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Southern Alleghenies
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Explore Southern Alleghenies in Pennsylvania for forested mountains, historic railways, Raystown Lake, heritage towns and meaningful national memorials.

The Southern Alleghenies occupy a broad, mountainous area of south-central Pennsylvania, where the Appalachian ridges are cut by river valleys, historic transport routes and forested uplands. The region generally encompasses Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. Its landscapes range from the folded ridges of the Allegheny Front to the broad waters of Raystown Lake, with small towns, working communities and state parks spread across terrain that rewards a slower style of travel.
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Altoona and Johnstown provide the region's strongest urban and industrial identities. Altoona grew around the Pennsylvania Railroad and remains closely associated with railway engineering, while Johnstown's story is shaped by steelmaking, immigrant communities and the devastating flood of 1889. Bedford, with its historic buildings and long association with mineral springs, offers a more restorative atmosphere, and Somerset combines a county-seat streetscape with access to highland scenery and important memorial sites. Huntingdon and nearby Juniata river country feel more rural, with boating, fishing and woodland recreation centred on Raystown Lake.
History is unusually visible here. The Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site interprets the nineteenth-century system that carried canal boats over the mountains before the railways transformed long-distance transport. At Altoona, the Horseshoe Curve demonstrates the engineering ambition of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Johnstown Flood National Memorial explains how an artificial lake above the Conemaugh Valley failed in 1889, while the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County commemorates the passengers and crew who resisted the hijacking of United Airlines Flight 93 on 11 September 2001.
Outdoor travel is integral to the region rather than an afterthought. Raystown Lake supports boating, paddling, fishing and waterside camping, while Blue Knob State Park, Shawnee State Park and Laurel Ridge State Park provide hiking, winter sports and wooded viewpoints. The Great Allegheny Passage crosses the southern part of the region on a long-distance route between Pittsburgh and Cumberland, Maryland. Mountain roads are scenic but can be slow, especially in winter, so itineraries work best when organised around one valley or county at a time.
Food and cultural life reflect Pennsylvania's wider Appalachian and Central European influences: farmers' markets, diners, bakeries, family-run restaurants and traditional church or community events are more characteristic than a single signature cuisine. Museums, heritage railways and small-town main streets add context to the forests and reservoirs. The result is a region best understood through its combination of landscape, engineering, memory and everyday community life.

Getting to and around Southern Alleghenies

How to get there

Most international visitors reach the Southern Alleghenies by flying to a larger airport outside the region, particularly Pittsburgh International Airport to the west or Harrisburg International Airport to the east, and continuing by road. Altoona–Blair County Airport is within the region but has limited commercial service and should not be assumed to offer broad international connections. Interstate 76, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, crosses the southern part of the area; Interstate 99 serves Altoona and Bedford, while major roads connect Johnstown, Somerset and Huntingdon. Amtrak's Pennsylvanian serves stations at Altoona, Johnstown and Huntingdon on selected long-distance rail itineraries.

Transportation

A car is generally the most practical way to explore the region because attractions, trailheads, lake access points and small towns are widely dispersed. Altoona, Johnstown, Bedford and Huntingdon have local transport options, but rural bus coverage is limited and is not designed for flexible sightseeing. Mountain roads can be narrow, steep or winding, and winter conditions may affect travel over higher passes. Cycling is well suited to sections of the Great Allegheny Passage and other established trails, while walking is the best way to explore historic downtowns, memorial grounds and selected state-park routes.

Destinations in Southern Alleghenies

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in Southern Alleghenies

Southern Alleghenies attractions are defined by the relationship between mountains and movement. The Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site presents the ingenious nineteenth-century route that crossed the mountains before modern railways, while the Horseshoe Curve near Altoona offers a powerful view of railway engineering and the surrounding ridges. In Johnstown, the Johnstown Flood National Memorial and local museums interpret the 1889 disaster and the city's steelmaking past. The Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County is a carefully designed place of remembrance set within a rural landscape. For outdoor activities, Raystown Lake is the regional centre for boating, fishing, paddling and camping, while Blue Knob, Shawnee and Laurel Ridge state parks provide hiking, winter recreation and wildlife observation. The Great Allegheny Passage adds a long-distance cycling and walking option, and smaller historic towns, heritage rail experiences and local cultural venues provide useful stops between the principal sites.

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Best landmarks in Southern Alleghenies

The Horseshoe Curve near Altoona is the region's most recognisable engineering landmark: its sweeping railway arc demonstrates how nineteenth-century railway builders gained height across the Allegheny terrain. The remains and reconstructed features of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, including the summit-area route and historic engine-house setting, represent an earlier solution to the same geographical challenge. In Bedford, the historic courthouse square and surviving town architecture reflect the community's role on the east-west route across the mountains, while the Bedford Springs area recalls the nineteenth-century popularity of mineral-water resorts. The Conemaugh Valley and the former South Fork reservoir landscape are central to the story commemorated by the Johnstown Flood National Memorial. At the Flight 93 National Memorial, the Wall of Names and the memorial landscape give physical form to a national act of remembrance. Raystown Lake, meanwhile, is a major natural and recreational landmark whose long coves and forested shorelines define much of Huntingdon County's landscape.

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Explore Southern Alleghenies on the map

Plan your trip on one map. See where the top cities, national parks and sights are, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Best restaurants in Southern Alleghenies

Dining in the Southern Alleghenies is closely connected with small-town and Appalachian food culture rather than a single formal cuisine. Family restaurants, downtown cafés, diners, taverns and rural inns are common places to find hearty breakfasts, sandwiches, soups, burgers and home-style cooking. Pennsylvania Dutch and Central European influences appear in some baking, church suppers and community food traditions, while local farms contribute seasonal produce, apples, dairy products and baked goods. Altoona, Johnstown, Bedford, Somerset and Huntingdon offer the broadest choice, with lake communities adding casual waterside options in season. Farmers' markets and roadside stands are useful for fruit, vegetables and prepared foods, and independent bakeries can be particularly rewarding stops. Visitors should also look for Pennsylvania-made beer and cider, while remembering that alcohol sales and restaurant arrangements vary by establishment and local licensing rules.

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Best bars in Southern Alleghenies

Evenings in the Southern Alleghenies are generally centred on traditional pubs, taverns, breweries, restaurants and live-music venues rather than a large club scene. Altoona and Johnstown provide the widest range of bars and evening entertainment, with Bedford, Huntingdon and Somerset offering smaller downtown options. College-related nightlife is especially relevant around Huntingdon, home of Juniata College, although activities and venues change over time. Near Raystown Lake, evening life is more seasonal and often connected with restaurants, campgrounds and waterside communities. Many rural towns become quiet relatively early, so visitors should check current arrangements rather than assume late-night transport or dining. Local breweries and taprooms can provide a relaxed introduction to Pennsylvania beer culture without making alcohol the focus of an evening.

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Best nightclubs in Southern Alleghenies

Evenings in the Southern Alleghenies are generally centred on traditional pubs, taverns, breweries, restaurants and live-music venues rather than a large club scene. Altoona and Johnstown provide the widest range of bars and evening entertainment, with Bedford, Huntingdon and Somerset offering smaller downtown options. College-related nightlife is especially relevant around Huntingdon, home of Juniata College, although activities and venues change over time. Near Raystown Lake, evening life is more seasonal and often connected with restaurants, campgrounds and waterside communities. Many rural towns become quiet relatively early, so visitors should check current arrangements rather than assume late-night transport or dining. Local breweries and taprooms can provide a relaxed introduction to Pennsylvania beer culture without making alcohol the focus of an evening.

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Best shops in Southern Alleghenies

Shopping in the Southern Alleghenies is primarily local and practical, with historic downtowns, independent retailers, antique shops, bookshops, galleries and seasonal markets providing more character than large-scale retail districts. Bedford is a good base for browsing heritage-town shops and locally made goods, while Altoona and Johnstown offer the broadest everyday retail selection. Huntingdon and Somerset have compact town centres with independent businesses, cafés and services. Farmers' markets and farm stands are useful for Pennsylvania produce, baked goods, preserves and locally made foods, especially during the warmer months. Craft shopping may include pottery, woodwork, paintings, textiles and Appalachian-inspired work, though stock varies by season and maker. Railway-related memorabilia and books are appropriate regional mementoes, while outdoor shops serve visitors heading towards Raystown Lake or the state parks. Rural businesses may keep shorter or irregular hours, so plan market and gallery visits accordingly.

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Southern Alleghenies essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar (USD), as in the rest of Pennsylvania. Credit and debit cards, including contactless payments, are commonly accepted in hotels, major attractions, petrol stations and established restaurants. Cash remains useful for small cafés, independent vendors, farmers' markets, rural businesses and occasional parking or admission facilities. Banking services are concentrated in the larger towns, so visitors travelling through remote lake and mountain areas should not rely exclusively on finding an ATM.
Safety
The main visitor concerns are practical rather than unusual: secure valuables in vehicles, take care on isolated trails and prepare for changing mountain weather. Follow posted advice around Raystown Lake and other waterways, use life jackets for boating, and keep a safe distance from steep slopes, rail lines and industrial structures. Deer and other wildlife can cross roads, particularly at dawn and dusk. Winter snow and ice may make higher roads hazardous. In outdoor areas, carry water, download or carry route information and tell someone your planned route when hiking alone.
Emergency Situations
Dial 911 throughout the Southern Alleghenies for police, fire and ambulance services. Give the dispatcher the county, road name, trail or lake access point and any nearby landmark, since mobile coverage can be inconsistent in valleys and wooded areas. For a water emergency, contact 911 and follow local lake or park instructions; for a wilderness incident, provide your route and last known location. The region's emergency arrangements are part of Pennsylvania and United States systems, not a separate regional service.
Do's and Don'ts
Do observe posted rules at memorials, museums, railway sites and historic buildings, and treat places of remembrance with quiet respect. Do stay on marked trails, keep dogs controlled where required and leave natural and archaeological features undisturbed. Do use licensed launches and safety equipment on Raystown Lake and other waterways. Do not trespass on railway property, abandoned industrial sites or private land, and do not assume every forest road is suitable for a standard vehicle. Tipping in restaurants and for many personal services follows customary United States practice.
Local Tips
Combine heritage and landscape rather than treating them as separate experiences: the old rail corridors, mountain passes and river valleys explain why towns developed where they did. Bedford is useful for historic architecture and springs-related history, Altoona for railway heritage, Johnstown for flood and industrial history, and Huntingdon for access to Raystown Lake and Juniata Valley scenery. Check trail and attraction conditions before setting out, particularly in winter, and allow more time than a map suggests for scenic roads through the ridges.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHowdy[hau-dee]
GoodbyeSee ya[see yah]
YesYup[yup]
NoNah[nah]
Please/You're welcomePlease / No problem[pleez / noh prob-lum]
Thank youThanks[thangs]
Excuse me/SorryExcuse me / Sorry[ek-skewz mee / sor-ree]
How are you?How ya doin’?[how yah doin'?]
Fine. And you?Good. And you?[gud. and you?]
Do you speak English?Ya speakin’ English?[yah speekin' ing-glish?]
I don't understandI ain't gettin’ it[I aint gettin' it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu, please?[kan I see the men-yoo, pleez?]
I don't eat meatI ain't eatin’ meat[I aint eatin' meet]
Cheers!Cheers![cheerz]
I would like to pay, pleaseI’d like to settle up, please[I'd lik to set-l up, pleez]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![help]
Go away!Get lost![get lost]
Call the Police!Call the cops![call the cops]
Call a doctor!Get a doctor![get a doc-tor]
I'm lostI’m lost[I’m lost]
I'm illI’m feelin’ sick[I’m feelin' sik]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I wanna buy...[I wanna buy...]
I'm just lookingJust lookin’[just lookin']
How much is it?What’s it cost?[what's it kost?]
That's too expensiveThat’s a bit pricey[that's a bit pry-see]
Can you lower the price?Can ya bring the price down?[kan yah bring the pryce down?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time is it?[what time is it?]
It's one o'clockIt’s one o’clock[its won o'klok]
Half past (10)Half past ten[haf past ten]
MorningMornin’[mornin']
AfternoonAfternoon[af-ter-noon]
EveningEvenin’[ee-venin']
YesterdayYesterday[yes-ter-day]
TodayToday[to-day]
TomorrowTomorrow[to-mor-row]
1One[won]
2Two[too]
3Three[three]
4Four[for]
5Five[fiv]
6Six[siks]
7Seven[sev-en]
8Eight[ate]
9Nine[nain]
10Ten[ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where’s a...?[where's a...?]
What's the address?What’s the address?[what's the ad-dress?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can ya show me on the map?[can yah show me on the map?]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next bus?[when's the next bus?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket to ...[a tik-it to ...]

History of Southern Alleghenies

Indigenous Homelands and Early European Settlement

The Southern Alleghenies lie within landscapes long inhabited and travelled by Indigenous peoples, including communities connected with the Susquehannock and other nations of the wider Appalachian and Susquehanna region. European settlement expanded during the eighteenth century along valleys and waterways, bringing farms, mills and trading routes. Bedford developed as a strategic settlement near the intersection of routes across the mountains, while the rugged terrain delayed dense settlement in many upland areas. Indigenous history remains an essential part of understanding the region, even though later colonial and industrial narratives have often dominated its public interpretation.

Fort Bedford and the Eighteenth-Century Frontier

During the French and Indian War, the British established Fort Bedford in 1758 on the route across the Alleghenies. The fort supported military movement and supply between eastern Pennsylvania and the Ohio country, helping make Bedford a significant frontier station. Much of the original fort has disappeared, but the town's location and surviving historic fabric reflect the importance of the corridor. Military roads, inns and commercial traffic gradually followed, tying the region more closely to markets east of the mountains and to the expanding interior.

The Allegheny Portage Railroad, 1830s–1850s

The Allegheny Portage Railroad formed a crucial link in Pennsylvania's Main Line of Public Works, carrying canal boats, passengers and freight over the Allegheny Mountains between the eastern and western canal systems. Opened in the 1830s, it used inclined planes, stationary engines and level sections to overcome the mountains before through railways made the system obsolete. Its remains around Gallitzin and the summit near Altoona reveal the engineering challenges of early transport. The National Historic Site interpreting the route is one of the region's clearest connections to Pennsylvania's canal and railway transformation.

Railways, Coal and Industrial Growth

Rail transport reshaped the Southern Alleghenies in the nineteenth century. The Pennsylvania Railroad selected Altoona as a major division point, creating workshops, employment and a company town whose identity remains strongly tied to railway engineering. Coal mining expanded around Cambria and Somerset counties, supplying railways, ironworks and the growing cities of the region. Johnstown became a major centre of iron and steel production, while rail connections moved raw materials and manufactured goods across the mountains. The industrial legacy survives in railway museums, surviving infrastructure, historic neighbourhoods and the continuing importance of transport corridors.

The Johnstown Flood of 1889

On 31 May 1889, the South Fork Dam failed after heavy rain, sending a mass of water through the Conemaugh Valley and into Johnstown. More than 2,000 people died, making it one of the deadliest disasters in United States history. The disaster exposed questions about infrastructure maintenance, private responsibility and the protection of downstream communities. The Johnstown Flood National Memorial, at the former lake site above the valley, explains the dam's construction and failure, while the city and surrounding landscape preserve the event's continuing historical significance.

Twentieth-Century Change and Community Memory

The twentieth century brought both industrial strength and economic upheaval. Steelmaking and coal remained central to employment, but mechanisation, changing energy markets and industrial restructuring reduced many traditional jobs. Communities responded through heritage preservation, education, outdoor recreation and efforts to diversify local economies. The region's museums and civic institutions often connect family history with wider themes of immigration, labour and industrial technology. In the early twenty-first century, the Southern Alleghenies also became associated with the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, a place of national remembrance shaped by a local landscape.

Southern Alleghenies in Photos

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Southern Alleghenies

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Immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes and rich history of Southern Alleghenies with Evendo, the ultimate app-based travel guide that's completely free and packed with all the essentials.

  • User-friendly navigation and 'Near Me' feature
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Embark on an unforgettable journey through the Southern Alleghenies with Evendo, the comprehensive travel guide app that transforms your trip into an enriching experience. From the breathtaking views atop Mount Davis to the historical allure of the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum, Evendo provides detailed information on all the must-see attractions. Delve into the rich tapestry of this region's history at landmarks like the Johnstown Flood Museum and indulge in local flavors at renowned eateries such as The Dream Restaurant in Hollidaysburg.

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Whether you're strolling through the lush landscapes of the Blue Knob State Park or exploring the artistic side of Southern Alleghenies at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Evendo enriches your travel experience with local tips, detailed maps, and contact information for all locations. Best of all, Evendo is entirely free – no in-app purchases, no hidden fees. Download Evendo today and unlock a world of adventure in Southern Alleghenies and beyond.

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