the surrounding Laurel Highlands.
The observation tower at Mount Davis is probably the most well-known overlook in Somerset County.
6. The Flight 93 National Memorial
Exploring the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County gives you an overview of what to expect when visiting this tribute to the 40 passengers and crew members on United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
Thousands of visitors from around the world stop here every year to pay their respects and learn more about how the passengers and crew of Flight 93 fought back against the radical Islamic hijackers, thwarting their attempt to use the airplane as a missile against the United States Capitol.
Along with the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg, this is some of the most hallowed ground in Pennsylvania.
7. The Flight 93 Memorial Chapel
The Flight 93 Memorial Chapel, located 3 miles west of Shanksville, was one of the earliest memorials to the passengers and crew of Flight 93.
Home to many donated pieces of memorabilia, the Flight 93 Memorial Chapel serves as a place to honor those who died on 9/11, and is open (free of charge) to visitors most days from 12-5.
8. Patriot Park
Patriot Park near Shanksville is the future home of a permanent memorial intended to honor all those who died in the line of duty while serving the United States military in the Global War on Terrorism.
Like the Flight 93 Memorial Chapel, Patriot Park is privately-funded, relying on donations rather than the financial backing of the United States government.
Patriot Park is located less than half a mile from the entrance to the Flight 93 National Memorial, along Route 30 in Somerset County.
9. The Remember Me Rose Garden
The Remember Me Rose Garden is a living tribute to the passengers and crew aboard United Flight 93, who sacrificed their own lives to save countless others during the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks on America.
The Remember Me Rose Garden is located a quarter-mile east of the Flight 93 National Memorial, along Route 30.
10. Yoder Falls
Yoder Falls is the tallest and northernmost waterfall in Somerset County.
Situated near the Somerset / Cambria County line, it is a popular destination for hikers looking for a short jaunt to a sequestered destination.
11. Beam Rocks Overlook
Beam Rocks Overlook is one of the most scenic mountain vistas in the Laurel Highlands!
Located in the Forbes State Forest near the Westmoreland / Somerset County line, it offers a fantastic 180° view from high above the treetops and the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail below.
12. The Salisbury Viaduct
The Salisbury Viaduct is just one of the many engineering marvels along the 150 mile-long Great Allegheny Passage, the longest multi-use rail trail in Pennsylvania.
Completed in 1912, the Salisbury Viaduct is visited by thousands of hikers, bikers, sightseers, and photographers every year, 110 years after the first train crossed it.
13. The Big Savage Tunnel
The Big Savage Tunnel is another engineering marvel along the Great Allegheny Passage, near mile marker 23 in Somerset County.
This 3,294 foot long tunnel opened in 1912 as part of the Western Maryland Railroad, and was a critical link in that rail line connecting Maryland to Pennsylvania until the entire line was abandoned in 1975.
14. The Mason and Dixon Line Park
The Mason and Dixon Line Park is a small but educational park at the southernmost point of the Great Allegheny Passage in Pennsylvania.
Surveyed to settle a land dispute between two prominent English colonial families (the Penns and the Calverts), the Mason-Dixon line later became famous as the line between free and slave states prior to the Civil War.
15. Cranberry Glade Lake
Cranberry Glade Lake is nestled in a beautiful valley setting near a wind farm in Somerset County.
Cranberry Glade Lake is located on State Game Lands 111 near the Somerset-Fayette County line.
The fall foliage reflects nicely off the normally glassy calm waters of this picturesque lake in Somerset County.
16. The Somerset Historical Center
The Somerset Historical Center is a museum that explores the evolution of rural life in southwestern Pennsylvania, with an emphasis on Somerset County in particular.
The displays, dioramas, and artifacts unfold in chronological fashion as you make your way through the museum, learning about the area’s cultural heritage.
The museum is home to numerous outdoor exhibits, including some historic structures that were disassembled and relocated to the museum’s 150-acre grounds to prevent their destruction.
17. Brantview Farms Maple Camp
Brantview Farms Maple Camp in Somerset County is an excellent place to experience the entire process of maple syrup being made, from tree to table!
This maple camp doubles as a “maple syrup museum” of sorts, housing many unique tools and artifacts used in maple syrup production over the past 100 years.
So if you’ve ever wondered how maple syrup is made, or wanted to purchase it straight from the source, a visit to Brantview Farms Maple Camp is a must.
18. Mountain Craft Days
Mountain Craft Days is a three-day outdoor festival featuring more than 125 artisans and entertainers interpreting rural life in western PA in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Held on the scenic wooded grounds of the Somerset Historical Center, Mountain Craft Days is an excellent way to learn how the first European settlers in western PA lived, worked, ate, and played.
19. The Farmers and Threshermens Jubilee
The Farmers and Threshermens Jubilee in Somerset County is a 5 day festival that showcases antique agricultural machinery popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Farmers and Threshermens Jubilee runs the Wednesday – Sunday following Labor Day.
20. The Clear Shade Creek Swinging Bridge
The Clear Shade Creek Swinging Bridge is a suspension bridge along the John P. Saylor Trail in the Gallitzin State Forest.
21. Wolf Rocks in the Gallitzin State Forest
Wolf Rocks is a beautiful geological formation located along the orange-blazed John P. Saylor Trail in the Somerset County portion of the Gallitzin State Forest.
So there you have it – 21 of the best things to see and do in Somerset County, PA!
Related Articles
17 Must-See Attractions in Fayette County is your guide to everything from historic forts to towering waterfalls to architectural masterpieces in this county which makes up another third of the Laurel Highlands.
19 Must-See Attractions in Westmoreland County is your guide to this neighboring county which makes up the final third of the Laurel Highlands.
17 Must-See Attractions in Cambria County is your guide to the best things to see and do in Somerset County’s neighbor to the north.
7 Man-Made Wonders of the PA Laurel Highlands is your guide to the 7 most iconic structures in the region.
10 Must-See Winter Attractions in the PA Laurel Highlands is your guide to some of the best things to see and do in one of the snowiest places in PA!
26 Best Fall Foliage Destinations in the PA Laurel Highlands is your guide to the best “leaf peeping” locations in Somerset, Fayette, and Westmoreland counties.
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