Beautiful Places to Explore in PA

Cover image of a young woman in a wheelchair holding her phone at an outdoor attraction or park. A blue icon shaped like the state of PA shows a star location marker and the text "Pennsylvania"

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!

While researching I found some really beautiful, historical parks that were not too far from home. Some of these parks I have visited on occasion. Some I may have driven 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). This forest is known for the tall white pines and hemlocks. These actually make Cook Forest a National Natural Landmark. This park is open every day of the year from sunrise to sunset. Popular activities include canoeing, kayaking, and tubing.

Presque Isle State Park (Erie County) Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200 acre sandy peninsula that leads into Lake Erie. 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, fishing and so much more.

Photo of an outdoor park with picnic tables and a lake visible through the tree line. A young man with down syndrome is carrying a basketball.

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. Don’t miss the Fish and Boat commission hatchery in Linesville. Only minutes away from the hatchery is the famous Linesville “spillway.” This is 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) The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and its Bureau of Parks chose Raccoon Creek State Park as one of “25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks.” This park also offers fishing, swimming, boating, and hiking. Other beautiful attractions include the Wildflower Reserve and Frankfort Mineral Springs.

Moraine State Park (Butler County) Lake Arthur provides over forty miles of scenic shoreline. Adventures here include walking and bicycle trails, picnicking, swimming, and boating.

Photo of a person wearing protective gear: a hat and light jacket kayaking in the water. A graphic shaped like the state of PA with Pennsylvania written in white is in the top left corner.

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. Their weekly schedule is Wednesday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Interpretive tours of the historic mill, were being offered by staff or volunteers at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. You can check about group tours by calling the Moraine Park office 724 368-8811. Consider attending the McConnells Mill Heritage Festival which is held on the last full weekend in September.

Buhl Park (Mercer County) Buhl park is made up of 262.66 beautiful acres! Activities include golf, biking, fishing, a fitness trail, dog park, and even tennis courts! What will you choose?

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 trails, and fishing areas. Moreover, it includes 52 miles of scenic trails!

There is so much you can do. The sky’s the limit for those of us looking for outdoor pursuits in Pennsylvania! Let’s venture out in the sunshine.

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 https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr.html

Always call or check the parks website to ensure hours of operation and any changes or restrictions.