This post is about visiting all 124 Pennsylvania State Parks and it’s a work in progress! If you’re looking for a specific park, scroll through the lists to see if I’ve visited it yet.
Why Did I Decide to Visit Every PA State Park?
I am a goal oriented person. I like planning and checklists and marking off those checklists once I’ve completed every task. Going on random hikes didn’t get me into hiking – completing the Full on CVNP2 Challenge, a 115-mile hiking challenge in Cuyahoga Valley National Park got me into hiking. (For more about that, visit my post about the challenge!)
After moving to Pittsburgh, I wanted to set some new goals. There wasn’t a Full on CVNP equivalent here, so what could I create for my task oriented, type A, planner self that was challenging, yet possible?
The thought came to me as I was driving from Pittsburgh to Lancaster to visit family.
What if I visited all 124 Pennsylvania state parks?
Was it even possible to get all of them? If I had really been thinking, I should have started this when I lived in Philadelphia as getting from Pittsburgh to the parks in the northeastern part of the state was going to require some serious planning.
But I like planning, and I like goals, and I love Pennsylvania, so I decided to visit every single Pennsylvania State Park.
On that first trip from Pittsburgh to Lancaster to Philly and back home, I was able to knock out three parks. Then two weekends later we planned a trip up north that hit up three more. While I don’t plan to use all of my weekends to visit PA state parks, I think that I’ll be done with about half of them in a couple of years.
It’s certainly a marathon and not a sprint. But I plan to visit every single one of them and walk at least half a mile in each (driving through doesn’t count!). Follow me on my journey to visit all the Pennsylvania state parks!
Updated Park Count
This post is a work in progress! Keep checking back as I add more parks and park guides. Note: updated as of November 13, 2023.
- Visited: 35 – Bendigo, Big Boyd, Black Moshannon, Canoe Creek, Cook Forest, Cowan’s Gap, Clear Creek, Elk, Evansburg, Fort Washington, French Creek, Keystone, Kinzua Bridge, Kooser, Laurel Hill, Laurel Mountain, Laurel Ridge, Laurel Summit, Linn Run, Laurel Ridge, Marsh Creek, Moraine, McConnells Mill, Ohiopyle, Oil Creek, Nolde Forest, Norristown Farm Park, Poe Paddy, Poe Valley, Point, Raccoon Creek, Reed’s Gap, Ridley Creek, Shawnee, Whipple Dam and Yellow Creek
- Up Next: Hillman, Penn-Roosevelt, Presque Isle
For more information on each park and to check hours, accessibility, and amenities at each park, visit the PA DNCR website.
As always, follow the principles of leave no trace when you're exploring the wonderful trails of Pennsylvania! Pack out all trash, stay on trail, and leave it better than you found it. For more information, check out the seven principles of Leave No Trace.
List of Pennsylvania State Parks by Region
Below is a list of the state parks I’ve visited, by region, with quick summaries, pictures, and links to guides for each park!
Western PA
Allegheny Island State Park
Allegheny Island is only accessible by boat, making it one of the most unique state parks in all of Pennsylvania. The 50-acre park consists of two islands and seven shoals in the Allegheny River. Since it’s only accessible by water, it’s one of the most underdeveloped state parks in Pennsylvania.
Cook Forest State Park
Located in northwestern PA, Cook Forest State Park is an outdoor mecca. You want camping? You got it. Hiking? You got it. Canoeing or kayaking? You got it! Cook Forest is known for its old growth forest and is my personal favorite state park in Pennsylvania. Learn more about my favorite sights in Cook Forest here!
Clear Creek State Park
Only 11 miles from Cook Forest, Clear Creek is another gem of a park in northwestern PA. The park offers camping, hiking, and fishing on the Clarion. Clear Creek is very close to one of my favorite Western PA overlooks – Beartown Rocks!
Hillman State Park
Hillman is located just over thirty minutes west of Pittsburgh. The park offers over 34 miles of multi-use trails. This park is an active state game land – so plan your visit accordingly! One of the most unique features of Hillman is that it contains a radio controlled model airport.
Kooser State Park
Kooser is located in the Laurel Highlands and is a small, but beautiful park. The park has a lake with a spillway and has about three miles of trails. Park users can also rent cabins.
Laurel Mountain State Park
Laurel Mountain is unique because it’s a park dedicated entirely to skiing. The park features family-friendly slopes and a ski lodge.
Laurel Hill State Park
Located in Somerset County, Laurel Hill is over 4,000 acres featuring a lake and numerous campsites. The park has many miles of trails for hiking, cross country skiing, biking, and snowmobiling.
Laurel Ridge State Park
Laurel Ridge State Park is the home of Western PA’s main backpacking trail – the Laurel Highlands Trail. This 70 mile trail is part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic trail and is extremely well marked. Eight overnight shelter areas offer tent sites as well as Adirondack style shelters.
Laurel Summit State Park
Laurel Summit is a small park in the Laurel Highlands that is best known for being a location for multiple Forbes State Forest trailheads. Some of the main trails to access from Laurel Summit are Wolf Rocks, Spruce Bog, and the Laurel Highlands Trail.
Linn Run
A small park in the Laurel Highlands, Linn Run is a hidden gem. Linn Run only has a few miles of hiking trails but the park is worth the visit to see Adams Run Falls, a waterfall that’s beautiful in all seasons.
McConnells Mill State Park
Close to Pittsburgh, McConnells Mill is named after its namesake Mill. For more about visiting McConnells Mill State Park, click here!
Moraine State Park
The jewel of Moraine State Park is the 3,225 acre Lake Arthur, with 42 miles of shoreline. The park offers boat launches for private boats, boat rentals, swimming areas, and beach areas. Despite being centered on water sports, Moraine also has a ton of great hiking including 17 miles of the North Country Trail.
Ohiopyle State Park
Ohioyle is one of the best parks in the state park system! It offers a ton of hiking, but is more known for rafting, kayaking, and other activities on the Youghiogheny River, which flows through the park. Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous architectural masterpiece, is located nearby.
Oil Creek State Park
If you like waterfalls and history, this is your park! The scenic Oil Creek runs through the park, having carved steep hillsides that are perfect for waterfalls. History buffs will love the historic train station and the park’s history as an oil boom town.
Point State Park
Located in downtown (or “dahntahn”, as the locals call it) Pittsburgh, Point State Park is an urban park at the confluence of the Monongahaela and Allegheny rivers. Featuring a tall fountain, this is a great place to take a lunchtime stroll if you’re visiting Pittsburgh.
Raccoon Creek State Park
Raccoon Creek is about forty minutes west of Pittsburgh. The park has 27 miles of hiking-only trails and 11 miles of multi-use trails. It also features the 101-acre Raccoon Lake and a wildflower reserve that contains one of the most bio-diverse and unique strands of wildflowers in Pennsylvania.
Yellow Creek State Park
Yellow Creek is just under ninety minutes east of Pittsburgh. Park goers can enjoy the beaches and picnic areas along the shore of Yellow Creek Lake. The lake is popular with boaters and fisherman during all seasons.
Located in or visiting Pittsburgh? Check out my post on state parks near Pittsburgh!
Eastern PA State Parks
French Creek State Park
A little over an hour away from Philadelphia, French Creek is a quiet respite from the bustle of the city. It’s a great place to look at beautiful fall foliage and is home to two lakes. The park also surrounds Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, which is worth a visit to see the historic industrial town! For more info on hiking French Creek, click here!
Ridley Creek State Park
This state park is home to twelve miles of hiking trails and is lovely in all seasons. Since Ridley Creek is the closest park to Philadelphia, it can get crowded, so go early in busy season! For more info on trails in Ridley Creek State Park, click here.
Marsh Creek State Park
Less than an hour from both Lancaster and Philadelphia, Marsh Creek State Park boasts a lake popular for boating and fishing. While not the best park for hiking, Marsh Creek is still great for families and can get very crowded in the summer. For more info on Marsh Creek, click here.
For more parks, check out my post on State Parks near Philadelphia!
Southern PA State Parks
Canoe Creek State Park
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.
Greenwood Furnace State Park
Historic Greenwood Furnace 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!
Shawnee State Park
Located 10 miles outside of Bedford, Shawnee State Park features a 450 acre lake for boating, swimming, and fishing as well as hiking trails and a disc golf course.
Whipple Dam State Park
Located 12 miles 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 one 3-mile trail that circumnavigates the lake.
Looking for parks near you? Check out my post on nine state parks near State College or seven state parks near Lancaster!
Northern PA State Parks
Kinzua Bridge State Park
One of the most unique state parks I’ve ever visited, Kinzua Bridge features a skywalk looking over the collapsed towers of the former Kinzua Viaduct. For more on visiting this park, click here!
Elk State Park
Elk State Park is located in the northern mountains of the state and features one of the largest lakes of all the state parks. East Branch Lake is 1,160 acres and allows unlimited horsepower boats, which makes it great for water-skiing. For more about the park, click here.
Bendigo State Park
Bendigo is one of the smaller state parks at only 100 acres. The once polluted East Branch of the Clarion River runs through it and provides excellent trout fishing. To read more about Bendigo, click here!
Poe Paddy State Park
Poe Paddy State 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.
Reed’s Gap State Park
Reed’s Gap is located in New Lancaster, PA. The park features a beautiful forest surrounding the Honey Creek, which runs through the park. While this park isn’t great for hiking, it’s a great spot to tent camp (no RVs allowed!)
Ok, but what are the BEST Pennsylvania State Parks to visit? Below is a list my favorite Pennsylvania State Parks (so far!) Cook Forest State Park Kinzua Bridge State Park Laurel Ridge State Park McConnells Mill State Park
List of PA State Parks in Alphabetical Order
Below is a list of the state parks I’ve visited, in alphabetical order, with links to guides for each park!
If you’re looking for a full list of parks by region, check out my comprehensive list of Pennsylvania State Parks!
- Bendigo State Park
- Big Boyd State Park
- Black Moshannon State Park
- Cook Forest State Park
- Canoe Creek State Park
- Clear Creek State Park
- Cowan’s Gap State Park
- Elk State Park
- Evansburg State Park
- French Creek State Park
- Fort Washington
- Keystone State Park
- Kinzua Bridge State Park
- Kooser State Park
- Laurel Hill State Park
- Laurel Mountain State Park
- Laurel Ridge State Park
- Laurel Summit State Park
- Linn Run State Park
- Marsh Creek State Park
- McConnells Mill State Park
- Moraine State Park
- Ohiopyle State Park
- Oil Creek State Park
- Nolde Forest
- Norristown Farm Park
- Poe Paddy State Park
- Poe Valley State Park
- Point State Park
- Raccoon Creek State Park
- Reed’s Gap State Park
- Ridley Creek State Park
- Shawnee State Park
- Whipple Dam State Park
- Yellow Creek State Park
Keep checking back on this post as I visit more and update each guide! Which state park is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Post Updated November 13, 2023