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

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