Gifford Pinchot State Park
Gifford Pinchot State Park is a 2338 acre park in York County along PA177. The park features Pinchot Lake, a 340 acre warmwater lake. The park is an area of forest surrounded by farm fields. The park is often used as a rest stop for migrating birds and is home to much wildlife. The park contains several large outcroppings of diabase rock. The park was named after Gifford Pinchot a Chief Forester of the US Division of Forestry and governor of Pennsylvania.
Cowans Gap State Park
Cowans Gap State Park is a 1085 acre beautiful park in Fulton County with a 42 acre lake. Cowans Gap Lake features a beach and swimming area. The lake is stocked with trout, bass, perch, catfish and panfish. Cowans Gap has 2 campgrounds and plenty of hiking. The park educator has great programs. Overall it is a great park with plenty to see. Be sure to visit Buchanan's Birthplace State Park.
Colonel Denning State Park
Colonel Denning State Park is a 273 acre park in north-central Cumberland County. The park is a scenic park with Doubling Gap Lake, a 3.5 acre lake. The Lake has a sand beach with swimming. Doubling Gap Lake has trout fishing and kayaking and canoeing.
Caledonia State Park
Caledonia State Park is an 1125 acre park midway between Chambersburg and Gettysburg. Caledonia State Park was home to the Caledonia Iron Works, a charcoal furnace, forge, and rolling mill in operation from 1837 to 1874 owned by Thaddeus Stevens. The operation also included stables, warehouses, a blacksmith shop, sawmill, and housing. The iron works were burned by the Confederate army in 1863 during the civil war. A shop area and rebuilt furnace stack can be seen within Caledonia State park. Caledonia has great hiking, camping, and history.
Buchanan's Birthplace State Park
Buchanan's Birthplace State Park is small 18.5 acre park containing a memorial to President Buchanan. The park has 2 pavilions for picnicking in the park. The park is a short drive from Cowans Gap. The Cowans Gap educator typically provides programs at Buchanan's Birthplace. Buck Run flows through the park and has native trout. It is a good history stop.