PA State Forests

19 Must-See Attractions in the Rothrock State Forest

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.

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

Expansive autumn panorama from Harry’s Valley Vista in Rothrock State Forest, featuring a rocky slope in the foreground, colorful forested ridges stretching into the distance, and dramatic clouds casting shadows across the landscape. — Harry’s Valley Vista.

Rothrock State Forest spans 96,956 acres across Huntingdon, Mifflin, and Centre counties, set amid the rugged terrain of Pennsylvania’s Ridge and Valley province.

Expansive October view from Canoe Mountain Vista in Rothrock State Forest, overlooking rolling ridges, open farm fields, and colorful hardwood forests under a streaked blue sky. — Canoe Mountain Vista.

The forest is named in honor of Dr. Joseph Trimble Rothrock, a Mifflin County native celebrated as the Father of Forestry in Pennsylvania and appointed in 1895 as the state’s first forestry commissioner to lead the newly created Division of Forestry.

The "Father of Pennsylvania Forestry", Dr. Joseph Rothrock was born in McVeytown in Mifflin County on April 9, 1839. — Dr. Joseph Rothrock was born in McVeytown (Mifflin County) on April 9, 1839.

His pioneering work laid the foundation for what would become today’s Bureau of Forestry within the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the forest stands as a lasting tribute to his legacy.

Vintage photograph of Dr. Joseph T. Rothrock standing on a rocky overlook with a rifle and his dog, gazing out over a forested Pennsylvania mountainside enveloped in light mist. — Dr. Rothrock with his dog Rab near Mont Alto, PA around 1900 (public domain image.)

From scenic vistas to old growth forests to miles of mountain streams, here are 19 of the best things to see and do in the Rothrock 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.

A hiker in an orange jacket stands among the massive, weathered limestone pillars of the Three Sisters Rock Formation in the Rocky Ridge Natural Area, surrounded by fallen leaves and colorful autumn foliage under a bright blue sky in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. — Three Sisters rock formation.

1. Alan Seeger Natural Area

Alan Seeger Natural Area is a preserve of old-growth hemlocks, white pines, and dense rhododendron thickets along the banks of Standing Stone Creek in Huntingdon County.

A collage of photos taken in the Alan Seeger Natural Area in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania.

The Alan Seeger Loop Trail winds through this ancient forest, offering a rare glimpse of what Pennsylvania’s wilderness looked like centuries ago.

Alan Seeger Loop Trail in the Alan Seeger Natural Area.

2. Bear Gap Vista

Bear Gap Vista provides a wide-open western view of the Rothrock State Forest in Huntingdon County.

Bear Gap Vista in the Rothrock State Forest, Huntingdon County, PA. — Bear Gap Vista in the Rothrock State Forest.

Best of all, it’s a true roadside overlook, offering easy access for visitors of all mobility levels.

Bear Gap Vista in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. — Bear Gap Vista in Huntingdon County.

3. Bear Meadows Natural Area

Bear Meadows Natural Area is an 896-acre protected landscape in Rothrock State Forest, centered around a rare high-elevation fen wetland surrounded by spruce, fir, hemlock, and hardwood forest.

A collage of four scenic photos from the Bear Meadows Loop Hike in Centre County, Pennsylvania. Top left: A wooden sign marks the Bear Meadows Natural Area within Rothrock State Forest. Top right: A narrow trail flanked by evergreens and rhododendron bushes. Bottom left: A lush green tunnel-like pathway created by overhanging rhododendron branches. Bottom right: A panoramic view of a wetland with golden-brown reeds and a clear reflection of the sky and surrounding trees.

The 3.5-mile Bear Meadows Loop circles the marsh, passing wetland boardwalks and rhododendron tunnels that showcase one of central Pennsylvania’s most unique ecosystems.

A simple wooden plank boardwalk cuts through a dense thicket of green rhododendron shrubs on the Bear Meadows Loop Hike in Centre County, Pennsylvania. The boardwalk offers a clear path over the forest floor, which is littered with fallen leaves and small plants, and provides a structured route amidst the natural underbrush.

4. Canoe Mountain Vista

Canoe Mountain Vista is located at a sharp bend along Colerain Road near Spruce Creek in Huntingdon County.

Canoe Mountain Vista along Colerain Road in Huntingdon County PA — Canoe Mountain Vista along Colerain Road in Huntingdon County, PA.

This is certainly one of the more accessible vistas in the Rothrock State Forest, even for those with limited mobility.

Roadside Canoe Mountain Vista in the Rothrock State Forest. — Roadside pull-off at Canoe Mountain Vista in the Rothrock State Forest.

5. Colerain Road Vista

Colerain Road Vista is one of the most panoramic vantage points in the Rothrock State Forest.

The view from Colerain Road Vista in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania. — The view from Colerain Road Vista in Huntingdon County.

The fact that it is so easily accessible makes it an ideal spot for any nature lover, regardless of mobility issues.

Red pickup truck parked along Colerain Road Vista in Rothrock State Forest, overlooking a vast patchwork of rolling ridges, farm fields, and colorful October forests beneath a bright blue, cloud-streaked sky.

6. David’s Vista

David’s Vista is a spectacular southwest-facing scenic overlook in the Huntingdon County portion of the Rothrock State Forest.

A collage showcasing four seasonal views at David's Vista along the Jackson Trail in Rothrock State Forest, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania: a summer scene with rocky terrain and vibrant green foliage under a blue sky; a snowy winter landscape with frosted evergreens and a dramatic sky; a spring view with blooming trees and expansive rolling hills; and a close-up of the wooden "David's Vista" sign mounted on a tree amidst lush greenery.

David’s Vista is easily accessed via a relatively-flat, 0.7 mile hike along the Jackson Trail.

A wooden signpost marking the Jackson Trail and Mid State Trail at a trailhead surrounded by lush green ferns and vegetation, with a gravel path extending into the forest under a bright summer sky, located near David's Vista in Rothrock State Forest, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.

And since the trailhead parking is located right along Route 26, adjacent to Jo Hays Vista, you can access the Jackson Trail and David’s Vista any time of year, even in the dead of winter when other trailheads and vistas are tough to reach because of snow and ice.

Snow-covered trees and rocky terrain leading to a panoramic view of a forested valley under a dramatic, cloudy winter sky along the Jackson Trail in Rothrock State Forest, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.

7. Harry’s Valley Vista

Harry’s Valley Vista is yet another stunning roadside overlook in the Rothrock State Forest, offering sweeping views of the surrounding ridges and valleys.

Collage of four autumn landscapes from Harry’s Valley Vista in Rothrock State Forest, featuring sweeping mountain and valley views, vibrant fall foliage, rocky slopes, and a hiker in orange admiring the panoramic scenery beneath dramatic clouds and bright blue skies.

8. Hubler Gap Vista

Hubler Gap Vista is a spectacular south-facing scenic overlook in the Huntingdon County portion of the Rothrock State Forest.

A collage of four photos showcasing the scenic Hubler Gap Vista along the Musser Gap Trail in Rothrock State Forest, near State College, Pennsylvania. The top-left and bottom-right images highlight lush green forests under partly cloudy skies, revealing the sweeping, vibrant summer landscape. The top-right and bottom-left photos depict the same vista during a winter hike, with light snow blanketing the ground and bare trees exposing the rugged terrain. One photo includes a hiker in bright orange winter gear standing on the rocky outcrop, taking in the expansive view of the frosty valley below. The vista captures the seasonal contrast of this picturesque location.

Hubler Gap Vista is most-easily accessed via a 2 mile hike (4 mile round-trip) along the Musser Gap Trail.

Musser Gap Trailhead near State College.

9. Indian Lookout

Perched high above the former Colerain State Park in Huntingdon County, Indian Lookout offers an expansive view of Spruce Creek, Canoe Mountain, Brush Mountain, and the distant Bald Eagle Mountain.

Exploring Indian Lookout in the Rothrock State Forest.

Contrary to what the name might imply, Indian Lookout was not used by Native Americans as a lookout, but rather by early European settlers in the region as a lookout for potential Indian war parties.

Hiker in an orange jacket standing on a rocky ledge at Indian Lookout in Rothrock State Forest, gazing out over a sweeping patchwork of fields, forests, and rolling ridges glowing with October foliage under a bright, cloud-dotted sky.

10. Indian Wells Overlook

Indian Wells Overlook is an exceptional scenic vista located right along the Mid State Trail near the Centre-Huntingdon county line.

Indian Wells is perched high above Bear Meadows Natural Area, mentioned earlier.

Looking out over Bear Meadows from Indian Wells Overlook in the Rothrock State Forest. — Looking out over Bear Meadows Natural Area from Indian Wells Overlook in the Rothrock State Forest.

11. Jo Hays Vista

Jo Hays Vista is a roadside overlook along Route 26, just south of State College on the Centre–Huntingdon county line.

Fall foliage views from Jo Hays Vista overlooking State College.

From here, you’ll take in a sweeping view of State College and the ridges stretching beyond it.

The view from Jo Hays Vista near State College.

12. Pump Station Trail Vista

Pump Station Trail Vista is located along a relatively smooth but sloping trail that doubles as a snowmobile route in the winter.

Hiker in an orange jacket standing on a rocky slope at a vista along the Pump Station Trail near Harry’s Valley Vista in Rothrock State Forest, overlooking a vast expanse of colorful autumn foliage and distant blue ridges under a bright sky.

Pump Station Trail Vista is located near Harry’s Valley Vista, mentioned earlier in this article.

Rocky overlook along the Pump Station Trail near Harry’s Valley Vista in Rothrock State Forest, showcasing colorful autumn trees and layered mountain ridges stretching into the distance under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

13. Sausser’s Stone Pile

Sausser’s Stone Pile is a massive rock formation in the Rothrock State Forest that also happens to be one of the finest scenic overlooks in Huntingdon County!

Collage of four photos taken at Sausser's Stone Pile along the Standing Stone Trail in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, showing hikers exploring the vast boulder field and taking in sweeping views of rolling hills, colorful forests, and farmland under bright blue skies.

Sausser’s Stone Pile is located along the Standing Stone Trail, near the Stone Mountain Hawk Watch, mentioned later in this article.

Sausser's Stone Pile along the Standing Stone Trail in Huntingdon County. — Sausser’s Stone Pile along the Standing Stone Trail in Huntingdon County.

14. Shingletown Gap

Shingletown Gap outside State College is home to a maze of hiking trails extending into the Rothrock State Forest.

Hiking the Shingletown Gap trails near State College Pennsylvania. — Hiking the Shingletown Gap trails.

You can combine these trails into loops of varying degrees of difficulty, including some that lead to the Mid State Trail, which runs across the top of Tussey Mountain.

15. Stone Mountain Hawk Watch

Located in the Rothrock State Forest near the Mifflin-Huntingdon County line, the Stone Mountain Hawk Watch is a scenic overlook with a purpose.

A person wearing an orange hat sits on a wooden observation platform at the Stone Mountain Hawk Watch in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, surrounded by rocky terrain, leafless shrubs, and a bright blue sky streaked with wispy clouds.

Used by birding enthusiasts to monitor raptor migrations, this is also a popular scenic overlook, with stellar views in all directions.

Expansive view from the Stone Mountain Hawk Watch in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, looking west across forested ridges and valleys tinted with late autumn colors beneath a bright blue sky.

16. Stone Valley Vista

Stone Valley Vista is a panoramic scenic overlook located along the Standing Stone Trail, 2.2 miles south of Greenwood Furnace State Park.

The author at Stone Valley Vista in March 2023. — The author at Stone Valley 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.

A scenic view from the Stone Valley Vista on the Standing Stone Trail in Huntingdon County, PA, featuring a snowy slope with jagged rocks protruding through the white blanket. Evergreen trees to the left and leafless branches to the right frame the vista, which overlooks a vast valley with patches of snow, forested areas, and distant hills under a partly cloudy sky with soft blue tones.

17. Three Sisters

The Three Sisters are 3 large pillars of rock standing tall along a ridge top in the aptly-named Rocky Ridge Natural Area, part of the Rothrock State Forest.

A hiker in an orange jacket stands beside the towering, weather-sculpted limestone pillars of the Three Sisters Rock Formation in the Rocky Ridge Natural Area, surrounded by golden autumn leaves and a bright blue sky in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.

These three stoic pillars of rock mark a unique geological feature along the scenic Standing Stone Trail, presenting a spectacular destination for avid hikers and nature enthusiasts.

A hiker in an orange jacket stands along a rocky trail beneath towering weathered limestone cliffs near the Three Sisters Rock Formation in the Rocky Ridge Natural Area, surrounded by moss-covered boulders and colorful autumn foliage in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.

18. Throne Room

The Throne Room is a panoramic overlook often referred to as one of the finest vistas in all of Pennsylvania, and deservedly so.

The author at the Throne Room on an early April afternoon.

Sitting at 2283 feet above sea level, you seem to have an infinite view to the horizon.

The author at the Throne Room on an October afternoon.

19. Wampler Road Vista

Wampler Road Vista sits near the Huntingdon–Centre County line in the Rothrock State Forest, just a few minutes from the Bear Meadows Natural Area.

Wampler Road Vista in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania — Wampler Road Vista in Huntingdon County.

Nearby Attractions

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The best things to see and do in Huntingdon County PA.

38 Must-See Attractions in Centre County highlights the standout places and experiences that make this central Pennsylvania county worth exploring.

The best things to see and do in Centre County PA.

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