Ohiopyle State Park offers many hiking opportunities with around 80 miles of hiking trails in the park. This Sugar Run Loop Hike is an enjoyable 4-mile loop that features many waterfall viewing opportunities.

This is one of my favorite hikes in the park. First, I love that the hike is a loop which means we don’t have to repeat anything we see. Second, this area of the park is often less crowded than other areas of the park. Third, I love waterfalls and there is plenty to take in on this hike.

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Summary

  • Parking: Large lot at Old Mitchell Trailhead.
  • Restrooms: I’ve seen a porta-potty there inconsistently. It was not placed on our last visit.
  • Trails: This is a combination of trails including the Old Mitchell, Eelah, Great Allegheny Passage, Jonathan Run, and Sugar Run Trails
  • Distance: Roughly a 4.0-mile loop.
  • Difficulty: Because of the combination of many trails, it ranges from easy to most difficult hiking according to the Ohiopyle DCNR map.
  • Direction: We completed this loop clockwise starting with Old Mitchell and returning back on the Sugar Run Trail. There is a steep section downward on the Eelah Trail going clockwise that we wanted to go down instead of up, but the direction can easily be reversed.
  • Kids Ages: During our last visit my kids were 1 and 3. My three-year-old hiked over half on his own, but I was glad we had a hiking child carrier for him for when he got tired as well as one for my one-year-old.

Here is a snapshot of our hiking route in pink.

Refer to the Ohiopyle State Park map for more information.

Ohiopyle DCNR Map

There are also multiple ways to visit this area of the park. Riding bikes is an option on the Great Allegheny Passage from Ohiopyle which is one of our favorite bike rides. You can also hike the Jonathon Run and Kentuck Trails out and back.

Parking and Restrooms

Directions: At the intersection of Kentuck Road, Ohiopyle Road, and Holland Hill Road near the entrance to Ohiopyle State Park Kentuck Campground, continue on Holland Hill Road for about two miles (passing the Jonathon Run Trailhead on the right). Turn right at a “T” intersection on Sugar Run Road and continue about 1.2 miles. Keep right at Old Mitchell Place and the parking area is located just past a helicopter landing area.

The Old Mitchell trailhead is located on the right just past the helicopter landing area. It’s not clearly marked and it looks more like a wider off-roading trail.

The Hike

Shortly into the hike are some posts. One says “no vehicles.” This is a good point to check-in to make sure you are on the Old Mitchell Trail.

After about 0.5 miles or so, the trail comes to a “T.” Keep right and head downward which then becomes the Eelah Trail.

The Eelah Trail gradually descends and then becomes steeper with steps which is why we tend to complete this loop clockwise. It’s definitely a thigh burner the other way around. But, maybe you are into that!

As you approach the first waterfall on Sugar Run, you should start to hear flowing water and the trail will turn into steps.

Then you will come to Sugar Run Falls. This little cove is so quaint and beautiful. Sugar Run is often less crowded and might be my favorite waterfall in the park. I can definitely hang here for a while.

I’m certainly no photographer, but if you are looking to get that sort of cascading effect of water on your pictures, be sure to check out a post about an iPhone tip for waterfall pics.

Continue another 0.10 miles or so down the trail and you will come to the Great Allegheny Passage where you will make a right to head toward Ohiopyle. This is also stop number 27 on the Ohiopyle Geology Tour. To continue this hike you will make a right here and walk about 0.2 miles on the Great Allegheny passage heading towards Ohiopyle.

But before you walk on the GAP, you can check out another waterfall by simply crossing the bike trail. Look for a short trail to a viewpoint of another waterfall on Sugar Run.

When you return to the bike trail and start walking toward Ohiopyle, you might start to hear and possibly view Jonathon Run Falls on the right side of the GAP.

Then, you should find a bench with a sign for the Jonathon Run trailhead on the right side of the GAP which will begin the loop back to the parking area.

A short distance up the trail is a spur trail on the right to Jonathon Run Falls.

You should be able to view them from the top through the trees.

If you are feeling up for it, there is a very steep descent for a closer look which involves a rope. Please use extra caution and descend only if you have hiking experience and feel comfortable. My husband went with my daughter in the backpack, but I have yet to take my son down hiking on his own.

Continue up the Jonathon Run Trail and you may encounter more waterfalls. Just before a bridge is a nice area to pull off where we had lunch. Some of my favorite hiking snacks include pepperoni rolls and peanut butter energy balls.

After crossing a bridge, the trail comes to a “T” with the Jonathon Run Trail and the Sugar Run Trail. Keep right on the Sugar Run Trail which will take you back to the parking area.

I can’t remember exactly where it’s located, but somewhere along the trail on the way up on the right side of the trail is another spur trail that takes you to another waterfall on Fletcher Run. We didn’t get a chance to take a peek because our kids were getting antsy. But we have tried before but in the heat of the summer, when the water wasn’t flowing much.

Continue on Sugar Run Trail and you will arrive back at the parking area.

Again, this entire loop can be reversed and completed counterclockwise. You’ll just be in for a thigh burner up the hill from Sugar Run Falls on the way back.

On this particular day, we enjoyed a delicious lunch and well-earned beer at Ohiopyle House Cafe in town after our hike.

Here is a breakdown of our hike for reference.

Looking for another hike in Ohiopyle? Check out the Great Gorge Trail to Cucumber Falls.

I hope you check out this Sugar Run Loop Hike in Ohiopyle. If you do, please leave a comment or tag me on Instagram @adventureswkelly. I’d love to see and hear about your adventures in Ohiopyle.

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