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Nearby Attractions to Laurel Ridge State Park

Information about Laurel Ridge State Park’s nearby attractions is available from the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau.

Explore the Area

The park is located between Normalville and Rockwood, which is located along the Casselman River. Somerset Borough, 20 miles from the park, offers sites on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as places to eat and shop.

Learn about some of the area businesses and things to do from Somerset County Chamber of Commerce.

Nearby State Parks and Forests

Laurel Ridge State Park is close to several state parks and one state forest, where visitors can enjoy recreation, education, and other activities.

Ohiopyle State Park

The nearly 20,500-acre Ohiopyle State Park is located on the southern reaches of the Laurel Ridge. The park encompasses rugged natural beauty and serves as the gateway to the Laurel Highlands. Close to major metropolitan areas and offering vast choices of activities, Ohiopyle State Park attracts millions of visitors annually.

Popular recreational activities include whitewater boating, hiking, biking, horseback riding, picnicking, fishing, hunting, rock climbing, wildlife watching, and camping.

Laurel Hill State Park

In Somerset County, Laurel Hill State Park offers camping, hunting, organized group tenting, organized group cabin camps, boating, hiking, environmental education programs, and also fishing and swimming in 65-acre Laurel Hill Lake.

Kooser State Park

The 250-acre Kooser State Park is in the heart of the Laurel Highlands at an altitude of 2,600 feet. Its forest and beautiful trout stream that flows the full length of the park attract visitors all year round.

The park’s basic appeal lies in its intimate areas which are best suited for family outings and small groups. Picnicking, camping, fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and family cabins are popular.

Linn Run State Park

The varied topography and mixed hardwood and evergreen forest makes the 612-acre Linn Run State Park a scenic place for picnicking, hiking, and cabin rentals.

Grove and rock runs join to make Linn Run an excellent trout stream. A lovely waterfall, Adam Falls, is a scenic spot nearby the picnic area.

Forbes State Forest

Forbes State Forest offers 58,500 acres of land for outdoor recreation including hiking, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, etc. Mountain bikes are permitted only on designated trails.

Contact Forbes State Forest or Linn Run State Park for maps.

Other Nearby Outdoor Spaces and Natural Places

Roaring Run Natural Area and State Game Lands 111 are not far from the park and offer additional recreational opportunities. 

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is a segment of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. An enterprise of many partners, the evolving trail network celebrates the heritage of the Potomac and upper Ohio river basins and offers opportunities for hiking, bicycling, boating, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing.

National Park Service Passport Stamps are available at the Laurel Hill and Kooser park offices and at the visitor center in Ohiopyle.