Hiking Mount Nittany: Which Trail, Which Overlook, and How Long It Really Takes

If you only do one hike in State College, do this one. Mount Nittany rises on the east side of town, right above the village of Lemont. From the Mike Lynch Overlook you look straight down the valley at Beaver Stadium, the Bryce Jordan Center and the Penn State campus. The mountain is tied to the Nittany Lion name and to the legend of Princess Nittany. Thanks to decades of work by the nonprofit Mount Nittany Conservancy, which protects the land and maintains the trails, it's free to hike.

It's also steeper than it looks from campus. Here's how to pick the right route and get there without surprises.

Official source: the Mount Nittany Conservancy publishes a printable trail map and brochure at nittany.org. Free paper maps are usually in a map box on the big sign at the trailhead.

Getting to the trailhead

The trailhead is at the end of Mount Nittany Road in Lemont. Get to Lemont (it's just off Route 26, a few minutes east of downtown State College), turn onto Mount Nittany Road from Pike Street, and follow it to the end.

Parking: park along Mount Nittany Road near the trailhead or in the signed overflow lot west of it. On nice fall weekends, especially around football games and peak foliage, spaces fill up, so go early or on a weekday.
GPS: the Conservancy lists trailhead parking at about N 40° 48.691′, W 77° 48.411′. Plugging "Mount Nittany Trailhead" into your map app usually works too.
No facilities: there are no restrooms or trash cans on the trails. The Conservancy runs a carry in, carry out policy.

Choosing your route

The Conservancy maintains two blazed trails that share the climb from the trailhead. Numbered wayfinder stations (signposts at key junctions) make it easy to tell where you are on the map.

The short version: up to the Mike Lynch Overlook (about 1.2 miles round trip)

This is the hike most visitors mean when they say they "did Mount Nittany." Follow the White Trail up to Station 3, the Mike Lynch Overlook. The Conservancy lists it as about 0.6 miles each way and says to allow 1 to 1½ hours round trip, including time to enjoy the view.

Don't let the short distance fool you. The climb is rocky and steep the whole way up, and most of the elevation gain comes in that first stretch. Take your time, and expect to stop to catch your breath.

The payoff: a wide view west over the Penn State campus. Beaver Stadium is unmistakable, and on clear days you can follow the valley a long way toward the ridges on the horizon.

The full loop: White Trail (about 3.5 miles) or Blue Trail (about 4.6 miles)

Once you're on top, the trails level out. If you have the legs for it, keep going. The Blue Trail loops around the whole top of the mountain and passes six overlooks:

West: campus and downtown State College.
South: Boalsburg and the Tussey Mountain ski slopes.
Southeast: across Penns Valley.
North and northwest: Spring Creek's water gap, the Rockview area and the rooftops of Bellefonte.

On the far side, the trail runs through a quiet, wooded "secret valley" that the Conservancy manages as a nature preserve.

The Conservancy lists the White Trail at about 3.5 miles round trip and the Blue Trail at about 4.6 miles, with about 650 feet of elevation gain. The trailhead sits around 1,350 feet and the high point around 2,000 feet. Allow 3 to 3½ hours for a full loop. The Conservancy rates the hike intermediate to strenuous, mostly because of the climb at the start.

Note: the Conservancy's own pages give slightly different figures in different places, e.g. 3.5 vs. 3.7 miles for the White Trail. Treat all distances as approximate.

When to go

Every season has something:

Spring (around Mother's Day): pink azaleas bloom on the upper slopes, and mountain laurel, Pennsylvania's state flower, peaks about a month later. Migratory birds come back in May.
Summer: shady and green, with wild blueberries and blackberries along parts of the trail. Mornings are cooler and less crowded.
Fall: the classic time. Oaks, hickories, birches and maples turn, and the view of campus is framed in color. Peak foliage around State College is usually in October, but it varies year to year.
Winter: with the leaves down, you get more views along the ridge, and fresh snow shows deer, fox, turkey and even bear tracks. Expect ice on the steep sections and dress for it.

What to bring and wear

Real shoes. The trail is rocky and steep, and loose shale and sand make the way down slippery. Hiking boots or trail runners are much better than sneakers with worn soles.
Water. More than you think you need, especially in summer.
A map. Take a paper copy from the trailhead box or download the Conservancy's map before you go. Signal can be unreliable on parts of the mountain.
Bright colors. Hunting is allowed on Conservancy land in season, and the Conservancy suggests wearing orange or other bright colors whenever you hike.
Tick protection. The Conservancy specifically warns about ticks. Wear long pants and high socks, use repellent, and do a tick check when you get home.

Trail rules (and why they matter)

The mountain's thin, sandy soils erode easily, so the Conservancy asks hikers to:

Stay on the blazed trails. Old shortcut trails that run straight up and down the slope are closed because they cause erosion.
Travel on foot only. No bikes, horses, ATVs or other motor vehicles.
No fires and no overnight camping.
Keep dogs under control. Pennsylvania's dog law requires "reasonable control," and a leash is the simplest way to meet it.
Follow Leave No Trace, and pack out everything you bring in.

Make a morning of it

Lemont is a small, walkable village. After your hike, it's a nice place to grab a coffee or breakfast before heading back to town. See our café guide for nearby options. If you're visiting on a football weekend, an early-morning hike is a good way to see the stadium from above before the crowds arrive. Just leave yourself plenty of time to get back through game-day traffic.

Supporting the mountain

Mount Nittany stays open and free because of the Mount Nittany Conservancy, a nonprofit that protects the land and maintains the trails. If you enjoy the hike, consider a donation or one of their volunteer trail days through nittany.org.

Sources: Mount Nittany Conservancy, "Hike Mount Nittany" and "Trails and Maps," checked October 30, 2026. Trail conditions change, so check the Conservancy's site before you go, and let us know if something here is out of date.