Day Trip: A View From Above
Kinzua Bridge State Park offers beauty and adventure.
PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD
When it was completed in 1882, the Kinzua Viaduct in Mount Jewett was the longest and tallest railroad structure in the world. More than a century later, in 2003, the majority of the viaduct was destroyed by a tornado, but that was not the end of Kinzua.
In many ways, it was only the beginning.
The totaled viaduct was repurposed into a pedestrian walkway in 2011, drawing visitors from near and far to Kinzua Bridge State Park, about three hours northeast of Pittsburgh. Adventurous guests can trek 600 feet out onto the remaining support towers to take in breathtaking views of the deep Kinzua Gorge through a partial glass platform.
If heights aren’t your cup of tea, Kinzua Bridge State Park has a Visitor Center that features equally robust views, self-guided exhibits and information about the lush and mountainous region. Hike or bike along the Kinzua Bridge Scenic Byway, fish for native trout in Kinzua Creek and enjoy a packed picnic lunch amid the sugar maple and eastern hemlock trees of the Allegheny National Forest.
During the summer months, guests are treated to blooming wildflowers — jack-in-the-pulpits, Indian pipes and asters — as well as opportunities to spot black bears, porcupines and songbirds.
In the fall, painted trilliums, spring beauties and trout lilies pop up along the trails, and the surrounding hardwood forest comes alive with shades of orange, red and yellow, making it a popular spot for “leaf peeping” during peak fall foliage months.
The skywalk will close in the event of inclement weather, and construction will limit access points through fall 2026. For updates about operating hours, visit the “alerts” section of the Kinzua Bridge State Park website.
