5 Amazing Pennsylvania State Parks
Some of the most gorgeous places in the United States may be found in Pennsylvania. The Appalachian Mountains make up a big portion of this state's natural landscape, as well as major cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania has so much to offer that you could easily spend a lifetime discovering it all. The problem is that there are only so many days in a lifetime that you can devote to exploring. If this is the case, you might want to check out some of the state parks. Pennsylvania's state parks are home to some of the best scenery, hiking, and other recreational opportunities in the country.
Little Buffalo State Park is an excellent destination for families because of its proximity to Holman Lake and Little Buffalo Creek. Over 900 acres await exploration at this State park which is filled with beautiful forests and untouched nature. A pool, hiking paths, covered bridges and visitor centers are all available in the park to make the most of your stay.
Hiking, boating, swimming, fishing, animal observation, picnics, hunting, and many more activities are available in the park. Little Buffalo State Park, like many of the other parks on our list, is an excellent place to go snowshoeing, ice skating, and cross country skiing in the winter. On-site camping is possible, with some sites offering full hookups and others providing simply electric service.
The Presque Isle State Park is the ideal destination for those who love the beach but want to visit Pennsylvania. This Pennsylvania State park has lovely beaches, something you wouldn't expect to see in this state. You may explore more than three thousand acres of sandy beaches that are around Lake Erie.
The state park has a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy, including hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, hunting, and biking. Cross-country skiing and ice skating are popular winter pastimes for many tourists to the area. Visiting Cleveland is also a great idea on your trip to the state park if you're from the west. Located little over an hour and a half away, the city has a lot to offer visitors in terms of shopping, restaurants and bars.
Ricketts Glen State Park is home to some of the most magnificent waterfalls in the state. There are more than 8 in the area and one of the most beautiful ones to see is the Oneida falls. The Falls Trail System may be found in this state park and it covers more than 13,000 acres. It is a system of trails that runs next to a number of wild and free-flowing waterfalls which are very beautiful.
Lake Jean is perfect for swimming or boating because of its calm and perfect temperature for a swim. Fishing, hunting, and horseback riding are a few of the activities available, making it one of the top places to come for a fishing or camping trip. If you love winter adventures you can also go snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing which are quite fun but you need to come prepared for the cold weather, snow and slippery paths. Keep in mind that if you are going with an RV only a few campsites have hookups and a few have a few basic facilities so make sure to plan in advance and reserve your spot.
Colton Point State Park is the place to go if you want to take in some breathtaking vistas of the Appalachian Mountains. As modest as this 368-acre state park may be in contrast to some of the others, there's no denying its beauty. The fact that the camping area is compact and small is actually part of the charm and makes the entire park feel more homey. Everything is close in comparison so you wouldn’t need to walk too far to reach a nice hiking trail. One of the region's most popular hiking destinations, Pine Creek Gorge, sometimes known as Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon, is located in the park and it’s a wonderful sight.
There are plenty of trails to hike and a lot of places where you can have a picnic. Watching animals is a very fun activity for the entire family and if you are into fishing you can do it here. Snowmobiling is a popular wintertime activity which allows you to see some wonderful winter vistas from otherwise hard to reach locations of the park. The park works on a first-come, first-served basis and the facilities are very minimal and basic.
An hour and a half from Pittsburgh, Ohiopyle State Park in the south of the state provides nearly 20,000 acres of terrain for exploring. So if you're planning a vacation to the region, make sure you find the time to see both the State Park and Pittsburgh. The Youghiogheny River Gorge is right in the center of the state park. It is quite unique and beautiful, dividing the park into two parts. White water rafting is one of the main attractions you can do on the river.
Additionally, the park offers a variety of other activities such as mountain bicycling and rock climbing as well as horseback riding, hiking, picnics, fishing, and hunting. There are several winter sports to enjoy as the temperature drops, including cross country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, and snowshoeing. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, the park is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and provides great experience. Electric hookups are available at a few of the park's campsites so if you want to have electricity when you camp you need to plan accordingly.
These beautiful Pennsylvania State Parks are among the best in the state because they have the most to offer such as different entertaining activities and exploring the untouched wilderness in and around them. They are situated surrounded by forests, lakes, and mountains that allow visitors to hike, swim, cycle, fish, or kayak the nearby waters.
Pennsylvania has so much to offer that you could easily spend a lifetime discovering it all. The problem is that there are only so many days in a lifetime that you can devote to exploring. If this is the case, you might want to check out some of the state parks. Pennsylvania's state parks are home to some of the best scenery, hiking, and other recreational opportunities in the country.
5 Best State Parks In Pennsylvania
Little Buffalo State Park
Little Buffalo State Park is an excellent destination for families because of its proximity to Holman Lake and Little Buffalo Creek. Over 900 acres await exploration at this State park which is filled with beautiful forests and untouched nature. A pool, hiking paths, covered bridges and visitor centers are all available in the park to make the most of your stay.
Hiking, boating, swimming, fishing, animal observation, picnics, hunting, and many more activities are available in the park. Little Buffalo State Park, like many of the other parks on our list, is an excellent place to go snowshoeing, ice skating, and cross country skiing in the winter. On-site camping is possible, with some sites offering full hookups and others providing simply electric service.
Presque Isle State Park
The Presque Isle State Park is the ideal destination for those who love the beach but want to visit Pennsylvania. This Pennsylvania State park has lovely beaches, something you wouldn't expect to see in this state. You may explore more than three thousand acres of sandy beaches that are around Lake Erie.
The state park has a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy, including hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, hunting, and biking. Cross-country skiing and ice skating are popular winter pastimes for many tourists to the area. Visiting Cleveland is also a great idea on your trip to the state park if you're from the west. Located little over an hour and a half away, the city has a lot to offer visitors in terms of shopping, restaurants and bars.
Ricketts Glen State Park
Ricketts Glen State Park is home to some of the most magnificent waterfalls in the state. There are more than 8 in the area and one of the most beautiful ones to see is the Oneida falls. The Falls Trail System may be found in this state park and it covers more than 13,000 acres. It is a system of trails that runs next to a number of wild and free-flowing waterfalls which are very beautiful.
Lake Jean is perfect for swimming or boating because of its calm and perfect temperature for a swim. Fishing, hunting, and horseback riding are a few of the activities available, making it one of the top places to come for a fishing or camping trip. If you love winter adventures you can also go snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing which are quite fun but you need to come prepared for the cold weather, snow and slippery paths. Keep in mind that if you are going with an RV only a few campsites have hookups and a few have a few basic facilities so make sure to plan in advance and reserve your spot.
Colton Point State Park
Colton Point State Park is the place to go if you want to take in some breathtaking vistas of the Appalachian Mountains. As modest as this 368-acre state park may be in contrast to some of the others, there's no denying its beauty. The fact that the camping area is compact and small is actually part of the charm and makes the entire park feel more homey. Everything is close in comparison so you wouldn’t need to walk too far to reach a nice hiking trail. One of the region's most popular hiking destinations, Pine Creek Gorge, sometimes known as Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon, is located in the park and it’s a wonderful sight.
There are plenty of trails to hike and a lot of places where you can have a picnic. Watching animals is a very fun activity for the entire family and if you are into fishing you can do it here. Snowmobiling is a popular wintertime activity which allows you to see some wonderful winter vistas from otherwise hard to reach locations of the park. The park works on a first-come, first-served basis and the facilities are very minimal and basic.
Ohiopyle State Park
An hour and a half from Pittsburgh, Ohiopyle State Park in the south of the state provides nearly 20,000 acres of terrain for exploring. So if you're planning a vacation to the region, make sure you find the time to see both the State Park and Pittsburgh. The Youghiogheny River Gorge is right in the center of the state park. It is quite unique and beautiful, dividing the park into two parts. White water rafting is one of the main attractions you can do on the river.
Additionally, the park offers a variety of other activities such as mountain bicycling and rock climbing as well as horseback riding, hiking, picnics, fishing, and hunting. There are several winter sports to enjoy as the temperature drops, including cross country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, and snowshoeing. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, the park is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and provides great experience. Electric hookups are available at a few of the park's campsites so if you want to have electricity when you camp you need to plan accordingly.
These beautiful Pennsylvania State Parks are among the best in the state because they have the most to offer such as different entertaining activities and exploring the untouched wilderness in and around them. They are situated surrounded by forests, lakes, and mountains that allow visitors to hike, swim, cycle, fish, or kayak the nearby waters.