Ohiopyle

Cyclists riding the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage – which USA Today readers named one of the nation’s top recreational trails – pedal above the borough’s scenic Main Street on the Ohiopyle Low Bridge, while backpackers make it the first – or last – stop on the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail.

Despite being home to only 37 residents according to the 2021 census, Ohiopyle welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Ohiopyle State Park attracted almost 900,000 visitors in 2023, with the adventurous testing their nerve at the Meadow Run Natural Waterslides while waterfall lovers flock to Cucumber Falls, an Instagramable 30-foot bridal waterfall that is just yards from a parking lot. It is also known as a preferred vacation destination partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A panel of experts and USA Today’s 10Best editors has selected Ohiopyle as a Readers’ Choice Awards nominee. Individuals have a chance to support Ohiopyle  – one of 20 locations eligible for the 2025 Best Small Town in the Northeast award – by voting daily online through noon, Eastern Standard Time, on Monday, March 31 at https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-small-town-in-the-northeast-2025/ohiopyle-pennsylvania/. The winning towns will be announced on Wednesday, April 9.

Perched on the banks of the Youghiogheny River and surrounded by the lush beauty of Ohiopyle State Park, this charming town seamlessly blends serenity with adventure. With its cascading waterfalls and winding hiking trails, Ohiopyle invites explorers to immerse themselves in the breathtaking landscapes of the Laurel Highlands and experience the wonders of nature firsthand.

Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, recognized the borough after its victory in 2024.

“Ohiopyle has always been a special place, and it is exciting to see this incredible small town get recognition for everything it has to offer as a hub for outdoor recreation,” Dunn said. “We welcome all visitors to Ohiopyle State Park and encourage people to check out the amazing Laurel Highlands when visiting the borough. This honor is well-deserved and a testament to a shared vision and partners working together to highlight the area’s natural beauty.”

Visitors also come to Ohiopyle because of its proximity to architectural marvels. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is 3 1/2 miles north of town, while Kentuck Knob, another home designed by the architectural genius, lies two miles to the west.

Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands

A magnificent mountainous region, the Laurel Highlands is an outdoors lover’s paradise that spans 3,000 square miles in southwestern Pennsylvania. Located just an hour east of Pittsburgh, the beautiful four-season destination offers spectacular natural scenery, outstanding skiing, hiking, biking and golfing opportunities, historic sites and attractions, family activities and world-class resorts. Notable destinations within the region include four architectural masterpieces by Frank Lloyd Wright – Fallingwater®, Kentuck Knob, Mäntylä and Duncan House – as well as Nemacolin, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Flight 93 National Memorial, Idlewild and Soak Zone, whitewater rafting in Ohiopyle State Park and much more.

Located within 200 miles of the major metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Washington D.C., Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands can be easily accessed from exits 67, 75, 91 and 110 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Visitors to the Laurel Highlands can find information online at GoLaurelHighlands.com. Established in 1958, GO Laurel Highlands, formerly known as Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, is the official destination marketing organization for Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.