{"id":316,"date":"2012-06-30T18:06:15","date_gmt":"2012-06-30T18:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.websitefix.net\/clients\/Generic\/?page_id=316"},"modified":"2019-12-12T20:20:13","modified_gmt":"2019-12-12T20:20:13","slug":"parks-nature","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/CentralPA3\/?page_id=316","title":{"rendered":"Parks & Nature"},"content":{"rendered":"

SPORTS & RECREATION \/ PARKS & NATURE<\/p>\n

<\/b><\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

State Parks & Forests<\/b><\/strong>
\nThe 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.
\n
\nPennsylvania State Parks
\n<\/b><\/strong>Harrisburg 717-787-6640
\nwww.dcnr.state.pa.us\/stateparks<\/a><\/p>\n

Regional State Parks
\n<\/b><\/strong>
\nBig Spring Forest State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Blain 717-536-3191<\/p>\n

Boyd Big Tree Conservation Area
\n<\/b><\/strong>Newport 717-567-9255<\/p>\n

Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Mercersburg 717-485-3948<\/p>\n

Caledonia State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Fayetteville 717-352-2161<\/p>\n

Codorus State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Hanover 717-637-2816<\/p>\n

Colonel Denning State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Newville 717-776-5272
\n
\nFowlers Hollow State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Blain 717-776-5272
\n
\nFrench Creek State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Elverson 610-582-9680<\/p>\n

Gifford Pinchot State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Lewisberry 717-432-5011<\/p>\n

Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area
\n<\/b><\/strong>Newport 717-567-9255<\/p>\n

Kings Gap Environmental Education Center
\n<\/b><\/strong>Carlisle 717-486-5031<\/p>\n

Little Buffalo State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Newport 717-567-9255<\/p>\n

Memorial Lake State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Grantville 717-865-6470<\/p>\n

Mont Alto State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Fayetteville 717-352-2161<\/p>\n

Pine Grove Furnace State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Gardners 717-486-7174<\/p>\n

Samuel S. Lewis State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Gardners 717-486-7174<\/p>\n

Susquehannock State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Drumore 717-252-1134<\/p>\n

Swatara State Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>Drumore 717-252-1134
\n
\n<\/i><\/em>Discover the Appalachian Trail
\n<\/b><\/strong>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:<\/p>\n

Appalachian Trail
\n<\/b><\/strong>304-535-6331
\nwww.appalachiantrail.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Gardens & Natural Wonders<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

Appalachian Trail
\n<\/b><\/strong>Various Locations
\nHarper’s Ferry, WV 304-535-6331
\nwww.appalachiantrail.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Benjamin Olewine Nature Center
\n<\/b><\/strong>Wildwood Lake Sanctuary
\n100 Wildwood Way
\nHarrisburg 717-221-0292
\nwww.wildwoodlake.org<\/a><\/p>\n

East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue
\n<\/b><\/strong>320 Zoo Road
\nFairfield 717-642-5229
\n<\/b><\/strong>www.eastcoastrescue.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Fort Hunter Mansion & Park
\n<\/b><\/strong>5300 North Front Street
\nHarrisburg 717-599-5751
\nwww.forthunter.org<\/a><\/p>\n

HERSHEY Gardens
\n<\/b><\/strong>170 Hotel Road
\nHershey 717-534-3492
\nwww.hersheygardens.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Lancaster Valley Environmental Education Center
\n<\/b><\/strong>One Nature’s Way
\nLancaster 717-295-2055
\nwww.co.lancaster.pa.us\/251\/Environmental-Education<\/a><\/p>\n

Nixon Park Nature Center
\n<\/b><\/strong>Nixon Drive
\nJacobus 717-428-1961
\nhttps:\/\/yorkcountypa.gov\/parks-recreation\/the-parks\/richard-nixon-parks\/nixon-nature-center-parks.html<\/a>
\nNolde Forest Environmental Education Center
\n<\/b><\/strong>2910 New Holland Road
\nReading 610-796-3699
\nwww.dcnr.state.pa.us\/stateparks<\/a><\/p>\n

Riverfront Park Sunken Gardens
\n<\/b><\/strong>Eastern bank, Susquehanna River
\nHarrisburg 717-255-3020
\nhttp:\/\/harrisburgpa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Strawberry Hill Nature Center
\n<\/b><\/strong>1537 Mount Hope road
\nFairfield 717-642-5840<\/p>\n

Susquehanna River Birding & Wildlife Trail
\n<\/b><\/strong>Various Locations
\nHarrisburg 717-213-6880
\nwww.pabirdingtrails.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania
\n<\/b><\/strong>465 Speedwell Forge Road
\nLititz 717-626-4617
\nwww.wolfsancpa.com<\/a><\/p>\n

County Parks & Recreation<\/b><\/strong>
\n
\nDauphin County
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-599-5188
\nwww.dauphincounty.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Franklin County
\nRecreation Center Only
\n717-261-4125
\nwww.franklincountypa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Lancaster County
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-299-8215
\nwww.co.lancaster.pa.us\/parks<\/a><\/p>\n

York County
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-840-7440
\nhttps:\/\/yorkcountypa.gov\/parks-recreation.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Municipal Parks & Recreation<\/b><\/strong>
\n
\nCity of Harrisburg
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-255-3020
\nhttp:\/\/harrisburgpa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

City of Lancaster
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-392-2115
\nwww.lancasterrec.org<\/a><\/p>\n

City of Lebanon
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-228-4401
\nwww.lebanonpa.org<\/a><\/p>\n

City of York
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-859-2221
\nwww.yorkcity.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Camp Hill Borough
\n<\/strong>717-737-4548
\nwww.camphillborough.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Carlisle Borough
\n<\/strong>717-243-3318
\nwww.carlislepa.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Chambersburg Borough
\n<\/strong>717-261-3275
\nwww.borough.chambersburg.pa.us<\/a><\/p>\n

Derry-Hershey Area
\n<\/strong>717-533-7138
\nwww.derrytownship.org<\/a><\/p>\n

East Manchester Township
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-266-4279
\nhttp:\/\/emanchestertwp.com<\/a><\/p>\n

East Pennsboro Township
\n<\/strong>717-732-0711
\nwww.eastpennsboro.net<\/a><\/p>\n

Elizabethtown Borough
\n<\/strong>717-367-1700
\nwww.etownonline.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Ephrata Borough
\n<\/strong>717-738-9270
\nwww.ephrataboro.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Gettysburg Borough
\n<\/strong>717-334-2028
\nwww.gettysburgpa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Hampden Township
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-761-4951
\nwww.hampdentownship.us<\/a><\/p>\n

Hanover Borough
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-637-3877
\nhttp:\/\/www.hanoverboroughpa.gov\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Lititz Borough
\n<\/strong>717-626-2044
\nwww.lititzborough.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Lower Paxton Township
\n<\/strong>717-657-5635
\nwww.lowerpaxton-pa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Manor Township
\n<\/strong>717-397-4769
\nwww.manortwp.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Mechanicsburg Borough
\n<\/strong>717-691-4572
\nwww.mechanicsburgborough.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Middletown-Olmsted Area
\n<\/strong>717-902-0706
\nwww.middletownborough.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Palmyra Borough
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-838-6361
\nwww.palmyraborough.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Red Lion Area
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-244-6896
\nwww.redlionpa.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Shippensburg
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-530-0261
\nwww.borough.shippensburg.pa.us<\/a><\/p>\n

South Lebanon Township
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-274-0481
\nwww.twp.south-lebanon.pa.us<\/a><\/p>\n

South Middleton Township
\n<\/strong>717-258-4441
\nwww.smiddleton.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Spring Garden Township
\n<\/strong>717-854-7282
\nwww.springgardentwp.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Steelton Borough
\n<\/b><\/strong>717-939-9842
\nwww.steeltonpa.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Susquehanna Township
\n<\/strong>717-545-4751
\nwww.susquehannatwp.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Swatara Township
\n<\/strong>717-564-2551
\nwww.swataratwp.com<\/a><\/p>\n

West Shore Region
\n<\/strong>717-920-9515
\nwww.wsrec.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/CentralPA3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/316"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/CentralPA3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/CentralPA3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/CentralPA3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/CentralPA3\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=316"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/CentralPA3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/316\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":685,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/CentralPA3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/316\/revisions\/685"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/CentralPA3\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}