Laurel Highlands
![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/LaurelMTS2.jpg/260px-LaurelMTS2.jpg)
The Laurel Highlands is a region in southwestern Pennsylvania made up of Fayette County, Somerset County, and Westmoreland County.[1] It has a population of about 600,000 people.
The region is approximately fifty-five miles southeast of Pittsburgh; the Laurel Highlands center on Laurel Hill and Chestnut Ridge of the Allegheny Mountains. The mountains making up the Laurel Highlands are the highest in Pennsylvania, with Mount Davis in Somerset County the highest point in the state at 3,213 feet (979 m). Because of the elevation, weather in the Laurel Highlands is generally cooler and wetter than in most other parts of the state.
The Laurel Highlands is a popular area for camping, hiking, mountain biking, hunting, whitewater kayaking, trout fishing, wildlife viewing, downhill (and cross-country) skiing, and golf.
Amusement parks and resorts
[edit]![Seven Spring Mountain Resort during 4th of July celebrations](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Seven_Springs_Resort_on_4th_of_July_at_dusk_viewed_from_the_summit_pre_fireworks.jpg/260px-Seven_Springs_Resort_on_4th_of_July_at_dusk_viewed_from_the_summit_pre_fireworks.jpg)
- Hidden Valley Resort[2]
- Idlewild Park and Soak Zone[3]
- Nemacolin Woodlands[4]
- Polymath Park[5]
- Seven Springs Mountain Resort[6]
- Laurel Mountain[7]
- Summit Inn Resort[8]
Architecture
[edit]National parks and historic sites
[edit]![Flight 93 National Memorial](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Flight_93_Memorial_flight_path.jpg/260px-Flight_93_Memorial_flight_path.jpg)
![Fallingwater extends over Bear Run in the Laurel Highlands.](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Fallingwater%2C_Pennsylvania.jpg/260px-Fallingwater%2C_Pennsylvania.jpg)
National Parks
- Allegheny Portage Railroad[11]
- Flight 93 National Memorial[12]
- Fort Necessity[13]
- Friendship Hill[14]
- Johnstown Flood National Memorial[15]
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Historic Sites
![Fort Ligonier](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Fort_Ligonier1.jpg/260px-Fort_Ligonier1.jpg)
- Bowman's Castle[17]
- Bushy Run Battlefield[18]
- Compass Inn[19]
- Fort Ligonier[20]
- Hannastown, Pennsylvania[21]
- Heritage Discovery Center[22]
- Johnstown Flood Museum[23]
- Johnstown Inclined Plane[24]
- National Road[25]
- Quecreek Mine Rescue[26]
- Route of the Lincoln Highway[27]
- Somerset County Courthouse
- Somerset Historical Center[28]
- Staple Bend Tunnel[29]
- Uptown Somerset Historic District[30]
- Wagner–Ritter House & Garden[31]
- West Overton, Pennsylvania[32]
Parks and outdoor recreation
[edit]State Parks and Forests
- Forbes State Forest[33]
- Gallitzin State Forest[34]
- Keystone State Park[35]
- Kooser State Park[36]
- Laurel Hill State Park[37]
- Laurel Mountain State Park[38]
- Laurel Ridge State Park[39]
- Laurel Summit State Park[40]
- Linn Run State Park[41]
- Mount Davis (part of Forbes State Forest)
- Ohiopyle State Park[42]
- Prince Gallitzin State Park[43]
- Youghiogheny River
Trails
- Coal and Coke Trail[44]
- Ghost Town Trail[45]
- Great Allegheny Passage[46]
- Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail[47] (part of Laurel Ridge State Park)
- Jim Mayer Riverwalk[48]
- Westmoreland Heritage Trail[49]
- Five Star Trail[50]
Downhill ski areas
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Laurel Highlands - visitPA". Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
- ^ "Hidden Valley Resort". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Idlewild & SoakZone: Pittsburgh's Best Amusement Park". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Nemacolin - Luxury Resort & Vacation Destination". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ a b "Polymath Park - Wright Overnight, Tour, Dine". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ a b "Seven Springs Mountain Resort". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Laurel Mountain - PA Pennsylvania Ski Resort". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "The Historic Summit Inn Resort". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Fallingwater - Frank Lloyd Wright - Tour the house today". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Kentuck Knob".
- ^ "Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Flight 93 National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service)". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Fort Necessity National Battlefield". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Friendship Hill National Historic Site". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Johnstown Flood National Memorial". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright". UNESCO. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Nemacolin Castle". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Bushy Run Battlefield – Explore history". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Ligonier Valley Historical Society". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "FortLigonier.org - Siege The Day". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Historic Hanna's Town". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Heritage Discovery Center". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Johnstown Flood Museum". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Johnstown Inclined Plane: Home". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "National Road Heritage Corridor". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Quecreek Mine Rescue Site Foundation". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Somerset Historical Center". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Staple Bend Tunnel". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Borough of Somerset's Historical District". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Wagner-Ritter House". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "West Overton Village". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Forbes State Forest". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Gallitzin State Forest". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Keystone State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Kooser State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Laurel Hill State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Laurel Mountain State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Laurel Ridge State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Laurel Summit State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Linn Run State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Ohiopyle State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Prince Gallitzin State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Coal & Coke Trail | Westmoreland County, PA - Official Website". www.co.westmoreland.pa.us. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Ghost Town Trail Information | Indiana County Parks and Trails". www.indianacountyparks.org. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Great Allegheny Passage". Great Allegheny Passage. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "The Jim Mayer Riverswalk Trail". Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Westmoreland Heritage Trail | Westmoreland County, PA - Official Website". www.co.westmoreland.pa.us. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Five Star Trail | Westmoreland County, PA - Official Website". www.co.westmoreland.pa.us. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "HIDDEN VALLEY RESORT | PA Pennsylvania Ski Resort | Four Season Resort |". Retrieved 2022-03-23.
- ^ "Laurel Mountain | PA Pennsylvania Ski Resort | Ski Laurel Mountain". Retrieved 2022-03-23.