Secluded retreat near Ohiopyle State Park and GAP hiking/biking trail

Highlands Homestead, located a mile south of Confluence, PA, offers a ground-level, two-bedroom retreat with a private, separate entrance from our living space. In the hottest time of summer, the apartment stays comfy and cool. Parking is conveniently located beside the house. Our 15 acres include woodlands, fields, and ponds, which our guests are welcome to enjoy. Confluence, our pleasant small town, has several restaurants, a charming antique shop, a grocery store, a gas station, a kayak/rafting outfitter, banks, and a bicycle shop.

Local opportunities for outdoor recreation and education abound in this area: The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP trail), a tremendously popular hiking and biking trail from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., passes our side of Confluence along the Youghiogheny River (commonly referred to as the Yough).

The Yough river attracts thousands of adventure-seeking kayakers, rafters, canoers, and fishing enthusiasts every year. Individuals with skill levels from 0 to expert can enjoy different parts of the river for boating fun. You can join a guided raft tour or boat on your own. Highlands Homestead is close to the Ramcat put-in point, which is suitable for less experienced boaters. We have canoed this stretch, the Middle Yough, and it is minimally challenging with beautiful scenery through pristine forest. Guided raft tours run daily throughout the season.

The dam of Yough Lake is situated within easy walking distance to Confluence, and its outflow continues the Yough River's path to where it joins the Monongahela. Yough Lake swimming area is located above the dam, with a sandy beach and picnic tables along the edge of the forest. The lake has paddling and motorized boat access and is a popular choice for party barge rentals.

We're within a very few miles of Ohiopyle State Park, a gorgeous and verdant forest with hiking trails, streams, waterfalls, and a charming town with numerous gift shops, restaurants, and pubs. Guided rafting tours run daily on this more challenging stretch of the Yough starting in Ohiopyle, but experienced boaters may also navigate the rapids on their own.

The Laurel Highlands hiking trail is accessible in Ohiopyle. This trail is a 70-mile, continuous footpath stretching atop the Laurel Ridge. It winds from Ohiopyle to Rt. 56, between Seward and Johnstown, PA. The trail affords some great views of the twisting Yough River, from high above Ohiopyle State Park, to the beautiful Conemaugh Valley, near Johnstown, PA.

Fallingwater, a fabulous and unique Frank Lloyd Wright designed home, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is just beyond Ohiopyle and is open for tours, as well as another of Wright's masterpiece designs, Kentuck Knob.

Fort Necessity, the site of George Washington's first battle experience and the start of the French and Indian War, is located on Route 40 in Farmington, an easy drive from Confluence. Guided tours help teach visitors about the early skirmishes that helped in settling southwestern Pennsylvania.