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    Little Buffalo State Park

    4.6 (36 reviews)

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    Sarah M.

    Great place to kayak! Two places to launch make it easy to put in. Plenty of picnic tables as well.

    Wildlife all around Little Buffalo Lake, watching the ongoings around the nest in the tall grass
    Holly L.

    Everyone that I have come in contact with that works there are amazing and helpful. Others are helpful and polite to nod, wave or say Hello... Out on the water at sunset is one of the most beautiful places so peaceful and sound. Other patrons on the lake and around are very kind and considerate of everyone around in water or on land. Love kayaking on there lake and just relaxing watching the nature and others around and the sky changing...

    Visitors Center
    Christopher C.

    (This one is solely about the campground area at Little Buffalo. There are several other things to do at the park like use their large pool, hunt, fish and the eight plus miles of hiking just like their are historical interests as well with a 19th century covered bridge, remains from a narrow gauge railroad and a working renovated gristmill but we didn't have the time to see much of this even though it all sounded great.) I'll start by saying that the idea of camping to me is fairly abhorrent. The thought of being out in the middle of nowhere sleeping on the ground, creating your own fire and living off the land is not my idea of a good time. I put that somewhere between do I want a root canal without a sedative or do I want to meet Jaws when I'm on a sinking catamaran. In the words of the late great John Pinette: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttTmincYe9M So eventually I surrender and agree to camping but only in the controlled setting of glamping meaning of course that there needs to be four walls and a bed in some form. To add an extra degree of difficulty we also wanted to bring the dog with this us for this adventure so to the PA State Park website I went. If we were just camping straight up making a reservation would be easy. But, there are only so many parks in PA this year currently that allow you to bring a dog into a cottage/cabin and out of those parks that allow it, they only allocate a small percentage of their inventory for animals. Add to this situation that most of the parks that do allow dogs are not in the eastern half of PA and this became more work than I thought to find an acceptable place/set of dates. Ideally I would have like to have done this closer to home at Nockamixon State Park but their pet cabin space is booked on weekends for months in advance so whatever. The cottages themselves at Little Buffalo aren't much to look at but they do the job. There are four of them (the website in some places lists five) in a loop which is across the entrance road to the site from the actual camping area which has 43 sites. The cottage has two rooms. One room had a small heater with a table that has four chairs and the other room two sets of bunk beds with singles on the top and doubles on the bottom. There is also a light in each room and a beat up ceiling fan in the room with the beds. Outside you have a small fire pit you can cook with and bathrooms, drinking water and a shower in a fairly new shared building that is maybe a hundred yards away from the furthest cottages. A few quick pointers: * If you need provisions there is a Giant six miles away in Newport. Easy enough drive. * Check in time for the cottages is 3pm at the Visitor Center. If you wanted to check in later say after 5pm, I have no idea what the procedure is. I didn't ask and the state's website doesn't list it. We got there a little after two and had no issue getting the key right away. Check out time is 10am and you either return the key to the visitor center or there is a drop box by the restrooms. * Speaking of the restrooms, make sure you have your own stuff just in case as the night we were there the whole place was sold out and the restrooms were a mess. No TP in any of the stalls, no soap in the dispensers either plus the people using the showers could best be described as 100% pure slobs. * If you're looking for pictures of the facilities on the state's website don't as they do a horrible job with providing pictures as to what the inside of the cottages look like or the camping area in general. * If you want to go full glamp, there is one cottage on site that fits 12 people and is fully stocked with a full set of appliances, heat and AC. * You're supposed to buy firewood from a pile that is kept at the entrance to the campground. The state is not big on people bringing their own from out of the area which is a nice idea except that the wood they sell is complete crap and does not burn well/evenly. I'll be honest, our neighbors bailed us out as they were leaving the next day and brought a ton with them that they didn't want to take with them so they gave us a lot of it. Stuff burned great and I was thankful for the help. Did they break the law? Probably. Did I break the law? Probably, but I don't care. If the state wants you to buy their wood it needs to be of a better quality or else people are going to continue to bring their own. FWIW, the wood we were using looked nothing like what they were selling there and rangers patrolled the area quite often. No one said a word. * If there is a storm and the campground loses power at night (it was out for three hours during our visit) it's obviously dark as hell and the emergency lighting cut out after an hour which also knocked out the toilets. Have a plan just in case and keep your fire going. In the future I think we'll be back. It was a good time glamping and I could definitely see us doing this again.

    Kristen H.

    Love the campground, most sites have water and electric hook up. Shower facilities are top notch. Enjoyed a walk around the lake. Lake/swimming pool facilities look worn and like they need some TLC but overall a really nice state park.

    Christine F.

    A great place for a gathering whether a few or many! Plenty of picnic tables and grills but remember the charcoal! You can rent peddle boats and canoes too! No swimming in the lake. Huge lake to explore with trails too. The swimming pool is HUGE! $6.00 for adults and they have lifeguards on duty! All day fun for any age.

    Selina W.

    We stayed last week for 4 days with another couple. Very nice, quiet, relaxing and clean campground. Saw and heard many birds. Close by things to do and easy to find. The old Mill was very interesting and the Park Ranger greeting us there was friendly and very informative. Fishing was awesome! Nice walking trails. Our friends will be planning along with us a reunion during the same week in 2 years. Looking forward to it!

    Little Buffalo Winter 20-21

    Little Buffalo provides great activities for my family to enjoy! Terrific walking areas, the lake is BEAUTIFUL, and it is a great area for training our pup to be more social.

    Jamie L.

    We go here a lot with our family! Nice quiet park with playground, pool, trails, covered bridge and they have many events throughout the year! They also have a day camp in the summer!

    This was a picnic area right outside the pool area.

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    3 days ago

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    2 months ago

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

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    4 months ago

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    9 months ago

    Visitor center staff was extremely helpful and the park was a perfect spot to picnic and stretch our legs! Pretty garden area as well.

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    7 years ago

    My favorite place to get a good run in! Also great creek for kids to play in by the playground. Nice new playground as well.

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    8 years ago

    Beautiful state park, large lake for boating fishing, public swimming pool, hiking, enjoy this piece of heaven.

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    11 years ago

    Great pool very family oriented. Picnic area is awesome tho over crowded on holidays. Great way to relax with. Family and friends,

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    Ask the Community - Little Buffalo State Park

    Review Highlights - Little Buffalo State Park

    Fire rings and picnic tables are at each site, but no wifi in the campground area.

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    Greenwood Furnace State Park - Dishwashing area at the campground bathhouse

    Greenwood Furnace State Park

    4.3(6 reviews)
    33.4 mi

    I was here in the winter time so I am guessing that this place is even better in the warmer…read moreseasons. There's a great trail around the lake, the furnaces are there with some nice information about the history of the area, so well constructed shelters to reserve for your group, and even more trails to explore that go across the hill and across the road. I feel like I barely saw a fraction of the area on my 4 mile hike, so I'll be back.

    Pennsylvania is home to some of the best Parks! Greenwood Furnace Park is one of them!…read more They have over 10 different hikes all in a variety of difficulties. For example, part of The Standing Stone Trail is in the Greenwood Furnace Park! The trails go past areas including beaches, dams, forests, historic buildings and more! At times the hiking trails became overgrown. If hiking is not your thing they also have boating and fishing options. Obviously, the lakes in the park are usually packed with canoes and kayaks. When it comes to fishing, trout is sought after! After day-time activities you can cool of at the sand beach located on the lake. Around that area they have pagodas and barbecues that are great for picnicking! They also have a playground with multiple slides for the kids! During the winter time, they also have plenty of activities including snowmobiling, sledding and ice skating! The bathrooms here are new and clean so you can change into your bathing suit at the park! I would highly recommend this Park!

    Photos
    Greenwood Furnace State Park - Dam

    Dam

    Greenwood Furnace State Park - Concessions & restrooms

    Concessions & restrooms

    Greenwood Furnace State Park

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    Colonel Denning State Park - Rugged Terrain

    Colonel Denning State Park

    4.4(11 reviews)
    17.8 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Colonel Denning State Park - Rugged Terrain

    Rugged Terrain

    Colonel Denning State Park - Summit Vista

    Summit Vista

    Colonel Denning State Park - Summit Vista

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    Summit Vista

    Reeds Gap State Park - Reeds Gap.

    Reeds Gap State Park

    4.4(5 reviews)
    24.4 mi

    I am not sure how or why anyone would not love a state park like Reed's Gap. It has all the…read moreconvenience of fairly modern restrooms with the charm of well developed yet semi rustic picnic areas. From the relaxing sounds and breeze from Honey Creek, which runs through the park, to the well constructed wooden bridges that line some of the trails, it is a fun trip for the family. There are camping areas for those that wish to stay the night. Bring the tent, though, as there aren't any cabins and I am unsure if they have camper access at this point. They do have fire rings and grills throughout the park. The real appeal, for me, are the trails. They have a number of them. One that travels along Honey Creek and borders a deer rescue/preserve maintained by a private owner. I once traveled far down the trail, near the deer preserve, only to be surprised by an entire herd of deer wondering near where I was on the other side of the owners fence. It was an experience I will never forget. The park, itself, can be busy in the Summer months. Family reunions are often held, here as is the occasional work picnic. The one negative is that the old swimming pool, which was free to use for the public, has been long closed and torn out. There is little sign of it other than the old refreshment stand and changing house. So, get out in the woods. Pick a trail A few go up into the nearby mountain. There is always a friendly face and decent conversation in the park. Just make sure to bring the bug spray and a jacket in the Spring and Fall. In the Summer, get ready to sweat on those walks. As always, enjoy!

    My family went to this park often, but I never realized how good it was until later in life when I…read moresaw how crappy most other state parks are, both in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Reeds Gap has pretty much everything--swimming pool, concessions, playground, campsites--but I love it for the picnic areas, hiking, and general woodland setting. We used to come here for low-key Sunday afternoons: just bring the family and some food and set up shop at one of the picnic tables. After lunch, let the kids run around the woods or the playground, or maybe even go swimming. Today I was amazed that the park was nearly empty. I saw two rangers and two campers back towards the far (eastern) end of the park. The pool and concession stand were closed. What gives? It was a Friday. In the old days, there would have been hundreds of people. I took advantage of the peace and quiet. First I sat at a picnic table near Parking Lot B, directly facing Honey Creek. There is almost no better sound on Earth than gently running water in a rocky creek. I enjoyed my lunch and didn't even get out the book that I brought; I just looked and listened. Then I took off down the trail by the creek. At one point I lost the trail and just crossed the creek on some rocks, picking up the red trail, which I took all the way around the loop. I crossed the creek again on a large fallen tree. That was scary but thrilling. The whole excursion was exactly what I needed--some peace and calm while enjoying the outdoors. All I wanted to do was eat lunch, tromp around the woods, stop and read my book, tromp around the woods some more, etc. Perfect afternoon. This park has something for everyone, and all aspects are very well maintained by the DCNR. Kudos to them for their efforts to create and keep a great park.

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    Reeds Gap State Park - Reeds Gap State Park

    Reeds Gap State Park

    Reeds Gap State Park - Hiking at Reeds Gap State Park.

    Hiking at Reeds Gap State Park.

    Reeds Gap State Park

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    Little Buffalo State Park - parks - Updated July 2026

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