If you’re a Penn State visitor or student, explore these nine awesome state parks near State College!
State College, PA is known best for being the home of Penn State, but did you know it’s close to NINE state parks?? These state parks have a ton to offer every type of visitor – from hikers to bikers to swimmers or anglers. There is something for everyone at each one of these parks.
State Parks Near State College, PA
- Bald Eagle
- Black Moshannon
- Canoe Creek
- Greenwood Furnace
- Penn-Roosevelt
- Poe Paddy
- Poe Valley
- Reed’s Gap
- Whipple Dam
Read on for more details about each of these parks!
As always, follow the principles of leave no trace when you're exploring the wonderful trails of Pennsylvania!
Bald Eagle State Park
At 5,400 acres, this is the largest park close to State College. The park has a ton of options for all visitors – boating (unlimited horsepower), swimming, and hunting. Bald Eagle offers many options for visitors to stay overnight. The park has camping cottages, rustic campsites, full hookups and even two yurts! It’s about thirty minutes away from State College.
Black Moshannon State Park
Black Moshannon is about thirty minutes northwest of State College. The park’s name comes from a combination of the Iroquis word “moss-hanne” (meaning moose stream) with black referring to the color of the lake water. The park offers boating and boat rentals, four miles of mountain bike trails, 24 miles of hiking trails, swimming, and hunting. To explore the bog, visitors can take the wheelchair accessible half-mile Bog Trail or opt for the more challenge 7.7-mile Moss-Hanne trail.
Canoe Creek State Park
At fifty minutes away from State College, Canoe Creek is the furthest park on this list . Despite being named after a creek, Canoe Creek’s main feature is the 155-acre lake that is popular for fishing and kayaking. Canoe Creek has many places to camp and hike and is located in Hollidaysburg, PA.
Looking to visit more Pennsylvania State Parks? Check out my post listing all of my PA State Park guides for tips on visiting some of my favorites!
Greenwood Furnace State Park
Greenwood Furnace is thirty minutes from State College. This historic state park highlights the industry present in the area through the early 20th century. The historic town, including an old furnace and blacksmith’s shop, is a great place to explore the past. The 400+ acre park also features a lake, hiking trails, and a campground. Visit nearby Whipple Dam State Park and Rothrock State Forest to complete your visit!
Penn-Roosevelt State Park
At 41 acres, Penn-Roosevelt is one of the smaller parks in the system. This park offers camping (tents only) cross-country skiing, and an equestrian trail. While this park has no hiking, it can be used as a base camp for hikers who want to explore nearby Rothrock State Forest. Penn-Roosevelt is just over thirty minutes from State College.
Want to visit more state parks when you're exploring Pennsylvania? Check out these posts! - State Parks Near Lancaster - State Parks Near Harrisburg - State Parks Near Pittsburgh - State Parks Near Philadelphia
Poe Paddy State Park
Poe Paddy is located just over fifty minutes from State College (though the drive might be longer due to being mostly on gravel roads). The park is located at the confluence of Big Poe Creek and Penns Creek. The park is popular for camping and trout fishing.
Poe Valley State Park
Larger than Poe Paddy, Poe Valley’s main feature is its 25-acre lake, which is popular for kayaking and fishing. Poe Valley is surrounded by Bald Eagle State Forest and most of the hiking trails cross over into the state forest. This park is just under fifty minutes from State College.
Reed’s Gap
Reed’s Gap is located in New Lancaster, PA and is just over forty minutes from State College. The park features a beautiful forest surrounding the Honey Creek, which runs through the park. This would be a good park for young kids who like to explore a creek and have a picnic as there were tons of beautiful picnic spots.
Whipple Dam State Park
Located 12 miles (about twenty minutes) south of State College, Whipple Dam is a great park for families with young children. The lake has a small swimming area and there is an easy 3-mile trail that circumnavigates the lake. It’s also only a quick and easy fifteen minute drive from Greenwood Furnace State Park.
Don't forget to bring your ten essentials for day hiking when visiting these parks!
For more information on each of these state parks, visit the PA DCNR website to explore parks by region!
Updated August 13, 2023