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    Elk State Park

    3.0 (1 review)

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    4 years ago

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    Parker Dam State Park

    Parker Dam State Park

    4.7(12 reviews)
    25.8 mi

    I visited it twice this summer for a little swimming and hiking after just googling it. It far…read moreexceeded my expectations. I love open water swimming, so I was pleased to have an area dedicated to swimming. Ok, I wish we could swim in the whole lake, but I'll take what I can get. The man-made was well used by all and seems like a nice place for people that can't get to a real beach. It seemed very family friendly. Good place for picnics. Several good hikes ranging from 20 minutes upward. The staff in the station helped me pick one that was just perfect for what we would looking for. Enjoy our state parks!

    Been to MANY state parks across the state and have definitely been to better. We arrived and the…read moreweather was not great in early June. (They were calling for a possible tornado and we left early in order to get to the park before the bad wether.) We got there an hour early before check in and our cabin wasn't ready. Fine! We drove around and explored the park. There were booked pavilions with kids birthdays and a couple of graduations. We saw one park ranger with a tactical vest on and couldnt figure out why. We've NEVER seen rangers with those types of vests on especially since he was only walking around checking in with the kids birthday parties and graduations. Seemed totally excessive for the tactile gear. We came back 15 minutes before check in to the office thinking they would give us the key since the horrible weather started and they still told us to come back at 3. It was a torrential downpour and calling for a tornado we were forced to wait in our car for the 15 minutes. Went back in at 3 and they finally gave us our keys. We stayed at a cabin and the bathrooms definitely need a HUGE remodel. Once the rain stopped the ranger in the tacticle gear made it a point to come by our cabin and creep around. We thought that was weird. We stayed 4 nights and every single night the cabin beside our played very loud church music. It started at 6pm and went on until about 10 pm. Every. Single. Night. The whole cabin colony heard it. Quiet hours were to start at 9 pm. No one from the park office ever told them to stop playing their church music. We had no peace and were forced to listen to it for our entire trip every night we were at our cabin. We will not be back to this park. There are plenty of other state parks that are WAY more welcoming than this one.

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    Parker Dam State Park
    Parker Dam State Park
    Parker Dam State Park - Outside the CCC.

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    Outside the CCC.

    Clarion Highlands Trail

    Clarion Highlands Trail

    5.0(1 review)
    50.3 mi

    Please note that the address shown isn't either end of the trail, nor is it the trailheads. It's…read morebased on the Trail Link maps of where the parking is at the east end. And it's not even close to where my husband Rick and I began our ride on the trail. Anyway, the Clarion Highlands Trail is part of a network of bike trails centered around the Oil City/Franklin/Emlonton/Polk, PA areas. The cluster of trails includes the Sandy Creek Trail, the Allegheny River Trail, the Samuel Justus Trail, as well as this one. You can ride them in any and all combinations for a truly fascinating ride. I should let you know that the Clarion Highlands Tail is the roughest of them all. The trail is not only the highest in Pennsylvania, it's also in many places a dirt trail with only ruts to bike through. And it's not always well marked. A good map or your GPS will help while cycling. And a mountain bike is an absolute must--no other bike can traverse this trail in places. Finally, the trail is isolated and only experienced cyclists, or newbies with a guide, should attempt it. But if you are an experienced cyclist, the trail is a very rewarding ride. My husband Rick and I combined it with a trip on the Sandy Creek Trail. We began our ride on the Sandy Creek Trail and headed east out of the junction with the Samuel Justus Trail and the Allegheny River Trail. We saw some restrooms at the junction. If you're beginning your trip on the Sandy Creek Trail like we were, better stop here. These are the only restrooms on the trip. The segment on the Sandy Creek Trail was easily the easiest on the trip. The trail is paved all the way and it's the most scenic. About 2/3rds the way between the trail junctions and Cranberry Rockland Road, we passed through a couple of tunnels. But so much for the Sandy Creek Trail--this review is after all about the Clarion Highlands Trail. We reached the trail at Lake to the Seas Highway/28th Division Highway. As I mentioned before, here the trail turns more difficult. While this is a rails-to-trails conversion, I've been unable to determine the history of the route. You should also be aware that a lot of the bridges that used to carry the rail tracks across the local roads have been removed. There are some very steep downgrades at these crossings. Just after picking up from the Sabdy Creek Trail, the Clarion Highlands Trail passes south of State Gamelands #45. It heads along in an ESE direction, passing a golf course before coming up to one of the trailheads. At Ashland, PA it passes Phipps Cemetery, near Elmo, PA. This is the highest point on the trail, some 1,472 feet above sea level. From there it curves into a NE direction before turning east. A couple miles east is the aforementioned parking lot, but Rick and I toughed it out another mile or so to the end. Oh and the trail ends in the middle of nowhere at a side road. So after a rest stop here, we headed back and while I enjoyed the ruggedness of the trail, I was sure glad to get back to some pavement on the Sandy Creek Trail. Anyway, this is a very rewarding ride but again, it isn't for the faint of heart. If you do decide to take it, please take the necessary preparations. 1) As usual, make sure you and your bike are in tip-top condition. 2) Make sure you either bring a good map or a GPS. The trail is poorly marked. It's path isn't always obvious. 3) Make sure you bring plenty of water and snacks (especially if you're a diabetic like I am). There are no places anywhere along the trail to obtain them. Dried fruits, nuts, apples, Cliff Bars, raisins, and peanut butter sandwiches travel well. 4) Make sure you have a tire repair kit, mini pump, and a chain tool. 5) A mountain bike is a necessity. 6) It's a fun trail. Have fun.

    Elk State Park - boating - Updated August 2026

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