By Kate Bartlett
The Kinzua Skywalk in McKean County, Pennsylvania, will be open through November 18 before it undergoes a preservation and renovation project. Take in the majestic countryside atop one of the top 10 skywalks in the world during the fall season.
The Skywalk will be closed starting November 19 until August 7, 2025 to begin the reconstruction project. The Skywalk will reopen for approximately 2 months in the fall of 2025 for leaf viewing season then close again to allow the project to continue. According to Wesley Robinson, Press Secretary for Kinzua State Park, “the biggest change in appearance will be how the structure looks both with new handrails and plexiglass, new steel to the support structure under the bridge and painting.”
Kinzua Skywalk is located within the 339-acre Kinzua Bridge State Park on the Viaduct, once the longest and tallest railroad structure at 2,053 feet long and 301 feet high. The viaduct was partially destroyed by a tornado in 2003 and reinvented as a pedestrian walkway, which reopened 2011. Visitors can stroll 600 feet out on the remaining support towers and peer miles out into the Kinzua Gorge, and gaze down through the partial glass platform at the end of the walkway.
The skywalk gives close-up views of the viaduct and wide views of the Kinzua Creek Valley. The overlook offers sweeping views of the valley, and has become a popular viewing point for fall foliage, which typically peaks the first two weeks of October. “It is unique in that it is the remains of a part of bridge that was destroyed in 2003,” says Wesley. “The Skywalk is safe and open to the public, so you can see the impacts of a tornado from the Skywalk, the natural area is a great view (especially for fall foliage), and it’s a gateway to learning more about the region.”
Visitors can also hike a short trail along the viaduct, leading to a picture taking platform under the skywalk. Further hiking opportunities are available, as well as picnicking and fishing for native brook trout in Kinzua Creek. Inside, The Kinzua Bridge State Park Visitor Center and Park Office features great views, self-guiding exhibits, and information about the surrounding area.
The rehabilitation project will take necessary steps in preservation and renovations in order to ensure The Skywalk can be enjoyed by visitors now and in the future. The multi-year project will replace and add new steel to some areas of the supports that have been impacted due to exposure to the elements throughout the seasons. During the project, the Skywalk and Kinzua Creek Trail will be closed to pedestrian traffic so the decking and railroad ties can be removed.
The project will include removal and reinstallation of certain decking and railroad ties, adding and replacing steel in worn down sections, installation of new plexiglass for the viewing area, replacing handrails, cleaning and painting of all steel portions of the skywalk.
Details remain to be finalized, but the potential timeline projects closure beginning November 19, 2024 to start project in early 2025, completion in fall of 2027. The renovation project will pause for approximately 2 months in fall 2025 to allow visitors the opportunity to view fall foliage, closing again to resume the project until completion.
For more information visit www.dcnr.pa.gov and follow Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau on Facebook for updates.
The Kinzua Bridge is both a national engineering landmark and the center of tourism and industry for the small town of Kane, McKean County, where it’s located. Locals and railroad bridge enthusiasts around the world place a high priority on the preservation and upkeep of the bridge, a responsibility that is shared jointly by the Knox Kane Railroad which carries tourists over the bridge daily and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) which owns the bridge and the state forest in which it’s located. (hrg-inc.com