Did you know Centre County has a pair of waterfalls? Hike to them in this tiny township
Burnside Township at a glance
Population: 411 (based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 census)
Landmarks: Yost Ridge Road vista, Fields Ridge Road vista, Burnside Township Community Park
Where to eat: Pack a bag
What else to do there: Powersports, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, hunting, fishing, camping, sightseeing
More info: dcnr.pa.gov/StateForests/FindAForest/Sproul
Dominated by tens of thousands of acres of Sproul State Forest, Burnside Township is a treasure for outdoor enthusiasts and is home to Centre County’s only waterfalls.
Nearly half of the township’s residents live in Pine Glen, an area so small you could almost miss it if you blink too long. But for those that may live among more deer than people, that’s part of the charm.
“It is rural and very peaceful. You live there because that’s what you want. You don’t live there because you want services, let’s put it that way,” said Wanda Guenot, the township’s secretary and treasurer, and a resident for more than 50 years. “That’s the reason we all live there. We like the people and it’s serene.”
The county’s northernmost community may have a case for some of the most experienced home cooks in the county. With no restaurants in the township, residents have to either whip up some home cooking or travel elsewhere for a bite to eat.
Township Supervisor Brett Umbenhouer, who has lived there for 20 years after moving from a Berks County community that is about 10 times larger, described residents as welcoming and passionate about the area.
“It is quiet,” Umbenhouer said of the township. “I love the outdoors, so it offers that opportunity for me to boat, hunt, fish and just get out into nature. It’s a great place to raise a family.”
Before you pull out your camera to photograph one of the county’s most remote natural attractions, you may want to make sure you have directions or a map handy. Here’s how to get there.
How to find the only waterfalls in Centre County
The unpaved parking area is near the intersection of state Route 144 and Bloom Draft Trail. As you approach from either direction, you will see a sign for the Chuck Keiper Trail that has an arrow pointing toward the parking area.
Following the Yost Run trail loop, the hike to Yost Run Falls covers about 1 1/4 miles. The hike is downhill on the way there and uphill on the return. There is an elevation change of about 450 feet.
The trail is fairly well-maintained and a jogging stroller can be used for the majority of the hike. The loop is marked with orange blazes and its difficulty increases the closer you get to the falls.
Where do you go after you park?
When you reach the first fork in the trail, you’ll come across two gated roads. Go around the black and yellow gate on your left to continue.
You’ll eventually come across two hunting camps. When you reach the second that is slightly more than a mile into the hike, head to the right and follow Yost Run downstream. The trail becomes narrow.
Continue for about 0.17 miles and you’ll reach Yost Run Falls, one that is about 10-15 feet tall, separated into three tiers and surrounded by forest and moss-covered rocks.
You won’t have to go much further to find Centre County’s other waterfall. Similar in size, Kyler Fork Falls can be found just a few hundred yards downstream on your left.
Hikers are able to see the falls from the trail, but will need to cross Yost Run to get close. Your feet will likely get wet unless there’s a helpful pile of logs.
What else to do in Burnside Township
It won’t be confused for State College, but there are other things to do in Burnside Township if you know where to look.
There are two scenic vistas on Yost Ridge Road and Fields Ridge Road that overlook the Susquehanna River. You can drive to at least one of the vistas, which would be showstoppers in the fall.
The township’s park, 611 Pine Glen Road, has a baseball field, a pavilion, a makeshift library and a playground with a slide, a climbing wall and other equipment. New bathrooms, a paved parking lot, new playground equipment and a walking path are expected to be installed by this summer thanks to a grant the township received.
The park is also home to the memorial stone for Army Sgt. Andrew R. Jodon, a township resident who in 2005 was killed in action in Iraq.
If you’re looking for something to add to some of your meals, you can try Village Eatinghouse. A well-known staple on Centre County’s culinary scene, the business offers a line of dressings, marinades and sauces nationwide.
Though its location in the township has become a seasonal spring business, Nala May Farm & Nursery offers blossoming flowers and plants, locally made goods and some produce.
