'Possum Lake is a great place to go for a quick hike or paddle. My favorite thing is to hike…read morearound the lake in the evening then head out in the kayak. The distance around the lake is, I think, about 3 or 3 1/2 miles and there are some small hills, steps, and mostly dirt or pine-needle-covered terrain. In terms of kayaking, I can paddle around all areas in about an hour. It's a convenient, easy-to-get-to location and it's open until 10pm.

We sat by the lake and walked along the water, taking in the beautiful mountain views. Families…read morewere enjoying the playground with their kids and having picnics under the available shelters. The lake itself was amazing, perfect for fishing, swimming, and boating. The surrounding trails offered a great way to fully enjoy the outdoors.

Well paved, nice for walk or run or picnic and fishing. Dog friendly. Well maintained. Lots of…read moreshades and don't need to worry to loft from the track

Beautiful clean and well maintained large park. Great family environment. Picnic tables with Grills…read moreare scatter throughout the park. Designated fishing areas. Boat rental available, prices are honestly steep. Prepare to pay close to $100 for 3 hours depending what you chose to rent. There is NO swimming area. Paragliding is allowed with proper registration. Dog friendly park. With trash receptacles and even doggy bag dispensers which I saw at the far end of the Dam Dam is walkable and a nice place to cool off and feel the breeze coming over the lakes surface.

I've now hiked Pine Grove Furnace twice -- once on a warm February Saturday morning just to get out…read moreand move, and once specifically to check out the Appalachian Trail Midway Point marker. Both visits delivered exactly what I was looking for: quiet, well-maintained woods and a chance to disappear for a bit. Parking was easy both times. I found spots right near the trailheads without circling or waiting, which immediately set the tone for a low-stress hike. Even better? Across both visits, I saw a grand total of three other people. Three. If you're looking for seclusion and space to think, this is a solid choice. The trails themselves are clearly cared for. They were well-maintained, free of trash and debris, and the recent tree work was evident in the best way -- cleaned up, safe, and thoughtfully handled. Blazes were easy to follow and intersections were clearly marked, so navigation on the ground wasn't an issue at all. One important heads-up: I had zero cell service with Verizon either time I was there. None. Plan ahead. Download your maps, save your trail info offline, and don't rely on pulling anything up once you're in the woods. It's peaceful... but it's disconnected. Beyond the trails themselves, there's a lot to appreciate in the area -- from Appalachian Trail landmarks like the Midway Point marker to the surrounding natural beauty that makes this part of Pennsylvania so special. It's one of those places that feels quietly significant without being overrun. If you're looking for a quiet hike, a reset, or just some time in well-kept woods without crowds, Pine Grove Furnace is an excellent option. Peaceful, scenic, and exactly what it should be.

Cute little campsites. Has everything you need. With tall tall tall tall trees. Very green. We…read morereally enjoyed it here. It's perfect for families with kids and there are little playground areas to enjoy. The bathrooms were overrun and dirty so a head's up on that. The lakes and beach areas were cute and very kidsy for the little ones. I found the waters way too murky for my preference but if you love bullfrogs and lily pads in black water then this is the spot for you. I just can't do too much algae overload.

Easily marked hiking trails, clean restrooms. Nice mix of easy and difficult trails. Plenty of…read morepicnic tables and grills.

Beautiful Park, quiet and peaceful surroundings-had a nice picnic with my husband. Exercise walking…read moreup steps to get a beautiful view of the lake. Will enjoy visiting again.

I was here in the winter time so I am guessing that this place is even better in the warmer…read moreseasons. There's a great trail around the lake, the furnaces are there with some nice information about the history of the area, so well constructed shelters to reserve for your group, and even more trails to explore that go across the hill and across the road. I feel like I barely saw a fraction of the area on my 4 mile hike, so I'll be back.

Pennsylvania is home to some of the best Parks! Greenwood Furnace Park is one of them!…read more They have over 10 different hikes all in a variety of difficulties. For example, part of The Standing Stone Trail is in the Greenwood Furnace Park! The trails go past areas including beaches, dams, forests, historic buildings and more! At times the hiking trails became overgrown. If hiking is not your thing they also have boating and fishing options. Obviously, the lakes in the park are usually packed with canoes and kayaks. When it comes to fishing, trout is sought after! After day-time activities you can cool of at the sand beach located on the lake. Around that area they have pagodas and barbecues that are great for picnicking! They also have a playground with multiple slides for the kids! During the winter time, they also have plenty of activities including snowmobiling, sledding and ice skating! The bathrooms here are new and clean so you can change into your bathing suit at the park! I would highly recommend this Park!

IGNORANT RUDE STAFF. Singled my 9.5 son out and would not let him go past ropes b/c "his stroke…read morewasn't strong enough" EVEN THOUGH he swam back just fine unassisted with no struggle AND we were here over a year ago when he was only 8yrs old and jumped off the same platform 10+ times with 0 issues and not a problem from any of the dozen life guards (I have multiple videos to prove this). Also, there were many small kids out there and they did not require any of other kids to take the test. Our son was the only child SINGLED OUT. When he literally did the same swim/jump when he was 1 year younger here safely many times AND as parents we were watching and more than ok with him doing it, there is no reason for them to ruin his day and keep him from hanging out with his brothers and cousin. The staff here are INCOMPETENT and IGNORANT, including the snarky manager Julia!!! Just BE WARNED that they can single a child out arbitrarily and pass/fail them on a whim from teenage staff even after you pay and ruin your child's day! Since your response was spin and avoided all FACTS!!! Here are some questions that you IGNORED... Mt. Gretna Lake and Beach why was my son "safe" to multiple lifeguards a year prior who allowed him to go past the rope many times and do the jump? (I have video evidence) Were they not doing their job??? Why was my son the only child targets by the lifeguards and made to do the test? There were many children that day his size or smaller. That included a boy who was terrified to jump and paced the dive for nearly 10min holding on for dear life. More importantly, the boy could not swim at all and his parents had to bring him a tube to drag him back. My son swam unassisted last year and on Sunday. Not a single lifeguard whistled or said a thing to the terrified boy and his parents and they even allowed him to go past the rope after that whole incident. I also have video footage of this. What do you have to say about this incident that went on for 10min and was obvious to anyone there that day? Your staff is incompetent, unprofessional, and unreasonable. You targeted my family and let other major safety concerns slide. I was/am furious and will spread her word. Good thing everything on here in FACT and I can prove with videos unlike your biased spin! I'd love your answers to the above publicly!!!!

Fun place to go for a refreshing day at the lake & toes in the sand. Highly recommend, and don't…read moremiss the Jigger shop just across the street, or the Hideaway restaurant also 1/4 mile from the lake.

The Canadian Geese are not the only ones delighting in the quiet, manicured beauty offered by the…read morelake/park. I enjoyed a walk around the lake on this last full day of winter 2025. Italian Lake is a wonderful outdoor space for observing waterfowl, as well as for walking, sitting, dog walking, or even picnicking in summer.

4/30/26 Beautiful views all around--gorgeous lake w/fountain sculpture on 1 side & spray fountains…read moreon the other. Azaleas & flowering princess trees in bloom. Docile Canada Geese feeding lakeside. Picturesque neighborhood of lake-facing homes 1 street over w/many English style cottages w/stone or brick facades & shaker shingle roofs. Covered concert stage & uncovered bench seating is ready for summer concert season. Center bridge could use new paint on rails. Picnic tables would be nice addition, but then it might require more maintenance to keep area trash-free. Street parking is available on either side of lake.

I love this park! Love the trails, the lake, the picnic areas, and boat rentals…read more Wish the park would keep the beach swimming area clean. There's always loads of geese/dog poop. The sand should be combed daily no matter if it's closed. Twice I've gone there and swimming is closed due to contamination or algae.

Lovely park! I've mostly done hiking there which has always been great. It's beautiful and there's…read morelots of space.

Kevin was so great and accommodating! On call while you're…read morein the water. Knowledgeable of the trails and very covid-conscious. Choose a nice day and rent a kayak or 2 with friends. The sky is so beautiful and sun was out to warm up a winter day!

Again went on a catfish trip with Kevin and it will not disappoint you . He is a great guide and…read morealso a awesome person . Very informed with regards to all aspects of freshwater fishing and gear.

Great selection of paddleboards and excellent service. Also have kayaks, leasing, lessons, and…read moretrips. Store is cute and personnel wonderful and informative.

I rent kayaks from here. The current price for a single-person kayak is $26 for 2 hours (which…read moreincludes kayak, paddle & life-jacket), then $8 for every hour after that. The kayaks are already lined up at the launch point until the day is over. Go play, then after you return your rental gear, go pay. The Susquehanna River is a gentle river...the water is more like that of a bay or a lake. There are beaches and islands to explore. There are marinas and and docks so there is some traffic areas with boaters and jet-skiers, but it isn't daunting...just stick to the river bank until you're comfortable...you will be paddling in the middle of the river, soaking up the view like a pro before you even realize it! The staff is really, really nice, friendly and helpful. I highly recommend spending the day on the Susquehanna and Shank's Mare. note: the launch point is directly across the shop where there is public parking, picnic tables, docks, fishing, duck feeding, etc.