While we already explored a park recently with Pleasant Ridge Park, we wanted to find balance with something to do on the other side of town. With that, we headed to Wintergreen Gorge and wandered the trails.

Location:

Wintergreen Gorge is located on the east side of town. The physical address for the primary entrance is at 3399 Cooper Rd, Erie, PA 16510. This main location has just been renovated and there is now a physical parking lot as well as signage to help you know where you are going. The trails run along and around Fourmile Creek, North into Harborcreek, and South where it crosses through Penn State Behrend. There are also a handful of other ways to link up with the trails, including a few on the Behrend property, in case the parking is full at the lower entrance.

Those locations include the southwest corner of the Prischak parking lot, by the science building on Penn State’s campus, as well as the southern side of the Ohio parking lot, behind the residences of Ohio Hall and Trippe Hall at the top of the campus. You can easily navigate the campus with the use of a map if you are unfamiliar with the territory. Please note that if you are going to park in the parking lots on campus, you may need to stop into the campus police and safety building to request a visitor’s pass in order to avoid a possible parking ticket.

Property Description:

The main trail is sourced to span roughly 1.2 miles, however, because of the vast student population there have been many unofficial trails added. If you enter from the Cooper Road end, there are flatted dirt paths that allow wheelchairs and bikes to have easy mobility. There has also been the construction of a few wooden bridges and other additions to make travel easier if you are starting from that side. If you choose to come in from either of the campus entrances, however, the paths are clearly marked but they do become steep at points. They are fully able to be traveled, but you are certainly at an incline. At some places, you will want to proceed with caution because of the steep grades.

While we chose not to venture off of the main path, there are also many sub paths that offshoot from the main path. Following those paths will take you deeper into the woods, allow you to continue to follow the creek, and will even take you to a waterfall approximately 15 feet high and a watering hole to swim in below. That path isn’t hard to find, but will require a more difficult route to get to. Just follow the creek south when the path veers steeply towards campus at the giant piping system.

Things to do:

This trail has become a favorite for many residents because of the fact that you quickly dive into nature despite being so close to the city. There is ample wildlife, and following the creek means no shortage of nature in either sight or sound. In addition to walking, jogging, or running, this trail welcomes dogs and bicycles. And, while swimming is not permitted, with the right shoes you are able to wade into the water and walk up the creek in places as well.

In addition, just at the top of the hill from the Cooper road entrance, if you head west on Cooper, you will find The Ice Cream Shoppe. They not only serve ice cream, milk shakes, and frozen yogurt, but they also have Smith’s hot dogs and Mighty Fine donuts. If you are looking for something to snack on before, after, or during your walk through the gorge, then this could be an ideal stop.

Who Can Go:

People, dogs, and bikes are all welcomed at this trail. The various activity levels mean you can aim to take a leisurely stroll, or you could walk the high-inclined paths. There are some flat and easily manageable surfaces, but you also will want to be cautious with younger individuals because at certain locations there can be cliffs along the path, if even only 5 or 10 feet high. This also is a path designed for many people, but it is completely in nature so it may be difficult for some to venture too far into, especially as you get deeper into the path and it becomes gradually more of an incline.

As mentioned, there is one main trail which is paved smooth and is very wide to allow for multiple people to walk shoulder to shoulder. However, the fact that college students and wildlife are active in the Wintergreen Gorge means there are many unofficial paths for exploration which head in many different directions. This is certainly a multiple day event, if you are more of a hiker and are comfortable getting off of the beaten path.

Final Thoughts:

One note about safety: Wintergreen Gorge does have some cliffs. One area we did not visit but is located near the entrance in the Ohio parking lot on Penn State Behrend’s campus is known as “the backbone,” because you literally only have about two feet wide worth of path, and then a cliff on either side. Smaller cliffs of only a few feet high are scattered across the paths, and while some of the best views come with larger cliffs, if you don’t take it seriously and proceed with legitimate caution, a fun hike or run could quickly turn dangerous.

It should also be noted that the Wintergreen Gorge truly is wild. While smaller, cuter animals like rabbits, squirrels, and birds can easily be found, you should know that within the creek itself there can be snakes. Proceed with caution as in any area of the wild, and be aware of the rules because this property is one for all to enjoy without anyone taking advantage of it.

Still, despite these few warnings, it should be noted that Wintergreen Gorge is a beautiful destination for any. Individuals come from miles around and will travel hours just to see the sights, the waterfalls, and explore the miles of trails. This is certainly an excellent destination to burn off some energy and get back to nature. It can also be a destination that you come back to time and time again.

Like what you read? Subscribe below and be notified of new things to do in Erie County whenever we post!