Beautiful Places to Explore in PA
Did you know… there are more than 2,000,000 acres of state forests, 4,000 lakes and reservoirs, and 86,000 miles of rivers and streams to explore just in Pennsylvania alone!
Over the last few months with all of the changes that took effect in our lives with COVID-19, I started thinking about all the things I wanted to do once I was able to. Being that I had a lot of time to research, that’s exactly what I did. I found some really beautiful, historical parks that were not too far from home. Some of these parks I have visited on occasion but some I may have drove by and never knew they even existed! I picked just a handful of them to share, but if you are interested in other exciting parks, I have included a link to all the great outdoor fun in PA!
Let the adventures begin!
Let’s start with Cook Forest (Clarion County). The park’s forest is known for the tall white pines and hemlocks. This makes Cook Forest a National Natural Landmark. This park is open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset.
Presque Isle State Park (Erie County) Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200 acre sandy peninsula that leads into Lake Erie. This Erie park has multiple beaches across the shoreline and even a historic lighthouse to visit. There are bicycle trails and hiking trails, picnic areas, boating and fishing and so much more.
Pymatuning State Park (Crawford County) Take an opportunity to spend time enjoying the natural beauty of the water and the surrounding shores of Pymatuning Lake. The park is actually 16,892 acres and is one of the largest state parks in Pennsylvania! There are a number of interesting places you may want to visit while you are in the area. There is the Fish and Boat commission hatchery in Linesville. Only minutes away from the hatchery is the famous Linesville “spillway,” where you can feed the carp! Word is that, the fish are so plentiful that ducks will walk across their backs to get the food people throw to the fish!
Raccoon Creek State Park (Beaver County) Raccoon Creek State Park was chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and its Bureau of Parks as one of “25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks.” This park also offers fishing, swimming, boating, and hiking. This park has some other beautiful attractions such as the Wildflower Reserve and Frankfort Mineral Springs!
Moraine State Park (Butler County) Lake Arthur provides over forty miles of scenic shoreline. The adventure includes walking and bicycle trails, picnicking, swimming, and boating.
McConnells Mill State Park (Lawrence County) McConnells Mill State Park, in Lawrence County, encompasses 2,546 acres of the spectacular Slippery Rock Creek Gorge. The park is open from sunrise to sunset, year-round. Guided tours of the restored gristmill are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The daily schedule of the Old Mill is from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Guided nature walks are conducted every Saturday and Sunday during the summer season.
Buhl Park (Mercer County) The park is made up of 262.66 beautiful acres! Activities include golf, biking, fishing, a fitness trail, dog park, and even tennis courts!
Oil Creek State Park (Venango County) Oil Creek Valley is the site of the world’s first commercial oil well. This spacious park offers a museum, picnic area, along with hiking, and fishing just to name a few activities! As a matter of fact, it includes 52 miles of scenic trails!
The sky’s the limit for those of us looking for outdoor pursuits in Pennsylvania! Let’s venture out in the sunshine while social distancing.
For more information or to find other great adventures, visit uncoveringpa.com. The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) offers a fun, challenging resource to help you get out and explore PA. You can purchase a spiral bound Passport that will guide you through adventures with landmarks. For more information visit http://www.apps.dcnr.state.pa.us/news/resource/res2011/11-0928-ppffpassport.aspx#:~:text=DCNR&text=The%20Pennsylvania%20Parks%20
*Always call or check the parks website to ensure hours of operation and any changes or restrictions due to COVID -19.
Always Safety First: Due to Covid -19, when you are venturing out…
- Maintain social distancing
- Wash hands frequently
- Wear a mask if required
