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

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.

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!

We spent 8 nights tent camping in the big loop (site 40) as a family with two elementary school…read moreaged children. Overall it was a wonderful experience and we highly recommend to anyone who loves camping. The great: I need to highlight the events that are organized by the rangers. They were really wonderful. The day we arrived there was a strawberry jam event (which we couldn't participate in because you had to pre-register). While we were there we participated in yoga on the beach, a sundial activity for children, nature story time, and a fireflies activity. These were all fantastic and interactive. Yoga and fireflies were both well attended talks. For the Sundial and Nature Story, it was only us or us and another family. I really liked how the leader was able to present in a way that hooked my 10 year old as well as younger children. The visitor center will also let you borrow fishing poles to try out fishing. The good: We booked our site about 10 months out and it was the last lake view site available to us for those dates. The view and size were wonderful. Other lake view sites were more private, if you can book them 11 months out when booking opens. We loved our site though and our neighbors, though close, were all very nice. There was a small trail leading down to the lake and an area that you could launch small boats. We brought our stand up paddle board and made sure it was registered. The ability to launch essentially from our campsite was fantastic! As a tent camper, I definitely prefer the Big Loop (where we were) to the Small Loop, where there are full hook up sites and lots of RVs. It was wonderful to walk around and we saw lots of wildlife, including ducks, geese, many birds, a bald eagle, and a young black bear. The not-so-good: Note, there is a young black bear that frequents the campground area and has, apparently, found that human food is easy to get. Please for your safety and the bear's safety lock up all your food, toiletries and trash in a locked vehicle. I'd also highly recommend not feeding ANY wildlife, including ducks and geese. The only other real problem was that the power was out in the big loop bathrooms for the duration of our stay and I didn't notice any urgency to fix that. The plumbing still works, but there is no hot water or lights. They've actually made it pretty workable, placing motion sensor battery lights in the stalls themselves. It definitely made grooming more complex. We had to drive to the small loop or the beach for showers. In addition, sometimes the dish washing sinks behind the bathrooms aren't draining properly. Next time I'll bring a dish pan to place into the utility sink so I have a bit more control of that, but if everyone scrapes their dishes and pots into the trash before washing it would help.

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!

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.