It's a great place to take the family, there are things for all ages from just sitting on the sand while soaking up the sun, to swimming to renting a paddleboard or canoe to walking around the dam. There are pavillions, playgrounds, a learing center with educational events (not during Covid-19), a small store to buy hot prepared food (hotdogs, french fries, etc...), cold drinks and other items. The beach area is finally smoke free for those of us who are allergic to cigarettes, it's a true relief. We can enjoy the day without worrying about our eyes swelling shut because the people next to use wont stop smoking and just throwing the butts on the sand. There are designated smoking areas for those who must smoke. Pets are welcome. read more

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We stopped here on our drive home to look around and stretch our legs. This was really a lot better than we expected. First, the dam is really cool, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's post-Depression. The original was damaged in a storm but it has been rebuilt. Some of the old cabins and equipment still lingers around the park. We saw lots of people fishing and walking their dogs. (Not at the same time!) On our way in we had spied a beaver dam at the bottom of a power line cut through. We parked and hiked down the hill to try to see a beaver. No luck, beavers are very shy. On the way back up the hill I literally stumbled upon an American Woodcock mom sitting on a nest of chicks. She ran into the woods and we snapped a pic of her adorable brood of five baby woodcocks! (Some call them timberdoodles...) This was such a cool experience. Thanks, Parker Dam State Park in New York for some much needed nature time! read more

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Normally when I review places such as state parks or glamping experiences I try to be fairly detailed and thorough about what to expect along with what to do at the park/in the area. Not happening on this one. Why? Simply put, to get here from the home office is quite a hike (about 4 hours each way) and when you combine it with rain on the day we arrived plus biblical rain on the day we left, meh, everything was very low key without a lot of the usual exploring. The below gives an overview of what the park has to offer. A lot of hiking options along with in season swimming-fishing-hunting-skiing and even a designated big ass hill for sledding. The big draw here is Parker Lake which provides multiple recreation opportunities and the cabins/campsites where you can stay and explore or like we did, just relax. www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003462.pdf We came here simply because we wanted to do the glamping thing and PA only has so many spots in the state park system where you can bring dogs into the cabin with you. Normally we like the setup at Little Buffalo in Newport, PA (partially because it's nice and because it's half the distance) but they were full so Parker Dam became the next possible choice. The reservation was handled as always via the reserveamerica.com site which makes things quick and easy. On check in day we simply drove up to the park office and went inside and asked for the key. No paperwork, nothing to sign, no ID needed as everything is very much on the honor system both coming and going. Unlike most similar experiences, we were in the Tyler Cabin which as you will see on the below map is way the hell out by itself in the middle of nowhere. Every now and then a car or two would pass but overall there is nothing there. Just the cabin, a two stall pit toilet and a large field in case a camping group reserves it. If a group is not there, you got a lot of space, piece and quiet. www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003461.pdf The cabin itself is a pretty sweet setup. It's designed for, I forget, something around 8 or 10 people. It has 4 sets of bunk beds, some chairs and two tables, a full size fridge, small stove and a spot outside for grilling. In the future if we ever came back I would like to spend more time at the lake, hiking some of the trails, visiting the small onsite CCC museum and learning a bit more about the huge tornado that ransacked the park in '85. But all things considered this visit was a good one and this place is definitely worth a visit especially if you want some quiet R&R in the middle of nowhere. A few tips: * The visitors center has two entrances. If you are there for camping or a cabin chose the right side. The left side is a class room with a bunch of taxidermied animals and park office space. * At Tyler Cabin there is zero cell service. If this freaks you out especially with no one else being anywhere around you except for deer and bear, think twice before booking. * Make sure you are well stocked on the way in because as expected it's a bit of a PIA to just go out and get things here. The nearest gas and food is about 15 minutes away in Penfield at the Minit Mart. But if you need something like charcoal they don't carry it, only the recently opened Dollar General down the road a bit farther does. If you want a full grocery experience at Wal-Mart then you're looking at 30 minutes each way to either Clearfield or DuBois. read more

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Nice and clean. Easy trails. Beautiful on a fall day. Easy to drive to. Camping is easy read more

If you're passing through this is an awesome pit stop, but you too may regret not spending an extra day or two. If you can't stay longer, it'll be a pleasant stop at least. We had a level site, one of their many electric sites, hence got to use our AC during a heatwave. The moderate tree cover was a nice bonus, and we had a Birdseye view of the playground. Perfect! There was no firewood left on site (honor system), but it was hot anyway. Oh well. We snuck in a little hiking before heading out, noticing all the trout in the dam pond and along the boardwalk trail. Whether it was the weekday or a covid closure, we didn't get to peek inside the CCC museum or the ranger station, but interpretive signs were outside the CCC where our little one got to take the decommissioned snowmobile for a (pretend) drive. Having separate swimming ponds and fishing is nice here too. The dump station is conveniently on your way out of the camping loops. It was a great family spot, and in Autumn the foliage is probably divine. If you can, take a couple nights here! Just bring your firewood/groceries/bear spray since there's no nearby amenities. read more

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I visited it twice this summer for a little swimming and hiking after just googling it. It far exceeded my expectations. I love open water swimming, so I was pleased to have an area dedicated to swimming. Ok, I wish we could swim in the whole lake, but I'll take what I can get. The man-made was well used by all and seems like a nice place for people that can't get to a real beach. It seemed very family friendly. Good place for picnics. Several good hikes ranging from 20 minutes upward. The staff in the station helped me pick one that was just perfect for what we would looking for. Enjoy our state parks! read more

Nice place to park and hike if your in the area also it's a great place to fish. A very scenic picnic spot also read more

Parker Dam State Park - Pumpkin float next week - Parks Near Me - Penfield, Pennsylvania

Parker Dam is a bee-yoo-ti-ful park! You could spend all day there as there are so much to do. On the way to Canada, my friends and I decided to pull over here to eat lunch. What we didn't know was that we had uncovered a hidden gem. Besides the traditional picnic tables and playgrounds, there is a small man-made "beach" with sand that is oh-so-soft. You can go canoeing there as well. You can go fishing on the other side. When you're done swimming, the park has a couple of those outdoor "shower" poles where you can rinse the sand off your feet. Plus, you can go hiking and camping. The forest is just breath-taking as you can see evidence of a hurricane that once went through. We ended up staying there a couple of hours longer than expected. It was so beautiful that we talked of coming back, just to spend the day. read more

Beautiful Pennsylvania state park! Parker Dam offers Camping, Cabins, Picnicking, A beach for swimming and so much more. The park also offers a beautiful boardwalk nature trail where you can see many wetland creatures as well as beaver dams. The park is also the western terminus for the 80 mile Quahanna trail, which is a footpath through 80 miles of Pennsylvania Wilderness. Parker Dam's claim to fame is the beautiful stone dam hand built in the 1930's by the CCC. Right next to the dam is an awesome CCC museum that is ran solely by volunteers. The museum is in an old CCC building, and offers a lot of history, and some fascinating video's on the CCC. This is a great Pennsylvania state park that is packed with history! Check it out... maybe you'll even get to see an elk! read more

Wondering what it's like to rent a cabin in this beautiful park? Let me tell you -- it's great! I loved that my cabin, built long ago by the CCC, had been nicely updated with a gas heater, screened windows, a roomy fridge, great gas stove and oven, plus really nice panelling and shelves. Lot of handy hooks for your gear, too. The cabin had a big table, several benches, a bunk bed and two single beds. The covered porch (with picnic table) offered even more space. Everything was CLEAN . . . the floor had even been recently waxed. The Parker Dam cabins have a special advantage over most other state parks: just a few steps from your door is your own showerhouse. That's right, you get your own sink, toilet and shower. Each little showerhouse serves two cabins, but your half is separate and locks with your cabin key. They're simple concrete block structures, not at all fancy, but I loved the great supply of hot water and the joy of seeing treetops through the high window! And yes, there's a mirror and electrical outlets in your showerhouse. The Parker Dam cabins are "rustic," so bring your own dishes, cooking gear, bedding, clock, radio, towels, etc. I'll leave it to you to discover what an amazing bargain the cabins are . . . rent off-season and/or Sunday through Thursday to get the very best rate. The cabins are a available year 'round. Kudos to the staff who keep the park so sparkling clean! read more

parker dam is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places i know. the beach is wonderful and my kids love it and the snack bar.