The Ultimate Guide to Outdoor Activities in the Laurel Highlands: Sporting Clays, 3D Archery & More

Spanning 3,000 square miles just east of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands are an outdoor lover’s dream, offering adrenaline thrills on land and on water surrounded by spectacular scenery, inspiring artistic landmarks, and plenty of small-town charm. At the heart of it all is Nemacolin, a private resort that serves as a stellar home base for taking advantage of the region’s plentiful outdoor activities, as well as a conveniently located stopover for cycling the Great Allegheny Passage.

The Laurel Highlands: A Summer Travel Destination Like No Other

An expert panel by USA Today sifted through America’s endlessly compelling summer travel destinations, selected their must-see places for a summer vacation, and had their readers vote for their favorites. Not surprisingly, Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands was voted #5 on USA Today‘s “10 best summer travel destinations across the US for 2024” for its combination of thrilling outdoor activities and visionary architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Thrilling Outdoor Pursuits On and Off the Property

Enjoy a hub of fun and adventure within Nemacolin’s more than 2,200 lush, wooded acres. Even if you never step foot off the property, you’ll be spoiled for choice with outdoor activities throughout the resort. Step off for an afternoon getaway, and you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy even more.

Backwoods Trail Ride: Explore Nature’s Trails

Whether experienced in the saddle or just beginning, Nemacolin offers a variety of equestrian adventures, ensuring there’s something for every type of rider. Little ones can giddy up on Pony Rides, while riders 55” or taller can enjoy scenic Backwoods Trail Rides. The guided trail rides start at the Equestrian Center and weave through two miles of picturesque landscapes.

Sporting Clays Experience: Test Your Marksmanship

Experience the thrill of the hunt with Nemacolin’s Sporting Clays experience at the Rod & Range Club. Refine your shooting skills with moving clay targets that are fired from a trap machine to simulate wild game birds in flight. When it’s cold outside, the Sporting Clays Heated Five Stand keeps you warm while you practice your aim.

Jeep Off-Roading: Conquer Rugged Terrain

Feel a surge of adrenaline with Nemacolin’s Instructional Jeep Off-Roading experience. Explore some of the 88 miles of trails as an experienced instructor guides you through quick turns and rough terrain. This adventurous group experience can accommodate up to four people per Jeep.

The Rod & Range Club: Adventuring and Culinary Delights Combined

Across 150 acres of the Laurel Highlands, Nemacolin’s Rod & Range Club combines one of the nation’s top sporting clay facilities with 3D archery and gourmet dining experiences for a sportsman’s paradise.

Dine & Blast: Savor Gourmet Fare and Shooting Thrills

Experience the excitement and camaraderie of hunting parties of yore with Dine & Blast, an action-packed evening of shooting followed by a hearty steak dinner. Bring your own shotgun and ammunition, and test your skills with 100 targets set across the expansive grounds.

Sporting Clays: A Challenging and Thrilling Experience

The Rod & Range Club is renowned for its majestic natural environment, expert staff, and top-of-the-line facilities and equipment including its Sporting Clays Heated Five Stand. When the temperature takes a dip, the heated five stand ensures your fingers stay warm and nimble as you line up your shot.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Architectural Masterpieces in the Laurel Highlands

Just a short drive from Nemacolin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater exemplifies his concept of organic architecture with cantilevered balconies and terraces constructed atop a waterfall. Named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, it’s also stunningly beautiful and has hosted more than 4.5 million visitors since it opened to the public. Nearby Kentuck Knob, another Wright design, is a small one-story Usonian house, part of the visionary architect’s commitment to creating affordable, efficient homes shaped by the natural contours of the land. 

Ohiopyle: Voted #1 Small Town in the Northeast

Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, voted #5 on USA Today‘s “10 best summer travel destinations across the US for 2024,” comprises numerous small towns, each ideal for small-town getaways. None is more charming than Ohiopyle, situated along the Youghiogheny River. This quaint mountain town earned another exceptional accolade as the #1 “Best Small Town in the Northeast (2024)” by USA Today, and is celebrated for its rugged charm and abundant outdoor experiences.

Small-Town Charm, Big-Time Thrills

With a year-round population of less than 100 people and a handful of quaint restaurants, ice cream stops, and local shops, Ohiopyle exudes small-town charm, making it perfect for those seeking a rural getaway. But its surrounding Ohiopyle State Park, the crown jewel of the Pennsylvania State Park System, offers big-time thrills across its approximately 19,052 acres with exceptional hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting. The first segments of the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile trail that connects Pittsburgh with Washington, D.C., were completed within the park. Today, 26.75 miles of the GAP weave through its scenic landscape.

Whitewater Rafting: Conquer the Rapids in Ohiopyle

The rushing waters of the Youghiogheny River Gorge in Ohiopyle State Park are renowned for some of the best whitewater rafting in the eastern United States. Embark on the private and fully guided Whitewater Rafting on the Lower Yough experience for a three-hour adrenaline rush through Class III rapids with a pro. Add this adventure to your Nemacolin itinerary, and the resort will provide transportation and expert guides for individual, family, or group adventures on the river.

Nemacolin: Your Gateway to Adventure Travel 

Nestled in a scenic landscape ripe with opportunities for exhilarating outdoor experiences, Nemacolin stands as a gateway to phenomenal adventure travel. Tackle the resort’s sporting clays, 3D archery, trail rides and more, then embark on further adventures, whether it’s exploring the twisting, turning passages of Laurel Caverns, Pennsylvania’s largest cave; hiking Bear Run Reserve, a true wilderness experience that’s home to black bears, bobcats, and more than 50 bird species; or exploring history and walking in the footsteps of Colonel George Washington at Fort Necessity, the location of the opening action of the French and Indian War in 1754.

Plan Your Adventure Travel Getaway Today

To reserve your adventure travel getaway at Nemacolin, contact a Resort Reservations Specialist at 866.344.6957. For assistance with reservations for outdoor activities, reach out to a member of the Experience Team at 724.780.2156.