I learned about the Vincent DiFilippo Nature Preserve through social media and was genuinely…read moresurprised to discover it's less than 20 minutes from my house--yet I had never heard of it. This has been happening more and more lately, and I've been having a lot of fun discovering these close-to-home, beautiful outdoor spaces. Thankfully, this preserve did not disappoint. According to the preserve's website, this 54-acre nature preserve sits along the Conodoguinet Creek and serves as an important natural habitat featuring meadows, wetlands, and ponds. It offers creek access for kayaking and fishing, and the ponds are also open for fishing. Visitors can choose between an almost 2-mile outer loop trail or a shorter 1-mile inner loop trail, both clearly marked and suitable for walking, hiking, and biking. One section of the outer loop provides views of a bald eagle nesting area. The website notes that dogs are not permitted. I visited on a beautiful, though chilly, first Sunday in January. When I arrived around 9am, I found a large gravel parking lot with just a handful of cars. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of clearly marked handicap parking--always nice to see thoughtful accessibility. While the website states that dogs are not allowed, I encountered multiple leashed dogs during my walk (some even sporting sweaters), and several posted signs reminded owners to keep dogs leashed and clean up after them. It's possible the website is outdated, but based on what I observed, dogs definitely seem to be a common sight here. The crushed stone paths combined with the very flat terrain made this an incredibly relaxed and easy walk--perfect for a laid-back Sunday morning. After reviewing the trail map, I chose the Black Trail, which follows the Conodoguinet Creek and passes the designated eagle nesting area before looping back to the parking lot. I took my time, as usual, and the entire walk lasted about 45 minutes. The creek was especially beautiful that morning, with a thin layer of ice glistening in the sunlight. Homes perched high above the creek added to the scenery, and there was plenty of wildlife activity--birds flitting about and squirrels clearly enjoying the crisp morning air. While I didn't spot any eagles on this visit, the signage notes that they frequent the area between January and June, so I'm hopeful I'll catch a glimpse on a future visit. One thing to note: while the preserve is lovely, it does come with a fair amount of residential and roadway noise due to nearby homes and streets. This isn't a secluded, deep-woods experience. Expect to see other visitors, hear phones ringing, and encounter everyday neighborhood sounds. That said, the Vincent DiFilippo Nature Preserve is a solid community space for getting outside and stretching your legs. While I personally prefer quieter, more remote nature experiences, this is a safe, well-maintained, and accessible option for locals looking for a quick and easy nature walk close to home.

This trail is so well maintained with benches placed periodically throughout. It's mostly flat and…read morean easy, relaxing walk.

Oak Park Trail is a short walking / hiking trail recently added by Lower Paxton township. There's a…read moreheavily wooded loop, with minimal elevation gain. Trail runs along a creek and tends to be muddy during spring. 2-3 spots for parking off of a small gravel lane via Oak Park Road, off of Locust Lane, near Central Dauphin Middle School.

Absolutely love this park. The trails are clean & wellkept…read more I usually walk my dog here & you can see a bunch of wildlife!

Wildwood Park is a gem tucked just outside the city--and visiting during their Art in the Wild…read moreexhibit makes it even more magical. I went in August 2025, right as 19 different outdoor art installations were scattered along the three-mile loop trail. Each piece was beautifully creative and thought-provoking, and I loved how so many of them used natural materials gathered right from the park itself. It made exploring feel like a treasure hunt--you never knew what unique creation would be waiting around the next bend. The park itself is gorgeous and so well-kept. Trash cans were strategically placed and clearly emptied often, so everything looked clean and inviting. Bathrooms? About as good as you could hope for in a community park--clean enough that I didn't even consider detouring for a gas station stop on the way home (and that's saying something). Even on a busy Labor Day weekend, parking was easy. With four different lots, I never felt stressed about finding a spot. I also noticed a pavilion by the Nature Center--there was a baby shower happening while I was there, which seems like the perfect use of the space. Speaking of the Nature Center: it's bigger than you'd expect and doubles as a gift shop and interactive learning spot. There are activities for kids, friendly staff, and my personal favorite--a birdwatching corner with huge windows and binoculars set up so you can spy on the feeders outside. Honestly, I could've sat there all day. The trails are paved, easy, and family-friendly. I saw strollers rolling, little ones running ahead, and older folks carefully strolling with canes. It's accessible, peaceful, and filled with the simple beauty of wetlands, wildlife, and woodlands. Wildwood Park is free, beautiful, and absolutely worth the trip. Pack a picnic, bring your walking shoes, and give yourself time to wander, wonder, and maybe even spot some art in the wild.

Very nice place to visit and see exactly what you are looking for or interested in buying…read more The Young Lady that owns the Outfitters is knowledgeable of all the different types of kayaks, canoes and boats she sells! The experience made me buy one of the Hammer Kayaks. If you're looking for something affordable or expensive, this is the place you should check out! Huge selection of options available and tons of accessories for every age! I'm also very happy with the prices for everything and would recommend to visit and try spending time there! After spending 3 hours looking at multiple options I found exactly what I wanted. This is also no pressure and you can check out the boats for your experience buying! Thanks for your advice and experience helping me understand what I wanted!

Stopped in at Blue Mountain Outfitters because we are looking to purchase kayaks. We are…read morerelatively new to the activity but know what we want. We wandered around the small, cluttered shop for 15 minutes before anyone asked if they could help us or what we needed. When we did talk to a salesperson at the store he was knowledgeable and straightforward. Unfortunately, they did not have kayaks for us. There was one there that fit my requirements but it was already sold. When we asked, we were told they have no idea if or when they would get another one like it. For that reason, I cannot recommend them for kayak sales, however, their stock of paddles, life jackets and other accessories was unparalleled.

This is one of my new favorite hiking spots. Private parking spot (small) but your car is safe away…read morefrom the road. They have four trails, blue, yellow, white and orange (which is the Conestoga Trail). We hiked the yellow and blue. Each is on either side of the creek. The trails follow the creek out to the Susquehanna. When you are nonspot hiking takes between 1-2 hours to finish the whole thing. It is so beautiful here. The path directly follows the river and it varies in difficulty from flat ground to stepping over rocks to boulder climbing. It is fantastic! You can cross various fallen trees to get to the other side of the creek (it is safe the trees are stable and huge). So peaceful and quiet, until you hear the many waterfalls and rapids! Definitely going back to cheek out more trails. Only downside is limited parking. Went on a cloudy day.

This is an amazing place! So very peaceful the trail is challenging enough not like you are…read moreshuffling down a mountain. Beautiful birds and the sound of rushing water early in the morning was awesome! I cant say enough about this place only downside is lack of parking but it's worth getting up bright and early to catch a spot I will definitely be back

This was an amazing free event posted in December 2025. I spent over an hour from the trains…read moredisplay, to the cooking classes, and the fort couture such a beautiful festive time at Fort Hunter.

This is my beautiful, peaceful view of the Susquehanna River at Fort Hunter Mansion on the first…read moreday of May while eating my BonBon Tea lunch. Fort Hunter is a relaxing place to walk, sit, and enjoy the beautiful, serene views of the Susquehanna River.

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.

After my Yelp friend David H. posted about this small gem last month, I had to take a look myself…read moreas I have been in the area numerous times but had honestly never heard about this place. Just to keep the history lesson short, it was built by York County in 2007 and it is one of a series of ten overlooks that are at different points in the county all of which give views of the Susquehanna River. susquehannariverlands.com/the-great-outdoors/scenic-overlooks/highpoint-scenic-vista-rec-area/ The set up is fairly simple. There is a small parking lot at the base of the overlook on Hilt Road. At the base there is a picnic bench and a port-a-blaster along with some literature about York County parks/area trails. From there it's up and around the trail which is a 1/2 mile loop with five way point stops that I guess are made to have you appreciate the view from different angles? At the top the view is very nice. It's literally the same as if you were over at Samuel S. Lewis State Park except that now you're two-ish miles closer to the river. The overlook from Samuel S. Lewis is higher and is visible from here and the top of the vista here is very visible from Sam Lewis. We were here around 35 minutes and the parking lot was packed but people were at different point of the incline and on other trails nearby so things never felt cramped or rushed. While I'm not necessarily sure that this place needs a return visit, I'm glad we came and I appreciate David putting this one on my/everyone's Yelp radar as it is a unique spot worth a brief stop.

it was very nice and peaceful, I just thought I'd be seeing more & that there would be a longer…read moretrail or something to walk on , other wise no complaints.

I am a frequent bike-rider on this wonderful and wild trail. An extremely diverse trail that goes…read moreon for around 20 miles! Pines, hardwoods, mushrooms, river views, mosses, stones, animals galore! Terrific for a fair weather picnic or just a stroll. I have gone here in all seasons! It's just lovely when the snow starts falling too!

If you're looking for an easy but super cool hike with big payoff, Hammonds Rocks in Michaux State…read moreForest is a must. I stopped by on a warm, sunny October Sunday morning while in the area for the National Apple Harvest Festival (about 30 minutes away), and somehow had the whole place to myself. It was so peaceful--just the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze and the occasional thud of acorns falling from the trees. The walk in is short and easy--basically a flat stroll past a couple of informational signs to reach the boulder outcropping. From there, the fun begins! Hammonds Rocks is about 400 feet long, with massive stone formations to climb, wander, and explore. I spent about 45 minutes hopping from stone to stone, taking photos, and checking out different angles of the formations. Even without climbing, there are plenty of spots to enjoy the view, though the tall trees do block some of it. Still, with the leaves just starting to turn to their fall colors, it was absolutely beautiful. The info signs are worth a pause, too--they really put things into perspective. One noted that when the sediments making up these rocks were deposited, the spot where I was standing was on the shore of a great ocean...530-600 MILLION years ago. Wild. Absolutely mind blowing! As for access: don't panic when Google Maps tells you the next few miles are unpaved. The gravel road is manageable if you take it slow and keep an eye out for some monster ruts. (Speaking from experience: this 40-something woman in her beloved Alfa Romeo made it just fine.) Just don't attempt in winter without knowing what you're getting into--the roads aren't maintained in snow or ice. Overall, Hammonds Rocks is an easy, low-effort, high-reward stop. Whether you're climbing, photographing, or just taking in the history and scenery, it's a great way to spend part of your day in Michaux.

This is the worst camp site ever in the ground. Are the rocks very hard to get a good steak in the…read moreground. The campers that come there are disgusting. There was this fat white woman with her kid kid is noisy and very rude. Very intrusive in my area and she never scolded him once.The rangers are nasty liars they judge you the accuse of things fine for some thing that wasn't posted so they fined us and we didn't know that we couldn't do So we got fine for it