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Park Contact Information
The Laurel Ridge State Park Office is
located just off the Trail on Rt. 653. Before an overnight stay, you
must contact the Park Office to reserve a shelter or campsite. No
reservation is needed for a day hike. However, dayhikers are requested
to complete information cards that are available at the various Trail Heads
(entry and exit points of the trail.) These cards are to be deposited in
the drop-off boxes, also at the Trail Head.
The Park Office mailing address and phone
number is:
Laurel Hill State Park
1454 Laurel Hill Park Road
Somerset, PA 15501
814-445-7725
The Park Web site can be found by
clicking here.
UPDATE: Shelter reservations along
the trail can now be made from the
PA
State Park Web Site.
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Fees
Overnight fee for a PA resident is
$3/person per night. If your party consists of 5 people or more, than
you will pay the maximum fee of $15/night. If you are not a PA resident,
the fee is $4/person per night, and a $20 maximum fee.
Park Rangers used to visit the shelters at
night and collect fees. This is rarely done now. Most reservations
are made over the Park's web site, where one can pay with a credit card.
Phone reservations can be made, with payment sent by check.
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Water
Potable water is available at each shelter
area. The water is drawn from a well by a hand pump. The Park
periodically tests the bacteria count. If the bacteria count it too
high, warning signs are posted at the pumps. When this happens, the
water can still be used, but it must be filtered, treated or boiled before
consumption. Even if the bacteria count is in the acceptable range, the
water is often cloudy, or iron-brown. Therefore, I always filter
it before use.
 At
Grindle Ridge and Turnpike shelter areas, the water is notoriously brown with
iron. Click here to find
directions to a spring near the Turnpike shelters where better water can be
drawn.
While hiking during wet seasons, you will
find bodies of water and cross many streams. Not being familiar with
their sources, I would not recommend drinking from these supplies without a
method of treatment.
UPDATE: As of 08 July 2010, there is NO
WATER at the RT 56 Shelter (Decker Ave) area, RT 271 Shelter area, RT 30
Parking area, Shelter area, RT 31 Shelter AND parking area, and RT 653
Shelter area, and Ohiopyle (Bidwell) Shelter area. When staying at RT 653, one can obtain water at the nearby
Park office outside spigot.
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Shelter Information
Each Shelter area has five, open-face,
lean-to structures, spread out in an area large
enough to provide a reasonable degree of privacy. Each shelter sleeps
four adults comfortably. However, I know of one who crammed as many as
10-12 inside (it was a youth group).
Each shelter has a fireplace that does a
decent job of taking the chill out. Although you can cook from the
fireplace, I prefer a camp stove. The chimneys don't exhaust well, and
it's not unusual to have a smoke-filled sleeping area. Firewood is
provided by the State Park, but you have to carry it to your shelter.
(During winter months remember to check the privy - dry firewood is often
stacked there.)
In addition to the lean-to's, about 30 tent
spaces are available for more primitive camping at each shelter area.
Some tent sites have fire rings and grills for cooking.
Each shelter area has a men's and women's
privy, adequately stocked with toilet paper. The firewood is usually
found close to the privy. Garbage can be left in the refuse containers.
The following table gives an idea of the
location of the shelters. The mile markers begin with 0 at Ohiopyle, the
southernmost point of the trail, and ends at 70 near Johnstown.
|
Mile Post |
Shelter Name |
Notes |
|
0 |
Trail begins - no shelter |
Ohiopyle is a busy town with restaurants, stores and
pay phones. |
|
6.3 |
Ohiopyle Shelters |
Shelter
#1 is closest to the firewood. No water at Shelter! |
|
18.5 |
Rt. 653 Shelters |
NO WATER. Water available at
Park Office. |
|
24.0 |
Grindle Ridge Shelters |
Poor water quality. |
|
32.5 |
Rt. 31 Shelters |
Shelter #3 seems closest to the firewood. NO
WATER AT SHELTER OR PARKING LOT! |
|
38.2 |
Turnpike Shelters |
Shelter #1 seems closest to the firewood.
Poor water quality - check for the spring. |
|
46.5 |
Rt. 30 Shelters |
Shelter #1 is closet to the firewood. Shelters 4
& 5 are the most secluded. Water is brown. NO
WATER IN PARKING LOT. |
|
56.9 |
Rt. 271 Shelters |
Shelter area located about one mile off Trail.
NO WATER AT SHELTER! |
|
64.9 |
(Decker Ave) Rt. 56 Shelters |
NO WATER |
|
70.0 |
Trail ends - no shelter or water |
In Seward there are a few small gas stations
and stores. Seward is approximately 1.5 miles from the mile 70 parking
area. That is also the closest location for a pay phone. |
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Parking
 Parking
is available at various points along the trail. The following table
provides an idea where they are located. If you can provide any helpful
information about these lots, I will post it in the "notes" column.
|
Mile Post |
Location |
Notes |
|
0 |
Ohiopyle |
|
|
18.8 |
Rt. 653 |
|
|
30.6 |
Rt. 31 |
|
|
45.8 |
Rt. 30 |
|
|
56.9 |
Rt. 271 |
Located about .5 mile off Trail. |
|
70.0 |
Northern end of trail. |
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Shuttle Service
The most frequently-asked question I receive is: how
can I get shuttled to the end of the trail?
Wilderness
Voyageurs is an outfitter in Ohiopyle that is known to offer shuttle
services. I make no guarantees regarding their prices or ability to
shuttle. Please contact them for prices and shuttle availability:
1-800-272-4141. Please mention that you were referred from this web
site.
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Trail Detail
The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is well marked with 2"
x 5" yellow blazes that appear about every 100'. The trail is
well-worn, and generally easily visible (when there is no snow). Side
trails are marked with blue blazes.
 Each
mile is marked by a small, concrete pillar denoting the mileage. This
makes it very easy to figure out where you are in relationship to the next
road or shelter.
Maps are available at the Park Office. They show
parking areas, mileages, and scenic viewpoints.
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Gear Checklist
Click here for a printable copy of a sample Backpacking Checklist.
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Nearby Accommodations (in
alphabetical order)
Glades Pike Inn Bed and Breakfast - Somerset, PA
Lesley's Mountain View Country Inn - Donegal, PA
Log
Haven Bed and Breakfast - Rockwood, PA
Quiet House Bed and Breakfast - Farmington, PA
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Downloadable Map
This link provides a downloadable .pdf copy of the LHHT.
The link is used with permission of the site owner, Mike Franusich.
Click here.
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Laurel
Highlands Ultra Race
Every year a grueling foot race is held on the LHHT.
Rick Freeman, director of the race, maintains this
site, which provides
more information.
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Laurel Highlands
Hiking Trail Photos
Check this
web site out
for some spectacular photos of the LHHT! Hats off to Richard Sabol and
Tim Segina for these great shots.
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Trail Advisories
As of 07 August 2010, here is the water situation:
| Location |
Water Conditions |
| Ohiopyle Shelters (Bidwell) |
No water |
| RT 653 Shelters |
No water at shelter. Water is
available at Laurel Ridge Park office nearby |
| Grindle Ridge |
Water is iron-rich but drinkable |
| RT 31 |
No water at shelter or parking area. |
| Turnpike Shelter |
Water quality is poor - check for nearby
spring |
| RT 30 |
No water in parking lot - water still
available at shelter |
| RT 271 |
Water at parking area only - not at
shelter |
| RT 56 (Decker Ave) |
No water at shelter area. |
Effective January 1, 2008, pets WILL be permitted in
the overnight shelter areas on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail in Laurel
Ridge State Park.
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Bridge
Detour
In Dec 2009 the State Park removed the
footbridge spanning the PA Turnpike. Thru-hikers must take the 8.3 mile
detour as outlined in this
map. On Wed., 28 Jul 2010, a public plan presentation was held
regarding the LHHT Bridge. A representative from Gibson-Thomas Engineering Co
presented a proposed design. According to the Operations Manager at
Laurel Hill State Park, the design is on schedule and the plan is moving
forward.
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