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Exploring the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail with Mike Mumau
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“Starting and ending can depend on where your journey begins”
Stretching just over 70 miles, the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail winds through four Pennsylvania counties, crossing ridgelines, game lands, and private forests. Starting in Ohiopyle State Park, the trail climbs north through Somerset, Westmoreland, and Cambria, offering dramatic views, deep solitude, and hard-won miles. Our host, Marci Mowery, chats with Division Manager Mike Mumau about this beautiful area.
It's not easy terrain—steep, rocky, and carved from the Appalachian Plateau—but that's part of the draw. As Mike puts it, the trail offers something rare: real quiet. Winter hikes are his favorite, when the forest is still and snow muffles every sound but your footsteps—and maybe a dog’s, too, since pets are welcome.
Shelters appear every 8–10 miles, each with five Adirondack-style structures, two privies, and a primitive water source (bring a filter). In colder months, firewood is stocked to keep hikers warm. Maintenance is handled by the Laurel Hill Complex, supported by passionate volunteers like the Ridge Runners, many of whom began by training for the Laurel Highlands Ultra—a 70-mile trail race that requires entrants to give back with volunteer hours.
Behind the scenes, partnerships with organizations like the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy helped secure key land parcels, and some original trail builders still return to help. The trail’s 50th anniversary marks not just its endurance, but the care and vision that shaped it through the years.
Want to hike it? Call the Laurel Hill Complex. Staff know the trail and can suggest ideal sections based on your goals. For prep tips, check out Dane Cramer’s site and his book Romancing the Trail.
This is more than a trail—it’s a shared legacy. One that challenges, welcomes, and rewards those who walk it.
Key Topics:
- About Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (00:00)
- How the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Came to Be (06:23)
- What is a “Shelter Area”? (08:46)
- Long-Distance Trail Runs at Laurel Highlands (13:52)
- Reserving a Shelter (18:18)
- Learn More About Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (21:01)
Resources:
- Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
- How to Support the Trail: Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Fund
- Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) Facebook Group
- Dane’s Place (website)
- Romancing the Trail (book)
- Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Facebook page
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🎶 Podcast music provided by Evan Mongeau
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