While many people flock to Huntingdon County for Raystown Lake, there are so many other things to do in Huntingdon, PA than spend a day out on the water!
Now don’t get me wrong, lounging at Seven Points beach, being out on a boat, or going on a sunset dinner cruise are all incredibly fun ways to spend your time.
I just want to highlight some of the activities that aren’t so well known in this county so you’ll consider branching out when visiting.
At the beginning of July, I made a road trip up to Central Pennsylvania and spent a few days in Happy Valley and then the Raystown Lake area.
I highly recommend spending at least three to four days in Huntingdon if you can. This really is a gorgeous area of PA.
Disclaimer: I was hosted by the Raystown Lake Region during my trip. As always, all opinions are my own. This article may contain affiliate links that I earn a small commission from at no additional cost to you.
10 Things to Do in Huntingdon, PA
East Broad Top Railroad & Rockhill Trolley Museum
If you have kids then this is absolutely a must-do while you’re in the Huntingdon area. This is a great activity for anyone who loves history or trains too.
Plan on spending the majority of the day here if you want to get the most out of your trip. Start off with the shop tour where you’ll learn more about the history of this railroad.
You also get to see the old steam engines and walk around inside the shop where they would work on the cars. The shop is super neat because you feel like you’ve stepped onto a movie set!
Next, have lunch at Jenkies Joint in the Depot. This is an extension of the Jenkies Joint coffee shop along the main street in the borough of Orbisonia.
I had the turkey, bacon, and avocado club on a pretzel roll and it was delicious. They serve sandwiches with popcorn which I thought was cute.
After lunch, make sure you have your ticket for a train ride on the East Broad Top. I don’t care how old you are, riding the train is such a fun experience.
Pro tip: Buy the Caboose ticket. You have the option of Standard or Caboose and if you get the Caboose ticket then you have a chance to get one of the four seats that sit up higher than everyone else. It makes the views even better.
You’ll ride through farmland for a total distance of about 9 miles. Right now you don’t make a stop, but in the future, they plan to build a picnic facility out at the end of the track.
Once you arrive back at the station, walk over to the Rockhill Trolley Museum. A ticket here includes a ride on one of their historic trollies and a tour through their museum.
The trolley doesn’t take the same route as the train did so you pass by different scenery. You’ll learn a bit more on the history of the trolley and the industry of the Huntingdon area.
As you can see, this makes for a pretty full day!
🚂 Check out reviews for East Broad Top on Tripadvisor. 🚂
Lincoln Caverns & Whisper Rocks
Okay, I LOVE cave tours. I went on my first cave tour last fall at Luray Caverns near Shenandoah National Park and I’ve been hooked ever since.
If you think that they’ll be cheesy (I did) I encourage you to put aside your thoughts for the day and try it out.
At Lincoln Caverns you have the opportunity to tour two different caves – the first is Lincoln Caverns and the second is named Whisper Rocks.
One of the coolest things that really stuck in my memory is in Whisper Rocks you get to walk through a narrow slot that sort of reminded me of photos I’ve seen of the slot canyons out west.
It was so neat! If you’re claustrophobic though, you don’t have to walk through it and can walk around a different way.
There are lots of stairs in these caves and the floor can be wet and slippery. I was glad I had on my hiking boots.
In addition to the caves, there are hiking trails here, gem mining for kids, and a gift shop that kids love as well.
They host tons of fun events here so be sure to check their event calendar during the time you’ll be visiting. I would have loved to visit for the Come to the Darkside Blacklight Adventures!
I’m sure kids love the Summer Family Fun Nights and Baturday Saturdays.
I was in Happy Valley before my stay in Huntingdon and was able to visit Penn’s Cave as well. It’s one of the best things to do near Bellefonte, PA!
🦇 Check out reviews for Lincoln Caverns & Whisper Rocks on Tripadvisor. 🦇
Juniata Brewing Company
One of the best things to do in Huntingdon, PA for anyone 21+ is to visit Juniata Brewing! They have a cozy tasting room with an awesome outdoor space.
You’ll find lots of picnic tables under a large covered patio plus a space to play cornhole with friends.
They are passionate about fostering community through many of their events and just serving great beer with a place for conversation.
The beers on tap are often changing but I loved the Rasberry Wheat – it wasn’t too tart. Their Pontoon Party IPA was pretty good too. I can’t wait to see how Juniata Brewing grows in the future!
Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center
One of my favorite things to do near Bellefonte was hike in Rothrock State Forest – it was gorgeous! Just outside of Rothrock on the Huntingdon side you’ll find Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center.
It’s managed by Penn State and is an educational space as well as a great place to enjoy the outdoors.
They have a Discovery Room where you’ll find educational nature exhibits and a few reptiles like snakes, lizards, and turtles.
Another major draw here is the Klingsberg Aviary where you’ll find a number of different bird species. When I visited the area again in October, I was able to see a Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, multiple hawks, owls, and other birds!
We even got to see staff at the Aviary go through a training exercise with their resident American Crow. Just note that dogs aren’t allowed in the aviary.
There are tons of hiking trails surrounding the Environmental Center that go through a variety of landscapes and they even connect to Rothrock’s trail system.
They have great picnic areas so you can come hike in the morning, have a picnic lunch overlooking Lake Perez, and then check out the Discovery Center and Aviary in the afternoon.
Visit Trough Creek State Park
This was definitely one of my favorite things to do near Huntingdon, PA! I made a loop from the Balanced Rock Trail to Ledges, Copperas Rock, and then the Rhododendron Trail.
This route has a number of interesting stopping points along the way! The suspension bridge is neat to walk across though some dogs are really not big fans. Rainbow Falls and Balanced Rock are the other two major landmarks here.
Be sure to take a trail map with you though because you’ll need to make some turns to stay on the right trails. It’s one of the best hikes near State College though.
You can park at the parking lot near Copperas Rock, but I chose to park at the lot nearest the suspension bridge in case I ran out of time for the whole loop.
It took me about an hour and a half to do this loop and that’s with stopping a couple times to set up my tripod and take photos.
Another neat aspect of Trough Creek is the history you’ll find here. Hike to a historic cemetery, check out remains of an old furnace, and see one of the old cabins.
Trough Creek is also popular for camping, fishing, and picnicking.
Check out the Huntingdon Mural
This is such a cute mural in the Historic District of downtown Huntingdon! It’s located in Bryan Park right along Washington Street which is the main drag through town.
There are colorful picnic tables with some shade from the shade sails that have been hung in the courtyard.
If you’re looking for the Instagram shot in town then this is it!
Dine at Local Restaurants
Huntingdon has some great local restaurants and the best part about them is you get delicious food without breaking the bank.
Two must-visit restaurants while you’re in town are Boxer’s Cafe and The Village Tavern Bar & Grill.
Boxer’s is in downtown Huntingdon and as soon as you walk in you can tell it’s a local’s spot. Everyone sitting at the bar knew each other and most people who came in and sat at a table were greeted by name.
They have a huge variety on the menu so it was really hard for me to choose what to get but I wound up with the chicken club and was not disappointed.
Make sure you save room for dessert because they serve homemade pies that are incredible.
The Village Tavern is a fun spot with a large drink selection and a cabin-type vibe from all the wood siding and large fireplace.
They have tons of appetizers to choose from so this would be the perfect place to come watch a game with friends. Sandwiches, salads, and wings are what you’ll find on the menu otherwise.
The Marina Cafe is a great lunch or dinner option overlooking Raystown Lake. It’s inside the Lake Raystown Resort but you don’t have to stay there to eat here.
When you come to the gatehouse just tell them you are headed to Marina Cafe and they’ll give you a tag to hang in your windshield.
You’ll want to sit outside if the weather is nice. For lunch they have salads and sandwiches and during dinner they do serve entrees like salmon and steak.
I had the Chicken Boca sandwich and it was unique and delicious.
Just an hour north, you’ll find many great restaurants in Bellefonte, PA too.
Mountain Bike on the Allegrippis Trails
People come from all over the east coast and beyond to mountain bike on the Allegrippis Trail System. There are 36 miles of single track trails here with varying difficulty.
As someone who is very wobbly on a bike, I found that I liked the skills park the best. The single track trails were a little too narrow for me.
At the skills park the trails are wider and the beginner loop is very short and doable with minimal skill. Take that loop and see if you can work your way up to the intermediate ones.
If you’re a beginner and feel pretty comfortable on a bike then the Vee Cee, Buck, and Doe Trails are easiest.
You can rent bikes from Rothrock Outfitters downtown if you don’t have your own.
If you’ve been mountain biking before and liked it then this is one of the best mountain biking destinations on the east coast! Should definitely be on your biking bucket list.
Another option if you don’t want something strenuous or technical is the Greenside Pathway. This is an easy sloping loop that connects the campgrounds, Visitor Center, and beach.
Farm Tour Fridays
I saw signs everywhere for the Farm Tour Fridays and am honestly so sad that I couldn’t go to one! During the summer months, the Raystown Lake Region hosts special events at different farms every Friday.
You do have to purchase a ticket for these events but you typically get a tasting or special treat from the farm included in that price.
On my return trip in October, I was able to visit JB Tree Farm where they have popular fall and Christmas events as well. In the fall, they have a Fall Frenzy which includes corn mazes, hayrides, a pumpkin patch and more.
People come here from all over to pick up Christmas trees and to visit their Christmas shop for decorations and gifts. Their Nigerian Dwarf goats are also very entertaining!
From late spring to early fall you can also come by to pick your own berries and flowers. If you’re interested in this, I would call ahead of time to determine what they have since it’s so weather dependent.
Connecting with local farmers is something I think everyone should do more of whether that’s visiting your local Farmer’s Market, checking out a farm store, or doing something like this.
There is a big movement toward sustainable agriculture right now and so many local farmers are trying to leave the land better than they found it.
When visiting a farm it gives you more of an appreciation of where your food comes from and all the thought and labor that goes into it.
Go Shopping Downtown
This last thing to do in Huntingdon isn’t even about the shopping – it’s more getting out around Historic Downtown and admiring the beautiful architecture.
Shopping and supporting the local businesses is a good idea too though, don’t get me wrong.
Rothrock Outfitters is a great outdoor store and if you’re looking for clothes then check out Kiki’s Boutique or ELM & Ruby’s Clothing.
Once Again Retail is a great secondhand store too. Standing Stone Coffee is where you’ll find some of the best coffee in town and if you have a sweet tooth, head to Sweethearts Confectionery.
Where to Stay in Huntingdon, PA
If you’re looking for the perfect place to stay near Huntingdon then look no further than the Inn at Solvang. You’ll feel like you’re living in luxury.
There are five different rooms in the house each with its own character. I stayed in The Garden Room which had a king bed and spacious bathroom with a whirlpool tub and a shower with multiple heads!
Everyone who was supposed to stay at the house while I was there had to cancel so I was also able to enjoy The Ivy Suite which is on the third floor with a balcony overlooking the sprawling front lawn.
I had a chance to sit out on the balcony and watch the sunset while enjoying a beer from Juniata Brewing. Honestly, it was one of the most memorable moments of the trip!
Booking a room in the house also comes with the most delicious breakfast. Their egg braid is incredible and I also loved the spelt pancakes and frittata.
The Inn at Solvang also has separate guest houses on site and I was able to stay in the Norwegian Cabin, the Stabbur, for one night!
This is such a unique place to stay and it even has a sauna inside. It’s perfect for a romantic getaway!
Staying in the Stabbur does not include breakfast in the main house but they do give you food to make yourself.
🏠 Check reviews for the Inn at Solvang on Tripadvisor. 🏠
Wrap Up: What to Do in Huntingdon, PA
There was so much natural beauty in the Huntingdon area. I loved just driving around and enjoying the scenery. The rolling hills with farmland as far as you could see reminded me of home.
Like I said when I started out, Lake Raystown is a great reason to visit this area and you should definitely enjoy it. Don’t overlook the other opportunities here though!
Huntingdon is the perfect getaway for those who love the outdoors. I loved exploring this area and I hope you will too!
Pin for later!
