Laurel Highlands Trail itinerary
Every mile marker on the Laurel Highlands Trail route, in order, with the distance and elevation change between each one, and which permit each stretch needs. To set alerts for your dates, go to the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail permit page.
Which permit covers this route
The Laurel Highlands Trail. One reservation is an ordered sequence of nights at named sites, issued by reservation.
The permit is issued for a named entry point. Ohiopyle State Park (southern trailhead) and Conemaugh Gorge (northern trailhead) are the ones on this list.
- Stops mapped
- 10
- Across the markers
- 70.0 mi
- Published route length
- 70 mi
How long it takes: 4-6 days. That is the figure the permit publishes. This page does not divide the route into days, because no source records which stop you sleep at.
The stops below are the route's published mile markers, in order, with the elevations recorded against each one.
Distance and elevation change on each leg are the difference between the two published figures either side of it, so the legs are arithmetic on the markers and nothing more.
The Laurel Highlands Trail route, stop by stop
Mile 0.0
2,096 ft
Ohiopyle State Park (southern trailhead)
Entry point: the permit is issued for this trailhead
The trail's southern end at the Youghiogheny River in Ohiopyle State Park.
6.3 miles · 564 ft down to Ohiopyle Shelter Area
Mile 6.3
1,532 ft
Ohiopyle Shelter Area
The first of eight overnight shelter areas, each with up to three five-person shelters, tent pads, bathrooms and potable water.
12.2 miles · 1,072 ft up to PA Rt. 653 Shelter Area
Mile 18.5
2,604 ft
PA Rt. 653 Shelter Area
Second shelter area, at the PA Route 653 road crossing.
5.5 miles · 99 ft up to Grindle Ridge Shelter Area
Mile 24.0
2,703 ft
Grindle Ridge Shelter Area
Third shelter area along Grindle Ridge.
8.5 miles to PA Rt. 31 Shelter Area
Mile 32.5
PA Rt. 31 Shelter Area
Fourth shelter area, at the PA Route 31 road crossing.
5.7 miles to PA Turnpike Shelter Area
Mile 38.2
PA Turnpike Shelter Area
Fifth shelter area, near the Pennsylvania Turnpike crossing.
8.3 miles to U.S. Rt. 30 Shelter Area
Mile 46.5
U.S. Rt. 30 Shelter Area
Sixth shelter area, at the US Route 30 road crossing near Laurel Mountain/Jennerstown.
10.4 miles to PA Rt. 271 Shelter Area
Mile 56.9
PA Rt. 271 Shelter Area
Seventh shelter area, at the PA Route 271 road crossing.
8.0 miles to PA Rt. 56 Decker Ave. Shelter Area
Mile 64.9
PA Rt. 56 Decker Ave. Shelter Area
Eighth and final shelter area before the northern trailhead.
5.1 miles to Conemaugh Gorge (northern trailhead)
Mile 70.0
1,290 ft
Conemaugh Gorge (northern trailhead)
Entry point: the permit is issued for this trailhead
The trail's northern end at Conemaugh Gorge, near Johnstown.
Getting a Laurel Highlands Trail for the dates you want
Planning the route is the easy half. Laurel Highlands Trail dates go fast, and the ones that come back are cancellations. They return to the booking system without warning and are gone again quickly. PermitSnag checks Laurel Highlands Trail around the clock and alerts you the moment a date opens.