Last updated on November 1, 2021 by Jeremy
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Normally when we think of Laurel Highlands State Parks, we think of them in terms of their massive size. Laurel Hill State Park spans nearly 4,000 acres. Forbes State Forest is nearly 60,000 acres. Ohiopyle State Park is approximately 20,000 acres. We could go on.
But some state parks in the area are much, much smaller while still providing a plethora of things to see on a quick visit.
Linn Run is one such state park, and although it is only 612 acres in size, it’s a great place to experience a waterfall after a rain, for a quick hike, to rent a cabin for a weekend or to go fishing. so dismissed!
What you can see at Linn Run State Park
While Linn Run State Park is one of the smaller parks in the Laurel Highlands, it is full of things to see.
Arguably the highlight of a visit to Linn Run is Adams Falls, a modest waterfall a short walk from the parking lot that is around 12 meters high. This waterfall relies heavily on rain for its flow so it is best to check it out after a good storm as it may be more of a trickle otherwise. I visited after a brief rain after a drought and as you can see the falls didn’t flow very heavily but was an improvement over otherwise dry conditions. During periods of intense rain, we saw this one run a little more!
If you continue on the Adams Falls trail you will have a nice nature walk on the approximately one mile hike. The trees here are all considered young as the area was completely deforested in the 1800s and new growth has only been encouraged in the last 100 years. Even those who have lived in the area have noticed how much the park has changed over the past decades. It really is a young park in every sense of the word.
You’ll also do well to take a short walk on the Flat Rock Trail for more views of Linn Run proper, as well as to see the shell of an old cabin with a fireplace and some remaining stone walls. Undoubtedly, a somewhat strange site which refers to a lost time!
Hike in Linn Run State Park
When it comes to exploring Linn Run State Park, the trails here are about as conventional as they get. Dirt, strewn tree roots, and a few segments with decent sized boulders to walk on as well (you might want to wear proper hiking shoes if you are hiking the farther stretches of some of the trails). The trails are clearly marked and generally easy to follow.
Since the trails here are short, we think they’re all fairly easy to manage for all skill levels, but you still need to be careful with normal hiking issues, especially rocky stretches like those pictured above. .
That being said, if you want to make a quick stop to see the waterfall or the ruins of the old huts, you can get to both pretty quickly from the parking lot on some of the easier parts of the terrain. They still require walking over dirt and tree roots, but the trail obstacles are a bit easier to reach these segments than, say, the back section of the Adams Falls trail.
All in all, you can probably see almost all of Linn Run State Park in 30-60 minutes, but this one is always worth stopping by to check out the few highlights there, especially if you double the tour with nearby attractions like The Powder Mill Nature Preserve, Laurel Hill State Park, Laurel Summit State Park or more as your primary stopping point.
Linn Run State Park is located at 770 Linn Run Rd in Rector, PA. Linn Run connects to Forbes State Forest for many other nearby hiking sites like the ones mentioned above!
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