An Outdoor-Lover’s Guide to Exploring, Eating, and Imbibing in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Nestled in Central Pennsylvania (just six hours max from 35% of North America’s entire population) and known for being home to Penn State University, is a group of valleys collectively known as Happy Valley. But the area offers far more than just tailgates and textbooks. With 750,000 acres of public land, dozens of hiking and biking trails, six state parks, four state forests, and miles of streams stocked with fish, Happy Valley is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise that deserves a spot at the top of your mid-Atlantic travel bucket list.
The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau generously provided funding for this post. As always all opinions are our own.
Like most other born and raised Central Pennsylvanians, we’ve always been familiar with State College. It’s hard to find a football fan who doesn’t root for Penn State in our hometown, and everyone knows that if someone shouts “We are…” an enthusiastic “Penn State!” is the only respectable response.
That said, it wasn’t until recently that we had the opportunity to really explore the region surrounding State College. We spent a week hiking, biking, fishing, eating, and drinking our way around Centre County and have rounded up all of our recommendations below. If you enjoy outdoorsy adventures paired with cold, locally-made beverages and delicious farm-to-fork bites, keep reading, because this is the guide for you! Here’s how to eat and explore your way around Happy Valley, with 10 activities and the perfect post-play pit stops to pair with each.
Note: Measuring over 1,100 square miles, Centre County is fifth largest in Pennsylvania by total area… and MASSIVE! To help you plan your trip, we’ve pinned all the places mentioned here on the map above.
Immerse Yourself in Nature at Black Moshannon State Park
The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau hosted us as well as some other local outdoorsy creators, and we based ourselves at Black Moshannon (Black Mo) State Park. Check out a recap of our experience here!
The park protects 3,394 acres of forests and wetlands and offers opportunities for fishing, hiking, paddling, and really just immersing oneself in nature…there’s no cell service or WiFi in the park, so you really don’t have a choice but to disconnect!
As far as lodging goes, there are three group tenting sites, two deluxe cottages, seven modern cabins, 13 rustic cabins, a ski lodge that sleeps 12, and 73 campsites; ergo there are so many options to choose from! Some sites are ADA-accessible and some are pet-friendly as well. Click here for more information on the park’s different accommodations and their features.
We stayed in their rustic cabins for the week, and if you’re looking for a glamping experience, we couldn’t recommend them more. They sleep 4-6 people in two sets of bunk beds and are so cozy! Each cabin comes equipped with a kitchen stove/oven, microwave, table and chairs, refrigerator, wood-burning stove, electric lighting and heat, and outlets to charge electronics. While there isn’t running water in the cabins, there’s a bath house and coin-operated laundry machines less than a minute walk from their front doors.
Hiking in Black Mo is a must, and if you’re looking for something short and sweet, the ~0.3mile Bog Trail is super unique as it’s home to carnivorous plants! Its ADA-accessible boardwalk winds through a unique sphagnum-peat wetland and is dotted with interpretive signs that educate visitors about wetland ecosystems and their inhabitants. Our friend Kim (@Kim.Hiked.It) also recommends a hike on the Moss-Hanne Trail, which is home to bogs, and pine forests, diverse wildlife species, and in the summer months, the perfect trail snack: blueberries!
The park’s 250-acre Black Moshannon Lake is the perfect spot for a paddle; and kayak, paddle board, and canoe rentals are available right on site. There are four boat launch areas, including one that is ADA accessible as well as an ADA-accessible fishing pier.
The pier is also home to a viewfinder that’s powered by an EnChroma colorblind lens allowing those with red-green blindness to experience viewing the green foliage. Anyone can take a peek through the viewfinder though, to experience a more vibrant view of the foliage surrounding the lake. In addition to everything mentioned, there is a beautiful lakeside beach (with a playground) that is ideal for relaxing in the sand or wading into the water.
As far as noms go, Sleepy Hollow Outpost (aka Black Moshannon Concessions) is located right in the park and is the go-to spot for food, ice cream, camping supplies, firewood, upscale local goodies, books, and craft. This family-run business is also the spot to checkout the aforementioned paddleboard, canoe, or kayaks, rentals. They provide a true one stop shop, if you ask us!
Reach New Heights at Climb Nittany’s Indoor Rock Climbing Gym
Climb Nittany is Centre County’s only indoor rock climbing facility and the ideal spot to adventure indoors. Our group took their 45-minute beginner course and had the best instructors and time. While it wasn’t our first time top roping, the refresher was welcomed and is always a good way to make sure you’re still up to snuff and climbing as safely as possible. As a bonus, once you complete the course, you’re met with a free 2-weeks of access to climb as you please.
Afterwards, we recommend heading down the road to Boal City Brewing Taproom and Beer Garden. We loved their laidback atmosphere, outdoor patio area, and the fact that beyond beer, they also serve craft cocktails made with PA liquors, regional ciders, local wines, craft sodas and alcohol-free beer and wine.
Explore Rothrock State Forest
Home to 215,500 acres of Penn’s Woods and chock-full of opportunities for hiking/MTBing/exploring, Rothrock is a year-round haven in Central PA. We’ve visited several times, and while they typically say that “you never hike the same trail twice,” we’re confident that the same is true of visiting this park. There’s truly something beautiful for everyone to experience in every season. I mean, check out how lush and green some of the trails here are even in November!
This time around, we used Tussey Mountain for our home base to explore the State Forest and spent time cruising the trails on e-bikes, driving the rocky road up to the base of Little Flat Fire Tower, and walking among the Mountain Laurel (which, fun fact, is Pennsylvania’s state flower).
Tussey Mountain Fun Centre
Located within Rothrock State Forest and complete with ski slopes in the winter and e-bike rentals, go-karts, a catch and release fishing pond, a mini-golf course, a driving range, and a par 3 golf course during the off-season, Tussey Mountain is the ultimate four-season adventure outpost. We rented e-bikes ($40/2hrs) and put in about 13 miles on the gravel trails in Rothrock State Forest. We took the recommended trail that was mapped out in the bike shop and pedaled our way through a sea of Mountain Laurel. The state forest is just beautiful, and e-bikes proved to be the perfect way for us to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.
If you’d rather explore on foot, the park is home to miles of hiking trails as well as some pretty scenic dirt roads. We drove one of those roads up to Little Flat Fire Tower in the Jeep, and the journey to get there was so much fun in-and-of itself! And while the tower is no longer open for climbing, it was still very cool to check out from the ground. The Mid-State Trail intersects the tower and was covered in Mountain Laurel in mid-June, so we had fun hiking along it for a bit and snapping some photos.
As far as food goes, if you happen to visit Tussey Mountain on a Thursday, you’ll be able to attend WingFest, which seems to be quite the event! We didn’t partake, but we’ve heard good things, and the parking lot was popping on our way back down from the tower!
Fish or Walk Along Happy Valley’s Steams
With 23 individual rivers/creeks and four sizable lakes, Happy Valley is a premier destination for fishing. The peaceful paths and trails that meander along these bodies of water also provide great opportunities for both walking and bird/wildlife watching. Below, we’re highlighting some of our favorite water-side destinations.
Soaring Eagle Wetlands
Protecting 55 acres of Happy Valley’s wetlands and home to beautiful walking paths, and an ADA-accessible fishing pier, Soaring Eagle Wetlands is the perfect place to escape into nature without venturing too far from town. The flat trails and boardwalks wind through tall grasses and beautiful wildflower stands, and are ideal for birdwatching. If you’re lucky, you might even spot some turtles (we did)! Afterwards, Way Fruit Farm is a nearby spot to grab a delicious farm-to-table lunch or pick up some local goodies to go.
Spring Creek Canyon
Another favorite of ours is Spring Creek Canyon. This 1,800-acre property offers a gentle six-mile out-and-back trail that winds along the creek through lush hardwood forest and 500-million-year-old cliffs. Anglers will find prime fly-fishing opportunities along the mineral-rich waters, including the famed “Fisherman’s Paradise” section, which is catch-and-release fly-fishing only.
Spring Creek Canyon is located between Bellefonte and State College, so popping into either town to refuel afterwards is ideal. If you’re looking for a brewery, either Axemann Brewery in Bellefonte or Happy Valley Brewing Company in State College are great options!
Black Moshannon Lake, Black Moshannon Creek, and Six Mile Run
We already mentioned Black Moshannon Lake, but want to reiterate that it’s an ideal place to try to catch some warmwater fish, like Large-mouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Northern Pike, and Channel Catfish. If flowing water is more your style, the nearby Black Moshannon Creek and Six Mile Run are both stocked with trout and calling your name.
If you’re unsuccessful in catching your own meal or just you’re looking for a yummy brunch/lunch spot nearby, Poppy & Co Cafe is open Tuesday–Friday from 10AM to 3PM and located just 15 minutes from Black Mo in Philipsburg.
Their menu offers sandwiches, hoagies, wraps, salads, signature dishes (like glazed salmon and sirloin tips), as well as rotating daily specials. I devoured their steak salad topped with golden French fries and home-made poppy dressing after putting some morning miles in at Black Mo, and when I say it hit the spot, I mean it!
Go Strawberry Picking at Way Fruit Farm
Way Fruit Farm is a must-visit spot whether you’re a die-hard agritourism enthusiast or just looking for a yummy farm fresh treat! Steeped in almost two centuries of history, this 6th generation family farm produces apples, peaches, pears, plums, apricots, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, sweet corn, and pumpkins that are sustainably grown and sold both at the farm store on site and at local farmers markets in the State College area. Our group stopped by their bakery/cafe for lunch, and when I realized strawberries were in season, I couldn’t leave without heading out to the field and picking some to take home!
Strawberry season typically runs from late May into June, but the farm opens their fields for various U-pick harvests, so call or check social media for updates before visiting! When you go, be sure to wear shoes that you don’t mind getting a little muddy and know that you can either bring your own container to hold your spoils or purchase one from the farm store before heading out to the field.
Hike Musser Gap
Connecting State College to Roth Rock State Forest is the Musser Gap Greenway. It serves as corridor that is popular among hikers and bikers and makes the outdoors more accessible– which we love! From the Musser Gap parking area, we hiked the 3.1-mile “Musser Gap Short Loop” to Lion’s Valley Vista. The trail is moderately-rated and requires just over 700 feet of elevation gain and several stream crossings, and is just so beautifully, lush. That said, it’s pretty rocky and also home to rattlesnakes (although I didn’t encounter any), so sturdy hiking boots and poles are recommended.
If you’re looking to sit down for a farm-to-fork meal afterwards, or just grab a cone of local PA ice cream, Flour and Stone (pictured above) is a fantastic option. It’s located two minutes from Musser Gap and offers both indoor and outdoor seating as well as a walk-up window for grab-and-go sandwiches, treats, juices, and caffeinated bevs.!
Another great post-hike option is 814 Cider Works. We were so bummed that it was closed when we were in town, but our friend Anna (Stuck on the Go) enjoyed her experience there. She says:
814 Cider Works is just down the road from both the Musser Gap and Shingletown Gap trailheads making it a great post-hike stop, but we actually came by after paddleboarding on Colyer Lake. You'll find tons of outdoor seating here with views of their apple orchard, and part of the seating is covered, so you don't have to worry about passing rain showers. They serve pints of their dry, semi-sweet, and sweet ciders, but if you like a bit of everything (like me) then you can also get a flight of all six options on tap! If you're hungry, they have food trucks and live music most days, especially during the summer.
Check out all of Anna’s Happy Valley hiking and restaurant recommendations here!
Arboretum at Penn State
If you’re looking for the perfect little Happy Valley day date, this is it! We made our way to the Arboretum at Penn State and strolled as many of its 370-acre grounds as we could in a few hours. While we weren’t able to cover them all, but we spent quite a bit of time in the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens (30 acres), and were blown away. The planning and layout had us in awe the entire time, and we found it to be the best place to snap some pictures, get some work done, and snag a bench to relax in the sunshine.
For dinner, we popped over to the iconic Allen Street Grill. And while the food was spectacular (with regard to flavors, textures, presentation–everything), we need to take a minute to talk about the cocktails! We spent the night imbibing, and there wasn’t a single thing that passed our lips that we didn’t fall absolutely in love with. Located in the heart of downtown State College, this establishment definitely ranks at the top of our short list of “must-tries” when visiting Happy Valley.
Mount Nittany
Summiting Centre County’s most popular trail is a must for hikers visiting Happy Valley. This iconic trail is situated right in the middle of State College and serves up views of the famous town below. We opted for the short 1.4 mile out-and-back trek to the Mike Lynch Overlook with 640 feet of elevation gained in that rocky short 3/4 of a mile hike to the summit… the views were worth it, but *woof*!!
Afterwards, we recommend heading about seven minutes down the road to Happy Valley Brewing Company. Located in a 200-year-old barn, this brewery/restaurant serves up delicious farm-to-table meals and brews a large selection of craft beers.
This hike and brewery combo is one of 35 pairings of the like that can be found in our friend Hannah (@hikesandhopsblog)’s new book Beer Hiking Pennsylvania and New Jersey. If you’re looking for more boozy pairings in the Northern Mid-Atlantic, we definitely recommend checking it out!
If you happen to hike Mount Nittany for sunrise, Breakfast on Boal is a great (non-boozy) option for a post-adventure refueling. It’s located 10 minutes from the trailhead and open from 7AM to 1PM Tuesdays through Sundays. And if you’re in the mood for some yummy wood-fired pizza, Faccia Luna Pizzeria is just 11 minutes from the trailhead and calling your name!
Penn’s Cave
Known for being the country’s only all-water cavern that offers tours exclusively by boat, Penn’s Cave is certainly one for the bucket list! This cavern was discovered and used by members of the Seneca tribe for centuries, opened as a commercial show cavern in 1885, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Today, you can take a 45-50 minute guided tour of the cave entirely via flat-bottom boat. The cave remains a brisk 52°F year-round, so bringing a jacket is recommended! Rates, schedules, and ticketing information can be found here.
Afterwards, drive less than 15 minutes down the road to Earlystown Diner. This local family-owned and operated restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Saturday (and from 6:30AM – 2PM on Sundays). But regardless of when you sit down for a meal, you won’t be disappointed. They use locally-sourced ingredients to serve up hearty portions of made-from-scratch comfort foods that are loved by locals and visitors alike. And they keep the coffee coming which is always so appreciated on whirlwind trips like this one!
Yost Run Falls
Holding the title of being the only waterfall in Centre County, this one is a bit off the beaten path, but worth every minute of the journey! Getting there took some Google map scouring/orienteering, but we marked the parking and exact coordinates of the falls on the map above. We made our way to Sproul State Forest early one morning after days of heavy rainfall, and the falls were raging!
While not technically in Centre County, another cascade, Kyler Fork Falls, can be found a few steps further down the trail and requires a stream crossing to access up-close. That said, be sure to wear sturdy footwear/hiking sandals and prepare to get a little wet!
As we mentioned, this one is a bit off the beaten path, so we recommend driving the 40ish minutes back into Bellefonte to refuel. We love the vibes and the dark Victorian atmosphere at Titan Hollow. Home to Alloy Kitchen, Mad McIntosh Cider, and Witches’ Hollow Winery, this venue is the perfect spot for the group who just can’t agree on their post-adventure palate as it offers something for everyone. Axemann Brewery (home to great beer and two permanent restaurants), is another great option for a laid-back afternoon/evening, and Big Spring Spirits, a LEED Gold-certified distillery (pictured below), is THE spot for cocktail lovers! We also loved our meals at Blonde Bistro Brew Works… and we’re still dreaming of their seafood risotto.
It’s no secret that Happy Valley is a haven for those who love the outdoors. Whether you’re hitting trails, paddling across a peaceful lake, e-biking through a sea of Mountain Laurel, savoring a farm-to-fork meal, or sipping a locally brewed beer, adventure and great food/drinks go hand in hand here. So next time you’re planning a weekend getaway or just passing through Central PA, let your sense of adventure (and your appetite) guide the way because the region is ready to serve up both the adrenaline and the ambiance, one trail and taste at a time!
We also know that we barely scratched the surface here, so let us know what we missed/need to add to our next itinerary in the comments down below!
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