, there are 124 state parks in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.[1] The Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks, a division of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is the governing body for all these parks, and directly operates 116 of them. The remaining parks are operated in cooperation with other public and private organizations.
The first Pennsylvania state park, at Valley Forge, opened in 1893 and was given to the National Park Service (NPS) for the United States Bicentennial in 1976. There are a total of seventeen former Pennsylvania state parks: four former parks have been transferred to the NPS, four to the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission, two to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, one to both the Corps and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, five to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, and one has ceased to exist. Nine current and two former state parks have had major name changes or have been known under alternate names.
The list gives an overview of Pennsylvania state parks and a brief history of their development since the first park opened in 1893. State parks range in size from 3acres to 21122acres and comprise one percent of Pennsylvania's total land area.[2] According to Dan Cupper (1993), "Pennsylvania is the thirty-third largest state, but only Alaska and California have more park land".[3] [4]
There are state parks in 62 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, which nearly reaches Pennsylvania's goal of having a state park within 25 miles (40 km) of every resident in the Commonwealth.[5] Eleven parks do not have "State Park" in their name. Three are "Conservation Areas": Boyd Big Tree Preserve, Joseph E. Ibberson, and Varden; four are "Environmental Education Centers": Jacobsburg, Jennings, Kings Gap (also a "Training Center") and Nolde Forest; White Clay Creek is a "Preserve"; Norristown is a "Farm Park"; and Big Spring is a "State Forest Picnic Area".[6]
Seven parks are undeveloped with no facilities: Allegheny Islands, Benjamin Rush, Bucktail, Erie Bluffs, Prompton, Swatara, and Varden; the last four of these are in the process of being developed. Five state parks are small picnic areas: Laurel Summit, Patterson, Prouty Place, Sand Bridge, and Upper Pine Bottom. Five state parks have major U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams and/or lakes: Bald Eagle, Beltzville, Elk, Kettle Creek, and Sinnemahoning. Three former parks now belong, at least partly, to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Seven parks preserve the industrial past: Canoe Creek is the site of a former lime kiln, and Caledonia, French Creek, Greenwood Furnace, Kings Gap, Mont Alto, and Pine Grove Furnace (plus one former park) are all former iron furnace sites.[6] [4] Eight current parks and one former park contain at least part of eight different National Natural Landmarks.[7]
According to the DCNR, the state parks in Pennsylvania are on more than 300000acres with some 606 full-time and more than 1,600 part-time employees serving approximately 36 million visitors each year. Admission to all Pennsylvania state parks is free, although there are fees charged for use of cabins, marinas, etc. Pennsylvania's state parks offer "over 7,000 family campsites, 286 cabins, nearly 30,000 picnic tables, 56 major recreational lakes, 10 marinas, 61 beaches for swimming, 17 swimming pools" and over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of trails.[8]
Pennsylvania's first state park was Valley Forge State Park, purchased by the Commonwealth on May 30, 1893, to preserve Valley Forge. It was transferred to the National Park Service (NPS) on the Bicentennial of the United States, July 4, 1976.[9] Many state parks still preserve history: as of 2012, forty-two Pennsylvania state park sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, including two National Historic Landmarks (Delaware Canal and Point), twenty-eight Civilian Conservation Corps sites in nineteen parks, and twelve other parks' historic sites and districts.[10] Eight of the former state parks were also chiefly historic.[4]
In addition to preserving historic sites, Pennsylvania also sought to preserve natural beauty and offer opportunities for recreation in its state parks. In 1902 Mont Alto State Forest Park was the second park established, a year after the state "Bureau of Forestry" was set up to purchase, preserve, and restore Pennsylvania's forests, which had been ravaged by lumbering, charcoal production, and wild fires. Parks were added sporadically until the 1930s, some mere camping and picnic areas in state forests, while others preserved unique sites.[11] The 1930s saw a great expansion of parks and their facilities under Governor Gifford Pinchot, who cooperated with President Franklin Roosevelt, despite their being of different political parties. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established 113 CCC camps in Pennsylvania (second only to California). Using CCC and Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor, the NPS built five Recreation Demonstration Areas, which became Pennsylvania state parks in 1945 and 1946: Blue Knob, French Creek, Hickory Run, Laurel Hill, and Raccoon Creek. The CCC also "fought forest fires, planted trees, built roads, buildings, picnic areas, swimming areas, campgrounds and created many state parks".[12]
In 1956, there were forty-four state parks in Pennsylvania, mostly in rural areas. Forty-five parks had been added by 1979, mostly near urban areas, and the system had increased by 130000acres. This was thanks largely to the efforts of Maurice K. Goddard, who served as director of the precursors to the DCNR for twenty-four years under six administrations. The number of visitors to parks more than tripled in this time and two voter approved bond issues (Projects 70 and 500) raised millions of dollars for park expansions and improvements.[5] All this expansion was not without costs and by 1988 there was an estimated $90 million in deferred maintenance. In 1993, as the park system celebrated its one-hundredth anniversary, new tax and bond revenues were earmarked for the parks.[3] Since 2000, parks are being improved through the state's Growing Greener and Growing Greener II and bond programs.[13]
| County or counties | Area in acres (ha) | Date founded | Stream(s) and / or lake(s) | Remarks | Image | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny Islands State Park | acres (17 ha) | 1980 | Three alluvial islands near Pittsburgh with no facilities, and accessible only by boat | ||||
| Archbald Pothole State Park | acres (61 ha) | 1964 | None | One of world's largest potholes, 38 ft (12 m) deep, largest diameter 42 feet (13 m) by 24 feet (7 m) | |||
| Bald Eagle State Park | acres (2,388 ha) | 1971 | Bald Eagle Creek, Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir | 1,730 acre (700 ha) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir named for Medal of Honor recipient | |||
| Beltzville State Park | acres (1,203 ha) | 1972 | Pohopoco Creek, Beltzville Lake | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake is 949acres with 19.8 miles (31.9 km) of shoreline. | |||
| Bendigo State Park | acres (40 ha) | 1959 | Only 20acres developed, name a corruption of Abednego | ||||
| Benjamin Rush State Park | acres (111 ha) | 1975 | None | Site of one of the world's largest community gardens, otherwise undeveloped | |||
| Big Elk Creek State Park | acres (693 ha) | 2022 | Big Elk Creek was an important transportation and natural resource corridor for indigenous people for thousands of years and an important area for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad to the North. | ||||
| Big Pocono State Park | acres (529 ha) | 1954 | None | On Camelback Mountain, site of Camelback Ski Area and Waterpark | |||
| Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area | acres (18 ha) | 1936 | Big Spring Run [14] (which forms Shermans Creek) | Park has trail to partially completed railroad tunnel in Conococheague Mountain. | |||
| Black Moshannon State Park | acres (1,374 ha) | 1937 | Black Moshannon Creek, Black Moshannon Lake | Park has bog with three carnivorous plant species and 17 orchid varieties. | |||
| Blue Knob State Park | acres (2,377 ha) | 1945 | None | This former Recreation Demonstration Area on the state's second highest mountain has Blue Knob All Seasons Resort (skiing). | |||
| Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area | acres (370 ha) | 1999 | On Blue Mountain, one of three Conservation Areas, named for donor Alex Boyd | ||||
| acres (7 ha) | 1911 | Stone pyramid marks the birthplace of James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States. | |||||
| Bucktail State Park Natural Area | Cameron and Clinton Counties | acres (8,514 ha) | 1933 | Park, named for the Bucktail Regiment, is a 75-mile (121 km) undeveloped scenic drive on PA 120. | |||
| Caledonia State Park | Adams and Franklin Counties | acres (455 ha) | 1903 | Park, named for Thaddeus Stevens' iron furnace, is home to summer stock Totem Pole Playhouse. | |||
| Canoe Creek State Park | acres (266 ha) | 1979 | Canoe Creek (tributary of Raystown Branch Juniata River), Canoe Creek Lake | Home of largest nursery colony of little brown bats in the state. | |||
| Chapman State Park | acres (326 ha) | 1951 | Farnsworth Run, West Branch Tionesta Creek, Chapman Lake | Trailhead for trail system in surrounding Allegheny National Forest | |||
| Cherry Springs State Park | acres (19 ha) | 1922 | None | Park known for some of the clearest, darkest night skies in the state and eastern US. | |||
| Clear Creek State Park | acres (678 ha) | 1922 | Start of popular canoe trip on 10 miles (6 km) of Clarion River to Cook Forest State Park | ||||
| Codorus State Park | acres (1,347 ha) | 1966 | Codorus Creek, Lake Marburg | Man-made lake is 1275acres, named for former village of Marburg now flooded by it. | |||
| Colonel Denning State Park | acres (110 ha) | 1936 | Doubling Gap Creek, Doubling Gap Lake | Park named for William Denning, an American Revolutionary War veteran who was never a colonel. | |||
| Colton Point State Park | acres (149 ha) | 1936 | On west rim of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, 800 feet (244 m) deep here | ||||
| Cook Forest State Park | Clarion, Forest, and Jefferson Counties | acres (3,440 ha) | 1927 | National Natural Landmark, one of America's top-50 state parks (National Geographic Traveler) | |||
| Cowans Gap State Park | Franklin and Fulton Counties | acres (439 ha) | 1937 | Little Aughwick Creek, Cowans Gap Lake | Site of French and Indian War road, pioneer homestead, lumbering, and CCC camp | ||
| Delaware Canal State Park | Bucks and Northampton Counties | acres (336 ha) | 1931 | Park runs 60 miles (97 km) along Delaware Canal, the only 19th century U.S. towpath canal left continuously intact. | |||
| Denton Hill State Park | acres (283 ha) | 1951 | None | Site of Ski Denton resort, also open for summer mountain biking | |||
| Elk State Park | Elk and McKean Counties | acres (1,292 ha) | 1963 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake is 1160acres. | |||
| Erie Bluffs State Park | acres (219 ha) | 2004 | Park has 1.0 mile (0.6 km) of lake coastline and bluffs 90 feet (27 m) tall, and is being developed. | ||||
| Evansburg State Park | acres (1,355 ha) | 1979 | Park has 18 hole Skippack Golf Course and many outdoor recreational opportunities. | ||||
| Fort Washington State Park | acres (200 ha) | 1953 | George Washington camped here in the American Revolutionary War's Philadelphia campaign. | ||||
| Fowlers Hollow State Park | acres (42 ha) | 1936 | Fowlers Hollow Run | Trailhead for the trail system of the surrounding Tuscarora State Forest | |||
| Frances Slocum State Park | acres (419 ha) | 1968 | Abrahams Creek, Frances Slocum Lake | Park named for a girl kidnapped by the Lenape who lived the rest of her life with the Miami in Indiana. | |||
| French Creek State Park | Berks and Chester Counties | acres (2,970 ha) | 1946 | Former Recreation Demonstration Area, adjacent to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site | |||
| Gifford Pinchot State Park | acres (946 ha) | 1961 | Beaver Creek (tributary of Conewago Creek), Pinchot Lake | Gifford Pinchot was a Pennsylvania governor, conservationist, and first US Forest Service Chief. | |||
| Gouldsboro State Park | Monroe and Wayne Counties | acres (1,165 ha) | 1958 | Gouldsboro Lake | Park named for village named for Jay Gould, next to Tobyhanna Army Depot. | ||
| Greenwood Furnace State Park | acres (171 ha) | 1924 | Standing Stone Creek, Greenwood Lake | Includes ghost town of Greenwood, former ironworks and charcoal hearths | |||
| Hickory Run State Park | acres (6,293 ha) | 1945 | Hickory Run, Lehigh River, Sand Spring Lake | Former Recreation Demonstration Area with a large boulder field that is a National Natural Landmark. | |||
| Hillman State Park | acres (1,456 ha) | 1960s | Raccoon Creek | Managed for hunting by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and largely undeveloped | |||
| Hills Creek State Park | acres (165 ha) | 1953 | Hills Creek, Hills Creek Lake | Land previously used as a pigment mine for the paint industry | |||
| Hyner Run State Park | acres (73 ha) | 1958 | On the site of Civilian Conservation Corps Camp S-75-PA | ||||
| Hyner View State Park | acres (2 ha) | 1965 | None | Scenic view of the West Branch Susquehanna River and launching point for hang gliding | |||
| Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center | acres (473 ha) | 1959 | Park surrounds Jacobsburg National Historic District, where rifles were manufactured during the American Revolution. | ||||
| Jennings Environmental Education Center | acres (121 ha) | 1979 | Big Run | Park contains the only publicly protected relict prairie ecosystem in Pennsylvania, 20acres. | |||
| Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area | acres (142 ha) | 2000 | None | On Peters Mountain, one of three Conservation Areas, named for donor Joseph E. Ibberson | |||
| Kettle Creek State Park | acres (726 ha) | 1954 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir is 160acres, park has many recreational facilities built by CCC. | ||||
| Keystone State Park | acres (486 ha) | 1945 | Keystone Run, Keystone Lake | Park is named for the Keystone Coal and Coke Company that once owned the land and created the lake. | |||
| Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center | acres (588 ha) | 1973 | some vernal pools, Kings Gap Hollow Run, Irish Gap Run | Training center for park rangers of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources | |||
| Kinzua Bridge State Park | acres (133 ha) | 1970 | Had 1882 Historic Civil Engineering Landmark railway bridge, once the world's highest and longest, destroyed by a tornado in 2003. | ||||
| Kooser State Park | acres (101 ha) | 1922 | Kooser Run, Kooser Lake | ||||
| Lackawanna State Park | acres (571 ha) | 1972 | South Branch Tunkhannock Creek, Lake Lackawanna | On site of a Turn of the Century era community fair | |||
| Laurel Hill State Park | acres (1,592 ha) | 1945 | Laurel Hill Creek, Laurel Hill Lake | Former Recreation Demonstration Area with the largest CCC architecture collection of any Pennsylvania state park | |||
| Laurel Mountain State Park | Somerset and Westmoreland Counties | acres (200 ha) | 1964 | None | Opened in 1939 by Richard K. Mellon and Rolling Rock brewery as one of the state's first ski areas, donated to the state in 1964 | ||
| Laurel Ridge State Park | Cambria, Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland Counties | acres (5,514 ha) | 1967 | Conemaugh River, Youghiogheny River and tributaries | The park surrounds the 70 mile (113 km) long Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. | ||
| Laurel Summit State Park | acres (2 ha) | 1964 | None | Day use picnic area and trailhead, 2,739 feet (835 m) above sea level | |||
| Lehigh Gorge State Park | Carbon and Luzerne Counties | acres (1,841 ha) | 1980 | The Lehigh Gorge Trail follows the river through the park for 26 miles (42 km). | |||
| Leonard Harrison State Park | acres (237 ha) | 1922 | On east rim of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, 800 feet (244 m) deep here | ||||
| Linn Run State Park | acres (248 ha) | 1924 | Grove, Rock and Linn Runs and Adams Falls | Once a barren wasteland, now a thriving second growth forest with an excellent trout stream | |||
| Little Buffalo State Park | acres (374 ha) | 1972 | Little Buffalo Creek, Holman Lake | Park named for the bison that are believed to have once roamed the ridge and valley region of Pennsylvania. | |||
| Little Pine State Park | acres (873 ha) | 1937 | Historians believe a Shawnee village and burial ground were just north of the park. | ||||
| Locust Lake State Park | acres (441 ha) | 1966 | Locust Creek, Locust Lake | In a thriving second growth forest on the side of Locust Mountain | |||
| Lyman Run State Park | acres (241 ha) | 1951 | Lyman Run, Lyman Run Lake | Site of a Prisoner of War Camp during World War II | |||
| Marsh Creek State Park | acres (690 ha) | 1974 | Marsh Creek, Marsh Creek Lake | The village of Milford Mills was flooded by the creation of the lake, last Project 70 / 500 park. | |||
| Maurice K. Goddard State Park | acres (1,156 ha) | 1972 | Sandy Creek, Lake Wilhelm | Park named for Maurice K. Goddard, who led the creation of 45 state parks in 24 years of service. | |||
| McCalls Dam State Park | acres (3 ha) | 1933 | In a remote location on a dirt road between R. B. Winter State Park and Eastville. | ||||
| McConnells Mill State Park | acres (1,030 ha) | 1957 | Features a deep scenic gorge with a restored watermill and a covered bridge | ||||
| Memorial Lake State Park | acres (93 ha) | 1945 | Indiantown Run, Memorial Lake | Surrounded by Fort Indiantown Gap, headquarters of the Pennsylvania National Guard | |||
| Milton State Park | acres (33 ha) | 1966 | On an island in the river, destroyed by Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and rebuilt | ||||
| Mont Alto State Park | acres (10 ha) | 1902 | Pennsylvania's current oldest state park and first State Forest Park, former iron works | ||||
| Moraine State Park | acres (6,768 ha) | 1970 | Muddy Creek, Lake Arthur | Park served as the location of the 1973 and 1977 National Scout Jamborees. | |||
| Mt. Pisgah State Park | acres (527 ha) | 1979 | Pisgah Creek, Mill Creek, Stephen Foster Lake | Lake named for renowned American composer Stephen Foster. | |||
| Nescopeck State Park | acres (1,437 ha) | 2005 | One of the newest state parks in Pennsylvania | ||||
| Neshaminy State Park | acres (134 ha) | 1956 | Park, on an estuary, donated by descendant of James Logan, colonial secretary to William Penn | ||||
| Nockamixon State Park | acres (2,138 ha) | 1973 | Nockamixon means "place of soft soil" in the Lenape language. | ||||
| Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center | acres (269 ha) | 1970 | Once a forest privately owned by Jacob Nolde | ||||
| Norristown Farm Park | acres (279 ha) | 1995 | Stony Creek | Managed by the Montgomery County Department of Parks | |||
| Ohiopyle State Park | acres (7,710 ha) | 1965 | Youghiogheny River and tributaries | One of the most popular white-water rafting destinations on the East Coast | |||
| Oil Creek State Park | acres (2,529 ha) | 1931 | Edwin Drake drilled the first successful oil well in the world here in 1859. | ||||
| Ole Bull State Park | acres (53 ha) | 1925 | Location of a Norwegian colony established by renowned violinist Ole Bull | ||||
| Parker Dam State Park | acres (392 ha) | 1936 | Laurel Run, Parker Lake | A herd of elk lives in and near the park. | |||
| Patterson State Park | acres (4 ha) | 1925 | None | Day use picnic area on PA 44, surrounded by Susquehannock State Forest | |||
| Penn-Roosevelt State Park | acres (17 ha) | 1983 | Once a segregated black Civilian Conservation Corps camp during the Great Depression | ||||
| Pine Grove Furnace State Park | acres (282 ha) | 1913 | Mountain Creek, Fuller Lake, Laurel Lake | The furnaces at Pine Grove could consume an acre of trees a day. | |||
| Poe Paddy State Park | acres (9 ha) | 1938 | Noted by anglers for the shadfly hatch that occurs in late spring | ||||
| Poe Valley State Park | acres (251 ha) | 1938 | Big Poe Creek, Poe Lake | Built during the Great Depression by the CCC | |||
| Point State Park | acres (15 ha) | 1974 | Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio rivers | In downtown Pittsburgh at meeting of three rivers, site of Fort Pitt | |||
| Presque Isle State Park | acres (1,295 ha) | 1921 | The most visited state park in Pennsylvania, on a peninsula in lake with many beaches | ||||
| Prince Gallitzin State Park | acres (2,529 ha) | 1965 | Park named for Demetrius Gallitzin, Russian nobleman turned Roman Catholic priest. | ||||
| Promised Land State Park | acres (1,214 ha) | 1905 | Wallenpaupack Creek, Promised Land Lake, Lower Lake | Name is an ironic commentary created by immigrant residents, once owned by the Shakers. | |||
| Prompton State Park | acres (809 ha) | 1962 | Lackawaxen River, Prompton Lake | Being developed with the help of Friends of Prompton | |||
| Prouty Place State Park | acres (2 ha) | 1925 | Prouty Run | Day use picnic area on Long Toe Road | |||
| Pymatuning State Park | acres (8,548 ha) | 1934 | This is the largest state park in Pennsylvania, with one of the largest lakes. | ||||
| R. B. Winter State Park | acres (281 ha) | 1933 | Halfway Creek, Halfway Lake | Park has first cement and stone dam ever built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. | |||
| Raccoon Creek State Park | acres (3,064 ha) | 1945 | Little Traverse Creek, Raccoon Lake | Park was built by the CCC and WPA as one of five National Park Service Recreation Demonstration Areas in state. | |||
| Ralph Stover State Park | acres (18 ha) | 1931 | High Rocks portion of the park was donated to Pennsylvania by James Michener in 1956. | ||||
| Ravensburg State Park | acres (32 ha) | 1933 | Park named for the ravens that flock near the gorge. | ||||
| Reeds Gap State Park | acres (89 ha) | 1938 | Once a gathering place for the locals to hold picnics and listen to travelling evangelists | ||||
| Ricketts Glen State Park | Columbia, Luzerne, and Sullivan Counties | acres (5,281 ha) | 1942 | Known for its many waterfalls, it was slated to become a National Park, but did not due to redirection of funds during World War II. | |||
| Ridley Creek State Park | acres (1,055 ha) | 1972 | Adjacent to the John J. Tyler Arboretum | ||||
| Ryerson Station State Park | acres (471 ha) | 1967 | North Fork of the Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek, Ronald J. Duke Lake | 52 acre (21 ha) man-made lake, 38 miles (61 km) from next nearest Pennsylvania state park (Hillman) | |||
| S. B. Elliott State Park | acres (129 ha) | 1933 | Stony Run | Park named for Simon B. Elliott, a noted Pennsylvania conservationist and legislator. | |||
| Salt Springs State Park | acres (164 ha) | 1973 | Fall Brook | Park has three waterfalls and its hemlocks are over 500 years old and some of the largest trees in the state. | |||
| Samuel S. Lewis State Park | acres (34 ha) | 1954 | None | Park named for its donor, a Secretary of the Department of Forests and Waters; now popular for star gazing. | |||
| Sand Bridge State Park | acres (1 ha) | 1978 | Rapid Run | This is the smallest state park in Pennsylvania, a day use picnic area on PA 192. | |||
| Shawnee State Park | acres (1,612 ha) | 1951 | Lake Shawnee | Rental lodge on an island in the lake | |||
| Shikellamy State Park | Northumberland and Union Counties | acres (53 ha) | 1960 | Park overlook is at confluence of West Branch and North Branch Susquehanna River, marina added in 1972. | |||
| Sinnemahoning State Park | Cameron and Potter Counties | acres (773 ha) | 1962 | Sinnemahoning Creek, George B. Stevenson Reservoir | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir is 142acres, park home to rare elk and bald eagle. | ||
| Sizerville State Park | Cameron and Potter Counties | acres (156 ha) | 1924 | Cowley Run | Park named for the nearby ghost town of Sizerville. | ||
| Susquehanna Riverlands State Park | acres (445 ha) | 2022 | The largely wooded tract, located where Codorus Creek flows into the Susquehanna River, protects critical water and forest resources. | ||||
| Susquehanna State Park | acres (8 ha) | 1961 | Park operated by the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, home to paddlewheeler Hiawatha. | ||||
| Susquehannock State Park | acres (91 ha) | 1965 | Park named for the Susquehannock, whose chief village was nearby. | ||||
| Swatara State Park | Lebanon and Schuylkill Counties | acres (1,422 ha) | 1987 | Rail trail is on the former Lebanon & Tremont Branch of Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, park being developed. | |||
| Tobyhanna State Park | Monroe and Wayne Counties | acres (2,201 ha) | 1949 | Tobyhanna Creek, Tobyhanna Lake | Once part of an artillery range for Tobyhanna Army Depot | ||
| Trough Creek State Park | acres (224 ha) | 1936 | Great Trough Creek, Raystown Lake | Bald eagles have migrated here naturally since the early 1990s. | |||
| Tuscarora State Park | acres (655 ha) | 1971 | Locust Creek, Tuscarora Lake | The Tuscarora moved to the area after the Tuscarora War in North Carolina, were later forced out by colonial settlement. | |||
| Tyler State Park | acres (692 ha) | 1974 | Old original stone dwellings in park are fine examples of early farm dwellings of rural Pennsylvania. | ||||
| Upper Pine Bottom State Park | acres (2 ha) | 1924 | Upper Pine Bottom Run | A roadside park and picnic area for day use only, on PA 44 | |||
| Varden Conservation Area | acres (139 ha) | 2001 | One of three Conservation Areas, donated by Dr. Mead Shaffer, being developed | ||||
| Vosburg Neck State Park | acres (271 ha) | 2022 | Public access for water-based recreation to the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. | ||||
| Warriors Path State Park | acres (141 ha) | 1965 | Park named for the Great Indian Warpath used by the Iroquois in war raids on the Cherokee and other tribes. | ||||
| Washington Crossing Historic Park | acres (202 ha) | 2016 | Site of George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River. Transferred from the Historical and Museum Commission in 2016.[15] | ||||
| Whipple Dam State Park | acres (104 ha) | 1928 | Whipple Lake | There was a camp for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Campfire Girls on the north side of lake from 1928 to 1941. | |||
| White Clay Creek Preserve | acres (508 ha) | 1984 | Park was donated by DuPont to preserve "diverse and unique plant and animal species, and the rich cultural heritage of the area". | ||||
| Worlds End State Park | acres (316 ha) | 1932 | A "Must See Park" known for trout fishing, white-water kayaking, camping, and hiking on the Loyalsock Trail. | ||||
| Yellow Creek State Park | acres (1,271 ha) | 1963 | Yellow Creek, Yellow Creek Lake | Crossed by the Kittanning Path, a major east–west Native American trail during the 18th century |
The following are significantly different former or alternate names for nine current Pennsylvania state parks. Note that many parks were originally "State Forest Parks" or were state public camping or picnic areas in Pennsylvania state forests. In modern times, some "State Parks" have become "Environmental Education Centers", while other parks have dropped one word from their name ("Cherry Springs Drive" is now Cherry Springs, "Codorus Creek" is now Codorus, "Kooser Lake" is now Kooser, "Laurel Hill Summit" is now Laurel Summit, and "Promised Land Lake" is now Promised Land). Such minor name changes are not included in this table.
| County or counties | Date name changed | Current park name | Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams Falls Class A Campground | unknown | Adams Falls is a waterfall on Linn Run within Linn Run State Park (which has both an "Adams Falls Picnic Area" and "Adams Falls Trail"). | |||
| Halfway State Park[16] | 1955 | Park was renamed for Raymond B. Winter, a Forest Ranger who established it and worked there 45 years; also known as "Halfway Dam State Park". | |||
| High Rocks State Park[17] | unknown | "High Rocks" refers to part of park added in 1956; this name is listed in the USGS GNIS, but was never an official DCNR name or separate park. | |||
| Pennsylvania State Park at Erie | unknown | This was only the second "State Park" by name in the state when established in 1921; also known unofficially as "Peninsula State Park". | |||
| Sandy Creek State Park | 1969 | Proposed as "Sandy Creek" (on Sandy Creek), but the name was changed (despite the objections of Dr. Goddard) before park officially opened in 1972. | |||
| Theodore Roosevelt State Park[18] | Bucks and Northampton Counties | 1989 | Park was originally named for Theodore Roosevelt, who had no connection to it; renamed for its focus, the Delaware Canal. | ||
| Tohickon State Park[19] | 1965 | Park was proposed in 1958 as "Tohickon" (on Tohickon Creek), but the name was changed before the park officially opened in 1973. | |||
| Whirl's End State Park[20] | 1936 and 1943 | "Whirl's End" 1936–1943 (for whirlpool in Loyalsock Creek); "Worlds End" 1932–1936 and 1943 to present (for remote location); also known as "Whirl's Glen" | |||
| Valhalla State Forest Park | 1920s | "Valhalla" was a settlement in Ole Bull's failed Norwegian colony, now within the boundaries of Ole Bull State Park. |
The following eighteen were once Pennsylvania state parks, but have been transferred to federal (National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) or state (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry) agencies, or ceased to exist.
| County or counties | Date jurisdiction changed | Current name | Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny River State Park | 1980[21] | Kennerdell (or Allegheny River) tract[22] | Now part of Clear Creek State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry) | ||
| Blue Marsh State Park | 1978 | Blue Marsh Lake and Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 280[23] [24] | Park was completed, but without funds to operate it, so was given to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, now also partly a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site. | ||
| Brandywine Battlefield State Park[25] | unknown | Brandywine Battlefield[26] | Now a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site | ||
| Bushy Run Battlefield State Park[27] | unknown | Now a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site | |||
| Colerain State Park | unknown | Colerain Picnic Area[28] | Now part of Rothrock State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry) although as of 2012 it is not shown on the official state forest web site or map;[29] [30] also known historically as "Colerain Forge". | ||
| Conrad Weiser Memorial Park | 1953 | Now a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site | |||
| Crooked Creek State Park[31] | unknown | Crooked Creek Lake Recreation Area[32] | Now a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site | ||
| Curwensville State Park[33] | unknown | Curwensville Lake on the West Branch Susquehanna River[34] | Now a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site, recreation area operated by Clearfield County | ||
| Drake Well State Park[35] | 1943 | Now a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site | |||
| Fort Necessity State Park[36] | 1961 | Fort Necessity National Battlefield[37] | Now part of a National Park Service site | ||
| George W. Childs State Park[38] [39] | 1983 | George W. Childs Recreation Site[40] | Now part of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, a National Park Service site; it was donated to the state for a park in 1912 by the widow of Dr. Childs. | ||
| Hemlock State Forest Park | unknown | Hemlocks Natural Area[41] | Now part of Tuscarora State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry) | ||
| Independence Mall State Park[42] | 1975 | Independence National Historical Park[43] | Now a National Park Service site | ||
| Moosic Lake State Park | 1930s | No longer in existence | The Pennsylvania state legislature created park in early 1930s, but did not fund it, so it never came into existence. | ||
| Snyder-Middleswarth State Park[44] | 1980s | Snyder Middleswarth Natural Area and Picnic Area[45] [46] | Now part of Bald Eagle State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry), established 1921 | ||
| Valley Forge State Park | 1976 | Valley Forge National Historical Park[47] | Now a National Park Service site, it was established in 1893 as the first state park in Pennsylvania. | ||
| Voneida State Forest Park[48] | unknown | Hairy Johns State Forest Picnic Area | Now part of Bald Eagle State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry), it was established 1922 and named for "Hairy John" Voneida[49] |
The following are significantly different former or alternate names for two former Pennsylvania state parks. One former park dropped one word from its name ("Colerain Forge" became "Colerain" sometime between 1924 and 1937). Such minor name changes are not included in this table.
| County or counties | Date name changed | Former park name | Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braddock Grave State Park[50] | 1961 | Part of Fort Necessity State Park | Now part of Fort Necessity National Battlefield (National Park Service) | ||
| Hairy John's State Forest Park | unknown | Voneida State Forest Park | Now a State Forest Picnic Area in Bald Eagle State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry), it was originally named for "Hairy John" Voneida, a 19th-century hermit who lived nearby. |
a. As of 2012, three Pennsylvania state parks are also the site of ski areas run by private contractors: Big Pocono (Ski Camelback), Blue Knob (Ski Blue Knob), and Denton Hill (Ski Denton).[6] (Two other state parks had commercial ski operations in the past Laurel Mountain (from 1939 to 2005)[51] and Black Moshannon (from 1965 to 1982).[4] [52]) Two parks are operated by other governmental bodies: Hillman (managed for hunting by the Pennsylvania Game Commission) and Norristown Farm (operated by the Montgomery County Department of Parks). Three parks are operated by other organizations: Susquehanna (operated by the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce), Prompton (operated by non-profit "Friends of Prompton"), and Salt Springs (operated by non-profit "Friends of Salt Springs").[6]
b. The Pennsylvania counties without state parks as of 2023 are: Armstrong, Juniata, Lehigh, Montour, and Snyder counties. Two of these counties are sites of former state parks: Crooked Creek in Armstrong County, and Snyder-Middleswarth in Snyder County.[6] [4]
c. The goal of having a state park within 25 miles (40 km) of every resident was set by Maurice K. Goddard (Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, and then of the Department of Environmental Resources from 1955 to 1979).[5]
d. The seven National Natural Landmarks at least partly within current state parks (with the park name in parentheses, if different) are: Cook Forest, Ferncliff Peninsula (Ohiopyle), the Glens Natural Area (Ricketts Glen), Hickory Run Boulder Field (Hickory Run), McConnells Mill, the Pine Creek Gorge (includes Colton Point and Leonard Harrison), and Presque Isle. One National Natural Landmark, Snyder Middleswarth Natural Area, is a former state park.[7]
e. The date of establishment for many Pennsylvania state parks is not always clear, especially for parks developed from state forest property. As an example, consider Upper Pine Bottom, which, as of 2012, is a picnic area surrounded by Tiadaghton State Forest. These state forest lands were acquired by the state by the early 1900s, the site was "Upper Pine Bottom Class B Public Campground" by 1924, the CCC built a pavilion there in 1936 (which is no longer extant), but it was not officially transferred from the Bureau of Forests to State Parks until 1962.[4]
f. This park was one of twenty-five chosen by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Parks for its "25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks" list.[53]
g. This park has one or more historic sites or districts on the National Register of Historic Places.[10]
h. There have been a considerable number of changes in Pennsylvania's categorization of its state parks and other protected areas over the years, so that what can be called a former state park is not always clear. This can be seen by comparing the following three lists from 1923, 1924, and 1937.
In 1923, the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters listed seven "State Forest Parks": Caledonia, Childs (now part of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area), Hairy John's (now a picnic area in Bald Eagle State Forest), James Buchanan, Leonard Harrison, Mont Alto, and Valhalla (now Ole Bull). Note this does not include Snyder-Middleswarth State Forest Park, established in 1921.[4]
One year later the state listed twenty-six public campgrounds in state forests, which included three of the previous year's state forest parks, plus twelve sites that later became state parks. The ten Class A Public Campgrounds (with space for cars and tents, on main highways) were: Adams Falls (now Linn Run), Big Spring, Caledonia, Childs, Colerain Forge, Darling Run, Laurel Run Park, Ole Bull, Promised Land, and Tea Springs. The sixteen Class B Public Campgrounds (lean-to shelter, on secondary roads) were: Baldwin, Bear Valley, Cherry Springs Drive, Clear Creek, Donnelly, Joyce Kilmer, Kansas, Kooser, Laurel Hill Summit (now Laurel Summit), Laurel Lake Park, Locusts, McCall's Dam, Ravensburg, Sizerville, Sulphur Springs, and Upper Pine Bottom.[4]
In 1937, the state published a brochure listing the following forty-nine protected areas: six State Parks (Caledonia, Childs, Cook Forest, Presque Isle, Pymatuning, and Ralph Stover); eight State Monuments (Bushy Run, Conrad Weiser, Drake Well, Fort Necessity, Fort Washington, James Buchanan, Valley Forge, and Washington Crossing); ten Forest Recreational Reserves (Clear Creek, Colton Point, Cowans Gap, Kooser Lake, Parker Dam, Pecks Pond, Promised Land Lake, Snow Hill, Whipple Dam, Whirl's End); sixteen Wayside Areas (Big Spring, Black Moshannon, Cherry Spring, Colerain, Greenwood Furnace, Halfway (now R.B. Winter), Joyce Kilmer, Kettle Creek, Mont Alto, Pine Grove Furnace, Reeds Gap, S.B. Elliott, Sideling Hill, Sizerville, and Tea Spring); seven Forest Monuments (Alan Seeger, Bear Meadows, Ole Bull, Detweiler Run, McConnell Narrows, Mount Logan, and Snyder-Middleswarth); and three State Forest Lookouts (Leonard Harrison, Martins Hill, and Mount Riansares).[54]
Only twelve of the twenty-six public campgrounds from 1924 are on the 1937 list. Of the forty-nine areas on the 1937 list, twenty-eight are state parks as of 2012, while nine are former state parks, and twelve are in state forests (eight of these still retain their names as state forest picnic, natural or wild areas).