SPORTS & RECREATION / PARKS & NATURE
Throughout Central Pennsylvania are lush parks and premier recreational facilities developed and managed by boroughs, cities, counties, and the federal government. Lush parks, wooded retreats, sparkling lakes, rolling rivers, rushing streams, and patchwork fields encourage biking, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, swimming, wildlife viewing, bird watching, camping, and winter sports. From celebrated Civil War battlefields and historic sites to nature preserves and municipal parks, the region draws residents from their homes to enjoy nature’s gracious bounty.
State Parks & Forests
The Pennsylvania Department of Conversation and Natural Resources oversees and maintains hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine natural areas that are ideal for outdoor recreation. The department website offers a wealth of information about parks close to your home as well as those in other section of the state.
Pennsylvania State Parks
Harrisburg 717-787-6640
www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks
Regional State Parks
Big Spring Forest State Park
Blain 717-536-3191
Boyd Big Tree Conservation Area
Newport 717-567-9255
Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park
Mercersburg 717-485-3948
Caledonia State Park
Fayetteville 717-352-2161
Codorus State Park
Hanover 717-637-2816
Colonel Denning State Park
Newville 717-776-5272
Fowlers Hollow State Park
Blain 717-776-5272
French Creek State Park
Elverson 610-582-9680
Gifford Pinchot State Park
Lewisberry 717-432-5011
Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area
Newport 717-567-9255
Kings Gap Environmental Education Center
Carlisle 717-486-5031
Little Buffalo State Park
Newport 717-567-9255
Memorial Lake State Park
Grantville 717-865-6470
Mont Alto State Park
Fayetteville 717-352-2161
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Gardners 717-486-7174
Samuel S. Lewis State Park
Gardners 717-486-7174
Susquehannock State Park
Drumore 717-252-1134
Swatara State Park
Drumore 717-252-1134
Discover the Appalachian Trail
From Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail winds through the ridges and valleys of the Appalachian mountain ranges for more than 2,170 miles. The Pennsylvania portion of the Appalachian Trail begins in the Cumberland Valley and meanders through panoramic state forestlands and environmental centers. The mountains visible from the trail are ideal for skiing, while the trout streams of Boiling Springs are popular with anglers. For more information on hiking the Appalachian Trail including maps, contact the Appalachian Trail Conference based in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia:
Appalachian Trail
304-535-6331
www.appalachiantrail.org
Gardens & Natural Wonders
Appalachian Trail
Various Locations
Harper’s Ferry, WV 304-535-6331
www.appalachiantrail.org
Benjamin Olewine Nature Center
Wildwood Lake Sanctuary
100 Wildwood Way
Harrisburg 717-221-0292
www.wildwoodlake.org
East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue
320 Zoo Road
Fairfield 717-642-5229
www.eastcoastrescue.org
Fort Hunter Mansion & Park
5300 North Front Street
Harrisburg 717-599-5751
www.forthunter.org
HERSHEY Gardens
170 Hotel Road
Hershey 717-534-3492
www.hersheygardens.org
Lancaster Valley Environmental Education Center
One Nature’s Way
Lancaster 717-295-2055
www.co.lancaster.pa.us/251/Environmental-Education
Nixon Park Nature Center
Nixon Drive
Jacobus 717-428-1961
https://yorkcountypa.gov/parks-recreation/the-parks/richard-nixon-parks/nixon-nature-center-parks.html
Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center
2910 New Holland Road
Reading 610-796-3699
www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks
Riverfront Park Sunken Gardens
Eastern bank, Susquehanna River
Harrisburg 717-255-3020
http://harrisburgpa.gov
Strawberry Hill Nature Center
1537 Mount Hope road
Fairfield 717-642-5840
Susquehanna River Birding & Wildlife Trail
Various Locations
Harrisburg 717-213-6880
www.pabirdingtrails.org
Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania
465 Speedwell Forge Road
Lititz 717-626-4617
www.wolfsancpa.com
County Parks & Recreation
Dauphin County
717-599-5188
www.dauphincounty.org
Franklin County
Recreation Center Only
717-261-4125
www.franklincountypa.gov
Lancaster County
717-299-8215
www.co.lancaster.pa.us/parks
York County
717-840-7440
https://yorkcountypa.gov/parks-recreation.html
Municipal Parks & Recreation
City of Harrisburg
717-255-3020
http://harrisburgpa.gov
City of Lancaster
717-392-2115
www.lancasterrec.org
City of Lebanon
717-228-4401
www.lebanonpa.org
City of York
717-859-2221
www.yorkcity.org
Camp Hill Borough
717-737-4548
www.camphillborough.com
Carlisle Borough
717-243-3318
www.carlislepa.org
Chambersburg Borough
717-261-3275
www.borough.chambersburg.pa.us
Derry-Hershey Area
717-533-7138
www.derrytownship.org
East Manchester Township
717-266-4279
http://emanchestertwp.com
East Pennsboro Township
717-732-0711
www.eastpennsboro.net
Elizabethtown Borough
717-367-1700
www.etownonline.com
Ephrata Borough
717-738-9270
www.ephrataboro.org
Gettysburg Borough
717-334-2028
www.gettysburgpa.gov
Hampden Township
717-761-4951
www.hampdentownship.us
Hanover Borough
717-637-3877
http://www.hanoverboroughpa.gov/
Lititz Borough
717-626-2044
www.lititzborough.org
Lower Paxton Township
717-657-5635
www.lowerpaxton-pa.gov
Manor Township
717-397-4769
www.manortwp.org
Mechanicsburg Borough
717-691-4572
www.mechanicsburgborough.org
Middletown-Olmsted Area
717-902-0706
www.middletownborough.com
Palmyra Borough
717-838-6361
www.palmyraborough.org
Red Lion Area
717-244-6896
www.redlionpa.org
Shippensburg
717-530-0261
www.borough.shippensburg.pa.us
South Lebanon Township
717-274-0481
www.twp.south-lebanon.pa.us
South Middleton Township
717-258-4441
www.smiddleton.com
Spring Garden Township
717-854-7282
www.springgardentwp.org
Steelton Borough
717-939-9842
www.steeltonpa.com
Susquehanna Township
717-545-4751
www.susquehannatwp.com
Swatara Township
717-564-2551
www.swataratwp.com
West Shore Region
717-920-9515
www.wsrec.org