PA Roadside Attractions

Visiting the Cross on the Hill in Elk County

The Cross on the Hill is an interfaith memorial and a beautiful scenic overlook near Benezette.

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

The view from the base of the Cross on the Hill in Elk County Pennsylvania. — The view from the base of the Cross on the Hill is of the Spring Run Valley.

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 was erected on August 27, 1990. — The Cross on the Hill was erected on August 27, 1990.

A Prayer Walk was added to the site in 2014, stretching 80 yards from the parking lot along Gray Hill Road to the Cross.

The Prayer Walk leads from the parking area to the Cross on the Hill in Elk County Pennsylvania. — The Prayer Walk leads from the parking area to the Cross on the Hill.

The Prayer Walk features scenes from the Bible, cut out of iron.

The metal artwork along the Prayer Walkway at the Cross on the Hill was created by inmates at Fort Leavenworth. — The Prayer Walk features scenes from Christian scripture cut out of iron.

These pieces of metal artwork were created by inmates at Fort Leavenworth.

The Prayer Walk at the Cross on the Hill in Elk County features scenes from Christian scripture cut out of iron. — *The metal artwork along the Prayer Walkway was created by inmates at Fort Leavenworth.*

The views from the base of the Cross are of the Spring Run Valley.

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

The Cross stands 13 feet tall and 8 feet across.

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

In many ways the Cross on the Hill in Elk County strikes me as the “country cousin” of the Jumonville Cross in Fayette County, a 60 foot-tall steel cross perched high above Uniontown.

A man standing next to the Jumonville Cross gives a sense of scale to the 60 foot-tall structure.

How to Find the Cross on the Hill in Elk County

From the intersection of Route 555 and Gray Hill Road near Benezette, follow Gray Hill Road 3.3 miles to the Cross on the Hill, which will be on your right hand side.

Or if you prefer to navigate via GPS coordinates, use 41.314532, -78.455938 to find the parking area along Gray Hill Road (also shown as Mount Zion Road on some maps/navigation systems.).

Sign along Gray Hill Road pointing the way to the Cross on the Hill.

The parking area is large enough to hold 8-10 cars.

Parking area for the Cross on the Hill along Gray Hill Road in Elk County Pennsylvania. — Parking area for the Cross on the Hill along Gray Hill Road.

The Cross on the Hill is open to visitors from dawn until dusk year-round, although there is no winter maintenance of the site.

The Cross on the Hill in Elk County near Benezette is open to visitors from dawn until dusk year round. — The Cross on the Hill near Benezette is open to visitors from dawn until dusk year round.

A kiosk near the parking area has donation envelopes if you’d like to contribute to the upkeep of this special place.

Cross on the Hill donation envelopes near the parking area along Gray Hill Road in Elk County Pennsylvania. — Donation envelopes at kiosk near the parking area along Gray Hill Road.

Nearby Attractions

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

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

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

Full-size taxidermy display inside the Elk Country Visitors Center in Benezette.

Table Falls in Elk County features a short hike to a picturesque waterfall.

Table Falls flowing high and clear on a September morning.

The 5 Best Roadside Attractions in the Quehanna Wild Area introduces you to some great roadside destinations in one of the largest unpopulated areas in Pennsylvania.

October in the Marion Brooks Natural Area Elk County PA — October in the Marion Brooks Natural Area, part of the larger Quehanna Wild Area in Elk County.

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