We explored a beautiful overlook hike in Confluence, PA at the Joshua C. Whetzel Jr. Memorial Recreation Area in the fall of 2023. This is a 40-acre conservation area managed by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Visit the website to learn more about Joshua C Whetzel Jr. and the available recreation opportunities.

Confluence is an adorable mountain town in Somerset County offering various recreation opportunities including hiking and biking on the Great Allegheny Passage, water recreation opportunities on the Yough Lake and Youghiogheny River and Lake, and more.

At the time, we carried my baby and my oldest two were hiking on their own so we were looking for a hike that wasn’t too long. This was the perfect choice!

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Summary:

  • Parking – trailhead parking located behind Lucky Dog Cafe
  • Hike – 0.6 miles ascent hike to an overlook (1.2 miles total)
  • Kids Ages – 6 years, 4 years, and a year and a half – we carried our baby in an old version of a Kelty child carrier and my oldest two hiked on their own

Parking and Restrooms

From the main road (281) turn onto River Road. Just past Lucky Dog Cafe on the left is a large trailhead parking area with a porta potty in the parking lot.

The Hike

Check the sign to the left of the bathrooms where the trail begins for information and a map.

The trail begins with a steep ascent and a few stairs but becomes more of a gradual incline to the top. Sturdy footwear is suggested.

Trail markers make the hike easy to follow for about 0.6 miles (one way) to the top.

A beautiful overlook at the top features views of the town of Confluence, the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail, and the Casselman and Youghiogheny Rivers.

The top is a great place to hang out and have some snacks while taking in the views. Some of my favorite snacks to pack include pepperoni rolls, DIY trail mix, and peanut butter balls.

It was a mom-win when I remembered to pack binoculars for the kids to take in the view. They were a hit.

We might have timed this hike perfectly for the late fall. There was still some beautiful fall foliage many leaves had fallen allowing for quite the view.

If you go in the fall, be mindful that the area is open to hunting so wear bright orange when needed.

Here is an overview of our hike (one way) from Strava.

After the Hike

Tissue Farm: Art & Espresso

We were chilled after our hike and were in the mood for a warm-up, so we chose to go to Tissue Farm: Art & Espresso in town. We frequent Tissue Farm and love to have a coffee and snack on delicious scones and cookies. We enjoy strolling the rotating art displayed in the attached gallery and also taking in the history of the building and town. Plus, there’s a good chance a train will go by, which always excites the kids. Keep in mind that as it starts getting cold, Tissue Farm closes seasonally for a few months in the winter.

There are several other great options for a pre or post-hike stop in Confluence including:

Other Reasons to Visit Confluence

Not that you need any excuse to visit this cute town. But, this hike can easily be paired with other fun activities in Confluence.

Other Overlook Hikes

Are you into overlooks? Here are some other overlook hiking posts on my website:

Other Family Friendly Hikes

This was the perfect distance for my younger hikers learning to hike independently. Here are some other family-friendly hike ideas on my website (2 miles or less):

Nearby Attractions

I hope you found this helpful. If you check out Joshua C. Whetzel Jr. Memorial Recreation Area, I want to know about it. Tag me on Instagram (@adventureswkelly) so I can see your adventure.