Potter County Fall Foliage

Fall is a very special time in Potter County. The shortening daylight hours trigger the deciduous trees to begin the process of changing color and shedding their leaves. It’s the best time to see Potter County and just invites scenic drives, fall festivals, and fall foliage tours.

Autumn in Potter County is more than just about leaf lookers and scenic drives, it’s also about apple picking and pumpkin picking, and special fall festivals, fairs and Halloween celebrations. It’s about hot apple cider and delicious fall recipes.

Potter County Fall Foliage Driving Tour

The fall foliage tour runs through mostly land owned by the Pennsylvania State Forest and State Parks and goes through some of the most beautiful parts of the county. Chances of seeing wild turkeys, black bears, whitetail deer, beaver dams and other wildlife are an added bonus. Widened areas on the roads provide parking at lookouts for some truy magnificent views of the area.

Start on Route 6 six miles west of Galeton Pa and turrn south on to Rock Run Road, next to the Sylvania Restuarant, and follow this forest road until it reaches Lyman Run Road. Turn right to Lyman Run Lake and the state park area.

Continue your tour by back tracking on the paved road and continue south to the intersection of West Branch Road (SR2002). Turn right and drive to Cherry Springs State Park. Camping and picnic facilities are available.

Head south on Route 44, known as Coudersport Pike and discover the magnificent views and look outs. Watch for the sign on the right marking Mount Brodhead. Here the altitude is 2480 feet. Further along watch on the left for a lookout point known as the Switchback.

Just before Carter Camp there is a small building on the right which is the Ole Bull Museum. Ole Bull was the famed Norwegian violinist who led a band of settlers to colonize the area in 1852. The ill-fated project failed in 1855. The site of his homestaed, known as Ole Bull Castle is in Ole Bull State Park.

Continue south on Rt. 44 to Oleana. About 3 miles south is Pine Mountain look-out. Turn around and back track to Oleana.

At the intersection of Rt. 44 and Rt. 144 at Oleana turn left onto Rt. 144 south. This goes to Ole Bull State Park with it's fine camping and picnic facilities. Signs in the park lead to the site of Ole Bull's Castle. Kettle Creel affords some great fishing.

Come out of the park and continue south on Rt. 144 to Cross Fork, "Biggest Little Towwn in the World." Mountains surround the community which was once a booming lumber town, and the site of 10 pig's ears (illegal saloons) in the days of prohibition.

At Cross Fork, take the Cross Fork Junction Road. This forest road connects with Rt. 44 a couple of miles south of Cherry Springs State Park. Take Rt. 44 north to Sweden Valley and the junction with Route 6.

At Route 6 east takes you over Denton Hill past Denton Hill State Park and the Pa Lumber Museum to Galeton and Route 6 west takes you to the Potter County seat of Coudersport.

Check out the calendar of events for dates of fall festivals