Somerset County: Memorials, State Parks, and Maple Traditions

Somerset County offers a range of reasons to stay: sites of remembrance and regional history, state parks and hiking trails, and seasonal maple experiences. To plan your hotel stay, you can first decide which of these themes will shape your trip.

Flight 93: Remembrance and Visitor Experiences

The Flight 93 Memorial in Somerset County honors the 40 victims of Flight 93 who died on September 11, 2001. The Flight 93 Visitor Center Complex includes exhibits, a viewing window, a bookstore, the Flight Path Walkway, and an overlook. The Flight 93 Site Tour leads to seven stops in the National Memorial: the 2.2-mile walk takes about an hour; alternatively, you can drive between the stops.

The Memorial Plaza stretches for a quarter mile along the landscape at the crash site. At the Wall of Names are 40 individually selected and polished white marble stones engraved with the names of the passengers and crew members. At the entrance to the National Memorial stands a 93-foot musical instrument with 40 wind chimes, representing the 40 passengers and crew members.

At the Quecreek Mine Rescue Site, visitors can walk to the rescue shaft. The miners were brought up from a depth of 240 feet after 77 hours in icy darkness. The site also includes the original rescue capsule and the drills used during the rescue operation. In an auditorium, you can watch a live presentation about the mine accident and the rescue of the nine trapped miners.

Regional History and Maple Traditions

The Somerset Historical Center is dedicated to 150 acres of rural southwestern Pennsylvania history, from the lives of the first farmers to the present day. The Visitors Center features the exhibition Patterns on the Land, preceded by an audiovisual program. The grounds can be explored on guided tours. The Walter's Mill Covered Bridge is also located on the Historical Center grounds: it was built in 1859 and moved there in the early 1960s.

The Pennsylvania Maple Museum is open for tours Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in 2026; check the hours before your arrival. Admission is included with general admission to the Somerset Historical Center, and the museum is part of the guided tour. The Wharton Iron Furnace is another part of the regional history trail: it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Pennsylvania Maple Festival was founded in 1948 by Meyersdale residents to promote the region's maple industry. At the seasonal festival, guests can experience the steps of maple syrup production—from tapping the trees to enjoying a meal of pancakes, sausage, and pure Somerset County maple syrup. Dates vary from year to year. The 2026 edition of Maple Weekend Taste & Tour includes free tours and samples of maple products in and around Somerset County; check future dates again.

State Parks, Trails, and Scenery

Laurel Hill State Park encompasses 4,062 acres of mountainous terrain in Somerset County. The 63-acre Laurel Hill Lake is a focal point of the park. A 1.25-mile accessible compacted-gravel trail runs along the lake and is suitable for walking and cycling. For a trip on the water, there is also a six-mile canoe and kayak water trail that ends at the historic Kings Covered Bridge. Check the launch and take-out conditions before your trip.

Kooser State Park encompasses 250 acres of woodland, with a trout stream flowing through the entire length of the park. The Mt. Davis Natural Area covers 581 acres around the summit of Mt. Davis. At 3,213 feet above sea level, the summit of Mt. Davis is Pennsylvania's highest point. An observation tower offers a 360-degree view, and the highest point is accessible by vehicle. Weather can affect conditions, so it is a good idea to check current notices before your visit.

More than 250 miles of trails and roads suitable for hiking run through Forbes State Forest. They include the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail between Ohiopyle and Johnstown, which passes through the forest. Another natural destination is Spruce Flats Bog in the Laurel Mountain Division of Forbes State Forest. The different distances make planning straightforward: alongside a long-distance trail, there is an extensive network of trails and roads for shorter hikes.

Cyclists will also find a distinctive route connection: the 9/11 Memorial Trail in Somerset County runs north from the Great Allegheny Passage near Garrett to the Flight 93 National Memorial outside Shanksville. For more seasonal activities, Seven Springs Mountain Resort offers downhill skiing and snowboarding, as well as summer and winter tubing. There are also various year-round activities; operations vary seasonally.

The outdoor area of Monument for Life Memorial Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, weather permitting. As operating information can change, check current notices before your visit.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Somerset, Windber, Indiana County, Clinton County, Philadelphia, Crawford County, Perry County, Wyoming County.

For the broader travel overview: Pennsylvania.