Absolutely love this park. The trails are clean & wellkept. I usually walk my dog here & you can see a bunch of wildlife! read more

Wildwood Park - trail - Parks Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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Wildwood Park is a gem tucked just outside the city--and visiting during their Art in the Wild exhibit makes it even more magical. I went in August 2025, right as 19 different outdoor art installations were scattered along the three-mile loop trail. Each piece was beautifully creative and thought-provoking, and I loved how so many of them used natural materials gathered right from the park itself. It made exploring feel like a treasure hunt--you never knew what unique creation would be waiting around the next bend. The park itself is gorgeous and so well-kept. Trash cans were strategically placed and clearly emptied often, so everything looked clean and inviting. Bathrooms? About as good as you could hope for in a community park--clean enough that I didn't even consider detouring for a gas station stop on the way home (and that's saying something). Even on a busy Labor Day weekend, parking was easy. With four different lots, I never felt stressed about finding a spot. I also noticed a pavilion by the Nature Center--there was a baby shower happening while I was there, which seems like the perfect use of the space. Speaking of the Nature Center: it's bigger than you'd expect and doubles as a gift shop and interactive learning spot. There are activities for kids, friendly staff, and my personal favorite--a birdwatching corner with huge windows and binoculars set up so you can spy on the feeders outside. Honestly, I could've sat there all day. The trails are paved, easy, and family-friendly. I saw strollers rolling, little ones running ahead, and older folks carefully strolling with canes. It's accessible, peaceful, and filled with the simple beauty of wetlands, wildlife, and woodlands. Wildwood Park is free, beautiful, and absolutely worth the trip. Pack a picnic, bring your walking shoes, and give yourself time to wander, wonder, and maybe even spot some art in the wild. read more

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Consistently well-maintained walkways. Every season has something different to offer. We enjoy walking on both sides of the lake and they each have aspects i like. One side has paved paths and boardwalk-style walkways. The other side is gravel and feels like you're truly in the woods. The nature center is a really cool place for kids and is free! read more

Ahhh, nature. Nothing like a beautiful autumn day to appreciate the quiet bucolic surroundings of a highway and an intermodal terminal. Add in a swamp and how could you go wrong? In all seriousness, if you come to Wildwood and walk the trails will you see that and more? Yes, you will but in the best possible way. I love juxtapositions like that which is why coming here appealed to me. The trails at Wildwood we experienced have got three different looks: 1. Something like the Wildwood Way trail which starts at the Nature Center and heads north. This one is all paved and has a few small hills/valleys/undulations. 2. Something like the Meadow or Fox Run Trail which branches off of Wildwood Way and goes in short loops over elevated planks through a bit of the marshy/swamp/bog close to the lake. 3. The Towpath Trail which starts by the spillway and the north parking lot and unlike Wildwood Way on the other side of the lake, is pancake flat and covered in stone/gravel. explorewildwoodpark.org/about/wildwood-park-nature-trails/ Per the above map, we covered the full loop which is a tick over three miles plus the other two small stubs. None of it was exceptionally difficult. We took about three hours to make the loop, read most of the placards, watch some trains roll by, take some pictures of the residents (i.e. Canadian geese, lots of ducks, turtles, two cranes, frogs and tons of small birds), etc. Not much of a crowd when we started but the trails were bangin' busy by the time we left as the smaller Middle and North lots were nearly at capacity. Harrisburg and nature are not terms that normally go together, but in some form they do here. Well worth the visit to this urban oasis. I would be here frequently if I lived closer. A+ read more

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Every time I come here I always think, why don't I come here more often? It is beautiful and peaceful. I love seeing the beautiful nature and the wildlife. I love taking my dogs for walks here. I love all the little trails, if you are looking for a little more adventure! read more

Wildwood Park - Parks Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Wild Labor 229-acre park--of which 90-acres is a lake--located in the city of Harrisburg. The Good: *Free entrance/parking *Trails are all fairly flat, and there's some nice boardwalks included. *Righteous visitors center (VC) *Dog-friendly The Meh: *Not a great place for solitude as it's a pretty popular place. *They claim lots of birds, but I seemed to have better luck with insects here. Altho, I did see plenty of birds at the VC. *A few of the boardwalks were broken on our visit, causing us to have to keep detouring around. *Being this adjacent to a body of water equals lots of mosquitos, esp here on the East Coast. *Lots of Sycamore trees emitting clouds of their pollen in the air. It was so thick you could visibly see huge clouds of it all over. The Ugly: *That "East Shore Trail" was kind of a nightmare; bad footing, huge puddles to navigate around, and trees forcing you to parkour your way around was not the most enjoyable hike we've done. Not to mention, it didn't seem to lead anywhere. Tldr: Maybe I was PMS'ing the day of our visit, but I didn't really dig this place much. However, I'd be open to visiting it again to give it another chance. read more

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So nice to have a great park to walk or bike around right next to Harrisburg. Always see wildlife here. Plenty of parking and bathrooms. Great for all ages. Hadn't been in years. Glad we went. Always enjoy seeing the random artwork as well. read more

Wildwood Park - Parks Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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Beautiful loop for walking/running. I'm from out of town and look forward to doing business in the area and enjoying this as often as I can.

I used to work across the street and I spent many hours walking around there. It is Always very safe though you will come across snaked from time to time. They do a great job maintaining the trails. Beautiful sights throughout the year. Just over 3 miles walk all the way around. read more

Wonderful park on the outskirts of the city of Harrisburg, great for walking, running and biking as well as nature watching and education. The trail is always used by locals who enjoy this park year-round. The trails branch off to a nice boardwalk and other smaller trails into the woods. there are several parking areas to serve this fantastic resource. I enjoy seeing the wildlife and have seen deer in the past early in the morning. The birds and turtles are out now and as spring progresses, the foliage will be in full bloom and all the animals will be present. Some people like to fish and I believe some actually eat what they catch. No thanks! There's also a building with an education center and restrooms that's open with limited hours. The park and trails are open every day. read more

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Wildwood Park & Lake Santuary is well over 100 years old. It was originally called Wentz's Swap. In its hayday it had a zoo, ice skating and picnicing areas. Currently it has about 3.5 miles of both paved and dirt trails. Some are great for seeing wildlife on the waters edge. It is part of the Harrisburg Area Greenbelt (basically it's crown jewel). It is bound by Route 22/322, I-81 and Industrial Road, just north of HACC's main campus. They host an annual "Art in the Park" Animal 5K Run Walk, and a Wetlands Festival. caga.org Home to the Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center where you can sit back and explore the history of the area. It has a lot of kids activities, like reading books, toys, crayon & colored pencil drawings, animal costumes, and so forth in the center. It has a really neat plastic nature diorama that kids can play in and crawl under. I cant express how great this is for little kids. A less of note is the bird viewing area. The center also has an art gallery, weather station, lab & class rooms downstairs as well as a huge gift shop with all kids of toys, books and goodies. You can sit down and watch all different types of birds from an overlook. It has over 3 miles of hiking trails all around it, as well as a boardwalk with some great views. Good if you like walking, have pets or want to see some nature. The Best things about Wildwood Lake: It's fun & it's free! read more

Wildwood Park - Bird viewing area - Parks Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

This is a beautiful hidden park in Harrisburg City. This little oasis of serenity is surrounded by highways and industrial complexes but it's easy to slip away from all of that and just enjoy the beauty of nature for a little while. The Wildwood trail is a little over 3 miles and is mostly paved flat walking is trail is easily accessible for younger children and those needing a handicap accessibility. There are all the shoot trails that are dirt and can be muddy at times but each of these paths has a little something undertone to offer. You're just looking to get away for a little while and see some nature then this is the place for you. on a nice summer day you can easily see squirrels, chipmunks, birds, frogs and turtles and much much more. The park is open year-round in each season presents a different scenic view. Get out and enjoy this park at your first available opportunity. read more

Wildwood Park - Avoiding some mud on the fox trail. - Parks Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Nice little nature preserve just outside the city where you can walk or bike around the 3-mile loop that goes around the small lake. Nature center is nicely arranged with park staff available to answer questions. Hands-on activities for kids and a large library of books for them to look and at and read. Also a nice birding spot with a large window overlooking bird feeders from inside nature center but you'll see a lot of wildlife out on the trail. We've seen all kinds of birds, deer, turtles, frogs, toads, even a rat snake once, and tons of flowers (depending on the season). I'd say 2/3rds of the path is paved and the other 1/3rd is gravel packed. Nice hike with some hills on the one side and mostly flat for the rest. read more

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This park is the perfect place to go for a run. Like 85% of the path is paved and there some cool scenery. It feel good to run or jog at this spot. Other than that, it didn't really impress me too much. read more

We are not really "nature people" but we totally enjoyed our visit to this beautiful park on our whirlwind tour of Harrisburg. The best part was sitting in air conditioned comfort watching amazing birds at a variety of bird feeders. It was incredible seeing goldfinches, woodpeckers and other unidentified birdies. We took some amazing pictures that we will share soon! read more

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We love wildwood park near from our home big parking lot easy to park beautiful view

We decided to take the kids for a walk here last Saturday afternoon. We first stopped in the center. Much nicer than I had originally anticipated. Lots of great kid-friendly displays and interactive activities. There's even a small outdoor scene that the kids can crawl under. I really liked the small activity room where the kids could look at dead bugs in jars, smell a dried skunk cabbage, color paper frogs, make frog puppets, make finger puppets, etc. Nothing particularly fancy, but entertaining. There's a large window area where you can view a frenzy of birds visiting the bird feeders. There is also an outdoor observation deck. There are people manning the info desk and you can buy gifts and books. (We picked up one about 60 hikes w/in 60 miles of Harrisburg.) After amusing ourselves and using the "facilities" we headed out for a walk. We opted to do the short "trails" that are actually more like wooden boardwalks. The first was circular and had a self guided tour pamphlet that provided interesting tid bits at numbered locations on the path. The kids enjoyed watching the birds and looking for animals (we saw a few chipmonks). The wooden path is flat and wide and was great for the kids to run. The only drawback is the large amount of poison ivy growing right along the path. Kids like to touch things . . . we kept having to remind them not to touch - particularly due to the potential itch factor. The second path we followed was an out and back that took us to the edge of the lake/pond where we were able to watch HUGE carp swimming with their backs out of the water. Lots of great birds as well. Wood ducks were swimming on the lake. The next time I want to come with sensible shoes (we were in flip flops) so we can take the dirt trails. I would assume, due to the environment, that bugs would be a potential problem in the heat of the summer. Perhaps we'll have to squeeze in a few more adventures before the heat and humidity hit and then hold off again until the crisp fall returns. :) Then again, I'd love to try and catch a few of those GIGANTIC carp. read more

My family hike/bike here 2-3 times in the summer. It's a versatile place. It has hilly paved trails, flat tow paths, dirt trails, and even "boardwalks"! Bodies of water that you can actually fish sun fish. There's a nicely done nature center that features many exhibits, a library, and nice indoor bird-viewing area. It's a beautiful place - inside the park, with many themes (lily pond, swamp, lake, overflow well, etc). I can't say it's good outside the park as you'd see truck and trailer hubs and railroads. In a sense, it's truly a gem among the rocks. read more

Wildwood Park - Canada Geese - Parks Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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Great park to go bird watching or hiking. They have nice paths for running walking or biking. The trails run around the small lake and through the woods. There are several paths to take depending on how much you want to walk and what types of nature you enjoy. I'm a wildlife photographer and I go there at least once a month to catch the different animals and birds that live and migrate through the park. The park hosts special events/days throughout the year so check the website to see what they have going on read more

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We did the art in the wild tour this weekend. It was a little difficult to know where it started but we sorta figured it out. Wish the signs marking the trail were a bit clearer including a map of where the sculptures are. There are multiple entrances to this park. We parked near the nature center and hit the paved trail. Immediately there are some sculptures. However they are very very very spread out from each other along this very very very hilly trail. People with mobility issues will have difficulty navigation. So with our 9yo daughter we only saw 5 of the 10 installations. We had to make sure she had enough energy to get back. Bring a bottle of water. Luckily there was a portapottie at the trail head. Each installation had the name of the art exhibit but nothing else. There was a qr code for voting but I think the program was all online? All in all it was nice but lots of hilly walking. read more

A really nice place to take a nice long walk with your dog or have a picnic. There is wildlife and a diverse ecosystem. Wood, swamps, ponds and hills. Plenty of cool places and mini trails to explore. They even have a water fountain and usually a bowl for your dogs to drink out of. In the winter I have seen people cross country skiing here. They have natural art exhibitions in the summer which are super cool. My only qualm is that the highway is very close and loud and sort of takes away from the beauty of this place. read more

Best two hours of my life. I absolutely love their trails, along with the unique pieces of artwork scattered around the park. It really celebrates nature in all its beauty. I cannot wait to go back! read more

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We really enjoyed this little hidden gem just outside of downtown Harrisburg! Wow! Nature abounds! I got some great shots of several species of birds and insects! Great for walking, running, biking, photography and just getting out away from it all for a few hours. There's plenty of small creeks and streams, as well as a marsh. They have wooden boardwalks throughout the park, as well as paved and graveled trails. We can't wait to get back! read more

Somewhere nestled deep in the northern part of Harrisburg pa, next to Harrisburg Area Community College main campus, there is a huge sanctuary for birds and nature preservers alike. It is a converted swamp that now sits as one of the best places to learn about nature and watersheds as well as get in shape as it's about 3 or so miles full circle. You can read up on the natural habitats of birds and animals indigenous to PA as well as plants and geology. Great for the grown up or as a field trip for kids to educate on nature awareness. The website has a lot of info, more justice than I can do for it, but it is a great "chill" spot and there is parking, clean water, restrooms (inside the center and port-a-potty). Before this place got a major face-lift it was a make out spot. I have some stories...lol. It's cheap (free) and educational entertainment. I am told there are events held in the Center and more rest areas and a pavilion are being built. Good for fishing too as it has just about every fish in pa living in the lake, however it is a bit muddy (the lake) and grassy. So if you like Bass and Carp, this is your place. Big snapping turtles too. It has several trails for walking, bike riding, and jogging. the trails are dirt and paved. There are at least two picnic areas. Pros: If your into nature and plants, this is a good alternative to hiking the mountains. Decent Restrooms, parking, and a laid back atmosphere. Cons: Closes too early. It is a swamp by the way and when it's stagnant, look out nose! Picnic areas are small and the Parks and Rec are constantly making improvements. read more

I finally got a chance to check out this park, which was recommended to me by fellow Harrisburg Yelper, Dan R. My husband and I walked the entire trail around the park, which is about 3 miles, plus the East Shore Trail, which is .9 miles. I loved the East Shore Trail. It was less busy than the main trail and further away from the surrounding roads, so it was a little more quiet. I loved seeing all the birds, turtles, and fish in the marsh. There were art exhibits along the main trail called "Art in the Wild" that were really interesting to see. Unfortunately, since Wildwood Park is right off I-81 & Rt 22 and located off a road with a lot of factories and trucking companies, this park isn't as quiet and serene as I would have liked. This park can be downright loud at times because of the nearby roads and the abundance of people who flock to the trails, especially on nice days. However, the natural beauty of the park would keep me coming back. read more

Wildwood Park - Little turtle enjoying the sun on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Wildwood Park - Parks Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Apparently Harrisburg used to have a zoo.... in the 1920s. That's what we learned in the Nature Center. The nature center is designed for children. If you go on a bird walk, don't bring your children or your noisy-assed friends. Shut your mouth and watch birds. No one cares who bought your house, where you used to live, or what surgeries you've had. You're in nature, so shut it. The trails are dog friendly, but dogs must be leashed. At least 10% of the patrons think their dogs are too good to be leashed. (these are the same patrons that think their children are little angels) Cliff notes: when you go to a park, don't be an asshole and follow the rules. read more

Not as 'wild' as the name leads to think but a great time for all ages, mostly hardened trail and seemingly stroller accessible (although not attempted myself). The visitor center is great and informative with plenty to read about the history of the park and the items you wondered about whilst hiking. I'd recommend to keep the visitor center for last. read more

This nature sanctuary is strangely located in the city of Harrisburg. You may wonder where you are going while driving to the park, but once you get there you feel isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city. There is not much to actually do at the park, but it does have some nice walking trails where you can get out of the city and become one with nature, albeit briefly. read more

Wildwood Park - Swamp thang. - Parks Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

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My family was looking for an outdoor hike that would get us an the kids out of the house. I had always seen the park from 81 but never guessed what a gem this place would be. Three of us walked the gravel trail and 2 biked it. The scenery and wildlife were fantastic. The walk was easy but rewarding. The kids started an animal scavenger hunt-- turtles, frogs, bunnies, chipmunks, snakes and tons of birds. Only complaint was the snakes. They didn't bother us but 1 or 2 startled us and freaked out my daughter-- but hey, it's nature and snakes are in nature. There were so many flowers in bloom and lots of other people walking, running, biking, photographs. I'm sure we'll return to do the trail and nature center again. (We didn't do the nature center this time). read more

What a lovely way to spend an early, spring day. Since time was at a minimum and I wanted to be outside, my Son in law and 3 grand children hit the trails. We were not disappointed. Along with lots of non threatening wild life sitings, it was pure joy to see the very first buddings of Spring. As a not so active 64 year old granny, I found the trails to be very accommodating. We very comfortably walked a little over 3 miles. We were amused and delighted with the artistic "displays" created both by man and nature. Holding the hand of my 13 year old grand son, I even traversed the large tree over a tiny creek on Fox Run Trail! An absolutely perfect day! read more

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Ran here for the first today. It's a great place to bring the kids. Definitely returning with the family!

While on an impromptu 2 week long house sitting stay here in Harrisburg I had grown immediately discouraged by the lack of up to date YMCA's (My choice while at home) & lack of parks with exercise trails. I discovered this location with the help of Yelp & literally went there 5 out of 7 days. The 3-5 mile trail around a wetlands area was initially scary at first since I didn't know what lurked around each twist & turn. No need for that though because the trail was INCREDIBLY well maintained clean & safe. Unlike anything I've ever seen in a woodsy type park it had ARTWORK that blended in so much get stood out that even after 5 trips I was noticing things I had never noticed before. This along with the birds animals & fish in the knooks of streams running around the main area & into the woods made this the most serene calming walk run I've ever experienced. The people who I passed by each day were ALL so friendly & greeted you with a smile & warm hello. They also had a Nature Center that offered very helpful information on the park itself. Loved this place for a say of healthy exercise. read more

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Nice clean park with lots of walking trails and friendly people! Had a great time going for a nice long walk here! Little stations with story telling perfect for breaks! read more

The wildlife in Wildwood Park is plentiful. On this particular evening, I was fortunate enough to run into many deer. They were so docile and not at all concerned with my taking their photos. read more

Wildwood Park - Some friends I met along the trail - Parks Near Me - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Such an amazing place. To find a place like this located just outside Harrisburg is awesome. It has a beautiful 5k trail that is mostly pavement with some wood chip parts. There are also some side trails that are really fun. I really liked the place. It's just too bad it isn't larger. It's so peaceful to run in and you feel out alone in nature. It's great. read more

The lake can give off a "stagnant" odor once in a while, but otherwise a very nice place to walk, jog or bike.

I absolutely love Wildwood! So well maintained and teeming with life. Fantastic place for photographs.

Loved these trails! We saw about 10 different deer and took a two hour walk. It was delightful.

As a city resident, this is my favorite place to escape into nature. From the towpath trail to the boardwalks and off the beaten path, this place has a lot to offer. Always tons of wildlife to see, and if it's too cold you can head into the nature center and watch the beautiful birds at the feeders from large windows. One of the best things about Harrisburg! read more