Huge, twisted metal strewn around like someone just picked it up and threw it on the ground. An incredible skywalk with gorgeous views of the valley. A strenuous half-mile hike back up to the top after hiking to the bottom. An impressively staffed (even during COVID) Visitor Center.
All for free.
The Park
At some 339 acres (137ha), Kinzua Bridge State Park is a pretty good sized park. It was opened as a Pennsylvania state park in 1970 and originally even had rail tours. That is, until it closed for restorations, and while closed…a tornado in July of 2003 ripped almost half the bridge down.
Located around 25 miles south of the Pennsylvania- New York state border in mid-Western PA, the park is pretty isolated. That makes it all the more beautiful.
The bridge all by itself is impressive, an incredible engineering feat. At 225 feet from top to the valley floor it stands tall and sturdy.
But Kinzua Bridge State Park is more than a bridge. During normal hours and normal times, there are guided tours available.
The Visitor Center was a bit of a surprise. It comprises a conference center, educational exhibits, full scale bathrooms (which is unusual for out of the way parks), and even has a gift shop.
Hiking and biking trails are well designated as well as hunting areas specifically demarcated to provide maximum safety.
There’s plenty of signage directing your path.
Information plaques are provided to assist with history and facts if you are touring without a guide.
The Skywalk
The skywalk juts out 600 feet and there’s a large observation deck at the end. It stands 301 feet above the valley. Don’t worry it’s been structurally stabilized.
From the handicapped parking to the end of the skywalk is fully accessible by wheelchair and stroller. Right after leaving the parking area there’s a bit of a downward incline, but the whole path is paved to make it easier to navigate.
They left train tracks on the bridge to exhibit how the trestle bridge was originally used. The two rails exhibit the difference between original train size the inner tracks and modern day trains that can accommodate greater payloads.
When you get to the end, you’ll see for yourself that the views are breathtaking.
There’s an observation window you can look straight down if you’re so inclined. You can stand on it if you’re not afraid to. For those with a fear of heights, it’s better than standing on the edge and looking down.
Hiking
Aside from strolling out on the converted bridge, there are trails you can hike. The easy one (General Kane Trail) is pretty flat and anyone can walk this trail. It basically meanders around the plateau where the top of the park is located.
Of course we didn’t take the easy trail, we decided to hike the harder 0.6 mile Kinzua Creek Trail (1.2 mile out and back). But that sounds easier, right? Not when you consider it drops over 300 feet, has several areas with high steps and is mostly slippery gravel. The steepness reminded us a lot of the Kuli’ou’ou Ridge Trail in Hawaii.
We took our trekking poles and were not sorry.
At the bottom, the first hand look at twisted I-Beams will make you think about the power of a tornado. It seems unbelievable even though it’s right in front of you.
In case it wasn’t obvious, the Kinzua Creek Trail should not be taken lightly. We saw all sorts of people who thought it was a good idea…realizing that maybe it wasn’t after all. Some folks decided to turn around early. Most of the people we saw turn back had the wrong shoes for a gravel incline.
It’s always good to make sure you know what you’re getting into before starting out. We’ve seen this type of shortsightedness on several trails we’ve been on. The first time we saw this was when we hiked the 4 Hiking Trails in Oahu.
Off to the side at the top there’s an observation deck that offers a staggering view of the skywalk and twisted bridge parts.
Practical Details
Check in with the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources site before you go so you can get updated on the latest, from weather to COVID issues.
For being in the middle of nowhere, this place gets a lot of visitors. We got there around 11:30am and the parking lot was close to full. By the time we left around 2pm, people were being directed to park in satellite locations.