September 01, 2026
Content sponsored by
Nicole Dumond/Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau
East & West Paden Twin Bridges.
Nestled in the heart of Central Pennsylvania, Columbia & Montour Counties are just over two hours northwest of Philadelphia. The area is renowned for its rural beauty and outstanding adventure opportunities without the huge crowds of the Poconos or Jim Thorpe. Here are some of the best ways to escape this fall into the Heart of PA.
Start with the premiere gateway event to fall in Central Pennsylvania, the 44th Annual Covered Bridge & Arts Festival. The event is one of the East Coast’s largest craft festivals. It celebrates the area’s iconic covered bridges while showcasing over 350 crafters and food vendors featuring a wide range of handmade and artisan crafts. This immensely popular four-day fall festival will be held at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds in Bloomsburg, PA from Thursday, October 8 through Sunday, October 11 this year. Hours for the event are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Parking and admission to the festival are FREE and tour buses are always welcome.
In addition to the crafters and food vendors, attendees will find wine, beer & spirit tastings, fall activities, live fine artist crafting demonstrations, a weekend petting zoo, strolling saxophonist and much more. The Covered Bridge & Arts Festival has been awarded the tag of one of the 200 Best Arts & Craft Shows in the country ten times by Sunshine Artist Magazine.
Covered Bridge & Arts Festival
Provided Courtesy/Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau
Throughout the weekend, attendees will be able to see some of the crafters working on their craft in real-time, right in front of them. From painting to photography, woodcrafts, textiles, pottery, blown glass, jewelry, handmade fudge, hot sauces, and so much more, the event will have something for everyone to find for even the pickiest of family members on the Christmas gift list. And with 30+ food vendors, there will be no shortage of delicious fall treats to enjoy as you shop.
The local landscape is comprised of idyllic river valleys, rolling hills and green farmlands, as well as charming riverside communities, forests, parks, and state game lands. In Montour County, the secluded J. Manley Robbins Rail Trail is America’s oldest rails to trails system. The area comes alive with vibrant foliage each fall, turning these parks and trails into even more scenic spots.
Ricketts Glen State Park Falls TrailOne must-see outdoor attraction is Ricketts Glen State Park, located in the northeast corner of Columbia County and extending into nearby Luzerne and Sullivan Counties. In the park, hikers can enjoy a vast network of trails that take them past more than 20 stunning waterfalls. There is also a beach, lake, campground, kayak rentals, and much more.
Instagram User @ronakp967/Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau
The Montour Preserve is also an outdoor enthusiast’s dream with a 165-acre lake perfect for fishing and boating, a bird sanctuary, maple sugaring in the early spring, and plenty of great hiking trails. For history buffs and archaeology lovers, a one-acre exposed Mahantango shale pit at the Preserve is open to the public for finders-keepers fossil hunting from dawn until dusk. For those looking for an aquatic adventure, the Susquehanna River is the longest and oldest river on the East Coast, and weaves directly through the area. The slow-moving Susquehanna is the perfect spot for a leisurely summer kayak, canoe, or tubing excursion. If fishing is on the mind, Fishing Creek is one of the best trout streams in the state.
Montour Preserve
Nostalgia is heavy in the air at Knoebels Amusement Resort, where the old-fashioned rides and secluded woodland setting evokes sweet memories of childhood. Knoebels has no entrance fee and offers free parking. The park was recently awarded the No. 1 spot in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards. The park also boasts the number one wooden roller coaster in the world — the “Phoenix” — as awarded by Amusement Today in their annual Golden Ticket Awards. Roller coaster enthusiasts visit from all over the country to enjoy Knoebels’ iconic wooden coasters, as well as the park’s newer thrill rides like “The Impulse” or “Flying Turns” – the world’s only wooden bobsled coaster.
The Phoenix at Knoebels Amusement Resort
Provided Courtesy/Knoebels Amusement Resort
Timeless & picturesque, the covered bridges of Columbia & Montour Counties in Central Pennsylvania harken back to simpler times. The two counties are home to an incredible twenty-five covered bridges, the third most in the country. Most are tucked into the quiet countryside; many are on dirt roads spanning small streams, with a gorgeous woodland backdrop. Could there be a better time to visit these historic treasures than in the onset of autumn’s vibrant brilliance!?
Esther Furnace Covered Bridge
If you want to make your visit more than a day trip to just see the Covered Bridge & Arts Festival, the area has so much more to offer families and couples alike. Explore Bill’s Old Bike Barn, visit a family farm like Rohrbach’s to do the corn maze or collect fresh fall goodies, fruits, and veggies, rent a kayak to explore Lake Chillisquaque, learn about the history of coal mining at the Pioneer Tunnel, see the majestic red deer at Rolling Hills Farm, or visit a local winery for a relaxing afternoon. There’s even a free mobile fishing passport program for angling enthusiasts looking to receive the title of Master Angler for the region!
To request a free Travel Guide and to get more information, visit: HeartofPA.com. You may also contact the Visitors Bureau by calling 1-800-847-4810.
The picturesque village of Stillwater.
Provided Courtesy/Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau
