Perry County: Hiking, Forests and History

The midpoint of the Appalachian Trail runs through Perry County. The area also offers forest landscapes, historic buildings, murals and music, appealing to a range of travel interests. If you’re looking for a hotel in Perry County, you can plan around your priorities: Would you like hiking to take center stage, or would you also like to make time for history, art and local traditions?

Hiking and Landscapes

The county has nearly 50 hiking trails. Tuscarora State Forest is home to narrow valleys and steep, rocky ridges covered with oak and hemlock forests. Nearly 90% of Perry County is protected land, public land or farmland. Golden eagle migration is monitored along the ridges. The natural landscape thus includes an extensive trail network, distinctive terrain and forest types, and ongoing monitoring of bird migration.

Fowlers Hollow State Park

Fowlers Hollow State Park lies in a narrow valley formed by Fowler Hollow Run; the park covers 104 acres. It is open daily, year-round, from sunrise to sunset. Day-use areas close at dusk. To reach the park, take Fowlers Hollow Road from PA 274 and follow it for 5.7 miles. The hours and directions help with different parts of planning: one describes the visiting hours, while the other gives the road route to the park.

Historic Buildings and Their Stories

The historic sites in Perry County range from a National Register listing to the stories of individual buildings. The Little Buffalo Historic District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Blue Ball Tavern opened in 1811. The Cochran-Anspach House was built by Isaiah Clark for Thomas Cochran in 1821; the Fetter House is a brick house built by Henry Fetter in 1848.

The buildings’ construction methods offer another point of interest: Red Bridge is the only surviving covered bridge in Perry County built in the King-Post/Queen-Post style. Green Park School is preserved as an interactive historical time capsule, with artifacts from an earlier era. Together, these examples show different aspects of history: a historic listing, dated building commissions, a specific bridge construction and preserved artifacts.

Murals, Music and Local Traditions

The Perry County Historical Mural Trail shares the county’s history through murals by local artists and community members. The murals explore subjects including stories of veterans and the region’s agricultural heritage. The Quilt Mural Trail features a total of 29 large quilt murals on barns and other buildings across Perry, Mifflin and Juniata counties.

Landis House has a contemporary gallery as well as a recital and concert hall. This brings together mural art with local-history themes and opportunities to enjoy both visual and performing arts. A seasonal tradition is the Old Fashioned Apple Festival, held on the third weekend in October at Little Buffalo State Park. Exact dates may vary.

Explore more destinations: Bloomfield, Duncannon, Northumberland, Cambria County, Luzerne, Tioga County, Cumberland, Lehigh.

For the overall travel guide: Pennsylvania.