List of Pennsylvania state parks

Laurel CavernsLaurel Caverns State ParkTemplate:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Top icon

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A map of the state of Pennsylvania showing all 67 counties and a red circle marking the site of each state park

Map of state parks in Pennsylvania
(Each dot is linked to the corresponding park article)

since 2025Template:Dated maintenance category (articles), there are 124 state parks in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks, a division of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is the governing body for all these parks, and directly operates 116 of them. The remaining parks are operated in cooperation with other public and private organizations.^[a]

The first Pennsylvania state park, at Valley Forge, opened in 1893 and was given to the National Park Service (NPS) for the United States Bicentennial in 1976. There are a total of seventeen former Pennsylvania state parks: four former parks have been transferred to the NPS, four to the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission, two to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, one to both the Corps and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, five to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, and one has ceased to exist. Nine current and two former state parks have had major name changes or have been known under alternate names.

The list gives an overview of Pennsylvania state parks and a brief history of their development since the first park opened in 1893. State parks range in size from to and comprise one percent of Pennsylvania's total land area. According to Dan Cupper (1993), "Pennsylvania is the thirty-third largest state, but only Alaska and California have more park land".

Overview

There are state parks in 62 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties,^[b] which nearly reaches Pennsylvania's goal of having a state park within 25 miles (40 km) of every resident in the Commonwealth.^[c] Eleven parks do not have "State Park" in their name. Three are "Conservation Areas": Boyd Big Tree Preserve, Joseph E. Ibberson, and Varden; four are "Environmental Education Centers": Jacobsburg, Jennings, Kings Gap (also a "Training Center") and Nolde Forest; White Clay Creek is a "Preserve"; Norristown is a "Farm Park"; and Big Spring is a "State Forest Picnic Area".

Seven parks are undeveloped with no facilities: Allegheny Islands, Benjamin Rush, Bucktail, Erie Bluffs, Prompton, Swatara, and Varden; the last four of these are in the process of being developed. Five state parks are small picnic areas: Laurel Summit, Patterson, Prouty Place, Sand Bridge, and Upper Pine Bottom. Five state parks have major U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams and/or lakes: Bald Eagle, Beltzville, Elk, Kettle Creek, and Sinnemahoning. Three former parks now belong, at least partly, to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Seven parks preserve the industrial past: Canoe Creek is the site of a former lime kiln, and Caledonia, French Creek, Greenwood Furnace, Kings Gap, Mont Alto, and Pine Grove Furnace (plus one former park) are all former iron furnace sites. Eight current parks and one former park contain at least part of eight different National Natural Landmarks.^[d]

According to the DCNR, the state parks in Pennsylvania are on more than with some 606 full-time and more than 1,600 part-time employees serving approximately 36 million visitors each year. Admission to all Pennsylvania state parks is free, although there are fees charged for use of cabins, marinas, etc. Pennsylvania's state parks offer "over 7,000 family campsites, 286 cabins, nearly 30,000 picnic tables, 56 major recreational lakes, 10 marinas, 61 beaches for swimming, 17 swimming pools" and over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of trails.

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  Presque Isle State Park,
  on Lake Erie
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  Worlds End State Park, Loyalsock Creek canyon
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  Point State Park,
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  Ohiopyle State Park,
  Jonathan Run Falls

History

Pennsylvania's first state park was Valley Forge State Park, purchased by the Commonwealth on May 30, 1893, to preserve Valley Forge. It was transferred to the National Park Service (NPS) on the Bicentennial of the United States, July 4, 1976. Many state parks still preserve history: as of 2012, forty-two Pennsylvania state park sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, including two National Historic Landmarks (Delaware Canal and Point), twenty-eight Civilian Conservation Corps sites in nineteen parks, and twelve other parks' historic sites and districts. Eight of the former state parks were also chiefly historic.

In addition to preserving historic sites, Pennsylvania also sought to preserve natural beauty and offer opportunities for recreation in its state parks. In 1902, Mont Alto State Forest Park was the second park established, a year after the state "Bureau of Forestry" was set up to purchase, preserve, and restore Pennsylvania's forests, which had been ravaged by lumbering, charcoal production, and wild fires. Parks were added sporadically until the 1930s, some mere camping and picnic areas in state forests, while others preserved unique sites. The 1930s saw a great expansion of parks and their facilities under Governor Gifford Pinchot, who cooperated with President Franklin Roosevelt, despite their being of different political parties. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) established 113 CCC camps in Pennsylvania (second only to California). Using CCC and Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor, the NPS built five Recreation Demonstration Areas, which became Pennsylvania state parks in 1945 and 1946: Blue Knob, French Creek, Hickory Run, Laurel Hill, and Raccoon Creek. The CCC also "fought forest fires, planted trees, built roads, buildings, picnic areas, swimming areas, campgrounds and created many state parks".^[e]

In 1956, there were forty-four state parks in Pennsylvania, mostly in rural areas. Forty-five parks had been added by 1979, mostly near urban areas, and the system had increased by . This was thanks largely to the efforts of Maurice K. Goddard, who served as director of the precursors to the DCNR for twenty-four years under six administrations. The number of visitors to parks more than tripled in this time and two voter approved bond issues (Projects 70 and 500) raised millions of dollars for park expansions and improvements. All this expansion was not without costs and by 1988 there was an estimated $90 million in deferred maintenance. In 1993, as the park system celebrated its one-hundredth anniversary, new tax and bond revenues were earmarked for the parks. Since 2000, parks are being improved through the state's Growing Greener and Growing Greener II and bond programs.

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  Tyler State Park,
  Schofield Ford bridge
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  Codorus State Park,
  man-made Lake Marburg
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  Ravensburg State Park, CCC picnic shelter
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  Archbald Pothole State Park, typical entrance sign

Current parks

Current Pennsylvania state parks

Park name	County or counties	Area in acres (ha)	Date founded	Stream(s) and / or lake(s)	Remarks	Image
Allegheny Islands State Park	Allegheny County	Template:Nts acres (17 ha)	1980	Allegheny River	Three alluvial islands near Pittsburgh with no facilities, and accessible only by boat	A large body of water between two tree-lined shores, with a bridge in the background. Template:Commons category-icon
Archbald Pothole State Park	Lackawanna County	Template:Nts acres (61 ha)	1964	None	One of world's largest potholes, 38 ft (12 m) deep, largest diameter 42 feet (13 m) by 24 feet (7 m)	A platform with a fence around it above a deep rocky hole Template:Commons category-icon
Bald Eagle State Park	Centre County	Template:Nts acres (2,388 ha)	1971	Bald Eagle Creek, Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir	1,730 acre (700 ha) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir named for Medal of Honor recipient	An uncut field with trees at right and a long mountain range in the distant background Template:Commons category-icon
Beltzville State Park	Carbon County	Template:Nts acres (1,203 ha)	1972	Pohopoco Creek, Beltzville Lake	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake is with 19.8 miles (31.9 km) of shoreline.	An aerial view of a large dam and lake surrounded by forest with low mountains in the background Template:Commons category-icon
Bendigo State Park	Elk County	Template:Nts acres (40 ha)	1959	East Branch Clarion River	Only developed, name a corruption of Abednego	A smooth creek flows between two banks covered with lush vegetation Template:Commons category-icon
Benjamin Rush State Park	Philadelphia County	Template:Nts acres (111 ha)	1975	None	Site of one of the world's largest community gardens, otherwise undeveloped	Mounds of soil with young plants and stakes in a fenced-in garden Template:Commons category-icon
Big Elk Creek State Park	Chester County	Template:Nts acres (693 ha)	2022	Elk River (Maryland)	Big Elk Creek was an important transportation and natural resource corridor for indigenous people for thousands of years and an important area for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad to the North.
Big Pocono State Park	Monroe County	Template:Nts acres (529 ha)	1954	None	On Camelback Mountain, site of Camelback Ski Area and Waterpark	View from a high vantage point of a mountainous landscape beneath a party cloudy sky, there are twisted small trees in the foreground Template:Commons category-icon
Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area	Perry County	Template:Nts acres (18 ha)	1936	Big Spring Run (which forms Shermans Creek)	Park has trail to partially completed railroad tunnel in Conococheague Mountain.	Three rustic picnic shelters in a forest Template:Commons category-icon
Black Moshannon State Park	Centre County	Template:Nts acres (1,374 ha)	1937	Black Moshannon Creek, Black Moshannon Lake	Park has bog with three carnivorous plant species and 17 orchid varieties.[f][g]	The shore of a lake lined with brown bog plants, dark water is at right. The lake is surrounded by evergreen trees and is under a bright blue sky. Template:Commons category-icon
Blue Knob State Park	Bedford County	Template:Nts acres (2,377 ha)	1945	None	This former Recreation Demonstration Area on the state's second highest mountain has Blue Knob All Seasons Resort (skiing).	View of a distant tree-covered mountain with fields and forests in the foreground Template:Commons category-icon
Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area	Dauphin County	Template:Nts acres (370 ha)	1999	Unnamed tributary of Fishing Creek	On Blue Mountain, one of three Conservation Areas, named for donor Alex Boyd	A meadow under a partly cloudy sky with a tree-covered ridge in the background Template:Commons category-icon
Buchanan's Birthplace State Park	Franklin County	Template:Nts acres (7 ha)	1911	Buck Run	Stone pyramid marks the birthplace of James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States.	A fieldstone pyramid surrounded by a fence with pine trees in the background Template:Commons category-icon
Bucktail State Park Natural Area	Cameron and Clinton Counties	Template:Nts acres (8,514 ha)	1933	Sinnemahoning Creek, West Branch Susquehanna River	Park, named for the Bucktail Regiment, is a 75-mile (121 km) undeveloped scenic drive on PA 120.	A river curves between two forested mountains under a bright blue sky with a few clouds Template:Commons category-icon
Caledonia State Park	Adams and Franklin Counties	Template:Nts acres (455 ha)	1903	Rocky Mountain Creek, Carbaugh Run, East Branch Conococheague Creek	Park, named for Thaddeus Stevens' iron furnace, is home to summer stock Totem Pole Playhouse.	A fieldstone iron furnace with a metal plaque reading "Caledonia Furnace, erected 1837 by Thaddeus Stevens" and more text too small to read. There are trees in the background Template:Commons category-icon
Canoe Creek State Park	Blair County	Template:Nts acres (266 ha)	1979	Canoe Creek (tributary of Raystown Branch Juniata River), Canoe Creek Lake	Home of largest nursery colony of little brown bats in the state.	A row of six large stone structures with arched openings, leafless trees are in the background. Template:Commons category-icon
Chapman State Park	Warren County	Template:Nts acres (326 ha)	1951	Farnsworth Run, West Branch Tionesta Creek, Chapman Lake	Trailhead for trail system in surrounding Allegheny National Forest	Water from a forest-surrounded lake spills over a stairstep dam Template:Commons category-icon
Cherry Springs State Park	Potter County	Template:Nts acres (19 ha)	1922	None	Park known for some of the clearest, darkest night skies in the state and eastern US.[f][g]	Two white observatory domes in a snow-covered field, wooden stairs are beside one dome and a cabin and trees are in the background Template:Commons category-icon
Clear Creek State Park	Jefferson County	Template:Nts acres (678 ha)	1922	Clear Creek, Clarion River	Start of popular canoe trip on 10 miles (6 km) of Clarion River to Cook Forest State Park[g]	A snow-covered log cabin with a porch supported by stone pillars Template:Commons category-icon
Codorus State Park	York County	Template:Nts acres (1,347 ha)	1966	Codorus Creek, Lake Marburg	Man-made lake is , named for former village of Marburg now flooded by it.	One blue and two yellow kayaks on the shore of a lake, which reflects surrounding pine trees Template:Commons category-icon
Colonel Denning State Park	Cumberland County	Template:Nts acres (110 ha)	1936	Doubling Gap Creek, Doubling Gap Lake	Park named for William Denning, an American Revolutionary War veteran who was never a colonel.	Trees in autumn colors reflected in a smooth lake Template:Commons category-icon
Colton Point State Park	Tioga County	Template:Nts acres (149 ha)	1936	Pine Creek	On west rim of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, 800 feet (244 m) deep here[d][f][g]	An overlook with a fence, two coin-operated telescopes, and a large tree at left, with a tree-covered gorge in the background Template:Commons category-icon
Cook Forest State Park	Clarion, Forest, and Jefferson Counties	Template:Nts acres (3,440 ha)	1927	Toms Run, Clarion River	National Natural Landmark, one of America's top-50 state parks (National Geographic Traveler)[d][f][g]	Several large trees stand on the bank of a rock-strewn creek Template:Commons category-icon
Cowans Gap State Park	Franklin and Fulton Counties	Template:Nts acres (439 ha)	1937	Little Aughwick Creek, Cowans Gap Lake	Site of French and Indian War road, pioneer homestead, lumbering, and CCC camp[g]	Snow covers a simple wooden footbridge which crosses a stream in a forest Template:Commons category-icon
Delaware Canal State Park	Bucks and Northampton Counties	Template:Nts acres (336 ha)	1931	Delaware River	Park runs 60 miles (97 km) along Delaware Canal, the only 19th century U.S. towpath canal left continuously intact.[f][g]	Water filled canal and towpath passing by a forest Template:Commons category-icon
Denton Hill State Park	Potter County	Template:Nts acres (283 ha)	1951	None	Site of Ski Denton resort, also open for summer mountain biking	A snowy ski slope with several skiers on it and bare trees in the background
Elk State Park	Elk and McKean Counties	Template:Nts acres (1,292 ha)	1963	East Branch Clarion River, East Branch Lake	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake is .	A large lake between two hilly shores, seen through trees in the foreground
Erie Bluffs State Park	Erie County	Template:Nts acres (219 ha)	2004	Lake Erie	Park has 1.0 mile (0.6 km) of lake coastline and bluffs 90 feet (27 m) tall, and is being developed.	A stream spills over layered rock on a lake shore covered with small flat rocks
Evansburg State Park	Montgomery County	Template:Nts acres (1,355 ha)	1979	Skippack Creek	Park has 18 hole Skippack Golf Course and many outdoor recreational opportunities.[g]	A path through several green trees in dappled sunlight
Fort Washington State Park	Montgomery County	Template:Nts acres (200 ha)	1953	Wissahickon Creek	George Washington camped here in the American Revolutionary War's Philadelphia campaign.	A stream curves between two banks lined with bare trees
Fowlers Hollow State Park	Perry County	Template:Nts acres (42 ha)	1936	Fowlers Hollow Run	Trailhead for the trail system of the surrounding Tuscarora State Forest	A stream flows in front of a bank with many trees and a picnic table
Frances Slocum State Park	Luzerne County	Template:Nts acres (419 ha)	1968	Abrahams Creek, Frances Slocum Lake	Park named for a girl kidnapped by the Lenape who lived the rest of her life with the Miami in Indiana.	A lake covered with green algae and bright brown bog plants, a forested shore is in the background
French Creek State Park	Berks and Chester Counties	Template:Nts acres (2,970 ha)	1946	French Creek	Former Recreation Demonstration Area, adjacent to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site[f][g]	A flock of Canadian geese flying in front of a yellow sailboat with a yellow and white sail on a blue lake
Gifford Pinchot State Park	York County	Template:Nts acres (946 ha)	1961	Beaver Creek (tributary of Conewago Creek), Pinchot Lake	Gifford Pinchot was a Pennsylvania governor, conservationist, and first US Forest Service Chief.	A gravel path runs across grass dotted with trees
Gouldsboro State Park	Monroe and Wayne Counties	Template:Nts acres (1,165 ha)	1958	Gouldsboro Lake	Park named for village named for Jay Gould, next to Tobyhanna Army Depot.	A sunny lake with an island and shore covered in autumnal foliage under a blue sky with some clouds
Greenwood Furnace State Park	Huntingdon County	Template:Nts acres (171 ha)	1924	Standing Stone Creek, Greenwood Lake	Includes ghost town of Greenwood, former ironworks and charcoal hearths[f][g]	A large stone iron furnace with openings on each of the two sides visible
Hickory Run State Park	Carbon County	Template:Nts acres (6,293 ha)	1945	Hickory Run, Lehigh River, Sand Spring Lake	Former Recreation Demonstration Area with a large boulder field that is a National Natural Landmark.[d][f]	A large field of pink and grey boulders ringed by trees in the far distance. A few tiny human figures give a sense of the immense size of the boulder field.
Hillman State Park	Washington County	Template:Nts acres (1,456 ha)	1960s	Raccoon Creek	Managed for hunting by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and largely undeveloped	An overgrown field surrounded by bushes and trees under a blue sky
Hills Creek State Park	Tioga County	Template:Nts acres (165 ha)	1953	Hills Creek, Hills Creek Lake	Land previously used as a pigment mine for the paint industry	Two trees in front of lake with some rushes and water plants in it.
Hyner Run State Park	Clinton County	Template:Nts acres (73 ha)	1958	Hyner Run	On the site of Civilian Conservation Corps Camp S-75-PA	A sunlit dappled scene with many straight tree trunks, grass between, and a few picnic tables
Hyner View State Park	Clinton County	Template:Nts acres (2 ha)	1965	None	Scenic view of the West Branch Susquehanna River and launching point for hang gliding[f]	A person dangles below a red, yellow and white parasail, in the background is a lush forest with a large river and a tree-covered island.
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center	Northampton County	Template:Nts acres (473 ha)	1959	Bushkill Creek	Park surrounds Jacobsburg National Historic District, where rifles were manufactured during the American Revolution.[g]	An unpainted wooden barn with a shingle roof in the sunlight
Jennings Environmental Education Center	Butler County	Template:Nts acres (121 ha)	1979	Big Run	Park contains the only publicly protected relict prairie ecosystem in Pennsylvania, .[f]	A field full of different wild plants, some flowering, with a line of trees in the background
Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area	Dauphin County	Template:Nts acres (142 ha)	2000	None	On Peters Mountain, one of three Conservation Areas, named for donor Joseph E. Ibberson	A path leads through a green forest
Kettle Creek State Park	Clinton County	Template:Nts acres (726 ha)	1954	Kettle Creek, Kettle Creek Reservoir	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir is , park has many recreational facilities built by CCC.	A view from atop a mountain of a blue lake between roling green hills and low mountains under a partly cloudy sky
Keystone State Park	Westmoreland County	Template:Nts acres (486 ha)	1945	Keystone Run, Keystone Lake	Park is named for the Keystone Coal and Coke Company that once owned the land and created the lake.	About a dozen canoes and small boats on a grassy shore of a lake at left, with a large puddle and a bulletin board and trees at right
Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center	Cumberland County	Template:Nts acres (588 ha)	1973	some vernal pools, Kings Gap Hollow Run, Irish Gap Run	Training center for park rangers of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources	A flagpole and pine tree in front of a large two story stone building with many windows
Kinzua Bridge State Park	McKean County	Template:Nts acres (133 ha)	1970	Kinzua Creek	Had 1882 Historic Civil Engineering Landmark railway bridge, once the world's highest and longest, destroyed by a tornado in 2003.[f][g]	A trestle bridge across an autumnal valley at left ends in a drop off at center, with collapsed remnants at right, all under a bright blue sky
Kooser State Park	Somerset County	Template:Nts acres (101 ha)	1922	Kooser Run, Kooser Lake	Site of battles between Native American tribes, part of Whiskey Rebellion [g]	A cross-country skier in red beneath a pine tree covered in a heavy snow
Lackawanna State Park	Lackawanna County	Template:Nts acres (571 ha)	1972	South Branch Tunkhannock Creek, Lake Lackawanna	On site of a Turn of the Century era community fair	A grey lake under grey skies with snow and ice blocks on its shore and snow covered low mountains in the background
Laurel Hill State Park	Somerset County	Template:Nts acres (1,592 ha)	1945	Laurel Hill Creek, Laurel Hill Lake	Former Recreation Demonstration Area with the largest CCC architecture collection of any Pennsylvania state park[g]	Two children run across a grassy field to a wooden one-story cabin with a wall of trees behind
Laurel Mountain State Park	Somerset and Westmoreland Counties	Template:Nts acres (200 ha)	1964	None	Opened in 1939 by Richard K. Mellon and Rolling Rock brewery as one of the state's first ski areas, donated to the state in 1964	A road through a forest leads to a fieldstone building with a chmney and steep roof next to a stop sign
Laurel Ridge State Park	Cambria, Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland Counties	Template:Nts acres (5,514 ha)	1967	Conemaugh River, Youghiogheny River and tributaries	The park surrounds the 70 mile (113 km) long Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail.	A metal sink with running water supported by wooden beams in the foreground, a wooden open shelter with a stone chimney amidst the trees in the background
Laurel Summit State Park	Westmoreland County	Template:Nts acres (2 ha)	1964	None	Day use picnic area and trailhead, 2,739 feet (835 m) above sea level	A path leads through flat stones and moss to a green forest with large trees, one of which has a blue trail blaze
Lehigh Gorge State Park	Carbon and Luzerne Counties	Template:Nts acres (1,841 ha)	1980	Lehigh River	The Lehigh Gorge Trail follows the river through the park for 26 miles (42 km).	View from above of a curving river in a rocky gorge, several school buses and trucks towing trailers with boats and rafts are parked on a gravel area at left
Leonard Harrison State Park	Tioga County	Template:Nts acres (237 ha)	1922	Pine Creek	On east rim of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, 800 feet (244 m) deep here[d][f]	A creek in a long deep gorge between green wooded mountains under a partly cloudy sky
Linn Run State Park	Westmoreland County	Template:Nts acres (248 ha)	1924	Grove, Rock and Linn Runs and Adams Falls	Once a barren wasteland, now a thriving second growth forest with an excellent trout stream[g]	A small body of water surrounded by large rocks, evergreen trees and leaf covered ground
Little Buffalo State Park	Perry County	Template:Nts acres (374 ha)	1972	Little Buffalo Creek, Holman Lake	Park named for the bison that are believed to have once roamed the ridge and valley region of Pennsylvania.[g]	A red-orange sunset and the black silhouette of a line of trees are reflected in a smooth lake
Little Pine State Park	Lycoming County	Template:Nts acres (873 ha)	1937	Little Pine Creek	Historians believe a Shawnee village and burial ground were just north of the park.	View from atop a grassy dam of a lake between and reflecting green mountains
Locust Lake State Park	Schuylkill County	Template:Nts acres (441 ha)	1966	Locust Creek, Locust Lake	In a thriving second growth forest on the side of Locust Mountain	In the foreground a road with three wooden posts, a choppy blue lake behind with one small boat, ringed by green trees and low white clouds beneath a blue sky
Lyman Run State Park	Potter County	Template:Nts acres (241 ha)	1951	Lyman Run, Lyman Run Lake	Site of a Prisoner of War Camp during World War II	A wooded mountain with bright fall leaves is reflected in a small lake with many plants sticking out of the surface
Marsh Creek State Park	Chester County	Template:Nts acres (690 ha)	1974	Marsh Creek, Marsh Creek Lake	The village of Milford Mills was flooded by the creation of the lake, last Project 70 / 500 park.[g]	A blue lake with small waves, the distant shore is wooded and there is a tree at right
Maurice K. Goddard State Park	Mercer County	Template:Nts acres (1,156 ha)	1972	Sandy Creek, Lake Wilhelm	Park named for Maurice K. Goddard, who led the creation of 45 state parks in 24 years of service.	Trees with red, orange, and yellow leaves reflected in a lake
McCalls Dam State Park	Centre County	Template:Nts acres (3 ha)	1933	White Deer Creek	In a remote location on a dirt road between R. B. Winter State Park and Eastville.	A small stream flows through dappled sunlight between grassy banks and trees
McConnells Mill State Park	Lawrence County	Template:Nts acres (1,030 ha)	1957	Slippery Rock Creek	Features a deep scenic gorge with a restored watermill and a covered bridge[d][f][g]	A wooden two-story building atop a stone foundation
Memorial Lake State Park	Lebanon County	Template:Nts acres (93 ha)	1945	Indiantown Run, Memorial Lake	Surrounded by Fort Indiantown Gap, headquarters of the Pennsylvania National Guard	A bench and a picnic table on a grassy slope with a lake visible through trees in the distance
Milton State Park	Northumberland County	Template:Nts acres (33 ha)	1966	West Branch Susquehanna River	On an island in the river, destroyed by Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and rebuilt	A green soccer field with trees and picnic tables along one edge and a highway bridge behind that
Mont Alto State Park	Franklin County	Template:Nts acres (10 ha)	1902	West Branch Antietam Creek	Pennsylvania's current oldest state park and first State Forest Park, former iron works	A conical green metal roof supported by many black pillars, the whole structure is in the midst of woods
Moraine State Park	Butler County	Template:Nts acres (6,768 ha)	1970	Muddy Creek, Lake Arthur	Park served as the location of the 1973 and 1977 National Scout Jamborees.[f]	Three hot air balloons over a lake with a sailboat and forested shore
Mt. Pisgah State Park	Bradford County	Template:Nts acres (527 ha)	1979	Pisgah Creek, Mill Creek, Stephen Foster Lake	Lake named for renowned American composer Stephen Foster.	A grassy lawn with picnic tables, trees and a boat with a curving lakeshore at right
Nescopeck State Park	Luzerne County	Template:Nts acres (1,437 ha)	2005	Nescopeck Creek	One of the newest state parks in Pennsylvania	A fallow field in the foreground, with a line of trees and bushes and a forested ridge behind
Neshaminy State Park	Bucks County	Template:Nts acres (134 ha)	1956	Delaware River	Park, on an estuary, donated by descendant of James Logan, colonial secretary to William Penn	View across a lake to a silhoutted skyline of a major city
Nockamixon State Park	Bucks County	Template:Nts acres (2,138 ha)	1973	Tohickon Creek, Lake Nockamixon	Nockamixon means "place of soft soil" in the Lenape language.	A lake with a canoe and forested far shore, a flock of Canadian geese and picnic table are on the grassy near shore
Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center	Berks County	Template:Nts acres (269 ha)	1970	Wyomissing Creek	Once a forest privately owned by Jacob Nolde	A wooden dock on the shore of a small lake in which autumnal trees are reflected
Norristown Farm Park	Montgomery County	Template:Nts acres (279 ha)	1995	Stony Creek	Managed by the Montgomery County Department of Parks	Two wings of a white barn with two silos under a blue sky with cirrus clouds
Ohiopyle State Park	Fayette County	Template:Nts acres (7,710 ha)	1965	Youghiogheny River and tributaries	One of the most popular white-water rafting destinations on the East Coast[d][f]	Dozens of people wearing yellow life preservers and helmets in several blue inflatable rafts float down a river
Oil Creek State Park	Venango County	Template:Nts acres (2,529 ha)	1931	Oil Creek	Edwin Drake drilled the first successful oil well in the world here in 1859.[f]	A wooden derrick at left on grass, with trees and a mountain ridge in the background
Ole Bull State Park	Potter County	Template:Nts acres (53 ha)	1925	Ole Bull Run, Kettle Creek	Location of a Norwegian colony established by renowned violinist Ole Bull	A stream flows between several trees with a pyramidal-shaped mountain in the background
Parker Dam State Park	Clearfield County	Template:Nts acres (392 ha)	1936	Laurel Run, Parker Lake	A herd of elk lives in and near the park.[g]	A line of trees reflected in a still lake under a cloudy sky
Patterson State Park	Potter County	Template:Nts acres (4 ha)	1925	None	Day use picnic area on PA 44, surrounded by Susquehannock State Forest	A green pyramidal roof supported by log pillars over three picnic tables, leafless trees are around it and a road runs behind
Penn-Roosevelt State Park	Centre County	Template:Nts acres (17 ha)	1983	Sassafras Run, Standing Stone Creek	Once a segregated black Civilian Conservation Corps camp during the Great Depression	Water pours over a narrow spillway with a sunlit stone dam structure on either side
Pine Grove Furnace State Park	Cumberland County	Template:Nts acres (282 ha)	1913	Mountain Creek, Fuller Lake, Laurel Lake	The furnaces at Pine Grove could consume an acre of trees a day.[f][g]	Pine Grove Iron Works furnace stack Template:Commons category-icon
Poe Paddy State Park	Centre County	Template:Nts acres (9 ha)	1938	Big Poe Creek, Penns Creek	Noted by anglers for the shadfly hatch that occurs in late spring	A forest with a bench along a stream in the background
Poe Valley State Park	Centre County	Template:Nts acres (251 ha)	1938	Big Poe Creek, Poe Lake	Built during the Great Depression by the CCC	Several trees with autumnal foliage on the shore of a lake reflecting a forested mountain
Point State Park	Allegheny County	Template:Nts acres (15 ha)	1974	Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio rivers	In downtown Pittsburgh at meeting of three rivers, site of Fort Pitt[g]	Red, orange, and yellow leaves on trees in an urban park on the shore of a river, a yellow bridge rises in the background
Presque Isle State Park	Erie County	Template:Nts acres (1,295 ha)	1921	Lake Erie	The most visited state park in Pennsylvania, on a peninsula in lake with many beaches[d][f][g]	A small pale yellow metal lighthouse with a red roof on the shore of a lake with a massive white cloud behind
Prince Gallitzin State Park	Cambria County	Template:Nts acres (2,529 ha)	1965	Beaverdam Run, Glendale Lake	Park named for Demetrius Gallitzin, Russian nobleman turned Roman Catholic priest.	A pontoon boat on a lake with a forested shore
Promised Land State Park	Pike County	Template:Nts acres (1,214 ha)	1905	Wallenpaupack Creek, Promised Land Lake, Lower Lake	Name is an ironic commentary created by immigrant residents, once owned by the Shakers.[f][g]	A field of ferns with a green forest behind
Prompton State Park	Wayne County	Template:Nts acres (809 ha)	1962	Lackawaxen River, Prompton Lake	Being developed with the help of Friends of Prompton	A lake with a gravel shore in the foreground and a forested distant shore
Prouty Place State Park	Potter County	Template:Nts acres (2 ha)	1925	Prouty Run	Day use picnic area on Long Toe Road	A rock-filled narrow stream flows through a forest
Pymatuning State Park	Crawford County	Template:Nts acres (8,548 ha)	1934	Shenango River, Pymatuning Lake	This is the largest state park in Pennsylvania, with one of the largest lakes.[f]	A marina with several sailboats
R. B. Winter State Park	Union County	Template:Nts acres (281 ha)	1933	Halfway Creek, Halfway Lake	Park has first cement and stone dam ever built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.[g]	Sunlit water spills over a stone dam in a bright green grassy landscape
Raccoon Creek State Park	Beaver County	Template:Nts acres (3,064 ha)	1945	Little Traverse Creek, Raccoon Lake	Park was built by the CCC and WPA as one of five National Park Service Recreation Demonstration Areas in state.[f][g]	A waterfall pours through a semicircular hole in a rock ledge
Ralph Stover State Park	Bucks County	Template:Nts acres (18 ha)	1931	Tohickon Creek	High Rocks portion of the park was donated to Pennsylvania by James Michener in 1956.	View from a high rock of water in trees, some bare and some with autumn leaves
Ravensburg State Park	Clinton County	Template:Nts acres (32 ha)	1933	Rauchtown Run	Park named for the ravens that flock near the gorge.[g]	White water spills over a stone dam in a grassy setting with a highway guardrail in the background
Reeds Gap State Park	Mifflin County	Template:Nts acres (89 ha)	1938	Honey Creek	Once a gathering place for the locals to hold picnics and listen to travelling evangelists	Two picnic tables, a bench and wooden footbridge in a forest
Ricketts Glen State Park	Columbia, Luzerne, and Sullivan Counties	Template:Nts acres (5,281 ha)	1942	Kitchen Creek	Known for its many waterfalls, it was slated to become a National Park, but did not due to redirection of funds during World War II.[d][f]	A very tall waterfall in the midst of snow-covered rocks and trees
Ridley Creek State Park	Delaware County	Template:Nts acres (1,055 ha)	1972	Ridley Creek	Adjacent to the John J. Tyler Arboretum[g]	Several streams of water fall over a dam made of large rocks under autumn leaves
Ryerson Station State Park	Greene County	Template:Nts acres (471 ha)	1967	North Fork of the Dunkard Fork of Wheeling Creek, Ronald J. Duke Lake	52 acre (21 ha) man-made lake, 38 miles (61 km) from next nearest Pennsylvania state park (Hillman)	A small stream in the foreground lined with tangled small trees, in the background is a level are with standing water and fields edged by forest
S. B. Elliott State Park	Clearfield County	Template:Nts acres (129 ha)	1933	Stony Run	Park named for Simon B. Elliott, a noted Pennsylvania conservationist and legislator.[g]	Rustic picnic shelters, one stone and one timber, with red, orange and yellow leaves on surrounding trees
Salt Springs State Park	Susquehanna County	Template:Nts acres (164 ha)	1973	Fall Brook	Park has three waterfalls and its hemlocks are over 500 years old and some of the largest trees in the state.	A curving boardwalk through a forest of massive hemlock trees
Samuel S. Lewis State Park	York County	Template:Nts acres (34 ha)	1954	None	Park named for its donor, a Secretary of the Department of Forests and Waters; now popular for star gazing.	A red bench on a large expanse of brown cut grass, overlooking rolling forested hills and a lake
Sand Bridge State Park	Union County	Template:Nts acres (1 ha)	1978	Rapid Run	This is the smallest state park in Pennsylvania, a day use picnic area on PA 192.	A brown wooden sign with yellow letters reading "Sand Bridge State Park Picnic Area Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources" in front of a highway and pale green two story frame house
Shawnee State Park	Bedford County	Template:Nts acres (1,612 ha)	1951	Lake Shawnee	Rental lodge on an island in the lake	A canoe on a lake surrounded by forest
Shikellamy State Park	Northumberland and Union Counties	Template:Nts acres (53 ha)	1960	West Branch and North Branch Susquehanna River	Park overlook is at confluence of West Branch and North Branch Susquehanna River, marina added in 1972.	A concrete highway bridge crosses a large river in front of a tall wooded bluff
Sinnemahoning State Park	Cameron and Potter Counties	Template:Nts acres (773 ha)	1962	Sinnemahoning Creek, George B. Stevenson Reservoir	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir is , park home to rare elk and bald eagle.	View from a lookout of green tree-covered mountains under a blue sky with white clouds
Sizerville State Park	Cameron and Potter Counties	Template:Nts acres (156 ha)	1924	Cowley Run	Park named for the nearby ghost town of Sizerville.	A rockky stream between two grassy banks with picnic tables, forest in the background
Susquehanna Riverlands State Park	York County	Template:Nts acres (445 ha)	2022	Susquehanna River	The largely wooded tract, located where Codorus Creek flows into the Susquehanna River, protects critical water and forest resources.
Susquehanna State Park	Lycoming County	Template:Nts acres (8 ha)	1961	West Branch Susquehanna River	Park operated by the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, home to paddlewheeler Hiawatha.	A red, white and blue paddlewheel boat with a sign "Hiawatha" on a river with a forested mountain behind
Susquehannock State Park	Lancaster County	Template:Nts acres (91 ha)	1965	Susquehanna River	Park named for the Susquehannock, whose chief village was nearby.	View of a very wide river lined with bare trees in reddish light under a blue sky streaked with clouds
Swatara State Park	Lebanon and Schuylkill Counties	Template:Nts acres (1,422 ha)	1987	Swatara Creek	Rail trail is on the former Lebanon & Tremont Branch of Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, park being developed.[g]	A metal-frame bridge over a broad stream in a forest
Tobyhanna State Park	Monroe and Wayne Counties	Template:Nts acres (2,201 ha)	1949	Tobyhanna Creek, Tobyhanna Lake	Once part of an artillery range for Tobyhanna Army Depot	Red and yellow foliage in the right foreground, with a smooth lake reflecting the distant forest and partly cloudy sky
Trough Creek State Park	Huntingdon County	Template:Nts acres (224 ha)	1936	Great Trough Creek, Raystown Lake	Bald eagles have migrated here naturally since the early 1990s.[f][g]	View from a flat rock across a forest to several wooded mountain peaks
Tuscarora State Park	Schuylkill County	Template:Nts acres (655 ha)	1971	Locust Creek, Tuscarora Lake	The Tuscarora moved to the area after the Tuscarora War in North Carolina, were later forced out by colonial settlement.	Several rowboats and canoes on the shore of lake with lily pads
Tyler State Park	Bucks County	Template:Nts acres (692 ha)	1974	Neshaminy Creek	Old original stone dwellings in park are fine examples of early farm dwellings of rural Pennsylvania.	View across a field to a large white building and woods
Upper Pine Bottom State Park	Lycoming County	Template:Nts acres (2 ha)	1924	Upper Pine Bottom Run	A roadside park and picnic area for day use only, on PA 44	A low fieldstone wall next to a tree trunk in a wooded area
Varden Conservation Area	Wayne County	Template:Nts acres (139 ha)	2001	Middle Creek	One of three Conservation Areas, donated by Dr. Mead Shaffer, being developed	A mowed field in the center, an unmowed field at right, woods at left and in the background
Vosburg Neck State Park	Wyoming County	Template:Nts acres (271 ha)	2022	Susquehanna River#North Branch Susquehanna	Public access for water-based recreation to the North Branch of the Susquehanna River.
Warriors Path State Park	Bedford County	Template:Nts acres (141 ha)	1965	Raystown Branch Juniata River	Park named for the Great Indian Warpath used by the Iroquois in war raids on the Cherokee and other tribes.	A path through a green forest with many shrubs
Washington Crossing Historic Park	Bucks County	Template:Nts acres (202 ha)	2016	Delaware River	Site of George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River. Transferred from the Historical and Museum Commission in 2016.	McConkey's Ferry Inn
Whipple Dam State Park	Huntingdon County	Template:Nts acres (104 ha)	1928	Whipple Lake	There was a camp for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Campfire Girls on the north side of lake from 1928 to 1941.[g]	A metal rowboat chained to a metal pole with a lake behind
White Clay Creek Preserve	Chester County	Template:Nts acres (508 ha)	1984	White Clay Creek	Park was donated by DuPont to preserve "diverse and unique plant and animal species, and the rich cultural heritage of the area".	Two streams with rock strewn banks meet in a wooded area
Worlds End State Park	Sullivan County	Template:Nts acres (316 ha)	1932	Loyalsock Creek	A "Must See Park" known for trout fishing, white-water kayaking, camping, and hiking on the Loyalsock Trail.[f][g]	A man in an orange shirt and tan vest fishes in a stream with rapids and large boulders
Yellow Creek State Park	Indiana County	Template:Nts acres (1,271 ha)	1963	Yellow Creek, Yellow Creek Lake	Crossed by the Kittanning Path, a major east–west Native American trail during the 18th century	A tree-lined lake with lily pads and four pontoon boats at a dock in the distance
Laurel Caverns State Park	Fayette County	4+ miles of wide cave passages beneath a 435-acre geological preserve	2025	none	First PA State Park to be underground

Other names of current parks

The following are significantly different former or alternate names for nine current Pennsylvania state parks. Note that many parks were originally "State Forest Parks" or were state public camping or picnic areas in Pennsylvania state forests. In modern times, some "State Parks" have become "Environmental Education Centers", while other parks have dropped one word from their name ("Cherry Springs Drive" is now Cherry Springs, "Codorus Creek" is now Codorus, "Kooser Lake" is now Kooser, "Laurel Hill Summit" is now Laurel Summit, and "Promised Land Lake" is now Promised Land). Such minor name changes are not included in this table.

Former or alternate names of current Pennsylvania state parks

Former or alternate Name	County or counties	Date name changed	Current park name	Remarks
Adams Falls Class A Campground	Westmoreland County	unknown	Linn Run State Park	Adams Falls is a waterfall on Linn Run within Linn Run State Park (which has both an "Adams Falls Picnic Area" and "Adams Falls Trail").
Halfway State Park	Union County	1955	R. B. Winter State Park	Park was renamed for Raymond B. Winter, a Forest Ranger who established it and worked there 45 years; also known as "Halfway Dam State Park".
High Rocks State Park	Bucks County	unknown	Ralph Stover State Park	"High Rocks" refers to part of park added in 1956; this name is listed in the USGS GNIS, but was never an official DCNR name or separate park.
Pennsylvania State Park at Erie	Erie County	unknown	Presque Isle State Park	This was only the second "State Park" by name in the state when established in 1921; also known unofficially as "Peninsula State Park".
Sandy Creek State Park	Mercer County	1969	Maurice K. Goddard State Park	Proposed as "Sandy Creek" (on Sandy Creek), but the name was changed (despite the objections of Dr. Goddard) before park officially opened in 1972.
Theodore Roosevelt State Park	Bucks and Northampton Counties	1989	Delaware Canal State Park	Park was originally named for Theodore Roosevelt, who had no connection to it; renamed for its focus, the Delaware Canal.
Tohickon State Park	Bucks County	1965	Nockamixon State Park	Park was proposed in 1958 as "Tohickon" (on Tohickon Creek), but the name was changed before the park officially opened in 1973.
Whirl's End State Park	Sullivan County	1936 and 1943	Worlds End State Park	"Whirl's End" 1936–1943 (for whirlpool in Loyalsock Creek); "Worlds End" 1932–1936 and 1943 to present (for remote location); also known as "Whirl's Glen"
Valhalla State Forest Park	Potter County	1920s	Ole Bull State Park	"Valhalla" was a settlement in Ole Bull's failed Norwegian colony, now within the boundaries of Ole Bull State Park.

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  Ricketts Glen State Park, 24 named waterfalls
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  Black Moshannon State Park, bog and lake
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  Hills Creek State Park,
  boat dock on lake
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  Blue Knob State Park,
  Blue Knob

Former parks

The following eighteen were once Pennsylvania state parks, but have been transferred to federal (National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) or state (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry) agencies, or ceased to exist.^[h]

Former Pennsylvania state parks

Former state park	County or counties	Date jurisdiction changed	Current name	Remarks
Allegheny River State Park	Venango County	1980	Kennerdell (or Allegheny River) tract	Now part of Clear Creek State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry)
Blue Marsh State Park	Berks County	1978	Blue Marsh Lake and Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 280	Park was completed, but without funds to operate it, so was given to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, now also partly a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site.
Brandywine Battlefield State Park	Delaware County	unknown	Brandywine Battlefield	Now a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site
Bushy Run Battlefield State Park	Westmoreland County	unknown	Bushy Run Battlefield	Now a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site
Colerain State Park	Huntingdon County	unknown	Colerain Picnic Area	Now part of Rothrock State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry) although as of 2012 it is not shown on the official state forest web site or map; also known historically as "Colerain Forge".
Conrad Weiser Memorial Park	Berks County	1953	Conrad Weiser Homestead	Now a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site
Crooked Creek State Park	Armstrong County	unknown	Crooked Creek Lake Recreation Area	Now a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site
Curwensville State Park	Clearfield County	unknown	Curwensville Lake on the West Branch Susquehanna River	Now a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site, recreation area operated by Clearfield County
Drake Well State Park	Venango County	1943	Drake Well Museum	Now a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site
Fort Necessity State Park	Fayette County	1961	Fort Necessity National Battlefield	Now part of a National Park Service site
George W. Childs State Park	Pike County	1983	George W. Childs Recreation Site	Now part of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, a National Park Service site; it was donated to the state for a park in 1912 by the widow of Dr. Childs.
Hemlock State Forest Park	Perry County	unknown	Hemlocks Natural Area	Now part of Tuscarora State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry)
Independence Mall State Park	Philadelphia County	1975	Independence National Historical Park	Now a National Park Service site
Moosic Lake State Park	Lackawanna County	1930s	No longer in existence	The Pennsylvania state legislature created park in early 1930s, but did not fund it, so it never came into existence.
Snyder-Middleswarth State Park[d]	Snyder County	1980s	Snyder Middleswarth Natural Area and Picnic Area	Now part of Bald Eagle State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry), established 1921
Valley Forge State Park	Montgomery County	1976	Valley Forge National Historical Park	Now a National Park Service site, it was established in 1893 as the first state park in Pennsylvania.
Voneida State Forest Park	Centre County	unknown	Hairy Johns State Forest Picnic Area	Now part of Bald Eagle State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry), it was established 1922 and named for "Hairy John" Voneida

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  Snyder Middleswarth Natural Area, picnic area
• Childs Recreation Site, Fulmer Falls Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  Childs Recreation Site, Fulmer Falls

Other names of former parks

The following are significantly different former or alternate names for two former Pennsylvania state parks. One former park dropped one word from its name ("Colerain Forge" became "Colerain" sometime between 1924 and 1937). Such minor name changes are not included in this table.

Former or alternate names of former Pennsylvania state parks

Former or alternate name	County or counties	Date name changed	Former park name	Remarks
Braddock Grave State Park	Fayette County	1961	Part of Fort Necessity State Park	Now part of Fort Necessity National Battlefield (National Park Service)
Hairy John's State Forest Park	Centre County	unknown	Voneida State Forest Park	Now a State Forest Picnic Area in Bald Eagle State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry), it was originally named for "Hairy John" Voneida, a 19th-century hermit who lived nearby.

See also

• List of Pennsylvania state forests
• Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
• Pennsylvania Scenic Rivers

Notes

a. ^{^} As of 2012, three Pennsylvania state parks are also the site of ski areas run by private contractors: Big Pocono (Ski Camelback), Blue Knob (Ski Blue Knob), and Denton Hill (Ski Denton). (Two other state parks had commercial ski operations in the past Laurel Mountain (from 1939 to 2005) and Black Moshannon (from 1965 to 1982).) Two parks are operated by other governmental bodies: Hillman (managed for hunting by the Pennsylvania Game Commission) and Norristown Farm (operated by the Montgomery County Department of Parks). Three parks are operated by other organizations: Susquehanna (operated by the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce), Prompton (operated by non-profit "Friends of Prompton"), and Salt Springs (operated by non-profit "Friends of Salt Springs").

b. ^{^} The Pennsylvania counties without state parks as of 2023 are: Armstrong, Juniata, Lehigh, Montour, and Snyder counties. Two of these counties are sites of former state parks: Crooked Creek in Armstrong County, and Snyder-Middleswarth in Snyder County.

c. ^{^} The goal of having a state park within 25 miles (40 km) of every resident was set by Maurice K. Goddard (Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, and then of the Department of Environmental Resources from 1955 to 1979).

d. ^{^} The seven National Natural Landmarks at least partly within current state parks (with the park name in parentheses, if different) are: Cook Forest, Ferncliff Peninsula (Ohiopyle), the Glens Natural Area (Ricketts Glen), Hickory Run Boulder Field (Hickory Run), McConnells Mill, the Pine Creek Gorge (includes Colton Point and Leonard Harrison), and Presque Isle. One National Natural Landmark, Snyder Middleswarth Natural Area, is a former state park.

e. ^{^} The date of establishment for many Pennsylvania state parks is not always clear, especially for parks developed from state forest property. As an example, consider Upper Pine Bottom, which, as of 2012, is a picnic area surrounded by Tiadaghton State Forest. These state forest lands were acquired by the state by the early 1900s, the site was "Upper Pine Bottom Class B Public Campground" by 1924, the CCC built a pavilion there in 1936 (which is no longer extant), but it was not officially transferred from the Bureau of Forests to State Parks until 1962.

f. ^{^} This park was one of twenty-five chosen by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Parks for its "25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks" list.

g. ^{^} This park has one or more historic sites or districts on the National Register of Historic Places.

h. ^{^} There have been a considerable number of changes in Pennsylvania's categorization of its state parks and other protected areas over the years, so that what can be called a former state park is not always clear. This can be seen by comparing the following three lists from 1923, 1924, and 1937.
In 1923, the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters listed seven "State Forest Parks": Caledonia, Childs (now part of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area), Hairy John's (now a picnic area in Bald Eagle State Forest), James Buchanan, Leonard Harrison, Mont Alto, and Valhalla (now Ole Bull). Note this does not include Snyder-Middleswarth State Forest Park, established in 1921.
One year later the state listed twenty-six public campgrounds in state forests, which included three of the previous year's state forest parks, plus twelve sites that later became state parks. The ten Class A Public Campgrounds (with space for cars and tents, on main highways) were: Adams Falls (now Linn Run), Big Spring, Caledonia, Childs, Colerain Forge, Darling Run, Laurel Run Park, Ole Bull, Promised Land, and Tea Springs. The sixteen Class B Public Campgrounds (lean-to shelter, on secondary roads) were: Baldwin, Bear Valley, Cherry Springs Drive, Clear Creek, Donnelly, Joyce Kilmer, Kansas, Kooser, Laurel Hill Summit (now Laurel Summit), Laurel Lake Park, Locusts, McCall's Dam, Ravensburg, Sizerville, Sulphur Springs, and Upper Pine Bottom.
In 1937, the state published a brochure listing the following forty-nine protected areas: six State Parks (Caledonia, Childs, Cook Forest, Presque Isle, Pymatuning, and Ralph Stover); eight State Monuments (Bushy Run, Conrad Weiser, Drake Well, Fort Necessity, Fort Washington, James Buchanan, Valley Forge, and Washington Crossing); ten Forest Recreational Reserves (Clear Creek, Colton Point, Cowans Gap, Kooser Lake, Parker Dam, Pecks Pond, Promised Land Lake, Snow Hill, Whipple Dam, Whirl's End); sixteen Wayside Areas (Big Spring, Black Moshannon, Cherry Spring, Colerain, Greenwood Furnace, Halfway (now R.B. Winter), Joyce Kilmer, Kettle Creek, Mont Alto, Pine Grove Furnace, Reeds Gap, S.B. Elliott, Sideling Hill, Sizerville, and Tea Spring); seven Forest Monuments (Alan Seeger, Bear Meadows, Ole Bull, Detweiler Run, McConnell Narrows, Mount Logan, and Snyder-Middleswarth); and three State Forest Lookouts (Leonard Harrison, Martins Hill, and Mount Riansares).
Only twelve of the twenty-six public campgrounds from 1924 are on the 1937 list. Of the forty-nine areas on the 1937 list, twenty-eight are state parks as of 2012, while nine are former state parks, and twelve are in state forests (eight of these still retain their names as state forest picnic, natural or wild areas).

External links

• Official Pennsylvania DCNR Welcome to Pennsylvania State Parks page Template:Webarchive