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Ohiopyle State Park
Located in southwestern Pennsylvania, roughly an hour south of Pittsburgh, Ohiopyle State Park is an outdoor paradise for active types. Long distant hikers can tackle the 70 mile Laurel Highlands Trail to Conemaugh Gorge. Mountain bikers can fly down rugged technical terrain on challenging singletrack. Cyclists can pedal the Great Allengheny Passage that passes through here from Pittsburgh all the way to Washington D.C. And adrenalin junkies can embrace the surging whitewater of the Younghiogheny River that winds 14 miles through Ohiopyle State Park. Tourists flock here for worldclass kayaking and white water rafting–which my daughter can attest is a blast!
But what if you want a shorter adventure? Something less technical. And free?
Then take note…Ohiopyle State Park has an awesome little hiking trail with a gem at each end! The attractions are Natural Waterslides & Cucumber Falls.
These attractions are popular for good reason. The park tends to get very busy in the summer months. But not quite enough parking.
So tip #1: Park at Meadow Run. Get there as early as you can.
From Farmington, at the intersection by the visitor’s center, take Route 381 north following signs to Ohiopyle State Park. Drive past Bittersweet Cafe along the curvy mountain road for about 12 minutes.
Meadow Run parking lot is on the right, off Route 381, before you reach Ohiopyle village and the Ohiopyle State Park visitor center. This parking lot fills up quickly but it is the best place to park to access the waterslides and even the falls. Cucumber Falls has its own parking lot up the road (CR 2010), but has such limited spaces that even in mid-May was completely full on a weekday morning.
Tip #2: If you want to see Cucumber Falls after the natural waterslides but don’t want to hike the trail to get there, keep you car parked at Meadow Run. Walk across the street at the intersection. Head up the hill behind the metal railing on the right side of the road–maybe 10 minutes or so–where you’ll come to another wooden staircase to access Cucumber Falls. Faster and safer than hiking.
But since we’re starting at the Meadow Run parking lot, let’s see what’s here…
Natural waterslides at Ohiopyle State Park
From the parking lot, follow a wooden staircase that leads down to a rocky riverbank. Just beyond, chiseled into the rocks, is a channel of rushing water. Nature’s waterslide!
Ready for a wild ride?
If so, the starting point is upstream to the right (after descending the stairs). Spring and autumn have peak volume and velocity, so beware and take care. And, important tip #3: wear shoes.
In the photo, you can see someone starting his journey down the waterslide…
Here he comes…keep those feet up! Whoo hoo!!
And watch out for the 90 degree turn that can catch you off guard and turn you upside down…before dropping you in a pool of water.
The waterslide appears to be a big hit with daredevil types and teenagers who cheer each other on. Looked like great fun on a hot day.
It’s a beautiful area for spectators too. The rushing water through that cleft of textured, layered rock. Hemlocks, rhododendrons and moss covered rocks. You can explore the bank, and wander both directions. But if you want to reach Cucumber Falls, head left, downstream…
Keep following the water’s edge. You might have to scramble over some rocks. It won’t seem right because there’s no visible trail yet…
Cucumber Falls at Ohiopyle State Park
The trail connecting the natural waterslide and Cucumber Falls is super short. Just .7 mile! But feels longer when you’re being extra careul choosing your footing and finding your balance across teetering, mossy rocks.
Once on the actual trail, it is up and down along the river. Watch out for slippery mud, gnarly tree roots, and fallen leaves. So easy to slip and fall!
The yellow tree marker confirms you’re on the right path. The trail evens out a bit and eventually passes a wide expanse of the Youghiogheny River. This is where Meadow Run empties into the river. Looks like a popular place to hang out based on the number of people we saw swimming in the water and sunning themselves on rock ledges along the bank. Great sunny picnic spot.
But we didn’t even linger long enough to take a picture. We were on a mission to see the falls…
After another five to ten minutes of hiking, and around a bend in the forest, you’ll come to a creek. You made it! This is the base of the canyon. Look up to see Cucumber Falls in the distance.
From here it depends on how much you want to get wet. Tip #4: wear old shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Then you’re free to explore! Hop rocks, climb over stanted slabs, splash through the water and scoot across mossy boulders as you make your way closer to Cucumber Falls. Pretty rugged terrain. (I wore old sketchers–perfect–but shoulda worn socks to prevent blisters.)
But if you must try to stay dry, stick to the left. The hiking trail goes all the way up to the rim, with the option of diverting across wet rocks to the base of the falls.
Tip #5: If you’re carrying a camera wrap it in a plastic sleeve to protect it from water spray. Or keep it tucked away in a shoulder harness bag. Or use a GoPro. (I did all three. Carried my Sony a9 16-35mm in a shoulder bag, very handy when scrambling over rocks. And also stashed my GoPro Hero 9 inside.)
It’s best to prepare for getting wet and having your hands free. Because the best views of the falls are from the base!
Cucumber Falls at Ohiopyle State Park
Tip #6: Scout out fallen tree trunks or boulders to rest your camera against when taking long exposures. Or take your tripod. You’ll need a steady base to create silky smooth water. How long you leave the shutter open depends on how fast the water is falling, and how much water is falling. Since this was spring, my exposures varied between 0.4 and 1/6 SS (f11, ISO 250).
Cucumber Falls is so pretty cascading 30 feet over the canyon. No wonder it’s one of most photographed falls in Pennsylvania.
You can even walk behind the falls…
Tip #7: Don’t forget to check your camera lens often when standing close to the falls. Even the tiniest water droplets can completely ruin your shots.
Iron tints the rocks red. And Hemlock tannins color the water red. (I actually desaturated these shots in PhotoShop because the reds looked too intense to me.)
What a great place to explore!
When you’re forced to leave–by your travel buddies or growling stomach–simply climb the stairs left of the falls to reach the road. Then head left down the hill back to Meadows Run parking lot. In ten minutes you’re back at your car. A very convenient loop.
And a perfect way to connect two adventures in one short hike…both the natural waterslides and Cucumber Falls at Ohiopyle State Park.
Dining in Ohiopyle State Park
Continuing north from the Meadow Run parking lot, you’ll come to the village of Ohiopyle. There are a couple of places to grab a bite to eat lunch or ice cream across from the impressive Visitor Center. But prepare to wait. Service tends to lag or be downright non-existent–at least for us the two days we attempted to eat lunch here. We ended up leaving town and dining at Fallingwater (10 minutes north) and Bittersweet Cafe (almost back in Farmington).
Other Adventures in Ohiopyle State Park
Stop by the Visitor Center to find out about hiking, other waterfalls in the park, biking, rafting, paddleboarding. Check out their awesome displays and overlook of the Ohiopyle Falls. Browse the Laurel Highlands site for more information about white water rafting, kayak or bike rental companies.
Other Attractions near Ohiopyle State Park
You really can’t visit this part of southwestern Pennsylvania without seeing at least one Frank Lloyd Wright home. This famous American architect designed two impressive homes that are a mere seven miles apart. Both offer guided tours. Tip #8: Plan on visiting! Buy tickets far in advance, before leaving home.
Fallingwater is his masterpiece. It’s cantilevered over a 30 foot waterfall. You can tour inside this amazing home on a guided tour, or wander the grounds and terraces on your own with a grounds pass. Located 10 minutes north of Ohiopyle village.
Kentuck Knob is his smaller Usonian design that has a style all its own. Located 5 minutes up the hill beyond Cucumber Falls.