Johnstown, PA Outdoor Activities

Extending up to 140 feet below ground level beneath a foothill of the Allegheny Front, the natural limestone formations of Indian Caverns yield beautiful glimpses of the Earth's inner geological mechanics. The majority of the cave's stalagmites, stalactites, and flowstone are actively growing at a pace of 1 cubic inch every 120 years, just like the hair of a petrified cave mouse. Knowledgeable guides lead tours along nearly 1 mile of the cave's length in an hour, pointing out limestone formations and such cave wildlife as brown bats and salamanders from the comfort of an artificially lighted walkway. Guides recommend that visitors wear comfortable walking shoes and a light sweater, jacket, or the warmer half of a two-person horse costume as the cavern stays a constant 56 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year.

As tour-goers gaze on the cave's beautiful features, a guide elucidates its rich history from the first limestone deposit formed 405 million years ago to its opening to the public four months before the stock-market crash of 1929. Many Native-American artifacts were found in the cave during development and can be seen both inside the cavern and at the gift shop.

More than 50 years ago, Mr. John E. Connelly set his sights on cleaning up Pittsburgh's polluted three rivers and returning them to their former glory as the Steel City's heart and soul. As then-treasurer of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, John was in a prime position to complete his ambition. With the belief that he could get the public engaged and committed to a cleanup, he decided to give the local people access to the rivers via boat tours, knowing the city's characteristic architecture as viewed from the rivers would engender a genuine appreciation for the region's waterways and environment.

After getting his nephew, Captain Jack Goessling, on board, John purchased a 100-passenger fishing boat they would christen the Gateway Clipper, which would later launch from Monongahela Wharf for the first of its many pleasure cruises. Today, with Gateway Clipper Fleet, his dream of engaging locals and visitors in the city's history and waterways thrives with a fleet that has grown to five boats capable of accommodating 2,500 guests. Through the years, the fleet has ferried more than 25 million passengers, treating them to dinner cruises, sightseeing tours, and entertainment jaunts along the clean, blue waters of Pittsburgh's three rivers.:m]]

Once deemed an eyesore, the winding, 46-mile-long Stonycreek River has undergone a transformation. Today, it abounds with natural life, such as beavers and smallmouth bass, as well as the longest stretch of continuous rapids on the East Coast. With its fleet of inflatable kayaks and tubes, Coal Tubin’ provides a variety of ways for customers to experience the area’s scenery. Knowledgeable guides lead group tours inside inflatable kayaks, whereas inner tubes leisurely float under bridges and down gentle waters lined with pine trees and perplexed coal miners who took a wrong turn. Outdoors adventures also unfold on land, where guided hikes trek to nearby vistas.

Dawn has settled its warm glow upon the trees dappling 60-acres of rolling farmland, beckoning sleepy campers forth from their tents to admire the golden morning unfolding around them. This serene scene at Bear Run Campground rings in a day filled with leisure and excitement, the calm of relaxed breakfasts followed by the splashes of outdoor enthusiasts embarking upon aquatic adventures in rental kayaks. Since its founding in 1975 by the Wehr family, Bear Run has accommodated all types of campers with a variety of lodgings, ranging from cabins and rental units outfitted with all the comforts of home to primitive tenting sites equipped with nothing but a clear space for a tent and a post to tie up pet pterodactyls. Amenities include a heated swimming pool, a game room, and a softball field, and staff also organize camp-wide activities.

With more than 700 public stairways, Pittsburgh ranks among the most-stepped cities in the United States, and the highest concentration of these antique escalators may be found in the South Side Slopes. Every autumn since 2001, the South Side Slopes Neighborhood Association has organized a walking celebration of the approximately 2,700 steps that make up the neighborhood’s pedestrian paths. Streets in the area are prone to change suddenly into tangled, narrow passageways and hard-to-spot hidden corridors, confounding drivers and fostering an old-time vibe underlined by the residents’ liberal use of the word “malarkey.” While exploring these paths with the help of a narrative program book, the curious enjoy a heart-healthy exercise and soak up historical tales such as those about the 1849 cholera epidemic or the home lives of workers at the local glass factories and steel mills.

Staffed by former collegiate and professional baseball and softball standouts, All-American Baseball Center helps students dominate the diamond with expert instruction and three state-of-the-art practice facilities. At Baseball University, players from age 8 to the college level hone their hitting and fielding skills through a comprehensive curriculum of courses—such as Hitting 101 and 102—comprising four one-hour clinic sessions that players must complete before advancing to the next class. With more than 52,000 square feet in combined space, the center's two indoor locations provide ample space for independent practice sessions with batting cages, practice fields, bullpens, and facilities for weightlifting and speed and agility training. The North Campus features an indoor regulation infield for live-action baseball and softball games, which are also held at Sardis Park, a four-field outdoor complex occasionally visited by the ghosts of legendary cornstalks.