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

Beautiful Park, quiet and peaceful surroundings-had a nice picnic with my husband. Exercise walking…read moreup steps to get a beautiful view of the lake. Will enjoy visiting again.

This place is (to be very honest) really boring to me (at the time of composing this post) because…read morethere was nobody there, and there were no actual activities to do.

Ok, so I was there in the winter so I did not spend much time at the beach in the swimming area…read more And there was several inches of snow on the ground and ice on the lake. But it was a great visit anyway. Only a few other people there so it was quiet and peaceful. So I took the hike from the end of the lake, down by the creek, looping back after crossing the creek to come back to the lake along the ridge above the creek. A nice day. Can't wait to check it out again in the spring, summer or fall...

Ever wanted to take a trip to nowhere? If the answer is yes, then dammit, you got a whole lot of…read morenowhere to enjoy at McCalls Dam State Park! A visit here is really only for....?? Locals? Completeists who want to get to everyone of PA's 121 state parks? It's like writing a presidential history report on William Henry Harrison or James A. Garfield. It's like saying that you're favorite baseball player was Eddie Gaedel. Either way there's not much source material. MDSP is only 8 acres (4th smallest for those of you keeping score at home - and you should be keeping score!) and honestly it feels, out of place. The basic Wiki history is that some coot named Johnny McCall started a splash dam in 1850 so that he could power a saw mill. In the late 1860's that dam was rebuilt into a series of splash dams used for floating logs down to Watsontown on the Susquehanna River. While Johnny's splash damns are long gone, somehow he got a state park named after him when the CCC built this place during the early 1930's. Now when I say built this place, that's a very hyperbolic term because there ain't much here. The park in essence is a small gravel pad for a few cars and then across the road you've got a few beat up picnic tables, the White Deer Creek, a rustic shit pit that no doubt dates back to the 1930's and a single trail that goes along the creek a short distance before it randomly just...stops. What you also don't have here would any garbage or recycling so whatever you bring in, you need to take out with you. I assume at one point this place was a part of the surrounding Bald Eagle State Forest and it's 193K+ and then it was eventually splintered off into it's current configuration. There are also several other small and lesser state parks in the vicinity such as Raymond B. Winter, Ravensburg and Sand Bridge. The great band Spinal Tap wrote a song about the little Druids called "Stonehenge". In that epic classic they ask profound questions such as "No one knows who they were or what they were doing?" and "Where are they now and what would they say to us?" My version would be more like, "Who was Johnny McCall and why do we need a park named after him?" "Does this park even matter with how small it is and is there really any reason to even go?" If you want quiet and deserted or if you're mafia and looking for a great place to "make someone disappear", Bingo! You found it here!

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!

Ricketts Glen is a very special place for me and my family, and we have been visiting annually for…read moremany years. Lodging: My family likes to stay in the little cabins in the park. They have two or three bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a fire ring. They are fully furnished and climate controlled, which is nice in the winter and summer. However, there is no WiFi or cell service (unless you have A T and T) so be mindful of that when you book. I have never stayed at the campsites, so I cant speak for accommodations there. Activities: There's so much to do around the park, including boating or swimming at Lake Jean, exploring the many miles of trails, or having a family barbecue. The most famous trail in the park, the Falls Trail, is a must-hike for visitors. The trail can be steep, rocky, and slippery, and the main loop (not including the bottom three falls) runs about 5 miles, which is longer than the advertised distance, so be prepared. Bring good shoes and lots of water and expect some amazing views of the falls. The other trails in the park are also beautiful, albeit far less traveled. I did the 13 mile loop from cherry run to mountain springs road to the mountain springs trail, and it was a great distance and not too steep. We went past the old Lake Leigh dam breast and an unnamed waterfall with a nice swimming hole. The cherry run and mountain springs trails have lots of tall grass, so make sure to wear long pants in case of ticks. Additionally, the spring runs right through portions of the mountain springs trail, so be prepared to get your feet a little wet. I look forward to each year I get to go to Ricketts and even though I am sad I'm home, I'm super excited for next year!

My birthday is the most important day of the year. This is a fact. I get very ornery if I don't…read morespend the day/week/month the way that I want. For 3 years running The Plan has been to go to Acadia. First year: someone went to an international wedding of 500 people and got the Rona Second year: someone bought a big rig and rates were in the toilet Third year: Someone was tired and the planing was overwhelming I just knew this would be The Year. Sike - Rain and thunderstorms forecasted from May 27-June 4 and we had a campsite lmaaoooooo But one thing about me - I'm gon pivot every time. So we booked a Hipcamp and headed to PA instead. I wanted open land, dark skies, and opportunities to hike. Ricketts was only 10 minutes away!! All I knew about this park beforehand was that it was a waterfall paradise. We had our dog with us and arrived at Ricketts around 4pm on a Sunday. We checked out some of the small falls at the trailhead then did the Evergreen Trail. Beautiful view of Adams Falls, a lovely wooded walk through an old growth forest, and some climbs here and there to keep your heart rate up. I love when Wesley goes out on the trails - he sniffs everything, bounds ahead to scout the path, and patiently waits until I can clear obstacles. Still, given the height and uneven terrain of even this shorter trail in the park, I would likely return without him to take on some of the more challenging routes. Making sure he didn't fly off the ledge and I didn't fall off the stone steps had my nervous system on fire lol. I'm also old now and believe feet should always stay rooted to the floor. So yeah. The park is very dog friendly and we love that. But for me and mine, maybe we'll come solo next time. Summed Up: Beautiful Ethereal Calming Steep Heights Dog-friendly Free Do it!

Worlds End is another fantastic state park in Pennsylvania! There are a lot of sights to see and…read morethings to do. Unfortunately, the weather interfered with our ability to see as much as we had hoped, but we still had a great time! There is a nice visitor center with a variety of historic and nature info available, including some great info on the CCC work that took place in the park (there's a really nice interactive model of a CCC camp too) and how and where the park name is suspected to have been derived from. There is a real snake to look at, as well. A very nice playground is located nearby, and this section of the park also offers easy access to the Loysalsock Creek and the beach with a snack bar, plus multiple picnic tables and shelterhouses. It's beautiful even just to look at the valley walls and the creek itself. There are several gorgeous vistas available, some by foot and some by foot or car. We especially liked the Loyalsock Canyon Vista, which can be reached on foot or by car. It is located next to the Rock Garden, which is a very neat grouping of giant rocks and boulders that is a lot of fun to check out. The park also offers camping and plenty of trails. Worlds End is located within the Loyalsock State Forest, so there is also a lot more that one could explore in the area.

Ricketts Glen used to be my favorite PA state park, but World's End has totally won me over. The…read moremost important reasons: 1) The hikes here are a little more challenging, a little longer, and just generally more enjoyable for me. 2) The family campground is spacious - the tent sites and modern electric sites are interspersed, but you don't feel like you're right on top of the next site over. 3) The bathroom facilities are clean and warm, no matter what time of year I've visited. Big ups to maintenance and the camp hosts. 4) The camp hosts and visitors center personnel are fantastically kind and helpful. They obviously love this park. 5) Fun stuff like the Forksville General Store, Snack stands, swimming hike, Haystacks, Rock Garden, and all kinds of other interesting places to explore! I've been here with friends, with my family, and by myself, and I've thoroughly enjoyed each trip, so I'll definitely be back for more!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g53190-d4170165-r774164462-1_000_Steps_at_Jacks_Mountain…read moreMill_Creek_Pennsylvania.html?m=19905 Took 30 minutes to get to the top with breaks. Totally worth it! Knees were trembling when they got to the bottom.

I grew up hiking/biking/camping here and the surrounding areas as a child. Definitely recommend…read moredoing this hike for the views!!

Stopped by the park while in the area to check out the overlook view. The park was clearly marked…read moremaking it easy to navigate. Free entry and plenty of parking. There were walking trail options in the area as well. The view was amazing and definitely worth the stop!

Beautiful scenic overlook of the confluence of the branches of the Susquehanna River. And unlike…read moreMaryland's state parks, there's no admission fee. Very quiet, despite the constant traffic on State Routes 11/15 immediately below. Didn't find the nesting raptors in the trees below, nor did we see any deer as we hiked along the Deer Trail, although we came across a family BBQ at one of the covered picnic areas. Near the top were restrooms that were in an actual building rather than the usual porta-potties, but with no running water (although there was hand sanitizer). Well-maintained playground with swings, slides, and monkey bars at the upper parking lot for the kids too. Just be sure to map or GPS your route to avoid having to make numerous U-turns - coming north up Route 11/15, there's no park directional signage (look for the County Line Road sign just before the bridge) and from County Line Road, the park entrance sign is pointing towards visitors coming from the opposite direction.

I was in town visiting family, and we ended up coming to the park. It was a very nice park and saw…read morenothing but green everywhere. The place had some nice hiking trails you can follow or even walk your dog in. My aunt walks her dogs here often, and she never had an issue here. She even let's them take a dip in the water and they love it. I didn't really see any trash laying around, so it looked to be kept clean. There is also a little playground you can take your kids to and have some fun. Next to the playground was a restroom too so you don't have to go far. We went in the early morning and didn't see many people. We were able to enjoy a nice walk in peace and quiet. Overall, it was a good experience and would come back if I'm in town again.

I wanted to break my long hiatus to talk about my Milton state park experience. If you love…read morewalking, looking at plants, and the Susquehanna river, I 5/5 recommend going to Milton State park. Also, if you love Japanese Knotweed, Lol just kidding. Japanese knotweed is not ideal. In fact I hope more native plants can thrive in this environment and restore some stability. Lots of doggos which is very fun! As long as the owners pick up the poop. I would say the worst part of my experience was getting some all over my right shoe, what a bummer! Even after that I managed to have a great time! My one critique is that one of the plaques says Quercus rubra instead of Quercus palustris, a minor detail but I can't not say something. Quercus palustris has pointer leaves and has top branches pointing up and lower branches pointing down. Im getting off topic... Anyway, Milton State park has some lovely history and although it is small and a changing ecosystem, there are some great things happening there. Keep your eyes out for native trees and plants because they are still here! Also watch out for flying soccer balls and running children... I used to play my youth soccer games here as a kid :)

Super cool boardwalk on the marsh, kinda disappointed that half of it is blocked off and it's…read moretaking forever to get fixed but I still love it

Beautiful wetlands park with miles of boardwalk trails in state college pa. This park offers a…read morelarge wetlands area with numerous streams cutting through it. The park is very well kept and a great place to take a short hike or get a little exercise. The park also offers a viewing blind for birdwatching or scoping out animals. Overall a really cool nature preserve in State College Pa.