Hikers in the Highlands
KTA members gathering at Summit Inn to hike Laurel Highlands trails
Ben Moyer
Anyone who doubts the importance of trails to a region’s attractiveness to visitors could experience attitude-adjustment by stopping at the Summit Inn this weekend.
The Keystone Trails Association (KTA), a statewide hiking group with 1,000 members, is gathering there atop Chestnut Ridge, April 30-May 3, for its annual Spring Hiking Weekend.
Since 1956, KTA has chosen some outstanding outdoor destination in the state to gather, explore trails, learn regional history, and work to make hiking better for visitors and residents alike.
“In planning this annual event, we try to identify regions that have unique natural or cultural assets that our members have not previously explored, or places with milestone events. The Laurel Highlands region stands out in both categories,” said Kate Prisby, KTA manager of events and programs.
Local guides or KTA members already familiar with the Laurel Highlands’ trail network will lead hikes throughout the weekend. Hiking destinations include Ferncliff Peninsula, Baughman Rock, Mitchell Place, and Sugarloaf Knob in Ohiopyle State Park, Quebec Wild Area, Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Roaring Run Natural Area, Bear Run Nature Reserve, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, and Pine Knob Overlook. Some hikes are planned to help participants learn about the region’s birdlife, edible mushrooms, wildflowers, and geology.
Several hikes are planned for different segments of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT), the 70-mile path along the crest of Laurel Ridge that connects Ohiopyle to Johnstown. Prisby’s reference to “places with milestone events” was a nod to this year’s celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the LHHT. One popular hike begins at the LHHT’s southern terminus in Ohiopyle and climbs two miles to one of the most awe-inspiring scenic vistas in the state. Hikers will gaze from atop a rock outcrop, straight into the gorge of the Youghiogheny River, with Sugarloaf Knob framed in the distance.
Mike Mumau, PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources Division Manager for the Laurel Highlands will discuss the LHHT and planned 50th anniversary celebrations in his keynote address to the gathering at Saturday evening’s banquet.
Prisby said 195 KTA members have registered for the Laurel Highlands weekend, and that 40% of those are first-time attendees who never attended a KTA hiking weekend before.
“We nearly doubled our registration numbers for this weekend over prior years,” Prisby said. “I think part of the reason is there are so many things you can do outdoors in this region, in addition to hiking.”
“Record attendance attests to the highly coordinated efforts of KTA and GO Laurel Highlands to make this an exceptional weekend to remember,” said Ann Nemanic, executive director of Go Laurel Highlands which has worked with KTA to plan the hiking weekend.
Besides the educational hikes, plans offer participants river trips on the Youghiogheny, biking on the Great Allegheny Passage, and visits to nearby Laurel Caverns, Pennsylvania’s newest state park.
“The Laurel Highlands have always been a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts,” Nemanic continued. “Hosting the Keystone Trails Association Spring Hiking Weekend will be one of our highlights for 2026. Many attendees have likely enjoyed some aspect of our recreational assets, but for first timers, I guarantee they will bump us up on their must-return list.”
KTA held its Spring Hiking Weekend at Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County last year, and in the Pocono Mountains in 2024. Next year’s weekend will be in Erie.
Prisby had some prior outdoor experience in the Laurel Highlands, so she welcomed the assignment to scout the region for KTA as a possible destination.
“My dad used to lead rafting trips on the Yough,” she said. “So, last year I got to visit the Summit Inn, check out the area, and write hike descriptions for our members. I really enjoyed being here again. What stood out to me is how quickly you can experience a near-wilderness experience by hiking a short distance from high-visitation areas like downtown Ohiopyle.”
One of Prisby’s observations that should prompt concern in local residents, community leaders, and outdoor tourism business is the presence of too much litter along roadways and streams.
“While I was here, though,” she continued, “I was struck by how much trash you could see in otherwise attractive settings. Prompted by that, we decided to extend the weekend to an additional day and offer a service project so our members can help make the area cleaner than we found it. Otherwise, it’s too beautiful here to not address this issue.”
Prisby said 20 KTA members signed on to arrive a day early and clean up trash in this “Give Back to the Outdoors” option.
KTA is based in Harrisburg, while Prisby is stationed in Lancaster. The organization’s mission is: “To provide, protect, preserve, and promote recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania.”
Ben Moyer is a member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association and the Outdoor Writers Association of America.