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!

We stopped by to do some fossil hunting - nice place. There are also trails, boating, fishing, etc…read more& a small educational/visitor center with displays, etc. Spent a few hours looking for fossils which was enjoyable. Hard to knock anything that has to do with nature - a 5 star experience for me!

As nature, hiking lovers, found this place in a general search, for recommended places near…read moreKnoebels. We only checked out two sections of the preserve, first the Fossil pit, and the vistor center. The vistor center had a few exhibits that were interesting, the main part of the review was the fossil pit. Called ahead, prior to our visit this past Sunday August 20, 2023...knew what to expact utilize sun screen if needed, bug spray and a hat. Even though se were there for a short time, was able to locate some fossils, and we both had a unique, fun experience, despite the heat. Look forward to coming back and checking out trails for future.

Beautiful scenic overlook off Route 15. Plenty of parking, telescopes (must add quarters) for…read morecloser looks, and fresh air high up on the mountain! Unfortunately no bathrooms or trash cans. Definitely worth a stop! Plenty of photo ops.

A beautiful scenic campground. We were in site 039 and were grateful there was nobody across from…read moreus when we arrived or when we left as it was very tight. It was very buggy when we arrived (late July) but the weather turned cooler and we had beautiful weather for our four night stay. There was no sewer or water hookup at our site but the bathhouse was close. We walked some of the trails and everything was beautiful. We brought kayaks but the water we paddled in by the dam was just ok. Lots of vegetation close to the surface, etc. We stayed to visit friends nearby. Dogs are welcome but they don't want you walking them by the no-pet sites, which is a little awkward.

There are a lot of activities available in Little Pine State Park! There is a lake, Little Pine,…read morelocated near the park office. It's a very nice area with picnic tables, a playground, and a beach available along the water, which can be used for swimming and boating. The dam above the lake provides a great place to get a good overlook of the area to enjoy. There are several trails that run through the park. Camping, including yurts and cottages, are also available. The staff in the park office were friendly and helpful.

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!

Oak Park Trail is a short walking / hiking trail recently added by Lower Paxton township. There's a…read moreheavily wooded loop, with minimal elevation gain. Trail runs along a creek and tends to be muddy during spring. 2-3 spots for parking off of a small gravel lane via Oak Park Road, off of Locust Lane, near Central Dauphin Middle School.

This is an old growth, mostly hemlock forest with a small stream running through it and trails…read moregreat for short hikes. It's dark, brooding and calm, even on a bright summer day. The forest primeval in all its glory. It scares the bejesus out of my wife but I love it.

This campground is now called Falling Waters. It's a nice place, quiet, and the owner, Dave is…read morereally accommodating. However, there is not much shade and the biggest downfall, I would say, is that the restaurant on site is closed, and there is no camp store. There is a beer distributor on the property, but that's it. It would be nice to have a camp store like most campgrounds, and having the restaurant open would be a huge plus since there really isn't anything nearby. The hike to the falls is nice, and they are very pretty. If you like being in the middle of basically nowhere, this is a great little find. We did enjoy our time there, but there are some things that would make it a whole lot better.

Gone to visit my Friend Dave at his campground Falling Waters Campground home of Buttermilk Falls…read more He new owner and working hard to make it better everyday. It's very quiet there and the people are phenomenal that stay there. He has big plans for this campground and it takes people like you reading this to come support him. Go and stay there and get some much-needed relaxation. It doesn't matter if you're bringing a Hamic Tent RV Couch or the largest 5th Wheel you can think of there's room for you there. We stayed in cabin 1 and it was nice. Remember to bring comfortable bedding. There's a Camp beverage that has adult slushy's and most adult drinks. The campground bathrooms are clean and Showers are nice. There's a downhill hiking trail down to the Falls that are very nice. And if you if you're into Sasquatch, you will love this place. Camp store is growing by the day. They are still looking for a person to run the camp restaurant. Added bonus is There's a genaral Store, a half a mile from the camp ground that's perfect. Will go back for sure

Living only about 30 minutes away, I had always assumed Boyd Big Tree Preserve was simply a tree…read moresapling area used by DCNR. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it's actually a 1,025-acre conservation and recreation area that straddles Blue Mountain and serves as habitat for large trees of many species and deep-forest birds, especially warblers. The preserve offers a peaceful, natural setting for passive recreation like birding, nature walks, and hiking, with an extensive 12-mile trail system ranging from easy to difficult. Every trail connects to at least one other, making it easy to customize a hike based on skill level. From wildflowers at your feet to the towering canopy created by the "big trees" that give the preserve its name, the scenery feels beautifully unaltered. While the trails are best used from March through October, the area is open year-round, including winter recreation and cross-country skiing. I visited on the first Saturday in January on an overcast but beautiful 32-degree day. With no recent rain, snow, or ice, it felt like the perfect opportunity to explore. Upon arrival, I found a paved parking lot with just a handful of cars. Parking was plentiful that day, though I imagine it could get tight during peak seasons since there's only one relatively small lot. PRO TIP: Grab a printed trail map before heading out. Cell service was spotty, and my online map wouldn't load once I arrived--but printed maps were readily available at the parking area. Boyd Big Tree Preserve features seven well-marked trails, clearly blazed and varying in difficulty. For easier hikes, the Lower Spring Trail (1.1-mile loop, lavender blazes) and Pond Loop Trail (1.2-mile loop, pink blazes) are great choices. Moderate options include the Coach Trail, Creek Trail, and Upper Spring Trail, while the most challenging hikes are the Janie Trail and East Loop Trail. After some advance research, I chose the 1.2-mile Pond Loop Trail, which offers opportunities to spot wildlife near a popular watering hole. The pink blazes didn't hurt either. The trail was an easy, leisurely one-hour walk with minor elevation changes along a small gravel path. Aside from one set of fast-approaching footsteps behind me (a runner who briefly made my heart skip a beat), the trail was completely empty--perfect for quiet reflection. I spent some time sitting on a bench near the fully frozen pond hoping to spot wildlife, but the only visitor was a lone squirrel. On my way out, I stopped at Stroh's Cemetery, located near the entrance to the preserve. This historic cemetery dates back to 1819 and was originally a family graveyard before becoming a community burial ground. Though many headstones are missing, more than 130 graves remain. Recent DCNR restoration efforts are clearly visible, with cleaned and repaired gravestones and thoughtful landscaping that respectfully honors those buried there. Overall, I'd absolutely recommend Boyd Big Tree Preserve for a peaceful walk in the woods. Is this the place for extreme hiking? Probably not. But if you're looking for a quiet, scenic spot to stretch your legs, enjoy nature, and unplug for a bit--this is a solid choice close to home.

Crafted on the north side of a mountain and optimized for taking walks in the woods, Boyd Big Tree…read morePreserve Conservation Area has some nicely varied terrain and the trails are well marked. Tip: If you make it to the top, you'll be rewarded by an impressive view of the Susquehanna valley :-) While dogs are allowed in Boyd, the wilderness is largely unspoiled by facilities. About the only thing that's been built here is a bathroom at the trail head. Note that you'll need to bring water when you come, and it's wise to wear something blaze orange if you're there in season.

Sometimes one great experience leads to another. I first visited the Ned Smith Center during the…read morewinter for a guided hike, and even while everything was shades of brown and waiting for spring, I couldn't help thinking..."I bet this place is absolutely gorgeous in the summer." A few months later, social media answered that question for me. When I saw the Ned Smith Center advertising a Green Day tribute concert featuring Nimrod in the DeSoto Amphitheater, I didn't need much convincing. An outdoor concert in one of Central PA's most beautiful natural settings for $35. Count me in! Buying tickets online was quick and easy, and my Adventure Buddy and I arrived right around 6pm when the doors opened. The parking attendants kept traffic moving smoothly, the registration volunteers welcomed everyone with smiles and we were quickly pointed toward the amphitheater. Since seating was first come, first served, arriving when the doors opened turned out to be a great decision! We ended up with front-row seats...right in the center. I don't think we could've picked better spots in the entire place! PRO TIP: Arrive when the doors open if you want your pick of seating. Since it's general admission, getting there early can make a huge difference if you'd like to be close to the stage! The setting itself is absolutely stunning! Nestled into the surrounding woods, the amphitheater feels intimate without feeling crowded. Before the music even started, I found myself looking around and thinking about how beautiful the property had become since my winter visit. Then the band took the stage. And honestly...I wasn't prepared for how incredible the amphitheater sounded. I've been to plenty of concerts over the years, and these were some of the best outdoor acoustics I've experienced anywhere! The music was clear, balanced and never overwhelming. It made the entire evening even more enjoyable. As for Nimrod, the Green Day tribute band, they absolutely delivered! They were a fantastic choice for the venue, played all the songs we were hoping to hear and had the crowd singing along all night (and me dancing in my seat since their first song)! The Ned Smith Center also brought in food and beverage vendors for the evening, which made it easy to grab dinner, snacks or something cold to drink without ever leaving the event. Even though the Ned Smith Center is nearly an hour from my house, I wouldn't hesitate to make the drive again. Beautiful surroundings. Friendly volunteers. Excellent acoustics. A well-organized event. And a summer evening spent listening to great music under the trees. I'd call that time very well spent! I'll definitely be keeping an eye on the DeSoto Amphitheater's event calendar because if this concert was any indication...there are plenty more memorable evenings waiting to happen here for me!

An incredible art and performance venue tucked away in a beautiful setting. This was my first…read morevisit but I thoroughly enjoyed the amazing art, the delightful gift shop, the incredible indoor beehive, and the access to miles of lovely trails. Tip: we were harassed by comical numbers of tiny flying insects -- they were going in our ears and up our noses and we needed wipers on our spectacles -- despite drenching ourselves in bug spray. Enjoy the trails in cooler months or bring bug netting for your head!