23 Best & Fun Things to Do in Wellsboro (PA)

Wellsboro is a fascinating borough in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is only approximately an hour away from Williamsport through a 52-mile distance by car. This town played a crucial role as a marine and trading center at the start of the 20th century.

There are quite some fun things to do in Wellsboro, PA. Wellsboro is surrounded by scenic parks that protect particular environs of its gorge; it features mills, fruit evaporators, factories, a condensed milk production facility, a sawmill, machine shops, and more.

Wellsboro, founded and established in 1806 and 1830 correspondingly, was named after Mary Wells, Benjamin Wistar Morris’s wife, who was among the city’s first residents.

This town is the birthplace of several famous people, such as George’s Sears, an early Field and Stream Magazine writer and environmentalist, and Mateusz Stepczak, a Polish- American Mathematician.

Check out some of the best things to do in Wellsboro, PA.

Things to Do in Wellsboro, PA

1. Pine Creek Gorge Trail

Cycling through the trails of Pine Creek Gorge is one of the fun things to do in Wellsboro, PA, if you are an outdoor recreation enthusiast.

Pine Creek Gorge, which features a 65-mile path toward the Northern Region of Wellsboro, is among the most excellent biking trails in the world.

The area, which was once flourishing with lush green foliage, is now known to the people as ” The Pennsylvania Desert” due to the rise of deforestation at the start of the twentieth century.

Pine Creek Gorge is a 1,000-ft valley that stretches a 47-mile distance from Wellsboro through Waterville towards the North.

You can get the best views from Colton Point State Park and Leonard Harrison State Park, facing the Canyon.

One of the locals’ and tourists’/visitors’ most-loved locations in autumn is the Pine Creek Gorge, beside Pennsylvania Route 6 down the Tioga State Forest.

After passing through Pine Creek Gorge, the path goes through Lycoming County and the Tiadaghton State Forest. Jersey Shore is the trail’s terminus.

Address: 4797 Route 660. Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

2. Ole Covered Wagon Tours

In the charming town of Wellsboro, there is a little family-operated company called The Ole Covered Wagon Tours.

Take your significant other on a tour of the spectacular Grand Canyon in an enclosed wagon pulled by a horse.

The tour guides thoroughly explain the history of the Canyon, which can be traced to the 19th century.

The guides will tell their tale while traveling along the Pine Creek Railroad. While exploring the Canyon’s rich history, please explore its numerous attractions.

Touring the town with Ole Covered Wagon is reviewed as one of the best things to do in Wellsboro, PA, especially by couples.

A few of their services are also distinctive. For more information and upcoming activities, visit their page.

Address: 1538 Marsh Creek Rd, Wellsboro, PA 16901, United States

3. Emerge Healing Arts & Spa

Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, is home to a peaceful, cozy, and charming spa that offers full service known as Emerge Healing Arts & Spa.

This facility’s primary goal is to educate and rejuvenate its customers and open their minds to crucial daily behaviors and their impact on their lives.

You can find The Energy Healing Arts And Spa at the center of the town, which overlooks the town’s Gaslight Avenue.

This Spa also provides various spa services such as mud rap, natural nails, body cleansing, advanced skin treatment, and other kinds of massage therapy.

Getting special body treatment at Emerge Healing Arts & Spa is one of the top things to do in Wellsboro, PA, for a relaxing and stress-relieving experience.

Address: 129 Main St, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

4. Haunted Vista

For people who enjoy a horror type of thrill, ensure to explore the Haunted Vista. In a remote area of the company in the lower Wilson Creek Canyon, Anna S. Underground Mine in Rattler Mountain opened for business in 1905.

The company employed a bucket-load of coal delivered to a close depot via a cable line identical to a ski mountain chair zip atop a valley.

The astonishing sight of this device gave rise to folklore. Locals have allegedly witnessed coal workers’ ghosts roaming the slopes from Rattler Mountain’s summit.

Anna S. Mine archives and local historians haven’t been able to identify anyone who passed away. At the same time, traveling through the valley, there are reports of deaths from mule accidents and rockfalls.

The cable functioned until 1937, but when it shut down due to the Great Depression and reopened some years after, it gave rise to new ghost tales.

Address: Rattler Rd, Wellsboro, PA 16901, United States

5. Leonard Harrison State Park

Leonard Harrison State Park, a 585-acre park, is situated in the eastern corner of Pine Creek Gorge, approximately ten miles away from Wellsboro, PA.

This gorge, which is 800 ft deep and more than 4,000 ft wide, is traversed by Pine Creek, which also runs through five massive rock formations known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.

Various outdoor activities, including hiking and whitewater rafting, are available. Pass the night at the park’s campsite and awaken to its breathtaking views.

Both loggers and aboriginal Americans have utilized the Pine Creek Path. The town eventually built a railroad along the route.

Address: 4797 PA-660, Wellsboro, PA, 16901, USA

6. Pop’s Culture Shoppe

Regardless of your hobby, Pop’s Culture Shoppe has something to offer everyone, whether you are young, old, or young at heart.

You can find games like Magic the Gathering® and HeroClix® as well as timeless games like checkers and chess at the store. They can also include quick party games and thoughtful strategic games.

In addition, some toys help toddlers develop their imaginations, and the puzzles engage the mind.

Along with some nostalgic-themed games and toys, you might also discover Yo-Yos and pick-up sticks, with a range of other things.

Additionally, when you visit Pop’s Culture Shoppe, you will have access to the demo library, which has a selection of games. Explore this world of games.

Address: 25 Main St, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

7. Hills Creek State Park

Hills Creek State Park, on the Allegheny Plateau, stretches across 407 acres. This Park is one of the best places to visit in Wellsboro, PA.

The Hills Creek Lake, which spans 137 acres, occupies the Park’s center. The State Park was established in 1953 on the site that used to be a paint pigment mine.

Hills Creek, which flows through the Park, gave it its name. The construction of the dam crossing the Creek led to the creation of Hills Creek Lake.

Here, you can catch a variety of fish, including walleye, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and smallmouth, among other species that call the Lake home.

The Lake is a great place to go ice fishing during winter. Although the Lake features a sandy beach, there are no lifeguards. The waters allow sailboats, electric propelled boats, row boats, kayaks, and canoes.

You can spend the night at any of the 102 campsites at the park, and for a romantic experience with your lover, you may rent a cottage or a yurt.

This site is also home to numerous wildlife species like beavers, ospreys, black bears, wild turkeys, herons, muskrats, bald eagles, and white-tailed deer.

Address: 111 Spill Way Rd, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

8. The Native Bagel

The Native Bagel offers “traditionally made” bagels to the residents and visitors of Wellsboro, PA.

Fresh bagels are made from scratch each day by mixing, kneading, boiling, and baking the dough. The freshly made bagels with their traditionally made gourmet spread are available for purchase by customers.

Savor soup and a delicious sandwich, or sip tea or coffee. The Native Bagel offers more options than just the standard fresh bagel.

This neighborhood bagel business also serves breakfast bagels, fresh bread, native sandwiches, wraps, and espresso drinks. So for a delicious breakfast, head to The Native Bagel.

Address: 1 Central Ave, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

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9. Woodland Park

A tiny patch of forest surrounds Woodland Park. Some of its facilities include picnic pavilions, playgrounds, paved walking routes, and BBQ pits.

The freshly built pavilions, playground, and linked walking track in the Park will ensure a great time for adults and kids. Thanks to its rehabilitation project, the Park now has three new parking sites.

Well-positioned gas lights from the downtown area illuminate the wheelchair-accessible route. In addition, they have seats resembling those in downtown Wellsboro.

Skateboards, scooters, and bikes are not permitted on the walkway. The Park’s recreational facilities include a basketball court, strolling trails, horseshoe pits, and peaceful places to unwind.

Visit the woodland areas in Wellsboro to unwind while enjoying quiet meals or embark on a nature stroll while enjoying the bliss that nature brings.

Although Leonard Harrison, a lumber tycoon, purchased this 32-acre park, the facility is still open for free public use.

Address: Bryden St, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

10. Tioga Central Railroad

This 34-mile trip starts in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, and finishes around three miles later in Corning, New York’s southern region.

It’s a beautiful chance to go around the state in a conducive and convenient way. A section of the railway built in 1840 is traversed by tour trains operated from Tioga Central Line.

The Tioga Railroad connects Blossburg, Pennsylvania, with the Chemung Canal in Corning, New York.

The link between Blossburg, Pennsylvania, and the Chemung Canal, was finished before any other section of the railroad.

The spectacular fall foliage is when this well-known train journey offers the most picturesque views.

Address: 35 Charleston St, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

11. Hamilton-Gibson Theatre

Hamilton-Gibson Productions’ first objective was to create an atmosphere where the arts could flourish.

From little kids to advanced adults, people of all shapes and sizes could gain more power and discover new aspects of themselves here.

The establishment offers neighborhood theater productions, traveling performances, outings to Professional stages, school choir shows, senior readers’ theater, and youth choirs.

To give performers of all skill levels a chance to pursue their theatrical ambitions, The theater allows volunteers to produce a wide variety of performances every year completely.

Address: 29 Water St, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

12. Wellsboro House Brewery

Customers have enjoyed the service of Wellsboro House Brewery with the motto “limited quantity, high diversity, and dependably excellent”, which opened in 2013.

The first two to four house craft beers they offered were insufficient to meet demand. Six distinct house beers are available right now on tap.

The Brewery can now serve close to six house brews at all times because it has expanded its production area on-site.

Their latest brewery, on the other side of the street in the storied 1914 Train storehouse, launched in 2016 after a year of restoration and construction work.

Visiting Wellsboro House Brewery is worth adding to your list of top things to do in Wellsboro, PA, if you love beer and want to see how it is made.

Address: 34 Charleston St, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

13. Endless Mountain Music Festival

Among what to do in Wellsboro, PA, is to attend the Endless Mountain Music Festival. The Endless Mountain Music Festival is a yearly Music function held in Wellsboro where classical music is featured.

It uses the mutually beneficial link between symphonic music, the charming small-town atmosphere, and the breathtaking mountain scenery.

The Endless Mountain Music Festival strives to enrich the Twin Tiers’ educational and cultural landscape by bringing top musicians to northern Pennsylvania and southern New York.

The festival, which takes place in August for two weeks, features top musicians, fusing contemporary and classical music.

Catch their performances and sign your kids up for their instructional program for college and all ages high school students.

In this pilot program, students get the needed help composing original music using STEM and music components.

Students’ ability to evaluate their work is greatly aided by STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education.

Address: 130 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

14. Dunham’s Department Store

Dunham’s Department Store is one of the last operating family-owned departmental stores in Wellsboro. It has been in business as a well-known shopping center in Tioga County for over 100 years.

The store, which started in 1905 as a tiny grocery store, was reconstructed and expanded after being consumed in a fire. It is considered a historical site having stood the test of time through the 2nd World War.

The Store has thrived against all odds to serve the public. Even when the residents of the rural areas were cut off from the town during the depression, the store served them as a mobile store.

The present store is a three-story building which was built in 1932. So not only is it a shopping center, but it is also a place to learn the town’s history.

The departmental store is owned and run by John and Nancy Dunham with the help of Ann, their daughter. This store is the go-to place for the best deals and bargains on apparel in Wellsboro.

The store currently boasts 35,000 sq ft of a ground area brimming with the newest apparel of top quality in different outlets. Visit the store to purchase clothing for a gift.

Dunham’s had maintained excellent customer service with friendly staff and a welcoming environment, which Roy and Fannie displayed when they started the business 100 years ago.

Address: 45 Main St #1540, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

15. Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries

The nonprofit organization known as Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries, SCAS, aims to provide a safe place to remand and care for stray animals.

After Sue Cook, a native of Wellsboro, visited Utah’s Best Friend Animal Sanctuary in 2001, she was inspired to do something to help the poor condition of animals and pet owners in Tioga county.

The establishment has succeeded in saving and enriching the lives of animals in the area, providing assistance to pet owners and serving as a means of humane education for children.

Visit Second Chance Animal Sanctuary if you want a pet. You can also visit to lend a helping hand through donations. A visit to this establishment will warm your heart.

SCAS is a nonprofit establishment; as such, it is wholly funded by loving persons and businesses. The administration’s efforts are almost entirely voluntary.

Dorothy Condict, a native of Tioga County, donated the beautiful 10 acres of land where this establishment sits. The facility debuted in 2016.

The animal sanctuary released more than 800 dogs and cats for adoption into loving homes. It helped pet owners reunite with their stray pets. You may find a new feline family member here.

Address: 725 Gee Rd, Tioga, PA 16946, USA

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16. Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center

Authur Gmeiner founded the nonprofit borough-focused art and cultural institution as a tribute to the family of Arthur J. Gmeiner family.

The Center is devoted to fostering the connections between these communities’ residents, their culture, and their artistic endeavors.

The gallery allows local artists to display their work, while the studio encourages interaction and community among artists.

You can attend quilt guild meetings, art exhibits, musical performances by the Grand Canyon Photography Club, and Laurel Quilt Guild associates at the art museum’s gallery.

The facilities are open to all community members for educational usage, but you can still visit as a tourist.

If you are an art buff or one who loves culture, the Gmeiner Art and Cultural Center is one of the best places to visit in Wellsboro, PA.

Address: 134 Main St, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

17. Penn Wells Hotel

Penn Wells Hotel, which is seated on Main Street Wellsboro, was constructed in 1869, even though it underwent a significant modification in the early 1920s

After noticing the location of Penn Wells on the Historic Route 6 corridor in the early 20th century, in the center of Chicago and New York, the Philadelphia Inquirer referred to it as ” The Gem of the Roosevelt Highway.”

This Hotel is renowned for its high ceilings, mahogany wood rafts, wood-burning anteroom, and fireplaces and as a venue for receiving famous visitors like Joan Crawford and Groucho Marx.

Penn Wells Hotel boasts miles of picture-worthy biking and hiking paths, and the Pine Creek Rail Trail and the Pine Creek Gorge are also featured.

This Hotel’s dining hall offers a superb dining experience. It is ideal for hosting social gatherings such as group dinners and weddings. It also showcases historic photographs.

Penn Wells Hotel is well positioned to easily access the Arcadia Theatre, Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, Dunham’s Department Store, and the Tioga central railroad.

Address: 62 Main Street, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, 16901

18. Highland Chocolates

This nonprofit establishment features a retail shop known as Highland Chocolates, offering employment and skill acquisition training for physically impaired people.

This factory aims to better the lives of disabled people by offering free training programs and well-paid job opportunities.

This confectionery is renowned for its delicious pretzel bark; it also provides hundreds of distinctively crafted chocolates, fudge, sweet snack combos, and handmade chocolate presents for different occasions.

Highland Chocolates is currently seated at the center of Wellsboro’s historic downtown area, with reasonable proximity to other worthwhile attractions.

If you visit Wellsboro with kids, visit Highland Chocolates to treat them to chocolate and other sweet delicacies.

Address: 82 Main St, Wellsboro, PA 16901, United States

19. Arcadia Theatre

In December 1921, Arcadia Theatre opened its doors to the community. The one-screen Theatre started with only a 900 seating capacity auditorium.

The Theater had a piano, an organ, and an orchestra because silent motion pictures were the newest, allowing for musical accompaniment.

One of the earliest theaters towards the north from the Mason-Dixon line to show “talkies” was the Arcadia in 1929. It is perfect for a movie date.

When television reached its peak popularity in the 1980s and 90s, the theater suffered a fall in the influx of visitors. The management extensively rebuilt the Arcadia theatre in 1996.

When commemorating its 75th birthday, the theatre reopened with a cutting-edge, four-screen while keeping its vintage appearance.

The theater’s most admirable feature is its dinner. A live theatrical display and on-screen Movies also give it an edge over the average theatre. Visit Arcadia theatre with loved ones for a fun night out.

Address: 50 Main St, Wellsboro, PA, USA

20. Colton Point State Park

The American state of Pennsylvania’s Tioga County is home to the 368-acre park known as Colton Point State Park. Western Pine Creek Gorge area is where the park is situated.

The Park encompasses a portion of the plateau to the west, the rim of the gorge, and the creek at its base.

Picnicking, fishing, hiking, hunting, camping, and boating are popular activities at Colton Point State Park, which offers breathtaking views of the Pine Creek Gorge.

Leonard Harrison State Park, located on the east rim of the gorge, and Tioga State Forest surround Colton Point State Park.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Pine Creek Gorge was cleared but is currently overrun by second-growth forests. When the park debuted in 1936, it didn’t take long before it gained popularity.

No list of fun things to do in Wellsboro, PA, is accurate, with the absence of unwinding at Colton Point State Park with family and loved ones.

Address: 927 Colton Rd, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

21. Pine Creek Outfitters

Wondering what to do in Wellsboro, PA, for a little adventure? Pine Creek Outfitters offers a guided rafting excursion through Pine Creek Gorge.

You can safely traverse the Canyon’s level 2 and 3 rapids with the supervision of a qualified guide that will be assigned to your group by Pine Creek Outfitter.

When participating in rafting excursions, it’s essential to remember that you can prevent hypothermia by donning a wetsuit. The water is always cold, causing the trip to be chilly.

Be sure to put on as much as a 2-millimeter thick wetsuit over fleece. The outfitter also recommends wool, long underwear, water-resistant clothing, and dry suits.

Always wear a class III life jacket or other personal flotation equipment approved by the Coast Guard.

It is best to check the state of the creek two days minimum before you embark on your excursion. If you are in Wellsboro and the tides are low, you can go bike riding or hiking instead.

Address: 5142 US-6, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

22. From My Shelf Books & Gifts

The little mom-and-pop bookstore offers a wide range of services and has an “old-fashioned” feel.

This books & gift shop boasts more than 60,000 titles currently available in its space, and you can get millions in only three working days.

Thirty percent of the items at the bookstore are gently worn, and seventy percent are brand new. They work to keep the shop clean and organized so that consumers can locate what they’re looking for quickly.

They also offer an online store that offers free-shipping options. You can also buy things and get them shipped to a loved one in any part of the world.

Address: q7 East Ave #101, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

23. Pudgie’s Pizza

A regional franchise of pizza restaurants called Pudgie’s Pizza is well-known for its extensive list of pizza toppings and delicious wings.

They also provide other Italian classics like calzones, pasta, and sandwiches. Their counter-serve restaurant in Wellsboro is a modest one located next to Subway.

There are no seats at the eatery, so if you want to sit down, go to the side of the Subway. A drive-through is available for people who visit in private vehicles.

Pudgie offers a beer cave, which is unusual for Pennsylvania, where you can purchase a beer to pair with their delicious pizza. Although the setting is understated and straightforward, the food is a must-try.

Ensure to visit Pudgie’s Pizza for a delicious lunch to energize you before returning to your fun.

Address: 105 East Ave, Wellsboro, PA 16901, USA

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Plan Your Trip to Wellsboro

To get the most out of this stunning little city, plan for a long stay because with Wellsboro teeming with shops, stores, parks, and my other entertaining facilities, a single day is not enough to explore its fun.

With the help of this article, you will be able to effectively explore Wellsboro’s most significant spots and other fun-packed locations. Have fun!