If you’re dreaming of a summer getaway filled with time spent outdoors on lakes and rivers and mountaintops, charming small towns, and evenings around the campfire, Raystown Lake deserves a spot at the top of your list. As the largest lake entirely within Pennsylvania, Raystown offers endless opportunities for boating, kayaking, fishing, and hiking. And if you’re looking for a more laid-back getaway, its picturesque shoreline provides the perfect setting to relax and unwind.
Beyond the lake itself, the surrounding region is home to beautiful parks and public green spaces, family-friendly attractions, and quaint towns packed with local shops, amazing restaurants, and small-town charm. From outdoor adventures that’ll get your adrenaline pumping to peaceful afternoons lakeside, the Raystown Lake region offers the perfect blend of recreation and relaxation, making it one of the best summer destinations in Pennsylvania.
Your Ultimate Huntingdon Co. Weekend Itinerary From Lake Life and Charming Towns to Scenic Hikes and Outdoors Adventures:
As born and raised Pennsylvanians, we have a lot of love (and recommendations) for adventuring in our home state, so when Visit Pennsylvania, invited us out to explore the area deeper, we jumped at the opportunity. We had an absolute blast, and below we’re sharing our perfect summer weekend itinerary in hopes that it’ll help you plan your own getaway to this corner of Penn’s Woods.
Where is Pennsylvania’s Raystown Lake?
- 2.5 hours from Pittsburgh
- 3(ish) hours from Washington, DC
- 3.5 hours from Philly, and
- 4.5 hours from New York City
Nestled in Central Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains within Huntingdon County, the Raystown Lake region is located within a few hours of most major Mid-Atlantic cities, making it the ideal weekend road trip destination.
Where is the Best Place to Stay in the Raystown Lake Region?
Whether you’re looking to camp, glamp, cozy up in a cabin, rest your head on a houseboat, or catch some zzz’s in a hotel or lodge, the Raystown Lake region has you covered with a variety of accommodations. Below are a few of our personal favorite places to call home for a weekend:
Where to Camp near Raystown Lake: When we’re looking to spend a night under the stars, we love camping at Seven Points Campground. It’s located right on the lake, super close to mountain bike trails and the marina, and just a short drive into the city of Huntingdon itself. Our favorite sites in this campground can be found in the Senoia Loop. The northern waterfront campsites there provide access to some pretty cool jump rocks with just a short paddle on the lake.
Where to Glamp near Raystown Lake: We’ve had the opportunity to stay at two of Airydale Retreat‘s glamping sites: a geodesic dome and a luxury safari tent. Both sites are air-conditioned and have access to private outdoor showers (indoor ones are available too!), and campfire rings. We found both of these “glampsites” to be perfect for couples looking to immerse themselves in nature without giving up any amenities. Airydale also offers sites with slides(!!!) that can accommodate up to four people and are perfect for families with children… or really anyone who is still a kid at heart.
Looking for a Cozy Cabin or Waterfront Bungalow: On our latest trip, we were hosted by Lake Raystown Resort in one of their lakefront bungalows. The views from our back porch were beautiful, and we really enjoyed being able to fish, kayak, and access the resort’s sandy beach right from our backyard. The 400-acre property also offers cabins, yurts, campsites, and hotel-style rooms in their lodge. And when you check in, you’ll be greeted by the cutest goats that live right beside the registration office.
BONUS: If you’re staying at Lake Raystown Resort, you’re steps from one of the coolest experiences to be had on the lake. The Proud Mary Showboat sits right in the marina and offers breakfast, dinner, and sightseeing cruises. Tours typically run from Memorial Day to Labor Day, so be sure to check their schedule before your trip.
How to Stay on a Raystown Lake Houseboat: Raystown Lake is the only lake in Pennsylvania with houseboats for rent! That’s right, leave your car behind, load up your suitcase and groceries, and spend your days exploring Raytown’s 8,300 surface acres and your nights floating atop that same water. Rentals are available from Seven Points Marina and can accommodate up to 10 passengers.
Day 1: Dinner and Lots of Views
We got into the Raystown Lake area a little after noon on Friday and headed straight for the Cliffs Trail within State Gamelands 322. This easy 1.5-mile hike only requires 144 feet of elevation gain and leads to tons of rocky outcroppings that provide some amazing views of the Juniata River Valley.
After our hike, we drove down to Mt. Etna Station, unloaded our bikes, and hopped on the Lower Trail. We rode a solid 6.2 miles north along the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River toward the town of Alexandria along a beautiful, wildflower-covered rail trail. When we made it into town, we stopped for dinner at Bluegill’s Bar and Grill. We enjoyed their Shrimp Boil along with some mac & cheese, slaw, and fries, which proved to be the perfect way to refuel after our ride.
We wanted to sneak in one more adventure before calling it a night, so we made the quick 35-minute cycle back to the trailhead and headed for Hawn’s Overlook. It’s only a few steps from the parking lot and our all-time favorite place to catch the sunrise or sunset over Raystown Lake.
While you’re there, we recommend checking out Ridenour Overlook, which provides a bird’s-eye view of the dam that is responsible for Raystown Lake’s existence. Alternatively, you can make your way to the Raystown Dam itself and get a closer look at the massive 225-foot structure that makes this valley what it is today.
Day 2: State Parks, Show Caves, and Charming Towns
On Saturday morning, we woke up with the sun and set out for Trough Creek State Park. Fun fact: Pennsylvania is home to more state parks than almost any other state in the country… and all of them are FREE for all to enjoy!
We only had a short period of time to explore, but luckily, we were able to knock out three really unique park features on one trail! The trail to the Balanced Rock Viewing Area is a short 0.5-mile hike that takes you across a neat suspension bridge, over Rainbow Falls, and ultimately up to a several-ton rock precariously perched on the edge of the gorge, aptly named Balanced Rock (pictured below). If you only have time for one hike in the park, make it this one!
Next, we ventured over to Lincoln Caverns (pictured above), where we descended 80ft underground to explore its sprawling chambers and ancient formations. This show cave is in its 96th season, and if you ask us, it is a must when visiting the area. There is also a “bonus cave” onsite named Whisper Rocks, which was discovered 11 years after its sister cave and is not connected to the Lincoln Cavern system, so you actually get to tour two caves for the price of one.
We worked up an appetite from our morning hike, so we set out for Nannie Mae’s Cafe in Huntingdon. We chowed down on some delicious sandwiches and had maybe the best strawberry lemonade we’ve ever tasted. Afterwards, we popped across the street to Bryan Park to snag a photo in front of the iconic “Welcome to Huntingdon” mural.
We capped off our day with a little mountain biking on Raystown’s Allegrippis Trails. This 36-mile trail system was designed by mountain bikers and offers something for riders across all skill levels. These trails are widely revered as some of the best riding on the East Coast and have received widespread accolades for their design, sustainability, and economic benefits. If you can’t tell, we’re big fans!
For a nice, beginner’s ride, we recommend starting at the Baker’s Hollow Trailhead and biking a loop consisting of Buck, Doe, and Fawn trails. If you’re looking for something more advanced (fast and flowy), Seth loves Osprey, Hydro Loop, and Rays Revenge.
For dinner, we headed to Altoona for a meal at Stone Cellar. This restaurant is tucked inside the Grand Palazzo, and walking in, we felt like we were transported to either Italy or the Venetian Hotel in Vegas. With its warm stone accents and elevated design, the atmosphere here is both upscale and welcoming. We arrived just an hour before closing, so we opted to sit at the bar and order some appetizers, and believe me when I say, their hot honey and jalapeno whipped ricotta is still living rent-free in my head.
Before heading home, we stopped by The Knickerboker Tavern (aka Altoona’s original gastropub with an 800-bottle collection of spirits) for some amazing craft cocktails… like 100/10. We’re already planning on heading back for a meal next time we’re in town because they source local ingredients, and even though we were stuffed, it took everything we had not to order their Wagyu Steak Frites.
Day 3: Cool Rocks and Railroads
On our last day in town, we spent a slow morning at Lake Raystown Lake Resort before snagging a waterfront table at the Marina Cafe for some breakfast. You can’t go wrong with anything you order here, but their Hangry Burger is really something to write home about… and exactly what was needed for the upcoming day’s adventures.
Then, we made our way to the west side of the lake, where we launched our paddleboards from Seven Points Beach. We explored some of the islands and coves and just enjoyed a beautiful morning. We brought our own paddle boards this time, but both of the lake’s marinas (Lake Raystown Resort & Seven Points) have equipment for rent, from SUPs and kayaks to pedalboats to jet skis and motorboats.
Depending on the time left in your day, there are two pretty epic options to choose from if you’re up for a challenging hike…
If time is tight, make your way down Route 22 to the trailhead of Thousand Steps Trail, where you’ll climb 1,000+ rocky stairs that quarry workers carved into the side of a mountain in the 1930s. This route served as a daily commute for miners almost 100 years ago, and today, it’s the ultimate stairmaster for hikers
This 1.7-mile out-and-back trail is rated as hard, but it’s worth every, dare we say it, step of the climb. You’ll gain 862 feet in just the ~0.75-mile ascent, but when you make it to the top, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views of the valley below.
If you have a little more time, we couldn’t recommend hiking to “The Throne Room” more. There are a few options to get there, depending on which direction you set out on the Standing Stone Trail, but regardless of your route, be very rattlesnake-aware, as they also love this hike, given all the warm, rocky crevices that make it so picturesque.
This time, we started at the Butler Knob Vista, where we hiked about one mile along the Standing Stone Trail atop moss-covered paths and boulder fields before reaching the Throne Room. Another popular route to the Throne Room begins on Mt. Jackson Road and requires putting in 6.5 miles round-trip and gaining 1,167 feet of elevation.
For our last stop on our way back to DC, we hopped aboard the East Broad Railroad for a scenic ride on a steam locomotive. Located in Rockhill Furnace, PA, this railway is the last narrow-gauge railroad east of the Rockies.
Full disclosure: Neither of us knew what exactly a narrow-gauge railroad was before this trip, so we had to do a little research. After a quick Google search, we learned that these railways were born from an effort to reduce construction costs (less blasting/carving of mountains, smaller tunnels, less bridge material). These trains were often used for mining and logging operations (vs general carriers like freight or passenger travel) and better at navigating tighter/more challenging terrain, making them great for mountainous areas.
This particular line historically primarily carried mined material, but also transported folks from the remote Broad Top Mountain area to larger standard-gauge rail lines. It now operates as a scenic railway where visitors can ride on a real-life steam engine, which we think is pretty cool! We took the scenic ride northbound to Colgate Grove, but there are also a variety of other trips and guided tours that offer a peek into the history and operations of the railroad’s historic shop complex available.
We packed as much as we could into this itinerary, and we hope it provided you with some inspiration for planning your own fun and adventure-filled trip to Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. That said, we know that we only scratched the surface of all there is to experience here, so let us know what we missed/need to add to our next itinerary in the comments down below!
