Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Parker Dam State Park

    5.0 (11 reviews)

    Parker Dam State Park Photos

    More like Parker Dam State Park

    Recommended Reviews - Parker Dam State Park

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tyler Cabin
    Christopher C.

    Normally when I review places such as state parks or glamping experiences I try to be fairly detailed and thorough about what to expect along with what to do at the park/in the area. Not happening on this one. Why? Simply put, to get here from the home office is quite a hike (about 4 hours each way) and when you combine it with rain on the day we arrived plus biblical rain on the day we left, meh, everything was very low key without a lot of the usual exploring. The below gives an overview of what the park has to offer. A lot of hiking options along with in season swimming-fishing-hunting-skiing and even a designated big ass hill for sledding. The big draw here is Parker Lake which provides multiple recreation opportunities and the cabins/campsites where you can stay and explore or like we did, just relax. www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003462.pdf We came here simply because we wanted to do the glamping thing and PA only has so many spots in the state park system where you can bring dogs into the cabin with you. Normally we like the setup at Little Buffalo in Newport, PA (partially because it's nice and because it's half the distance) but they were full so Parker Dam became the next possible choice. The reservation was handled as always via the reserveamerica.com site which makes things quick and easy. On check in day we simply drove up to the park office and went inside and asked for the key. No paperwork, nothing to sign, no ID needed as everything is very much on the honor system both coming and going. Unlike most similar experiences, we were in the Tyler Cabin which as you will see on the below map is way the hell out by itself in the middle of nowhere. Every now and then a car or two would pass but overall there is nothing there. Just the cabin, a two stall pit toilet and a large field in case a camping group reserves it. If a group is not there, you got a lot of space, piece and quiet. www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003461.pdf The cabin itself is a pretty sweet setup. It's designed for, I forget, something around 8 or 10 people. It has 4 sets of bunk beds, some chairs and two tables, a full size fridge, small stove and a spot outside for grilling. In the future if we ever came back I would like to spend more time at the lake, hiking some of the trails, visiting the small onsite CCC museum and learning a bit more about the huge tornado that ransacked the park in '85. But all things considered this visit was a good one and this place is definitely worth a visit especially if you want some quiet R&R in the middle of nowhere. A few tips: * The visitors center has two entrances. If you are there for camping or a cabin chose the right side. The left side is a class room with a bunch of taxidermied animals and park office space. * At Tyler Cabin there is zero cell service. If this freaks you out especially with no one else being anywhere around you except for deer and bear, think twice before booking. * Make sure you are well stocked on the way in because as expected it's a bit of a PIA to just go out and get things here. The nearest gas and food is about 15 minutes away in Penfield at the Minit Mart. But if you need something like charcoal they don't carry it, only the recently opened Dollar General down the road a bit farther does. If you want a full grocery experience at Wal-Mart then you're looking at 30 minutes each way to either Clearfield or DuBois.

    Smoky and deer in the ranger station.
    Kelly H.

    If you're passing through this is an awesome pit stop, but you too may regret not spending an extra day or two. If you can't stay longer, it'll be a pleasant stop at least. We had a level site, one of their many electric sites, hence got to use our AC during a heatwave. The moderate tree cover was a nice bonus, and we had a Birdseye view of the playground. Perfect! There was no firewood left on site (honor system), but it was hot anyway. Oh well. We snuck in a little hiking before heading out, noticing all the trout in the dam pond and along the boardwalk trail. Whether it was the weekday or a covid closure, we didn't get to peek inside the CCC museum or the ranger station, but interpretive signs were outside the CCC where our little one got to take the decommissioned snowmobile for a (pretend) drive. Having separate swimming ponds and fishing is nice here too. The dump station is conveniently on your way out of the camping loops. It was a great family spot, and in Autumn the foliage is probably divine. If you can, take a couple nights here! Just bring your firewood/groceries/bear spray since there's no nearby amenities.

    Pumpkin float next week

    See all

    6 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tom B.
    3844
    3489
    17942

    6 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K W.
    0
    11
    0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    parker dam is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places i know. the beach is wonderful and my kids love it and the snack bar.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Parker Dam State Park

    Review Highlights - Parker Dam State Park

    Parker Dam offers Camping, Cabins, Picnicking, A beach for swimming and so much more.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Black Moshannon State Park

    Black Moshannon State Park

    5.0(4 reviews)
    30.6 mi

    Black Moshannon State Park and its 250 acre lake is an often overlooked Pennsylvania State Park…read more In addition to all of the trails and wetlands it also offers a campground and rental cabins. For those that hold family gatherings or other large grope picnics it also has numerous picnic areas that can be rented. We, until recently, lived only a short distance from the Park. Today we went for a ride and came to the Park to relax and decided to have a dish on Ice Cream. I choose Mint Chip and my wife had Black Raspberry. We sat on the porch and enjoyed our food as well as the beauty of the park. If you have not visited Black Moshannon Park you should give if a try. You will enjoy the beauty and tranquility.

    I'm a bonafide Pennsylvania enthusiast/knucklehead who enjoys a rush of adrenaline with a hint of…read moreunmatched relaxation to cap it off. Black Moshannon State Park is the place for people like me, and I reckon I'll return if I ever get the chance to meet Phillips Burg and decide to live in his town one day. The campsites, while basic, did the job with ease. I've never had a better s'more in my life in those fire pits. The falling acorns, however, made me have several Sir Isaac Newton moments and even gave my camping tent a concussion. It was nuts, but I slept like a dead dog every night. The 20 miles of hiking trails are excellent, and the bathhouse was suprisingly clean. I'll be back once I figure out what I'm doing with my life. The end.

    Photos
    Black Moshannon State Park - Bog Trail. Black Moshannon State Park. Pennsylvania.

    Bog Trail. Black Moshannon State Park. Pennsylvania.

    Black Moshannon State Park - Black Moshannon State Park. Pennsylvania.

    Black Moshannon State Park. Pennsylvania.

    Black Moshannon State Park - Picnic Road.

    See all

    Picnic Road.

    Parker Dam State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...