PA State Forests

11 Must-See Attractions in the Bald Eagle State Forest

A collage of four photos from Bald Eagle State Forest in Pennsylvania, featuring a hiker overlooking a deep, forested canyon, the sweeping mountain views at Chocolate Drop Vista, a calm stretch of Penns Creek reflecting autumn foliage, and the Penns Creek Wild Area trailhead marked by a wooden sign beside a bike.

If you’re looking for the best things to see and do in the Bald Eagle State Forest, you’re in the right place!

Expansive view from Penn’s View in the Centre County portion of Bald Eagle State Forest, showcasing the winding valley of Penns Creek surrounded by forested ridges glowing with peak autumn foliage under a bright blue October sky. — Penn’s View on a late October afternoon in the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Bald Eagle State Forest spans 194,602 acres across Snyder, Union, Centre, Mifflin, and Clinton counties, encompassing central Pennsylvania’s high ridges, pristine mountain streams, and several notable tracts of old-growth forest.

Colorful fall foliage and patchwork farmland viewed from Bell’s Majestic Vista in the Centre County portion of Bald Eagle State Forest, with rolling forested ridges and farmsteads stretching across the valley under a clear October sky. — Bells Majestic View.

The forest is named for Chief Woapalanne—whose Munsee Lenni Lenape name means “Bald Eagle”—a mid-18th-century Munsee (Wolf) subtribe leader who lived and traveled throughout central and western Pennsylvania, including a brief stay at Bald Eagle’s Nest near present-day Milesburg.

A lifelike portrait-style illustration of Chief Woapalanne, also known as Chief Bald Eagle, depicting him with long dark hair, a patterned headband, two bald eagle feathers, and a solemn expression, honoring the Lenape leader for whom Pennsylvania’s Bald Eagle State Forest is named. — Portrait-style illustration of Chief Woapalanne, also known as Chief Bald Eagle, for whom Pennsylvania’s Bald Eagle State Forest is named.

From sweeping ridgelines and breathtaking vistas to top-tier fishing and rail-trail adventures, here are 11 of the best things to see and do in the Bald Eagle State Forest.

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

An orange bicycle with a black basket is parked at the entrance to a wooden bridge crossing Penn’s Creek along the Penn’s Creek Path in Bald Eagle State Forest, surrounded by colorful autumn foliage and forested hills under a partly cloudy sky. — Penn’s Creek Path near Poe Valley State Park.

1. Bells Majestic View

Bells Majestic View sits along the Siglerville–Millheim Pike in Centre County, offering a sweeping panorama of picturesque Penns Valley.

Bells Majestic View sign along Siglerville-Millheim Pike in the Bald Eagle State Forest — Bells Majestic View sign along the Siglerville-Millheim Pike in the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Navigate to GPS coordinates 40.82967, -77.50880 to experience this outstanding overlook and its unforgettable ridge-to-valley scenery.

Bells Majestic View in the Bald Eagle State Forest on an October morning. — Bells Majestic View on an October morning.

2. Big Valley Vista

Big Valley Vista awaits along the Millheim Pike in Mifflin County, showcasing a wide-open sweep of the farms and ridges that define this scenic region.

Big Valley Vista sign along the Millheim Pike in the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Plug 40.78464, -77.51479 into your GPS to reach this outstanding overlook, just three miles northeast of Siglerville.

Big Valley Vista in the Bald Eagle State Forest. — Big Valley Vista.

3. Black Gap Vista

Black Gap Vista, perched along Engle Road near McCalls Dam State Park, offers a beautiful east-facing view that lights up with the morning sun.

Black Gap Vista facing the southeast, in the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Set your GPS to 41.01587, -77.21458 to reach this serene Centre County overlook tucked within the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Black Gap Vista along Engle Road in the Bald Eagle State Forest. — Black Gap Vista.

4. Chocolate Drop Vista

Chocolate Drop Vista sits along Pine Swamp Road in Centre County, delivering a sweeping mountain panorama that’s gorgeous in every season.

Chocolate Drop Vista along Pine Swamp Road in the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Enter 40.83228, -77.45111 into your GPS to reach this spectacular overlook, located less than a mile from Poe Valley State Park.

Chocolate Drop Vista in the Bald Eagle State Forest on a summer afternoon. — Chocolate Drop Vista on a summer afternoon.

5. Ingleby View

Ingleby View lies along Poe Paddy Drive in Centre County, just a short hop from Penns View, offering a beautiful roadside panorama of the surrounding mountains.

Plug 40.84435, -77.43404 into your GPS to find this marvelous pull-off overlooking the rolling ridges of the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Ingelby View in the Bald Eagle State Forest. — Ingleby View in the Bald Eagle State Forest.

6. Jones Mountain Road Vista

Jones Mountain Road Vista delivers exceptional westward views from a convenient pull-off along its namesake mountain road.

Jones Mountain Road Vista is one of the best roadside overlooks in the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Set your GPS to 40.97322, -77.14080 to reach this lofty overlook perched high above the Union County side of the Bald Eagle State Forest.

A late autumn morning at Jones Mountain Road Vista in the Bald Eagle State Forest. — A late autumn morning at Jones Mountain Road Vista.

7. New Lancaster Valley Vista

New Lancaster Valley Vista sits along Locust Ridge Road in Snyder County, offering an extraordinary panorama that stretches toward Milroy and distant Mifflin County.

New Lancaster Valley in the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Enter 40.79362, -77.31011 into your GPS to reach this remarkable overlook and its far-reaching ridge-and-valley views.

New Lancaster Valley Vista in the Bald Eagle State Forest. — New Lancaster Valley Vista in October.

8. Penn’s Creek Path

Penn’s Creek Path is a 2.7-mile rail trail in the Bald Eagle State Forest, following the old Lewisburg and Tyrone Railroad along the historic lumber routes that once threaded through central Pennsylvania’s rugged ridges.

Collage of four photos showcasing scenes along the Penn’s Creek Path in Bald Eagle State Forest, including an orange bicycle near the Penn’s Creek Wild Area sign, inside the curved Poe Paddy Tunnel, overlooking Penn’s Creek with a forested hill in the distance, and a cyclist in an orange jacket riding through a tunnel of golden autumn foliage. — Scenes from Penn’s Creek Path.

Today, this tranquil, multi-use corridor carries hikers and cyclists through quiet hardwood forests along the Centre–Mifflin County line.

An orange bicycle with a black basket rests on a gravel trail blanketed with fallen leaves along the Penn’s Creek Path in Bald Eagle State Forest, surrounded by golden autumn foliage and evergreens under a bright blue sky. — Penn’s Creek Path in October.

Near the trail’s western end, you’ll encounter the popular Poe Paddy Tunnel—a nearly 300-foot passage carved through West Paddy Mountain in the 19th century and restored in 2015 for modern trail use.

Cyclists entering Poe Paddy Tunnel through the northwestern portal.

With its corrugated metal walls, cool echoing interior, and subtle curve that hides the exit until you’re halfway through, this tunnel remains one of the trail’s most distinctive and memorable features.

An orange bicycle with a black basket is parked inside the curved, metal-lined Poe Paddy Tunnel along the Penn’s Creek Path in Bald Eagle State Forest, illuminated by faint light filtering from the tunnel’s distant openings.

9. Penn’s View

Penn’s View, located along Poe Paddy Drive in Centre County, delivers a breathtaking roadside panorama of Penn’s Creek snaking through a valley bordered by vibrant, forested ridges.

Hiker standing on a rocky overlook at Penn’s View in the Centre County portion of Bald Eagle State Forest, gazing out over a winding valley and forested ridges glowing with vibrant autumn colors under a clear October sky. — The author at Penn’s View.

Plug 40.84247, -77.45271 into your GPS to reach this magnificent overlook towering high above the winding waters of Penn’s Creek.

Penns View in the Bald Eagle State Forest on an October morning. — Penn’s View on an October morning.

10. Ravens Knob East Vista

Perched along Pine Swamp Road in Centre County, Raven’s Knob East Vista serves up exquisite mountain views stretching toward the Penns Creek valley.

Ravens Knob East Vista in the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Enter 40.83858, -77.42534 into your GPS to find this magnificent overlook rising high above the winding waters of Penns Creek.

Ravens Knob Vistas sign along Poe Paddy Drive in the Bald Eagle State Forest. — Ravens Knob Vistas sign.

11. Ravens Knob West Vista

Situated along Pine Swamp Road in Centre County, Raven’s Knob West Vista offers exquisite mountain views that roll out toward Big Poe Valley.

Enter 40.83848, -77.42551 into your GPS to reach this magnificent overlook, soaring high above the twisting, crystal-clear waters of Big Poe Creek.

Ravens Knob West Vista in the Bald Eagle State Forest. — Ravens Knob West Vista.

19 Must-See Attractions in the Rothrock State Forest introduces you to the top spots in a forest that spans 96,956 acres across Huntingdon, Mifflin, and Centre counties, set amid the rugged terrain of Pennsylvania’s Ridge and Valley province.

Collage of four scenes from Rothrock State Forest showing hikers photographing sweeping mountain vistas, an angler fly-fishing along a forested stream, and a rustic “Welcome to Rothrock State Forest” sign set among mossy stones and dense woodland. — Scenes from Rothrock State Forest.

16 Must-See Attractions in the Sproul State Forest highlights the best things to see and do in PA’s largest state forest, most of it located within western Clinton and northern Centre counties.

A collage of four scenes from Pennsylvania’s Sproul State Forest, featuring a hiker perched on a rocky overlook above a vast, autumn-colored canyon; a winter waterfall with a bundled hiker standing beside the icy, moss-covered cascade; a tiered waterfall flowing over layered rock ledges into a serene woodland pool; and a sweeping summer vista looking down over a forested gorge and winding river framed by hemlock branches. — Scenes from Sproul State Forest.

9 Must-See Attractions in the Forbes State Forest highlights the best things to see and do in a forest which encompasses more than 50,000 acres in western Pennsylvania, spanning Westmoreland, Somerset, and Fayette counties.

A collage of four scenes from Forbes State Forest in Pennsylvania, featuring a sweeping autumn overlook with vibrant foliage, a photographer capturing a waterfall from beneath a rocky alcove, a wooden footbridge surrounded by tall sunlit pines, and a hiker standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking rolling, fall-colored ridges. — Scenes from Forbes State Forest.

9 Must-See Attractions in the Buchanan State Forest showcases the best destinations within this 71,683-acre expanse stretching across Bedford, Fulton, and Franklin Counties, where rugged mountains and winding valleys define Pennsylvania’s Ridge-and-Valley region.

A four-photo collage from Buchanan State Forest in south-central Pennsylvania, featuring the graffiti-covered Sideling Hill Tunnel framed by lush summer trees, a wide autumn panorama overlooking colorful Ridge-and-Valley farmland, a sweeping mountain vista beneath dramatic clouds, and a leafy fall forest road beside a Buchanan State Forest entrance sign. — Scenes from Buchanan State Forest.

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