Pennsylvania has claim to a range of beautiful parks and outdoor areas that are a major tourist attraction for locals and those outside of the state. It’s easy to find state parks, campgrounds and outdoor recreation areas throughout the state, which makes it simple to find outdoor things to do in Pennsylvania.
What makes Pennsylvania extra special is that many of its national parks are designated historical sites with outdoor activities, trails and more. Pennsylvania has a whopping 121 state parks, 19 national parks and seven National Heritage Areas. The very first Pennsylvania state park at Valley Forge opened back in 1893. It was given to the National Park Service for America’s bicentennial in 1976. We apparently have lots of land, too, as Pennsylvania is the 33rd largest state, but only two states have more park land: Alaska and California.
For some more park trivia, according to the DCNR, the 121 state parks in Pennsylvania comprise more than 283,000 acres of land and employ more than 600 full-time and more than 1,600 part-time employees. Roughly 36 million people visit Pennsylvania’s state parks each year. Admission to all Pennsylvania state parks is free, but you’ll have to pay to use cabins and other special areas. The majority of the parks are open from sunrise to sunset, 365 days of the year. That said, make sure to check the park your visiting first to make sure they are open.
Even though winter is on the way, we still have a little bit of summer left, plus fall is a beautiful time to take a hike at a state park. I’ve even been known to go on hikes in the winter at state parks. The cold months can be beautiful with the white snow. Read on for 10 Pennsylvania state parks that will take your breath away. How many of these have you visited?
