These 11 Pennsylvania Hiking Trails Are Stunning But Swarming With Ticks This August

Beautiful hikes come with one tiny summer villain, and Pennsylvania trails know the problem well in August.

The views may be worth the effort, but tick season has a way of turning every grassy edge and leafy shortcut into something that deserves a second thought.

That does not mean the adventure is ruined. It just means the smartest hikers bring bug spray, stay alert, and do the post-walk check before bragging about the scenery.

A stunning trail can still be a great idea, as long as you respect the little troublemakers waiting along the way.

The funny part is how quickly a peaceful hike can turn into a full inspection routine afterward. My backpack has held snacks, water, and maps, but in August, it also carries a healthy amount of suspicion.

1. Falls Trail System, Ricketts Glen State Park

Few trails in Pennsylvania stop hikers in their tracks quite like the Falls Trail System at Ricketts Glen State Park, located near Benton in Columbia County.

This legendary loop winds past 21 named waterfalls, while Ganoga Falls drops more than 90 feet through a dramatic old-growth forest.

The scenery here is genuinely hard to believe, and in August, the entire forest is thick with green and alive with sound.

That same lush, moist environment can also bring hikers into contact with ticks.

Tall grasses and leaf litter beside wooded trails can often shelter black-legged ticks, whose nymphs are active across Pennsylvania from spring through midsummer.

Before hitting Ricketts Glen, spray your gear with permethrin and tuck your pants into your socks. It sounds a little dorky, but it works.

After your hike, do a full tick check before getting back in the car. The Falls Trail System rewards every careful visitor with scenery that honestly feels more like a fairy tale than a state park.

Address: Ricketts Glen State Park, 695 State Route 487, Benton, PA 17814

2. Canyon Vista Trail, Worlds End State Park

Standing at the canyon overlook on this trail in Sullivan County is one of those moments that makes you forget you were ever tired from the climb.

Worlds End State Park sits along Loyalsock Creek, and the Canyon Vista Trail delivers sweeping views of the rugged valley below that are hard to match anywhere in the state.

The trail itself is a four-mile loop with steep sections, packing plenty of reward into a genuinely demanding hiking effort.

August brings full leaf coverage and warm temperatures to Worlds End, making the shaded sections feel like a gift. However, wooded and brushy trail margins can increase a hiker’s chances of encountering ticks.

Black-legged ticks occur throughout Pennsylvania, and their tiny nymphs are usually most active during spring and early summer across the state.

Wearing light-colored clothing makes it much easier to spot ticks before they find skin.

The Canyon Vista Trail is absolutely worth the precaution, and the views from the top of Worlds End will remind you exactly why you laced up those boots.

3. Mount Minsi Trail, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The climb up Mount Minsi is one of the most satisfying half-day hikes in eastern Pennsylvania, and the payoff at the top is a sweeping view over the Delaware River that stretches into New Jersey.

Located in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area near the town of Delaware Water Gap in Monroe County, this trail draws serious foot traffic every August.

The route gains about 1,200 feet in elevation, passing through rocky forest and open ridgeline sections that feel miles away from the parking lot below.

Tick precautions remain sensible on Mount Minsi, particularly in wooded sections where hikers may brush against vegetation.

In August 2026, marked cliff areas remain closed, while the nearby official Appalachian Trail route stays open.

Using a DEET-based repellent on exposed skin before starting the hike is one of the smartest moves you can make here.

Checking yourself thoroughly after reaching the car is just as important as any gear you bring. Mount Minsi rewards careful hikers with views that make the whole effort feel completely worth it.

Address: Mount Minsi Trailhead, Mountain Road, Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327

4. Turkey Path Trail, Leonard Harrison State Park

Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon earns that nickname every time you peer over the edge at Leonard Harrison State Park, and the Turkey Path Trail is the best way to actually get down into it.

This trail in Tioga County drops roughly 800 feet into the Pine Creek Gorge, winding past waterfalls and through some of the most dramatic scenery in the entire state.

August is a gorgeous time to hike Turkey Path, with the gorge walls draped in deep green and the creek running cool below.

The dense, humid forest along the descent calls for routine tick precautions.

Black-legged ticks occur statewide during summer, and hikers can reduce contact by staying centered on trails and avoiding tall brush or leaf litter whenever possible.

Applying repellent before you start is smart, and so is checking your ankles and legs carefully during the hike.

The Turkey Path Trail is steep enough that most people are focused on their footing, which makes it easy to forget the tick check until it is too late.

Take the time. The Pine Creek Gorge is spectacular, and you want to enjoy the memory without any uninvited passengers.

Address: Leonard Harrison State Park, 4797 PA-660, Wellsboro, PA 16901

5. Golden Eagle Trail, Tiadaghton State Forest

Not many hikers outside of Pennsylvania know about the Golden Eagle Trail, which honestly makes it even more appealing for those who do.

This 9.2-mile loop in Tiadaghton State Forest, located in Lycoming County, passes through remote forest, dramatic rock formations, and open ridgeline views that feel completely earned after a full day on the trail.

In August, the forest here is thick and wild, and the humidity in the lower sections can make the air feel heavy in the best possible way.

That same wild, wooded environment means hikers should use ordinary tick precautions throughout the route.

The Golden Eagle Trail passes through remote forest, but no official evidence shows that its tick abundance exceeds other Pennsylvania hiking areas nearby during August visits.

Treating your hiking clothes with permethrin before the trip is highly recommended, especially for a longer route like this one. Carrying a tick removal tool in your pack is a smart habit for any backcountry hike.

The Golden Eagle Trail rewards patience and preparation with a genuine sense of solitude that is getting harder to find in the mid-Atlantic region.

Address: Golden Eagle Trail, Route 414 north of Cammal, Lycoming County

6. Black Forest Trail, Tiadaghton State Forest

Backpackers who want a real challenge in Pennsylvania keep coming back to the Black Forest Trail, a 42-mile loop that cuts through the heart of Tiadaghton State Forest in Lycoming County.

The trail earns its reputation with steep climbs, creek crossings, and stretches of trail that feel genuinely remote even on busy summer weekends.

August brings long daylight hours and warm nights, making it an ideal time for a multi-day trip through this rugged terrain.

The flip side is that tick exposure over multiple days on the Black Forest Trail is something every hiker needs to take seriously.

Daily tick checks at camp, especially around the hairline, behind the knees, and under the arms, are essential on a route this long.

Permethrin-treated gear and DEET-based repellent are worth every penny on a trip like this.

Camping along the Black Forest Trail means waking up to bird calls and morning mist rolling through the trees, which is a genuinely magical experience.

Just make tick checks part of your daily camp routine and you will have nothing but good memories from this trail. Address: Black Forest Trail, Tiadaghton State Forest, near Slate Run, Pennsylvania

7. Old Loggers Path, Loyalsock State Forest

There is a certain quiet history that settles over you while walking the Old Loggers Path, a 27-mile loop in Loyalsock State Forest in Lycoming County.

The trail follows old logging roads and ridgelines through second-growth forest that has had over a century to recover, and the result is a landscape that feels both wild and strangely storied.

August is a beautiful month to tackle this route, with ferns carpeting the forest floor and the creek crossings running clear and cool.

Those fern-covered sections can increase tick contact, which is something worth keeping in mind whenever you brush against trailside vegetation.

The Old Loggers Path passes through moist, shaded forest where statewide tick precautions remain appropriate during summer for hikers on any wooded route.

Wearing long pants and gaiters adds a useful layer of protection on a route like this. Checking your gear and clothing at each rest stop is a good habit to build into the rhythm of the hike.

The Old Loggers Path is one of those trails that rewards hikers who come prepared and take their time. Address: Old Loggers Path, Loyalsock State Forest, northeastern Lycoming County, Pennsylvania

8. Quehanna Trail, Moshannon and Elk State Forests

Stretching roughly 75 miles through Moshannon and Elk State Forests in Cameron, Clearfield, and Elk Counties, the Quehanna Trail is one of Pennsylvania’s most underrated long-distance routes.

The trail passes through the Quehanna Wild Area, a stretch of land set aside specifically to recover from industrial use, and the result is a surprisingly rugged and remote landscape for central Pennsylvania.

In August, the wild area lives up to its name with dense vegetation, active wildlife, and a sense of real solitude that is hard to come by this close to the I-80 corridor.

Tick exposure is possible on the Quehanna Trail throughout summer, and brushy sections of the route can bring hikers into regular contact with vegetation.

This is a trail where consistent tick prevention is strongly advisable for everyone.

Treating clothing and gear with permethrin before the trip is a sensible recommendation for anyone planning a multi-day outing here.

DCNR currently reports the Mosquito Creek Bridge temporarily closed because of flood damage, so hikers should check official updates and plan around the affected crossing before setting out on this remote forest route.

Address: Quehanna Trail, Parker Dam State Park, Penfield, PA 15849

9. Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, Laurel Ridge State Park

Running 70 miles from Ohiopyle to the Conemaugh Gorge in southwestern Pennsylvania, the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is one of the great long-distance routes in the entire eastern United States.

Managed through Laurel Ridge State Park across four southwestern Pennsylvania counties, the trail follows a long mountain ridge with regular views, backcountry shelters, and a beautifully maintained tread that makes long days feel manageable.

August brings summer here, with wildflowers along the ridgeline and warm evenings that can make camping feel genuinely enjoyable.

It is also an important season for tick awareness in the Laurel Highlands, and forest edges or grassy openings can increase contact throughout the summer months.

No trail-specific survey confirms unusually high tick numbers here compared with other nearby Pennsylvania forests today.

Using EPA-registered repellent before each day’s hiking and doing full-body checks at camp each evening are both practical habits for reducing tick exposure throughout a route this long during summer.

The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is a true Pennsylvania classic, and a little preparation keeps the focus exactly where it belongs, on those ridge views.

Address: Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, Laurel Ridge State Park, Rockwood, PA 15557

10. Skyline Trail, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Berks County is world-famous for autumn raptor migration, but the Skyline Trail is a genuinely rewarding summer hike that most visitors overlook completely.

The route begins beyond North Lookout and follows a rugged ridgetop through oak forest toward East Rocks, with broad views across the Kittatinny Ridge along the way.

In August, the ridge is quiet compared to the fall crowds, which means you often get the lookout rocks entirely to yourself on a weekday morning.

Ticks can be encountered throughout Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in summer, particularly in wooded sections where hikers contact brush or leaf litter.

Pennsylvania health guidance supports precautions, but no public trail-level survey establishes unusually heavy activity here compared with other nearby Pennsylvania forests.

Checking your clothing and exposed skin after leaving the rocky lookout sections and re-entering the forest is a smart move.

Reaching North Lookout uses the separate Lookout Trail, while Skyline continues beyond it with rock scrambling, a steep descent, and terrain recommended only for experienced hikers who arrive prepared, return safely to the car, and complete thorough tick checks afterward.

Address: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton, PA 19529

11. Balanced Rock Trail, Trough Creek State Park

Trough Creek State Park in Huntingdon County is one of those places that tends to surprise first-time visitors, and the Balanced Rock Trail is the reason most of them come back.

The trail crosses Great Trough Creek on a suspension bridge, passes Rainbow Falls, climbs stone steps beside Abbot Run, and reaches Balanced Rock, a massive sandstone block perched above the valley near the gorge’s western side.

Balanced Rock Trail covers about 0.12 mile and packs substantial geological interest into a route far shorter than three miles.

August brings lush vegetation to the gorge walls, which looks impressive and can increase contact with ticks along parts of the Balanced Rock Trail.

The moist, shaded gorge warrants ordinary Pennsylvania tick precautions during midsummer, just as on other wooded hiking routes.

Keeping to the center of the trail and avoiding brushing against trailside vegetation reduces contact significantly on a narrow route like this.

Trough Creek State Park is small, relatively quiet, and full of character, and the Balanced Rock Trail is proof that you do not always need a 10-mile hike to find something genuinely memorable in Pennsylvania.

Address: Trough Creek State Park, 16362 Little Valley Road, James Creek, PA 16657