Over the long Memorial Day weekend, I went camping at Ohiopyle State Park with some friends and their friends. I actually used to go camping fairly regularly with my family, but it had been more than six years since my last journey into the wilderness, and I was a little nervous about “roughing it” with a group of people I didn’t know all that well.
Full disclosure: I planned absolutely none of this trip. One of my friends planned every detail, from the camping arrangements to a detailed breakdown of every meal with costs per person (very impressive). Though being out of the planning loop normally gives me anxiety, the last few months have been crazy busy, and I was grateful for the chance to step back and do nothing. It also helped that the guy planning the trip is the most responsible person I know.
Having never heard of Ohiopyle State Park, let alone been there, I didn’t know what to expect. My first surprise was that Ohiopyle is in Pennsylvania…because of course it is… My second surprise was just how much there was to do there. It was an outdoor-lovers paradise with hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, and more.
There is so much to do at Ohiopyle that you can’t do it all in three days (or rather shouldn’t if you want to relax at all). So to help you narrow the activities down for your trip, I’ve come up with a solid list of five things you must do while in Ohiopyle (with a few personal “pro” tips from my experience). Enjoy!
1. White Water Rafting
Ohiopyle is apparently known for its great white water rafting down the Youghiogheny (Yough) River so of course we had to do it. We did the Lower Yough with Wilderness Voyageurs, which is a 7.5-mile trip through Class III-IV rapids. Even though we chose the trip where you guide your own raft, there were a bunch of guides-in-training sitting in different boats to escort the trip, and—thank God—our boat got a guide. Because of our guide, nicknamed Bean, we didn’t do as much panicking and frantic rowing as the other boats and no one fell overboard into the 60-something degree water.
My “Pro” Tips:
- If you go early in the season, wear long-sleeves or buy/rent a splashguard jacket because the water is cold!
- Eat a solid breakfast, drink a ton of water, and use the bathroom before you get on the bus. There are no breaks in the trip for at least two hours, and you can’t carry snacks (or anything else).
- Don’t believe the rumors that the front is the easiest place to sit. It’s actually a lot of work and you will get wet, like at every single rapid.
2. Natural Water Slide at Meadow Run
I was really excited to ride a natural water slide because, well, that’s awesome, but when I saw the cold water rushing down the hill, I was more than a little hesitant to jump in. Even though there was a bunch of people hanging out at Meadow Run, it took a while for anyone brave enough to try the slide at high tide. Watching people fly down the slide made my stomach hurt. It looked like they were hitting the rocks on either side of them at every bend. Still, after a little girl made it through alive, I had to give it a go. It was cold and kind of intense, but I’m glad I did it.
My “Pro” Tips:
- When you go down, make sure your legs are sticking out straight in front of you and put your arms out to either side so you can push off the walls of rock if you start to drift into them.
- Hold your breath! Going down really wasn’t bad except for the gallon of water that shot straight up my nose. You will go under the water, and it’s very uncomfortable to inhale that much river water.
- Have someone at the bottom to help you out. You need to stand up before the little waterfall, but when the current is strong, that’s easier said than done. Having someone to grab your hand at the end is a huge help.
3. Fallingwater
If you haven’t heard of Fallingwater, it is a very cool house on a waterfall built by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The house was built in 1935 for a department store owner, Edgar Kaufmann, and is a beautiful example of Wright’s building philosophy that combines architecture with nature. Unfortunately, we didn’t plan ahead well enough to get a tour of the inside of the house, but for $10 you can walk around the grounds and admire the exterior in the Pennsylvania woods.
My “Pro” Tips:
- If you want a tour of the inside, book ahead of time. My boyfriend has taken the tour before and says it’s worth it, especially if you are an architecture fan.
- Walk up around the back of the house. You can wash your hands at the hand-washing station and go up the hill to the previous employee house with three carports. Fun fact: Wright invented the term “carport” and made them popular through his architecture.
- Linger around the bridge to the back of the house long enough, and you can learn some interesting facts from the guided tour for free.
4. Cucumber Falls
If you’re looking for a beautiful waterfall without having to hike miles to get there, Cucumber Falls is for you. Walk down some rock stairs and end up in front of a small swimming hole under a bridal veil waterfall—meaning you can go behind the falls like you are behind a bride’s veil. My friend and I made the slippery trip to the back of the falls. I enjoyed looking up at the falling water and out over everyone swimming through the falls. My friend enjoyed what he called being “baptized” as he stood under the cold falls. To each his own, I guess.
My “Pro” Tips:
- I found it easier to go around the top to get to the back of the falls. You will need some upper body strength to hoist yourself up onto the rocks.
- To get out from behind the falls, I recommend going to the left into the water and swimming a few feet until you can stand up and walk out. It seemed a lot safer than going back the way we came and jumping a few feet down onto some slippery rocks.
- I shouldn’t have to say this, but don’t go behind the falls with your phone unless you have a waterproof case.
5. Nothing
Of all the things to do in Ohiopyle, doing nothing was one of my favorites. When I go on vacation, I tend to pack in as many activities as I can to keep my mind busy, but sometimes it’s nice to just do nothing. Camping is the perfect place to do nothing. Your cell service is spotty at best, and when it rains, you are limited to a very small space. Instead of panicking, I encourage you to lean into the quiet and be still.
My “Pro” Tips:
- Bring your favorite book or some crossword puzzles to work on during downtime. Having something relaxing to do made it easier for me to deal with any social anxiety that inevitably comes up when traveling with new people.
- As I said, cell service is spotty at best. Just turn off your phone or at least turn off your data and just use it as a camera. It’s really nice to disconnect from electronics for a while.
- Sitting by the fire and staring out into the woods is incredibly peaceful, even if it’s pouring rain. Consider meditating in between activities. Don’t check the time. Don’t think about things you have to do when you get home. Just be, and enjoy whatever that brings.
Need more details on any of these Ohiopyle must-dos? DM me on Instagram or send me an email. I’m always open to meeting fellow travelers.
Anxious Abroad 