Loading...

🍁 Fall is here! Check out our foliage map to plan your autumn hikes! Learn more.

Mt. Nittany Loop

Directions
Map
Pictures
Send to App
Distance:
5.2 Miles / 8.4 km
Type:
Loop
Difficulty:
Moderate
Time to Hike:
2 hours, ~36 minutes
Features:
Surface Type:
Dirt
Town:
State College, Pennsylvania
Get Directions:
40.811461, -77.806958
Added:
March 15, 2021
Updated:
March 15, 2021
Guide by:
Copy Trail Link Hiking this trail? Send a friend or family member a link to this trail guide for your own safety. Hike at your own risk (disclaimer)
Loading...
Loading...
713'

Total Change
1,034'

Ascent
964'

Descent

Download the Trail Route for Offline Use

Supporters get exclusive access to download trail routes to the MyHikes app for offline use. Stay prepared on your adventure, even without an internet connection! Become a Supporter today to unlock this feature and hike with confidence.

Send to App

Key Takeaways

  • The Mt. Nittany Loop is a 5.2-mile moderate hike near State College, PA featuring a steep initial climb and rewarding overlooks.
  • The trail is marked with blue blazes and offers stunning views of Happy Valley from multiple overlooks, especially the Mike Lynch Overlook.
  • Dogs are allowed on the trail, but must be leashed; parking is available near the trailhead.

Mt. Nittany Loop

The Mt. Nittany Loop hike near State College, Pennsylvania is a moderate 5.2-mile loop trail that features a challenging mountain climb and several overlooks and vistas including a stunning view of Happy Valley.

This is an iconic hike if you are in the State College area. The Mike Lynch Overlook is the gem of the hike with amazing views of Happy Valley, but there are a total of 6 overlooks along the blue blazed trail. While the overlooks are the main focus of this hike, the entire trail system is beautiful, and not to be missed. The blue blazed loop is the longer loop, but there are some options up top to shorten the hike if you aren't up for the whole thing.

Difficulty
I kept the difficulty as "moderate", although some will no doubt find the initial clime from the trailhead to be quite challenging. You'll climb about 600 feet in just over 1/2 mile. The trail is rocky and steep, reaching 20% grade in several places. Once you move past the initial climb, the rest of the hike is fairly flat.

Blaze Color
This trail follows blue blazes.

Parking
Hikers will find parking at the coordinates provided, adjacent to the trailhead.

Pets
Dogs are allowed if leashed.
Explore 25 trails near State College, PA
  1. Parking

    40.811461, -77.806958
  2. Main Trailhead

    40.811552, -77.806935
No community routes found. To add your own hike as a Community Route for this Trail guide, leave a Trip Report with an attached GPX file.

Hazards

Ticks - Lyme Disease More Info (CDC)

Seasons

All

Blaze Color

Blue

Photo Albums

+ Add Photo Album

Upload your photos from the trail to help others know what to expect.

Trail Write-up By

Preview of the MyHikes mobile app interface

Track, Log, and Explore Hikes with the MyHikes App

Explore Autumn Foliage

No Change
Some Color
Low Color
Moderate Color
High Color
Peak Color
Past Peak
Sept 1 Sept 8 Sept 15 Sept 22 Sept 29 Oct 6 Oct 13 Oct 20 Oct 27 Nov 3 Nov 10 Nov 17 Nov 24
Shop Landscape Prints
Shop our landscape prints from the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania

Trip Reports (Reviews)

Ready to help fellow hikers? Add a trip report to share your experience and provide valuable insights for those planning their next hike. Your review makes the trail better for everyone.

Your opinion matters! Be the first to rate this trail.

Weather Forecast

In State College, PA

Explore Hiking Trails

You May Also Like

Colorado's Million Dollar Highway - Plan a day's drive adventure along the iconic Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Explore the best short trails, roadside stops, waterfalls, vistas, ghost towns, and hot springs within a ~6 hour road trip.
Explore

Colorado's Million Dollar Highway

Plan a day's drive adventure along the iconic Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Explore the best short trails, roadside stops, waterfalls, vistas, ghost towns, and hot springs within a ~6 hour road trip.

Read
New York's Best Waterfalls - Whether you're planning a day hike, roadside stop, or a leisurely short walk, this guide provides hikers, travelers, and locals alike with 63 different locations to over 100 scenic waterfalls to help plan your next adventure!
Explore

New York's Best Waterfalls

Whether you're planning a day hike, roadside stop, or a leisurely short walk, this guide provides hikers, travelers, and locals alike with 63 different locations to over 100 scenic waterfalls to help plan your next adventure!

Read

Before you boogie...

Find our trail guides useful? Consider becoming a Supporter to unlock perks!

MyHikes is an indie platform that makes exploring public trails easier for everyone. The platform has no investors, no ads, and is owned and operated by one person, Dave Miller. Dave has personally mapped and written over 1,800 trail guides on MyHikes for the public to explore. MyHikes has helped millions outdoor enthusiasts plan their next adventure.

But it takes a lot of time 🕦, money 💰, work, and espresso shots ☕ to run MyHikes, including hiking , mapping , writing , and publishing new trails with high-quality (accurate) information... along with software engineering (coding) the platform like building new features, website and mobile app development (iOS and Android), site maintainance . and much much more.

Supporters unlock website and mobile app perks with an annual one-time payment of $25 (you renew) 😎👍. Or you can simply make a Donation of your choice. Otherwise, you can support us by telling your friends about MyHikes - both quick and free 🎉

Admin user profile picture

Dave Miller
MyHikes Founder