We had a wonderful stay at Gifford Pinchot State Park!…read more The camping area at GP is separated into A loop and B loops with approximately 300 sites. All sites had a paved pad, varying in size depending on the location, with tent site being smaller. Most sites have electric and there are 22 full hookup sites in the camping area. Both loops are peninsulas into the lake, which is convenient to launching boats directly from many sites. Loop A is closer to the designated swimming area with a sandy beach and playground. B loop is closer to many of the hiking trails and also several boat launch areas. It is nice that the camping area and amenities are separated from the public day use area. At the entrance to the camping area there are three dump stations. During our stay we were at a full hookup site which was very spacious and often hard to find in PA State Parks. Our site was #299 and for some reason the entire site was paved/blacktop, which was different than all the other sites where the pad was paved and the picnic table area was gravel/grass. While this site made it easy to level our camper, it became quite hot in the afternoon/evening after the sun had baked it all day. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed GP and couldn't believe we hadn't visited before because it is a great state park. Wood is available for purchase at the campground hosts' sites and ice at the park office. As with most PA state parks, quiet hours are at 9:00PM, which is a bit early, and there is no alcohol allowed in the park. We look forward to returning to GP in the future.

First stay here while traveling and it is a fine spot to stay while passing through. They did have…read morea camp host in our area, A, though we never saw them even when we went looking b/c of a question we had. Never saw them the entire time we were there. The park is fine, needs a little TLC which the volunteers are doing a great job taking care of.

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.

Fisher Park is a fantastic family park tucked away in a Mechanicsburg neighborhood, and it's…read moreabsolutely worth a visit. The rubber surface throughout the park is a nice touch, though it can get quite warm on hot days thankfully, the park has misting machines to help cool things down (a few were out of order during our visit, maybe 2-3 out of 4 working, but still appreciated). There are also nice pockets of shade scattered around. The playground is well-designed with separate sections for toddlers (2 and under) and older kids (5-12), so everyone has their space. Right across from the park is a soccer field, giving kids even more room to run. A walking path wraps around the area, making it great for adults too. The pavilion is a standout feature ,it's the first thing you see when you arrive, and it's beautiful. The bathrooms are attached to it and were impressively clean, spacious, and a welcome cool-down spot on a warm day. There are water fountains on site, though they didn't appear to be working during our visit. Parking is ample, and on certain days, especially in summer a vendor or food truck sets up nearby, which is a fun bonus. The park isn't heavily bee-infested, just the occasional one here and there, nothing to worry about. Bonus: Fisher Park is conveniently located near two other great spots, a park with a dedicated splash pad just across and down the street, and Winding Hill Park not far away either. A perfect trio for a full day of outdoor family fun! Highly recommend this park for families. We'll definitely be back!

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.

Charged us $34 for Pine Grove group camping even though I said twice we didn't stay in the group…read morecamping area and that it was a Michaux site, the worker didn't believe me I guess. The physical sign next to my site said $10 per night for PA residents, $15 out of state, the employee told me "No none of our sites would be that cheap". No intentions on returning which is unfortunate because the site was very nice and spacious and had a small fire pit. Don't charge us for Pine Grove Furnace State Park Organized Group Camping when we stayed in the Michaux State Forest campground just a tad further down the exact same camping road.

Let me tell you something. During this time of Covidiousness, we've certainly done our fair share…read moreof outdoorsy types of things. While coming to a state park like this in York County may not seem like an obvious choice, it's actually been the perfect place. I'm not going to go in to any history or backstory (I covered that in my initial musings several years ago) but what sets this park apart from most PA state parks is its size. While the park is only 85 acres (PA has 121 state parks and some of them clock in at north of 15K acres just for a sense of scope) it's layout allows for things to feel more spread out than you would assume. The main road that wraps around the park is great for walking but there are also two miles of trails which if done in a clockwise direction are actually somewhat challenging with how it'll be mostly uphill. There is also a disc gold course, a rock formation that kids will love to climb on, a few small swing sets placed at different spots and a large open field at the top of hill with one hell of a view towards the Susquehanna River, Wrightsville and Columbia. The best part about this place is that it's rural enough so that it's never too busy. We've made trips to some state parks closer to us (Jacobsburg-Nockamixon-Lehigh Gorge) recently and they have been consistently packed. Here, not so much. The drive here is easy. There is an amazing view. There is usually more than enough space for everyone to spread out and do whatever they want. Sounds perfect to me and we'll be back this weekend.

Samuel S. Lewis State Park does not offer you a bunch of amenities. There's no amazing new…read moreplayground for the kiddies (although there are some swings and such throughout). There's very few short trails around the park (but enough to satisfy my dogs and if you go the "right" way, you get quite a workout hiking uphill). However, what you DO get is gorgeous views of the river and landscape from atop Mt. Pisgah. You also get open space to roam and run around. And my son's favorite part are the rocks! He loves to climb and explore. It's almost possible for me to give any park less than five stars--especially one with such a beautiful view. You won't regret the trip to visit this park. I'm just lucky that it's only 15 minutes from home. P.S. Go read Christopher C.'s review--it's very thorough and well-written.

We went during the day, in beautiful weather and it was so peaceful. There are benches all along…read morethe water and rocking chairs outside of the information center to view the Susquehanna River. The staff at the information center is very friendly and help you decide where you want to walk on the River Trail if you decide to do that. If you start your walk from there, you walk across the railroad tracks and head towards Marietta on the sidewalk for a while until you are closer to the river. She suggested we drive 5 minutes to the next place to park and showed me on a map. They do have bathrooms at the information center. They also have a company that rents kayaks. This is where the boat launch is and trucks with boat trailers have to use the entrance to the water on the right side of the building and park there. On holidays and weekends I'm sure it's very busy so I would park at the lot across the street or at another entrance point. The trail is paved and everyone was friendly. There is a place to eat right across the street from the info center. You can walk or bike the River Trail or just go and sit and have a nice time.

A really nice small park and a perfect scenic stop if you're at the Turkey Hill ice cream…read moreexperience.

One of the best things about living in Derry Township is the parks and recreation. Shenk, Gelder…read moreand Cocoa Castle are well maintained. If you are looking for something to do that doesn't cost anything, take the kids to Cocoa Castle.

This a clean, new, and beautiful park. It's good for all ages. My 4 and 1 year old had a blast…read more They didn't have any bathrooms open so that's the only con.

Nice little trail connecting to Big Boyd Tree Preserve. Some picnic tables and a trail that's…read morepartially paved to get you started. Easy parking right off the road, near the top of the mountain. Since it connects to a much larger park, it gives a nice head start to the top. Didn't see many stopping spots along the trail. Dogs allowed, preferably on leashes. Not sure what the situation is during hunting season.