Pine Creek Gorge — Local services in Watson Township

BEFORE YOU GET IN YOUR CAR, YOU MUST READ THIS REVIEW!

If you're anything like me, you typed in "PA Grand Canyon" on Google Maps, and ended up on this page. If this is the case, you need to read the rest of this review before you end up over an hour south of the actual PA Grand Canyon.

The first thing you need to understand is that the Pine Creek Gorge is about 50 miles long, and route 44, running along Pine Creek, is a beautiful drive that runs through several towns and state parks. The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon is technically this whole valley, but the scenic Vista you're expecting to travel to is NOT the arbitrary location Google Maps takes you to.

If you ignore my warnings placing your trust in Google, you will end up a few minutes south of Little Pine State Park. Although this park is quaint, offering some walking trails, camping, etc, this is NOT the PA Grand Canyon.

When I arrived at Little Pine State Park, I talked to a kind lady in the park office, who gave me pre-printed instructions on how to get to the actual canyon. (Thank the Lord she did, because there was no service anywhere in the valley.) Apparently I'm not the only idiot to make the mistake of not doing a little research before buckling up for the road trip.

IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE PA GRAND CANYON, LOOK UP "LEONARD HARRISON STATE PARK". You should be heading in the direction of Wellsboro, not in the direction of Tomb, PA. Also, keep track of the way you came in, because there's very poor service at the park.

The PA Grand Canyon was very pretty (we went in the Fall), offering some pretty views and plenty of walking trails. As a side note, I would highly recommend going to Hyner View State Park, which is about an hour and a half south, near Lock Haven. In my opinion, Hyner View was way prettier than the PA Grand Canyon, although it didn't offer the hiking trails that Leonard Harrison State Park had to offer.

BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for the PA Grand Canyon, you're not looking for this location, look up Leonard Harrison State Park, near Wellsboro, not Little Pine. Make sure you have correct directions ready to go, because the way I went, I didn't have service the whole trip. Also, bring a nice camera because you're...

Pine Creek Gorge, sometimes called The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, is a 47-mile (76 km) gorge carved into the Allegheny Plateau by Pine Creek in north-central Pennsylvania. It sits in about 160,000 acres (650 km2) of the Tioga State Forest. I was very thrilled to see the grand Canyon. There is many trails. Turkey Path trail will lead you to base of the Canyon. It is one mile trail from Harrison state Park and difficult path, however there is safety barrier where there is danger and also wooden stairs installed at many places of trail. Turkey Path from Colton State Park is very very dangerous and I advised not to hike as there is no support/stairs installed and if fall down there probably you will touch bottom of the Canyon. Scenic views are spectacular. The best view is from Harrison State Park. You can book campsite at Harrison State Park and if no campsite available, you can book it in Hills Creek State Park at nominal rate. One must go there if you...

The photos shown here are not what you will see if you go to this location!! There is nowhere to park or any trails to the water for several miles on either side of this specific coordinate. Yes, this is along the gorge, but if you go to this address you end up in a random bend in the middle of the road.

Go to Leonard Harrison State Park, those are the views and trails you want and where those featured photos are actually from. It is an hour farther up the road, but way better than circling for an hour looking for a nonexistent parking lot...