When you stand at the edge of Hyner View State Park, it feels like Pennsylvania has stretched itself out just for you. Rolling mountains covered in endless green, the West Branch of the Susquehanna winding far below, and a sky so wide it makes you want to take flight.

In fact, people do—Hyner View is one of the state’s most famous hang-gliding spots, where the bold launch themselves into the open air. I’ve been fortunate enough to see gliders taking off from the park’s summit and it is a sight to behold.

While the Hyner View is beautiful no matter the time of year, in autumn it becomes a colorful masterpiece. The endless ridges fade into the horizon and are set ablaze with fiery reds, glowing oranges and warm golds, as if the mountains themselves are smoldering. From the overlook, you can watch the Susquehanna carve its way through the valley below.

Hyner View provides my favorite view in all of the Commonwealth. If I’m within an hour of the park, I must stop just to take in the breathtaking view of the Pennsylvania Wilds.

But Hyner isn’t just about the view. Just a few miles down the road, Hyner Run State Park offers a quieter, more grounded escape. The park feels like one of those secret spots you stumble upon and instantly want to keep to yourself. Tucked in a narrow valley, the park wrapped in trees make you feel protected from the world outside its boundaries.

A cool mountain stream winds through the valley, drawing families to its swimming pool in summer and anglers to its trout-filled waters in spring. Trails climb from the valley floor into the surrounding forest, offering quiet paths where deer slip through the underbrush and birdsong replaces the hum of traffic.

Hyner Run is a place where camping, hiking, and simple stillness come together. Together, these two parks tell a story of contrast—one that lifts you into the sky, and another that brings you back to the forest.

On this episode, I speak with Ian Loewen. Ian is the environmental education specialist for Hyner Run and Hyner View State Parks.

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Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
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