Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests

Copyright: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks Colton Point State Park

State Forest land provides clean water, recreational opportunities, disease and insect free habitat for plants and wildlife and wonderful places to find solitude. The state's forests continue to provide high quality timber and with proper management will ensure that Pennsylvania's vast forest resources continue to provide benefits for future generations.

Attractions - From the sandy beaches of Presque Isle State Park in Erie County to the gorgeous waterfalls of Ricketts Glen in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania's 116 state parks offer natural beauty, outdoor recreation, rich history and environmental education to about 38 million visitors each year. For more than 100 years, the Bureau of State Parks has managed and promoted Pennsylvania's state parks, which now cover more than 283,000 acres of beautiful lands.

State Forest land provides clean water, recreational opportunities, disease and insect free habitat for plants and wildlife and wonderful places to find solitude. The state's forests continue to provide high quality timber and with proper management will ensure that Pennsylvania's vast forest resources continue to provide benefits for future generations.

Recreation - Pennsylvania's state park system offers visitors year-round recreational enjoyment with its more than 7,000 camping sites, nearly 34,000 acres of fresh water lakes, 30,000+ picnic tables, nearly 300 cabins and more than 1,000 miles of trails. With opportunities for swimming, camping, fishing, hunting, skiing, biking and many other outdoor activities, there's something for everyone in Pennsylvania's state parks.

The Bureau of State Forests offer a vast network of trails and roads to provide hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling opportunities for millions of visitors each year. The state forests are also used extensively for hunting, fishing, sightseeing, bird-watching and wildlife viewing.

Climate - Pennsylvania has four distinct seasons and recreationists can find good in each one. Summer is usually hot and humid often extending from late May into September. Expect temperatures in the southeastern part of the state to reach 90 degrees F frequently. Temperatures in the Northern and western areas of the state are slightly cooler. Summer lows usually don't dip below 60 degrees F.

Winter temperatures average between 25 degrees and 45 degrees F in southeastern Pennsylvania. The west and mountains receive colder temperatures that average between -10 degrees and 35 degrees F. Spring and fall are excellent times to visit the state as temperatures are mild with little humidity. Spring brings a variety of wildflowers and shrubs into bloom and fall color displays of deciduous trees draw many to the forests of the state.

Location - Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests are found in each travel region of the Commonwealth, many of which are only a distance of 25 miles from each other.