Ohiopyle State Park

Cucumber Falls is prettier than the actual Ohiopyle Falls. Look for the parking area on Kentuck Road.

Ohiopyle is merely alright. Passable. Especially if you cannot make it out to real wilderness. Ohiopyle State Park was packed this weekend… not a camping space left, we got the last one, and reserved almost a week in advance! Hundreds of people there… more than I usually see on a weekend. The Ferncliff was a bit of a let down, but only because conservation is young there… here in Western NC there are so many places to be completely in nature. Ohiopyle was sadly speckled with litter and over trodden foot paths. Good things abound however. Great location to visit Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. Lots of activities. Good pressure in the showers (tip-take one at dusk rather than dawn and also enjoy hot water and no line). Hike in sites are gorgeous (but noisy… lots of hollering kids until 10 or so, and all day and night trains passing through and blowing whistle), water is hard, and if you are not used to it, tastes metalic and does weird things to your hair when you wash with it. The town of Ohiopyle is fun and homespun. The small general store has it all… from 25 cent hair ties, to fuses, to witty teeshirts, to clean white towels, to fresh fruit, a diner, and very friendly and helpful staff. The town has nice cafes, with varieties of vegetarian and vegan offerings (surprise… even tofu and hummus!) and many places to get icecream… south western PA’s most important food. Ohiopyle State Park doesn’t allow dogs, but we saw this one in town. Isn’t she cute?