Welcome to quite possibly the smallest state park in all of Pennsylvania. Located just outside or…read moreMercersburg you will literally stumble upon this park. More on the park in a bit. James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States, they only President to come from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the only bachelor President thus far. I'm not going to delve into the politics of him, but I did learn a few things about him while visiting. Did you know that he was engaged to be married, but his fiancé passed away shortly after breaking off the engagement. Which then led to him becoming the bachelor president. Leading to his favorite niece to serve as the First Lady during his presidency. Harriet Lane Johnston served and then led the first efforts to create this memorial that lies within the state park. The park, like I stated, is rather small, it's a small trek of land straddling a creek with multiple picnic areas. It's a nice diversion from the area and you honestly feel like you are far off the beaten path. Also held within the state park is the memorial. Buchanan's Birthplace State Park is just that. The gated pyramid structure sits near where the birth of President Buchanan happened. The park's plaques give a more descript imagery of what I just said, but whatever. The pyramid itself started to be constructed in October of 1907. The work being done by 20 men with the aid of a small railroad they built to transport materials. The pyramid is made up of 50 short tons of American Gray Granite and 250 tons of mortar and native stones. It is 38 feet square and 31 feet tall. After completion the Pennsylvania General Assembly accepted the monument from his niece's trust and Buchanan's Birthplace State Park was established in 1911. They say that this was a town based off of frontier commerce where people would stop along their treks to wherever. It was called at that time Stony Batter, after his ancestral homelands back in Scotland. A modest little outpost with a few cabins, barns, stables, orchards, storehouses and a general store. You wouldn't know it by looking at this land now. This can be a real quick stop on your trek. Or it can be a longer stop for you if you wish. The multiple picnic areas are nice and can be used by anyone that enters the park, first come, first served. Careful on the narrow lanes, the bridges are one-laned and there isn't much room to pull off to allow for two cars in some spots. There are dedicated parking areas throughout, be mindful of that. It is definitely a hidden gem that is rather peaceful. It is also a nice place to gather some knowledge of a president that isn't as notable as others.

Widely considered to be America's worst President (let's not have a Trump/Obama debate, mkay?)…read morebecause he failed to handle the secession of the South and his inability to confront the issue of slavery in the years leading up to the Civil War. Nonetheless, this heavily forested state park has picnic areas and a stream that is known for its native trout population. It is quite secluded and other than a park ranger driving past, there was no one else coming or going during my visit. Up the road, you will find a parking area and a 31-foot-tall pyramid built on the site where James Buchanan, the country's 15th president, was born. The monument was built from locally quarried stones and made to look rustic. Buchanan was born at the site in a log cabin. Back then, his father owned the property, which was called Stony Batter. It was a small hub for frontier activities and commerce, and included a smattering of dwellings, barns, and stores. It's a nice spot to get completely away from civilization for a bit. Small fact number one: the park was the first land donation in Pennsylvania to be turned into a park. Small fact number two: Buchanan was the only President of the United States born in Pennsylvania which was one of the original thirteen colonies. [Review 15575 overall - 566 in Pennsylvania - 1079 of 2021.]

This is a park with a little something for everyone. You pass tennis courts as you make your way…read moreinto the park which is nice. There's also a baseball field, pavilion with lots of tables, and plenty of open grass/ field. There are also two separate playground areas, one for ages 2-5 and then another for 6-12. If you're there during peak times on a Saturday the amount of children/ tweens and parents there can feel a bit overwhelming. So I would advise trying to avoid peak times on a Saturday. Sundays seem a little more calm. There are so many cool features at this playground your child will definitely have fun and wear themselves out! There's also a waterway/ creek that has ducks in it frequently and what appears to be a path/walkway/ walking trail. This park has everything you need for a day or afternoon at the park!

Awesome place! Id love to visit again haha the kids LOVED IT! Charles almost fell in though....stay…read moresafe!

I spent the afternoon at the beach area. There were a decent number of people but it wasn't too…read morecrowded. There are a bunch of Adirondack chairs and a small bathroom area. Overall it was a great place to spend a hot Sunday.

We were here for the Flat Rock Trail which is listed among the top 10 hikes in Cumberland County,…read moreand is featured on PABucketList.com blog. After a quick stop at the ranger's office for the map and information, we went straight to use the restrooms and at the same time check out the surroundings around Doubling Gap Lake. There is an easy 1 mile nature trail along the lake as well as the moderate 1.2 mile Rattlesnake Trail on the foothill of the Blue Mountains, but we're here for the kill. We're deadset for the 180 degree vista view at the summit of the Flat Rock Trail. We knew it would be strenuous, so we paced ourselves. Trails are easily recognized and sufficiently blazed. There is a fork where you can either take the "Preferred" or the "Challenging" route. We took the latter. More than half of the 2.4 mile trail to the summit are rugged with sizable rocks, so a good pair of hiking boots and poles are highly desirable. It took us about 1 hour and 40 minutes to get to the summit. The view was amazing. There were also more than half a dozen buzzards gliding back and forth near the summit. We spent 30 minutes enjoying the view, snacking, and taking lots of pictures before we headed back down. It actually felt even more punishing on the way down because of the rocks, especially punishing on the toes. We took the "Preferred" trail on the way back which is almost a quarter mile longer. It took about the same amount of time on the return trip. We felt it on the legs the next morning, but it was a rewarding hike.

Wonderful State Park to take your kids hiking, wish I lived closer I'd go more often!read more

Beautiful park to hike through and camp at. We slept in our tent and thoroughly enjoyed the rock…read moreoverlook and swinging bridge among other things. Will return one day!

For families with mobility issues or physical disabilities please do your research with certain…read morepavilion picnic areas. I was very disappointed with how our accessibility concerns were initially handled at Little Buffalo State Park. Pavilions 1 and 2 are extremely difficult, and for some people with disabilities, practically impossible to access from the parking area. I called the Little Buffalo State Park office on 7/9/26 two days prior to our family gathering to simply request to have the gate at the end of the access road to be opened temporarily (as we had the last several years), so family members with serious mobility limitations could be dropped off closer to our Pavilion 1. We were not asking to park there permanently. When I was told they would not temporarily open gate for us I asked to speak to Park Manager Jim Eckert to discuss this but he never called me back. There were 2 office employees I spoke to 7/9 and 7/10. One office employee named Tracy, who showed little empathy or willingness to help and ultimately hung up on me when I suggested going above their head and call DCNR (Department of conservation and natural resources.) Thankfully, Ryan Donavan at DCNR apologized and stepped in immediately and resolved the issue by making sure the gate was opened for drop-off. DCNR was wonderful, responsive, empathetic, and helpful--and the park rangers were also wonderful. We also found that a wheelchair could not even get through the bathroom stall entrance serving Pavilions 1 and 2. And not even a grab bar near the urinal. People with disabilities should not have to fight for basic access. The Americans With Disabilities Act is the law, not a suggestion! Little Buffalo State Park needs to seriously address accessibility at Pavilions 1 and 2 and how accommodation requests are handled by park manager Jim Eckart and staff. They were not at all empathetic or willing to help us find a solution. I would not want this to happen to another family. Thank you DCNR for stepping in.

Easily marked hiking trails, clean restrooms. Nice mix of easy and difficult trails. Plenty of…read morepicnic tables and grills.

This makes an absolutely beautiful unspoiled walk along the Little Juniata River. Go to the end of…read moreMountain Road, park your car and walk as far as you feel like. I usually do about a 45 minute to one hour walk one way. This is a favorite with fly fishermen which can often be seen in the river here.

I skipped the park and was here specifically for the bridge. Martin's Mill Covered Bridge is a…read morehistoric wooden covered bridge located at Antrim Township in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. It is a 205-foot-long (62 m), Town lattice truss bridge, constructed in 1849. It uses no arches or exterior supports and was considered strong enough to support a bridge up to 200 feet in length. It was less costly to build than traditional arch supported bridges. It crosses Conococheague Creek. In 1973 the bridge was rehabilitated after being carried downstream by flood waters during Hurricane Agnes. Steel bracing was added at a later date to stabilize the bridge. In spite of being altered over the years due to destruction and restoration it remains a good example of this type of covered bridge design and contains approximately two-thirds of its original timbers. The bridge is only open to pedestrian traffic and is located at the end of a curvy road down to the creek. There is a small area for parking nearby. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. [Review 15581 overall - 571 in Pennsylvania - 1085 of 2021.]

Great park for anyone and everyone. There is something to do for almost every type of person. The…read moregrounds are always kept very nice.

I look forward to walking through the Preserve with my little dog on a weekly basis. I'm not sure…read moreif it is my dog or myself who likes the Preserve better! Even with the recent hot, humid weather, the hike has been enjoyable because of the shading provided by the beautiful trees and the available resting areas. Parking has never been an issue although I have recently noticed more cars when I visit. It looks like even more people are visiting and enjoying the trails!

Such a beautiful nature walk. I feel very fortunate to have this preserve so close to my house…read more What a great escapade for me and my dog! Love that there are areas to sit and just enjoy the outdoors and nature. Very well maintained and felt safe for a solo female. Highly, highly recommend!

In the spring, a perfect picnic spot with trees, grills, ball fields, playgrounds and 3/4 mile…read morepathway through the park... and several park benches. The full park is 37 acres and it's lined with lots of mature trees and lots of shady spots. I brought my lunch here on a bright and sunny day to enjoy some shade and a little bit of outside before heading back into the windowless conference room. It's a nice and mostly quiet spot, as it does back up to the Interstate.

Beautiful area just a short walk to the falls. Easy access and walk. Additional trail, short,…read moreacross the parking lot. Take a rain coat!! Enjoy

We had a wonderful time at the falls and there wasn't a lot of people there nature was absolutely…read moregorgeous