This pleasantly old-fashioned town is ideal for hiking, biking and canoeing in a dramatic gorge known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.
Wellsboro is a lovely town with a down-to-earth charm reminiscent of decades past. Make this your base for exploring the forests and waterfalls of scenic Pine Creek Gorge and its surrounding parklands.
Hike in spectacular Pine Creek Gorge, stretching 50 miles (80 kilometres) long and over 1,000 feet (300 metres) deep. Formed more than 6 million years ago by prehistoric glaciers, the gorge is covered with hardwood and old-growth forests. Look for wild turkeys, deer, river otters and herons. Boat or fish in Pine Creek, which runs along the canyon’s base.
On the canyon’s east rim, find Leonard Harrison State Park, with numerous striking viewpoints over the gorge. Follow the popular Turkey Path Trail, which descends 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) to the bottom of the gorge before looping back up again.
Don’t miss Colton Point State Park, located on the opposite side of the gorge. Spanning 368 acres (149 hectares), this park offers more hiking trails and picturesque views over the canyon.
Back in town, enjoy the old-world atmosphere of the pretty Main Street, which is lined with Victorian gaslights, family-owned businesses and attractive cafés. Stop at Dunham’s Department Store, one of the oldest family-owned and operated stores of its kind remaining in the country. Opened in 1905 as a small grocery, the store has been passed down over the years from one generation to the next and now sells a variety of household items, clothing and toys.
Head outside town to visit the Lumber Heritage Museum, dedicated to the evolution of Pennsylvania’s lumber industry over the centuries. Explore the recreated lumber mill and camp, where you’ll find a blacksmith shop, a bunk house and mess hall. Among the museum’s highlights is a well-preserved 1912 Shay-geared logging locomotive.
One of the best times to visit Wellsboro is June, when the town celebrates the blooming of the state flower during the State Laurel Festival. The town, located in north central Pennsylvania, is best reached by car.
