Ohiopyle State Park

The Youghiogheny drops through a gorge here and the Lower Yough below the falls is part of the busiest whitewater east of the Mississippi - class III and IV, run commercially and by private boaters. Ohiopyle Falls at the village is about six metres high and spans the full width of the river. The Natural Waterslides on Meadow Run are smooth sandstone chutes, carved with ripples and potholes, that visitors are allowed to slide down. The Great Allegheny Passage rail-trail runs through, carrying cyclists between Pittsburgh and Cumberland. Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright's house over a waterfall, stands just north of the park, between Ohiopyle and Mill Run.

What you'll find

• The Lower Yough - class III and IV, the busiest whitewater in the east.
• Ohiopyle Falls - about six metres high, across the whole river.
• Natural sandstone waterslides - on Meadow Run, and slippery.
• The Great Allegheny Passage - the rail-trail through the gorge.

When to go

April to October; spring has the highest water. A full day.

Things to know

Rafting requires booking and the permit system limits private boaters. The waterslides cause most of the park's injuries. Parking in the village fills by mid-morning in summer. Water levels dictate what runs.

Nearby

Fallingwater is north; Kentuck Knob is also close.

Key facts