Great park with lots of shade, picnic tables, and playgrounds. Park also has a creek, basketball…read morecourts, and wood fort for the kids to play on. Will definitely be back for another picnic!

Nice park with a wooden section, tether ball, basketball, swings, slides, a bathroom and a creek…read morethat runs thru.

Great hike for all ages and most abilities. I went hiking with my brother and his family and they…read morehave 4 kids ages 3-9. There is a Porta Potty at the beginning of the trail in the parking lot. The trail is well maintained. The are parts where the elevation is a little steep and long. If you have lunch issues then the elevated parts may be an issue. There is one part where you have to cross the river that requires some balance and walking across stones or through the water, whichever you prefer. The trail has tree roots on it in several parts, so watch your ankles so you don't roll them. There are benches along the way to sit rest on and there are benches at the end of the trail overlooking the falls. The falls has a little pool below it that is fun for the kids who like to wade in it. There are large flat stone spaces where you can sit and observe the falls.

Beautiful spot for a family splash. Reserve your spot in advance to ensure you are able to park. We…read moregot there early on our reservation day and had plenty of space and peaceful time there.

Well paved, nice for walk or run or picnic and fishing. Dog friendly. Well maintained. Lots of…read moreshades and don't need to worry to loft from the track

Beautiful clean and well maintained large park. Great family environment. Picnic tables with Grills…read moreare scatter throughout the park. Designated fishing areas. Boat rental available, prices are honestly steep. Prepare to pay close to $100 for 3 hours depending what you chose to rent. There is NO swimming area. Paragliding is allowed with proper registration. Dog friendly park. With trash receptacles and even doggy bag dispensers which I saw at the far end of the Dam Dam is walkable and a nice place to cool off and feel the breeze coming over the lakes surface.

I enjoy coming to this park on my lunch and just watching the river pass by. Beautiful park that is…read morewell maintained. Love this place!

Now THIS is a park, my friends! Riverfront Park (RP) in Marietta is simply gorgeous, tucked behind…read moresome train tracks and a small, country town. Like many of the parks I visit, I stumbled upon it while researching for another park. RP has almost 300-acres, which includes the park and East Donegal's section of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail (NRT). *Portable toilets *Boat Launch--oh how I wish I still had my kayak! *Covered Picnic Tables *Two parking lots: #1 is near the pavilion, boat launch and one end of NRT and #2 is next to NRT heading out the other direction *Benches *Historical Markers *Extremely large, grassy field to play *Nice lawn with shady trees and one lone seesaw--no other playground equipment *NRT is about 14-miles long so plenty of space to bike, walk and run. *Dogs are welcome--just clean up after them and keep them on a leash *The view of the Susquehanna River is spectacular. RP is now my favorite park in PA--so far. It has everything I need, including solitude. It's a great place to bring a picnic, watch the sunset, take a bike ride, or catch some ball. A well-planned park--great job, East Donegal Township!

Beautiful park we stumbled upon on the way to the nearby train station. It's actually within…read morewalking distance to the train station. Grandkids were overwhelmed with what to climb and play on first as there was so much to see and do! The main play structure is massive and has tons of activities for all ages/climb & play levels. I especially liked the "stone cave" with a panther on top, it made for a cute photo opp. My youngest, a train fanatic, loved the train playset. For me, the tandum swing was my favorite. No need to push when you can put your little one in a safety seat in front of you and your swinging action moves both swings. It was genius and something I've never seen before. The grounds were well maintained, with lots of grassy area to run, as well as benches and a pavilion. Although it's a bit of a drive for us I do plan on returning.

Beautiful park that sits along the Swatara Creek. Pavilion areas and a few charcoal grilling areas…read more The new kids playground is amazing. There are basketball, tennis and sand volleyball areas but they all could use some upgrades. Overall a great community park.

One of the best things about living in Derry Township is the parks and recreation. Shenk, Gelder…read moreand Cocoa Castle are well maintained. If you are looking for something to do that doesn't cost anything, take the kids to Cocoa Castle.

This a clean, new, and beautiful park. It's good for all ages. My 4 and 1 year old had a blast…read more They didn't have any bathrooms open so that's the only con.

After my Yelp friend David H. posted about this small gem last month, I had to take a look myself…read moreas I have been in the area numerous times but had honestly never heard about this place. Just to keep the history lesson short, it was built by York County in 2007 and it is one of a series of ten overlooks that are at different points in the county all of which give views of the Susquehanna River. susquehannariverlands.com/the-great-outdoors/scenic-overlooks/highpoint-scenic-vista-rec-area/ The set up is fairly simple. There is a small parking lot at the base of the overlook on Hilt Road. At the base there is a picnic bench and a port-a-blaster along with some literature about York County parks/area trails. From there it's up and around the trail which is a 1/2 mile loop with five way point stops that I guess are made to have you appreciate the view from different angles? At the top the view is very nice. It's literally the same as if you were over at Samuel S. Lewis State Park except that now you're two-ish miles closer to the river. The overlook from Samuel S. Lewis is higher and is visible from here and the top of the vista here is very visible from Sam Lewis. We were here around 35 minutes and the parking lot was packed but people were at different point of the incline and on other trails nearby so things never felt cramped or rushed. While I'm not necessarily sure that this place needs a return visit, I'm glad we came and I appreciate David putting this one on my/everyone's Yelp radar as it is a unique spot worth a brief stop.

An absolute and positive must! It's an inclined walk but beautifully and impeccably paved -…read morecouldn't be easier. And it literally feels like you're in the clouds. Truth be told we went on a cloudy day, but if it's sunny I would avoid since there is absolutely no shade. There are rocks positioned to take a break during the five points.

We love this park! Has things to do for all ages! Playground, tennis court, volleyball, baseball…read moreand soccer! Also great hiking/biking trail and picnic areas! Only downside is their restrooms which are closed almost all the time.

Gelder Park is a 194 acre open space in western Derry Township. It has multiple playgrounds,…read morepavillions. Sporting facilities: baseball, basketball. Volleyball. A wall for lacrosse. There is a nice paved walking / exercise path. As well as a nature trail through some of the property. Its not uncommon to see deer along the creek. Our children love the playgrounds: swings, benches, shade, picnic tables, tire swing, zip line. Balance bar and jungle gum type equipment. Worth a visit if yoire in the area.

Let me tell you something. During this time of Covidiousness, we've certainly done our fair share…read moreof outdoorsy types of things. While coming to a state park like this in York County may not seem like an obvious choice, it's actually been the perfect place. I'm not going to go in to any history or backstory (I covered that in my initial musings several years ago) but what sets this park apart from most PA state parks is its size. While the park is only 85 acres (PA has 121 state parks and some of them clock in at north of 15K acres just for a sense of scope) it's layout allows for things to feel more spread out than you would assume. The main road that wraps around the park is great for walking but there are also two miles of trails which if done in a clockwise direction are actually somewhat challenging with how it'll be mostly uphill. There is also a disc gold course, a rock formation that kids will love to climb on, a few small swing sets placed at different spots and a large open field at the top of hill with one hell of a view towards the Susquehanna River, Wrightsville and Columbia. The best part about this place is that it's rural enough so that it's never too busy. We've made trips to some state parks closer to us (Jacobsburg-Nockamixon-Lehigh Gorge) recently and they have been consistently packed. Here, not so much. The drive here is easy. There is an amazing view. There is usually more than enough space for everyone to spread out and do whatever they want. Sounds perfect to me and we'll be back this weekend.

Samuel S. Lewis State Park does not offer you a bunch of amenities. There's no amazing new…read moreplayground for the kiddies (although there are some swings and such throughout). There's very few short trails around the park (but enough to satisfy my dogs and if you go the "right" way, you get quite a workout hiking uphill). However, what you DO get is gorgeous views of the river and landscape from atop Mt. Pisgah. You also get open space to roam and run around. And my son's favorite part are the rocks! He loves to climb and explore. It's almost possible for me to give any park less than five stars--especially one with such a beautiful view. You won't regret the trip to visit this park. I'm just lucky that it's only 15 minutes from home. P.S. Go read Christopher C.'s review--it's very thorough and well-written.

This is a straightforward hiking path - pretty much straight and up to be rewarded with a beautiful…read moreview of the Susquehanna River. If you are lucky, like we were, you will see a low flying plane from the nearby military base. We stopped during the week, but I could imagine the parking at this area could get filled and you may have to wait for a spot. I'm seeing from other reviews that there are other parking spots and entrances, but the one we were at seemed fairly direct to the overlook. It was a beautiful quick hike to see some impressive views.

This was stop #2 on a beautiful late-September Sunday adventure. I'd done my homework ahead of time…read moreand planned to tackle the Chickie's Rock Overlook Trail first, then swing by the nearby Breezyview Overlook (just a 4-minute drive away). Chickie's Rock Overlook Trail: Parking was plentiful, and I appreciated the history sign at the trailhead--it turns out this path was once a trolley line leading to an amusement park near Chickie's Rock. So you're not just walking, you're walking through history. The trail itself is wide, relatively flat, and about a 20-minute walk to the overlook if you're taking your time (we were chatting the whole way--it was Sunday morning, not a cardio day). Pro Tip: Not far from the parking lot, the trail forks. Go LEFT for the easy stroll. Go RIGHT if you want a steeper climb and some cardio. Either way, the two trails meet up again before the overlook. When you arrive, the payoff is worth it: a panoramic view of the Susquehanna River and classic Central PA scenery--rolling hills, farmland, distant ridges, train tracks running at the base, and acorns plinking down around you. Pure magic. Just note: the overlook itself requires scrambling over some big rocks to get to the railing. Sneakers or boots are a must, and it's not super friendly for little kids or anyone with mobility challenges. Bonus history fact: Chickie's Rock was actually used as a Union lookout post during the Civil War in 1863, when Confederate troops invaded PA. That blew my mind. Breezyview Overlook: From Chickie's Rock, it's a quick 4-minute drive to Breezyview Overlook. This one's a lot easier--park, take a few steps on grass, and you're there. You even get the fun perspective of looking back at Chickie's Rock and seeing where you'd just been. Parking was easy, and they had a port-a-john if needed. The view is nice, but not nearly as epic as Chickie's Rock. Then again, the best things usually require a little extra effort. Overall, this was the perfect low-impact Sunday adventure. Bring water, pack out your trash, and don't forget to smile and say hi to fellow hikers along the way. If you're looking for an accessible trail with a stunning payoff, Chickie's Rock is a must.