Pennsylvania
Parks in Pennsylvania
Discover the best state parks, lakes, hiking trails, waterfalls, and outdoor recreation throughout the Keystone State.
Pennsylvania offers much more than its cities. From the beaches of Presque Isle to the waterfall trail at Ricketts Glen, the whitewater of Ohiopyle, and the dark skies of Cherry Springs, there are places to enjoy the outdoors in every corner of the state.
Explore Pennsylvania ParksEnjoy the Outdoors in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 121 state parks, plus national park sites, county parks and city green spaces. Whether you are looking for a scenic hike, a lake to swim or paddle, a waterfall trail, sports facilities, or a quiet place to relax, the state has parks for many different lifestyles.
Popular Parks in Pennsylvania
Explore some of Pennsylvania's best-known state parks, national sites and outdoor recreation areas.
Philadelphia County
Fairmount Park
Fairmount Park is Philadelphia's signature park system, spanning thousands of acres along the Schuylkill and Wissahickon with trails, historic houses and riverfront drives.
View Park DetailsPhiladelphia County
Wissahickon Valley Park
Wissahickon Valley Park protects a wooded gorge along Wissahickon Creek, with more than 50 miles of trails for hiking, running and mountain biking inside Philadelphia.
View Park DetailsPhiladelphia County
Pennypack Park
Pennypack Park follows Pennypack Creek through northeast Philadelphia, with a paved trail, wooded banks and the 17th-century Frankford Avenue Bridge.
View Park DetailsPhiladelphia County
Franklin Square
Franklin Square is one of William Penn's five original squares, restored with a fountain, carousel and miniature golf beside Independence National Historical Park.
View Park DetailsPhiladelphia County
Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square is Philadelphia's best-known public square, surrounded by high-rises, restaurants and some of the city's most expensive real estate.
View Park DetailsMontgomery and Chester County
Valley Forge National Historical Park
Valley Forge National Historical Park preserves the winter encampment of George Washington's Continental Army, with earthworks, historic buildings and 26 miles of trails.
View Park DetailsBucks County
Tyler State Park
Tyler State Park covers more than 1,700 acres along Neshaminy Creek, with trails, a disc golf course and the historic Boathouse and Schofield buildings.
View Park DetailsBucks County
Washington Crossing Historic Park
Washington Crossing Historic Park commemorates George Washington's 1776 Delaware River crossing, with historic buildings, a visitor center and riverfront trails.
View Park DetailsDelaware County
Ridley Creek State Park
Ridley Creek State Park protects 2,600 acres of woods and meadows in Delaware County, with more than 12 miles of trails and the historic Hunting Hill Mansion.
View Park DetailsBerks and Chester County
French Creek State Park
French Creek State Park spans nearly 8,000 acres of forest between Reading and Philadelphia, with two lakes, camping and access to Hopewell Furnace.
View Park DetailsChester County
Marsh Creek State Park
Marsh Creek State Park centers on a 535-acre lake in Chester County, popular for sailing, fishing, paddling and lakeside trails.
View Park DetailsBucks County
Nockamixon State Park
Nockamixon State Park surrounds a 1,450-acre lake in upper Bucks County, with boating, fishing, trails and a seasonal swimming pool.
View Park DetailsAllegheny County
Point State Park
Point State Park marks the confluence of Pittsburgh's three rivers, with a landmark fountain, riverfront trails and the remnants of Fort Pitt.
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Allegheny County
Schenley Park
Schenley Park covers 456 acres between Oakland and Squirrel Hill, with trails, golf, ice skating and the Schenley Plaza entrance.
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Allegheny County
Frick Park
Frick Park is Pittsburgh's largest municipal park at 644 acres, with woodland trails, the Frick Environmental Center and a network of bike paths.
View Park DetailsAllegheny County
Highland Park
Highland Park is a 380-acre Pittsburgh park with wooded trails, a reservoir and the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.
View Park DetailsAllegheny County
North Park
North Park is Allegheny County's largest park, with a 75-acre lake, trails, a pool, ice rink and the Latodami Nature Center.
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Allegheny County
South Park
South Park covers more than 2,000 acres in Pittsburgh's South Hills, with trails, a wave pool, golf and an extensive equestrian area.
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Fayette County
Ohiopyle State Park
Ohiopyle State Park protects the Youghiogheny River gorge in the Laurel Highlands, famous for whitewater rafting, waterfalls and the Great Allegheny Passage.
View Park DetailsBeaver County
Raccoon Creek State Park
Raccoon Creek State Park covers 7,500 acres west of Pittsburgh, with a 101-acre lake, camping, trails and the Wildflower Reserve.
View Park DetailsButler County
Moraine State Park
Moraine State Park surrounds 3,225-acre Lake Arthur in Butler County, with sailing, biking, swimming and trails shaped by glacial geology.
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Lawrence County
McConnells Mill State Park
McConnells Mill State Park protects the Slippery Rock Creek gorge, with a restored gristmill, a covered bridge and dramatic hiking along the creek.
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Somerset County
Laurel Hill State Park
Laurel Hill State Park sits high in the Laurel Highlands, with Laurel Hill Lake, camping, swimming and trails through hemlock forest.
View Park DetailsWestmoreland County
Keystone State Park
Keystone State Park is a 1,200-acre park near Latrobe with a lake, cottages, camping and trails in the Laurel Highlands foothills.
View Park DetailsCarbon County
Hickory Run State Park
Hickory Run State Park covers nearly 16,000 acres in the Poconos, famous for Boulder Field, Hawk Falls and Sand Spring Lake.
View Park DetailsCarbon and Luzerne County
Lehigh Gorge State Park
Lehigh Gorge State Park follows the Lehigh River through a steep gorge, with the D&L Trail, whitewater rafting and dramatic overlooks.
View Park DetailsMonroe and Pike County
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area protects 70,000 acres along the Delaware River, with hiking, paddling, waterfalls and scenic drives.
View Park DetailsPike County
Promised Land State Park
Promised Land State Park sits on the Pocono plateau around two lakes, with camping, cabins, beaches and the nearby Bruce Lake Natural Area.
View Park DetailsMonroe and Wayne County
Tobyhanna State Park
Tobyhanna State Park centers on 170-acre Tobyhanna Lake in the Poconos, with camping, boating, fishing and trails on the former military reservation.
View Park DetailsMonroe and Wayne County
Gouldsboro State Park
Gouldsboro State Park surrounds 250-acre Gouldsboro Lake in the Poconos, with fishing, boating and trails through surrounding state forest.
View Park DetailsMonroe County
Big Pocono State Park
Big Pocono State Park sits atop Camelback Mountain, with a scenic drive to an overlook spanning the Poconos and three states.
View Park DetailsColumbia, Luzerne and Sullivan County
Ricketts Glen State Park
Ricketts Glen State Park is famous for the Falls Trail, a steep loop past 21 named waterfalls in a hemlock gorge, plus Lake Jean.
View Park DetailsLuzerne County
Frances Slocum State Park
Frances Slocum State Park surrounds a 165-acre lake north of Wilkes-Barre, with camping, swimming, fishing and lakeside trails.
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Lackawanna County
Lackawanna State Park
Lackawanna State Park centers on a 198-acre lake north of Scranton, with camping, swimming, fishing and trails through the Abingtons.
View Park DetailsLackawanna County
Nay Aug Park
Nay Aug Park is Scranton's historic city park, with a gorge and falls, trails, a pool and the Everhart Museum at its edge.
View Park DetailsCumberland County
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Pine Grove Furnace State Park sits at the midpoint of the Appalachian Trail, with two lakes, iron-furnace ruins and the Appalachian Trail Museum.
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Cumberland County
Kings Gap Environmental Education Center
Kings Gap protects 2,500 acres on South Mountain, with ridge trails, a historic mansion and some of the best overlooks in Cumberland County.
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York County
Gifford Pinchot State Park
Gifford Pinchot State Park surrounds 340-acre Pinchot Lake in York County, with camping, swimming, boating and an extensive trail network.
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York County
Codorus State Park
Codorus State Park surrounds 1,275-acre Lake Marburg in York County, with boating, camping, swimming and trails.
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Perry County
Little Buffalo State Park
Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County combines a lake, a historic covered bridge and mill, and trails through wooded hills.
View Park DetailsCentre County
Bald Eagle State Park
Bald Eagle State Park surrounds 1,730-acre Foster Joseph Sayers Lake in Centre County, with boating, camping, swimming and trails.
View Park DetailsCentre County
Black Moshannon State Park
Black Moshannon State Park sits on a high plateau bog in Centre County, with a lake, camping, trails and unusual carnivorous plants.
View Park DetailsHuntingdon County
Greenwood Furnace State Park
Greenwood Furnace State Park preserves a 19th-century iron furnace community in a mountain valley, with a lake, trails and historic ruins.
View Park DetailsBlair County
Canoe Creek State Park
Canoe Creek State Park sits in the hills north of Altoona, with a 155-acre lake, trails, a beach and a historic lime kiln.
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Huntingdon County
Raystown Lake
Raystown Lake is Pennsylvania's largest lake entirely within the state, with 118 miles of shoreline, boating, fishing and the Allegrippis Trails.
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Erie County
Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle State Park is a sandy peninsula on Lake Erie with beaches, lagoons, a lighthouse and miles of paved trails.
View Park DetailsErie County
Erie Bluffs State Park
Erie Bluffs State Park protects more than 500 acres of Lake Erie shoreline bluffs and wetlands, with trails and important bird habitat.
View Park DetailsClarion, Forest and Jefferson County
Cook Forest State Park
Cook Forest State Park preserves old-growth hemlock and white pine forest along the Clarion River, with trails, canoeing and the Fire Tower.
View Park DetailsJefferson County
Clear Creek State Park
Clear Creek State Park sits in a wooded valley along Clear Creek, with cabins, camping, a natural waterslide and trails.
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Potter County
Cherry Springs State Park
Cherry Springs State Park is one of the darkest night-sky locations in the eastern United States, famous for stargazing and the Milky Way.
View Park DetailsTioga County
Leonard Harrison State Park
Leonard Harrison State Park overlooks the Pine Creek Gorge, known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, with rim trails and a visitor center.
View Park DetailsTioga County
Colton Point State Park
Colton Point State Park overlooks the Pine Creek Gorge from the west rim, with quieter trails and dramatic canyon views.
View Park DetailsMcKean County
Kinzua Bridge State Park
Kinzua Bridge State Park preserves the ruins of a 1900 railroad viaduct, with a skywalk and glass observation deck over the Kinzua Creek valley.
View Park DetailsCrawford County
Pymatuning State Park
Pymatuning State Park surrounds a 17,000-acre lake shared with Ohio, with boating, fishing, camping and the Linesville Spillway.
View Park DetailsVenango County
Oil Creek State Park
Oil Creek State Park preserves the valley where the modern oil industry began, with a paved rail-trail, creek fishing and historic sites.
View Park DetailsSullivan County
Worlds End State Park
Worlds End State Park sits in the Loyalsock Creek gorge, with rugged hiking, a swimming area and CCC-era rustic architecture.
View Park DetailsCameron and Potter County
Sinnemahoning State Park
Sinnemahoning State Park centers on a wildlife viewing area and reservoir in the Pennsylvania Wilds, known for elk, eagles and paddling.
View Park DetailsDelaware County
Ridley Creek Blockhouse
The Ridley Creek Blockhouse is a restored 17th-century log structure within Ridley Creek State Park, illustrating early Swedish and Dutch settlement in the Delaware Valley.
View Park DetailsBucks County
Pennsbury Manor
Pennsbury Manor is the reconstructed country estate of William Penn on the Delaware River, with period buildings, gardens and interpretive tours.
View Park DetailsGreat Parks for Families
Families across Pennsylvania have plenty of options for a day outside. Many state parks have swimming beaches, playgrounds, open lawns, shaded picnic areas, hiking trails, and facilities that make it easy to spend several hours outdoors.
- Playgrounds and play structures
- Picnic tables and pavilions
- Open lawns for games
- Walking and biking paths
- Shaded areas
- Family-friendly recreation
Walking, Biking & Outdoor Fitness
Pennsylvania's parks and rail-trails make it easy to stay active through every season. Residents use them for morning hikes, jogging, cycling, paddling, cross-country skiing, and everyday recreation.
Explore Pennsylvania's Natural Side
Pennsylvania is shaped by Lake Erie, the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers, and the Allegheny Mountains. Parks such as Presque Isle, Ohiopyle, World's End and the Delaware Water Gap offer a quieter side of the state, from sandy beaches to hemlock gorges.
Perfect for walking, wildlife viewing, photography, and simply relaxing outdoors.
Find Parks Near Pennsylvania Cities & Towns
Living near a quality park can make a big difference in everyday life. Parks provide recreation, community gathering spaces, walking opportunities, and easy access to outdoor activities.
Explore Pennsylvania Cities & TownsWhy Parks Matter When Choosing Where to Live
Outdoor Recreation
Easy access to walking, biking, boating and family activities.
Family Lifestyle
Playgrounds and green spaces give families more options close to home.
Community
Parks often serve as gathering places for events, recreation, and neighborhood activities.
Quality of Life
Access to attractive outdoor spaces adds to the overall appeal of a neighborhood.
Pennsylvania Parks FAQs
Discover More of Pennsylvania
Explore Pennsylvania cities, towns, counties, parks, restaurants, shopping, local businesses, and things to do throughout the Keystone State.