Map of State Parks of Pennsylvania (Each dot is linked to the corresponding park article)

This List of Pennsylvania state parks contains the 120 state parks in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, as of 2007. 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 111 of them. The remaining nine are operated in cooperation with other public and private organizations.

Included are three other lists: other names of nine Pennsylvania state parks; eighteen former state parks; and other names of two former state parks. Five former parks have been transferred to the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission, four to the National Park Service, 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.

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 3 acres (1 ha) to 21,122 acres (8,548 ha), with nearly one percent (0.96%) of Pennsylvania's land as state park land. 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 61 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, which nearly reaches Pennsylvania's goal of having a state park within 25 miles (40 km) of every resident in the Commonwealth. Nine of the 120 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; and Norristown is a Farm Park.

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.

According to the DCNR, the 120 state parks in Pennsylvania are on more than 283,000 acres (114,530 ha) 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 120 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.

Image:PresqueIsleStatePark.JPG| Presque Isle State Park, on Lake Erie Image:Worlds End State Park Far View.jpg| Worlds End State Park, Loyalsock Creek canyon Image:PittSkyline082904.jpg| Point State Park,

in downtown Pittsburgh Image:Jonathan's Run Falls.jpg| 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 on the Bicentennial of the United States, July 4, 1976. Many state parks still preserve history: as of 2007, 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 to 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 the Civilian Conservation Corps, with 113 CCC camps in Pennsylvania (second only to California). Using CCC and WPA labor, the National Park Service 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".

In 1955, 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 130,000 acres (52,600 ha). 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.

Image:SchofieldFordCoveredBridge.jpg| Tyler State Park,

Schofield Ford bridge Image:Codorus state park.jpg| Codorus State Park,

man-made Lake Marburg Image:Ravensburg SP Shelter.JPG| Ravensburg State Park, CCC picnic shelter Image:Hills Creek State Park Entrance Sign cropped.JPG| Hills Creek State Park, typical entrance sign

Current parks

Park Name	County or Counties	Area in acres (ha)	Date founded	Stream(s) and / or Lake(s)	Remarks
Allegheny Islands State Park	Allegheny County	acres (17 ha)	1980	Allegheny River	Three islands near Pittsburgh with no facilities, no plans for future development
Archbald Pothole State Park	Lackawanna County	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)
Bald Eagle State Park	Centre County	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
Beltzville State Park	Carbon County	acres (1,203 ha)	1972	Pohopoco Creek, Beltzville Lake	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake is 949 acres (384 ha) with 19.8 miles (31.9 km) of shoreline
Bendigo State Park	Elk County	acres (40 ha)	1959	East Branch Clarion River	Only 20 acres (8 ha) is developed, name is a corruption of Abednego

Image:Hiawatha Paddlewheeler.JPG| Susquehanna State Park, "Hiawatha" Image:RickettsGlen.jpg| Ricketts Glen State Park, waterfall Image:Little Pine Creek Lake.JPG| Little Pine State Park,

lake from dam Image:Evansburg.jpg| Evansburg State Park,

hiking trail

Benjamin Rush State Park	Philadelphia County	acres (111 ha)	1975	None	Site of one of the world's largest community gardens, otherwise undeveloped
Big Pocono State Park	Monroe County	acres (529 ha)	1954	None	On Camelback Mountain, site of Camelback Ski Area and Waterpark
Big Spring State Park	Perry County	acres (18 ha)	1936	Big Spring Run	Has trail to partially completed railroad tunnel in Conococheague Mountain
Black Moshannon State Park	Centre County	acres (1,374 ha)	1937	Black Moshannon Creek, Black Moshannon Lake	Has bog with three carnivorous plant species and 17 orchid varieties
Blue Knob State Park	Bedford County	acres (2,377 ha)	1945	None	Former Recreation Demonstration Area on state's second highest mountain, has Blue Knob All Seasons Resort
Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area	Dauphin County	acres (370 ha)	1999	Unnamed tributary of Fishing Creek	On Blue Mountain, one of three Conservation Areas, named for donor Alex Boyd
Buchanan's Birthplace State Park	Franklin County	acres (7 ha)	1911	Buck Run	Stone pyramid marks the birthplace of James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States
Bucktail State Park Natural Area	Cameron and Clinton Counties	acres (8,514 ha)	1933	Sinnemahoning Creek, West Branch Susquehanna River	Named for Bucktail Regiment, 75 mile (121 km) undeveloped scenic drive on PA 120
Caledonia State Park	Adams and Franklin Counties	acres (455 ha)	1903	Rocky Mountain Creek, Carbaugh Run, East Branch Conococheague Creek	Named for Thaddeus Stevens' iron furnace, home to summer stock Totem Pole Playhouse
Canoe Creek State Park	Blair County	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
Chapman State Park	Warren County	acres (326 ha)	1951	Farnsworth Run, West Branch Tionesta Creek, Chapman Lake	Trailhead for trail system in surrounding Allegheny National Forest
Cherry Springs State Park	Potter County	acres (19 ha)	1922	None	Known for some of the clearest, darkest night skies in the state and eastern US
Clear Creek State Park	Jefferson County	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
Codorus State Park	York County	acres (1,347 ha)	1966	Codorus Creek, Lake Marburg	Man-made lake is 1,275 acres (516 ha), named for former village of Marburg now flooded by it
Colonel Denning State Park	Cumberland County	acres (110 ha)	1936	Doubling Gap Creek, Doubling Gap Lake	Named for William Denning, American Revolutionary War veteran who was never a colonel
Colton Point State Park	Tioga County	acres (149 ha)	1936	Pine Creek	On west rim of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, 800 feet (244 m) deep here
Cook Forest State Park	Clarion, Forest, and Jefferson Counties	acres (3,440 ha)	1927	Toms Run, Clarion River	National Natural Landmark, one of America's top-50 state parks (National Geographic Traveler)
Cowans Gap State Park	Franklin and Fulton Counties	acres (439 ha)	1937	Little Aughwick Creek, Cowans Gap Lake	Site of French and Indian War road, pioneer homestead, lumbering, and CCC camp
Delaware Canal State Park	Bucks and Northampton Counties	acres (336 ha)	1931	Delaware River	Runs 60 miles (97 km) along Delaware Canal, only 1800s U.S. towpath canal left continuously intact
Denton Hill State Park	Potter County	acres (283 ha)	1951	None	Site of Ski Denton resort, also open for summer mountain biking
Elk State Park	Elk and McKean Counties	acres (1,292 ha)	1963	East Branch Clarion River, East Branch Lake	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake is 1,160 acres (469 ha)
Erie Bluffs State Park	Erie County	acres (219 ha)	2004	Lake Erie	Has 1.0 mile (0.6 km) of lake coastline and bluffs 90 feet (27 m) tall, being developed
Evansburg State Park	Montgomery County	acres (1,355 ha)	1979	Skippack Creek	Has 18 hole Skippack Golf Course, many outdoor recreational opportunities
Fort Washington State Park	Montgomery County	acres (200 ha)	1953	Wissahickon Creek	George Washington camped here in American Revolutionary War's Philadelphia campaign
Fowlers Hollow State Park	Perry County	acres (42 ha)	1936	Fowlers Hollow Run	Trailhead for the trail system of the surrounding Tuscarora State Forest
Frances Slocum State Park	Luzerne County	acres (419 ha)	1968	Abrahams Creek, Frances Slocum Lake	Named for a girl kidnapped by the Lenape who lived the rest of her life with the Miami in Indiana
French Creek State Park	Berks and Chester Counties	acres (2,970 ha)	1946	French Creek	Former Recreation Demonstration Area, adjacent to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Gifford Pinchot State Park	York County	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
Gouldsboro State Park	Monroe and Wayne Counties	acres (1,165 ha)	1958	Gouldsboro Lake	Named for village named for Jay Gould, next to Tobyhanna Army Depot
Greenwood Furnace State Park	Huntingdon County	acres (171 ha)	1924	Standing Stone Creek, Greenwood Lake	Includes ghost town of Greenwood, former ironworks and charcoal hearths
Hickory Run State Park	Carbon County	acres (6,293 ha)	1945	Hickory Run, Lehigh River, Sand Spring Lake	Large Boulder Field in park is a National Natural Landmark
Hillman State Park	Washington County	acres (1,456 ha)	1960s	Raccoon Creek	Managed for hunting by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and largely undeveloped
Hills Creek State Park	Tioga County	acres (165 ha)	1953	Hills Creek, Hills Creek Lake	Land previously used as a pigment mine for the paint industry
Hyner Run State Park	Clinton County	acres (73 ha)	1958	Hyner Run	On the site of Civilian Conservation Corps camp (Camp S-75-PA)
Hyner View State Park	Clinton County	acres (2 ha)	1965	None	Scenic view of the West Branch Susquehanna River and launching point for hang gliding
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center	Northampton County	acres (473 ha)	1959	Bushkill Creek	Surrounds Jacobsburg National Historic District, where rifles were manufactured during American Revolution
Jennings Environmental Education Center	Butler County	acres (121 ha)	1979	Big Run	Contains the only publicly protected relict prairie ecosystem in Pennsylvania, 20 acres (8 ha)
Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area	Dauphin County	acres (142 ha)	2000	None	On Peters Mountain, one of three Conservation Areas, named for donor Joseph E. Ibberson
Kettle Creek State Park	Clinton County	acres (726 ha)	1954	Kettle Creek, Kettle Creek Reservoir	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir is 160 acres (65 ha), many recreational facilities built by CCC
Keystone State Park	Westmoreland County	acres (486 ha)	1945	Keystone Run, Keystone Lake	Named for Pennsylvania's official nickname, "The Keystone State"
Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center	Cumberland County	acres (588 ha)	1973	some vernal pools	Training center for park rangers of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Kinzua Bridge State Park	McKean County	acres (133 ha)	1970	Kinzua Creek	Had 1882 Historic Civil Engineering Landmark railway bridge, world's highest and longest, destroyed by a tornado in 2003
Kooser State Park	Somerset County	acres (101 ha)	1922	Kooser Run, Kooser Lake	Site of battles between Native American tribes, part of Whiskey Rebellion
Lackawanna State Park	Lackawanna County	acres (571 ha)	1972	South Branch Tunkhannock Creek, Lake Lackawanna	On site of a Turn of the Century era community fair
Laurel Hill State Park	Somerset County	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
Laurel Mountain State Park	Somerset and Westmoreland Counties	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 1964
Laurel Ridge State Park	Cambria, Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland Counties	acres (5,514 ha)	1967	Conemaugh River, Youghiogheny River and tributaries	Surrounds the 70 mile (113 km) long Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
Laurel Summit State Park	Westmoreland County	acres (2 ha)	1964	None	Day use picnic area and trailhead, 2,739 feet (835 m) above sea level
Lehigh Gorge State Park	Carbon and Luzerne Counties	acres (1,841 ha)	1980	Lehigh River	Lehigh Gorge Trail follows river through park for 26 miles (42 km)
Leonard Harrison State Park	Tioga County	acres (237 ha)	1922	Pine Creek	On east rim of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, 800 feet (244 m) deep here
Linn Run State Park	Westmoreland County	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
Little Buffalo State Park	Perry County	acres (374 ha)	1972	Little Buffalo Creek, Holman Lake	Named for the bison that are believed to have once roamed the ridge and valley region of Pennsylvania
Little Pine State Park	Lycoming County	acres (873 ha)	1937	Little Pine Creek	Historians believe a Shawnee village and burial ground were just north of the park
Locust Lake State Park	Schuylkill County	acres (441 ha)	1966	Locust Creek, Locust Lake	In a thriving second growth forest on the side of Locust Mountain
Lyman Run State Park	Potter County	acres (241 ha)	1951	Lyman Run, Lyman Run Lake	Site of a Prisoner of War Camp during World War II
Marsh Creek State Park	Chester County	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
Maurice K. Goddard State Park	Mercer County	acres (1,156 ha)	1972	Sandy Creek, Lake Wilhelm	Named for Maurice K. Goddard, who led the creation of 45 state parks in 24 years of service
McCalls Dam State Park	Centre County	acres (3 ha)	1933	White Deer Creek	In a remote location on a dirt road between R. B. Winter State Park and Eastville.
McConnells Mill State Park	Lawrence County	acres (1,030 ha)	1957	Slippery Rock Creek	Features a deep scenic gorge with a restored watermill and a covered bridge
Memorial Lake State Park	Lebanon County	acres (93 ha)	1945	Indiantown Run, Memorial Lake	Surrounded by Fort Indiantown Gap, headquarters of the Pennsylvania National Guard
Milton State Park	Northumberland County	acres (33 ha)	1966	West Branch Susquehanna River	On an island in the river, destroyed by Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and rebuilt
Mont Alto State Park	Franklin County	acres (10 ha)	1902	West Branch Antietam Creek	Pennsylvania's current oldest state park and first State Forest Park, former iron works
Moraine State Park	Butler County	acres (6,768 ha)	1970	Muddy Creek, Lake Arthur	Served as the location of the 1973 and 1977 National Scout Jamborees
Mt. Pisgah State Park	Bradford County	acres (527 ha)	1979	Pisgah Creek, Mill Creek, Stephen Foster Lake	Lake named for renowned American composer Stephen Foster
Nescopeck State Park	Luzerne County	acres (1,437 ha)	2005	Nescopeck Creek	One of the newest state parks in Pennsylvania
Neshaminy State Park	Bucks County	acres (134 ha)	1956	Delaware River	On an estuary, donated by descendant of James Logan, colonial secretary to William Penn
Nockamixon State Park	Bucks County	acres (2,138 ha)	1973	Tohickon Creek, Lake Nockamixon	Nockamixon means "place of soft soil" in the Lenape language
Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center	Berks County	acres (269 ha)	1970	Wyomissing Creek	Once a luxury forest privately owned by Jacob Nolde
Norristown Farm Park	Montgomery County	acres (279 ha)	1995	Stony Creek	Managed by the Montgomery County Department of Parks
Ohiopyle State Park	Fayette County	acres (7,710 ha)	1965	Youghiogheny River and tributaries	One of the most popular white-water rafting destinations on the East Coast
Oil Creek State Park	Venango County	acres (2,529 ha)	1931	Oil Creek	Edwin Drake drilled the first successful oil well in the world here in 1859
Ole Bull State Park	Potter County	acres (53 ha)	1925	Ole Bull Run, Kettle Creek	Location of a Norwegian colony established by renowned violinist Ole Bull
Parker Dam State Park	Clearfield County	acres (392 ha)	1936	Laurel Run, Parker Lake	A herd of elk lives in and near the park
Patterson State Park	Potter County	acres (4 ha)	1925	None	Day use picnic area on Pennsylvania Route 44, surrounded by Susquehannock State Forest
Penn-Roosevelt State Park	Centre County	acres (17 ha)	1983	Sassafras Run, Standing Stone Creek	Once a segregated black Civilian Conservation Corps camp during the Great Depression
Pine Grove Furnace State Park	Cumberland County	acres (282 ha)	1913	Mountain Creek, Fuller Lake, Laurel Lake	The furnaces at Pine Grove could consume an acre of trees a day
Poe Paddy State Park	Centre County	acres (9 ha)	1938	Big Poe Creek, Penns Creek	Noted by anglers for the shadfly hatch that occurs in late spring
Poe Valley State Park	Centre County	acres (251 ha)	1938	Big Poe Creek, Poe Lake	Constructed during the Great Depression by the CCC
Point State Park	Allegheny County	acres (15 ha)	1974	Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio rivers	In downtown Pittsburgh at meeting of three rivers, site of Fort Pitt
Presque Isle State Park	Erie County	acres (1,295 ha)	1921	Lake Erie	The most visited state park in Pennsylvania, on a peninsula in lake with many beaches
Prince Gallitzin State Park	Cambria County	acres (2,529 ha)	1965	Beaverdam Run, Glendale Lake	Named for Demetrius Gallitzin, Russian nobelman turned Roman Catholic priest
Promised Land State Park	Pike County	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
Prompton State Park	Wayne County	acres (809 ha)	1962	Lackawaxen River, Prompton Lake	Northeast Sports Ltd. sponsors outdoor sports there, being developed with help of Friends of Prompton
Prouty Place State Park	Potter County	acres (2 ha)	1925	Prouty Run	Day use picnic area on Long Toe Road
Pymatuning State Park	Crawford County	acres (8,548 ha)	1934	Shenango River, Pymatuning Lake	The largest state park in Pennsylvania, with one of the largest lakes
R. B. Winter State Park	Union County	acres (281 ha)	1933	Halfway Creek, Halfway Lake	Has first cement and stone dam ever built by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Raccoon Creek State Park	Beaver County	acres (3,064 ha)	1945	Little Traverse Creek, Raccoon Lake	Built by CCC, WPA as one of five state National Park Service Recreational Demonstration Areas
Ralph Stover State Park	Bucks County	acres (18 ha)	1931	Tohickon Creek	High Rocks portion of the park donated to Pennsylvania by James Michener in 1956
Ravensburg State Park	Clinton County	acres (32 ha)	1933	Rauchtown Run	Named for the ravens that flock near the gorge
Reeds Gap State Park	Mifflin County	acres (89 ha)	1938	Honey Creek	Once a gathering place for the locals to hold picnics and listen to travelling evangelists
Ricketts Glen State Park	Columbia, Luzerne, and Sullivan Counties	acres (5,281 ha)	1942	Kitchen Creek	Slated to become a National Park, but did not due to redirection of funds during World War II
Ridley Creek State Park	Delaware County	acres (1,055 ha)	1972	Ridley Creek	Adjacent to the John J. Tyler Arboretum
Ryerson Station State Park	Greene County	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)
S. B. Elliott State Park	Clearfield County	acres (129 ha)	1933	Stony Run	Named for Simon B. Elliott, a noted Pennsylvania conservationist and legislator
Salt Springs State Park	Susquehanna County	acres (164 ha)	1973	Fall Brook	Large hemlocks over 500 years old are some of the largest trees in the state, has three waterfalls
Samuel S. Lewis State Park	York County	acres (34 ha)	1954	None	Named for donor, a Secretary of Department of Forests and Waters, now popular for star gazing
Sand Bridge State Park	Union County	acres (1 ha)	1978	Rapid Run	The smallest state park in Pennsylvania, a day use picnic area on Pennsylvania Route 192
Shawnee State Park	Bedford County	acres (1,612 ha)	1951	Lake Shawnee	Rental lodge on an island in the lake
Shikellamy State Park	Northumberland and Union Counties	acres (53 ha)	1960	West Branch and North Branch Susquehanna River	Overlook at confluence of West Branch and North Branch Susquehanna River, marina added in 1972
Sinnemahoning State Park	Cameron and Potter Counties	acres (773 ha)	1962	Sinnemahoning Creek, George B. Stevenson Reservoir	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir is 142 acres (57 ha), park home to rare Elk and Bald Eagle
Sizerville State Park	Cameron and Potter Counties	acres (156 ha)	1924	Cowley Run, Portage Creek, Driftwood Branch, and Sinnemahoning Creek	Named for the nearby ghost town of Sizerville
Susquehanna State Park	Lycoming County	acres (8 ha)	1961	West Branch Susquehanna River	Operated by the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, home to paddlewheeler Hiawatha
Susquehannock State Park	Lancaster County	acres (91 ha)	1965	Susquehanna River	Named for the Susquehannock, whose chief village was nearby, on bluffs overlooking the river
Swatara State Park	Lebanon and Schuylkill Counties	acres (1,422 ha)	1987	Swatara Creek	Rail Trail on former Lebanon & Tremont Branch of Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, being developed
Tobyhanna State Park	Monroe and Wayne Counties	acres (2,201 ha)	1949	Tobyhanna Creek, Tobyhanna Lake	Once part of an artillery range for Tobyhanna Army Depot
Trough Creek State Park	Huntingdon County	acres (224 ha)	1936	Great Trough Creek, Raystown Lake	Bald Eagles have migrated here naturally since the early 1990s
Tuscarora State Park	Schuylkill County	acres (655 ha)	1971	Locust Creek, Tuscarora Lake	The Tuscarora moved to area after Tuscarora War in North Carolina, later forced out by colonial settlement
Tyler State Park	Bucks County	acres (692 ha)	1974	Neshaminy Creek	Old original stone dwellings in park are fine examples of early farm dwellings of rural Pennsylvania
Upper Pine Bottom State Park	Lycoming County	acres (2 ha)	1924	Upper Pine Bottom Run	A roadside park and picnic area for day use only, on Pennsylvania Route 44
Varden Conservation Area	Wayne County	acres (139 ha)	2001	Middle Creek	One of three Conservation Areas, donor is Dr. Mead Shaffer, being developed
Warriors Path State Park	Bedford County	acres (141 ha)	1965	Raystown Branch Juniata River	Named for the Great Indian Warpath used by the Iroquois in war raids on the Cherokee and other tribes
Whipple Dam State Park	Huntingdon County	acres (104 ha)	1928	Whipple Lake	A camp for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Campfire Girls on north side of lake used 1928 to 1941
White Clay Creek Preserve	Chester County	acres (508 ha)	1984	White Clay Creek	Donated by DuPont to preserve "diverse and unique plant and animal species, and the rich cultural heritage of the area"
Worlds End State Park	Sullivan County	acres (316 ha)	1932	Loyalsock Creek	Must See Park known for trout fishing, white-water kayaking, camping, hiking on Loyalsock Trail
Yellow Creek State Park	Indiana County	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

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.



Image:Ohiopylefalls02.jpg| Ohiopyle State Park, falls on the Youghiogheny

Image:Black Moshannon.jpg| Black Moshannon State Park, bog and lake Image:Hills Creek Swimming Area and Boat Launch.jpg| Hills Creek State Park,

boat dock on lake Image:Blue_Knob_Mountain_4.jpg| Blue Knob State Park, Blue Knob

Former or Alternate Name
County or Counties
Date name changed
Current Park Name
Remarks
Adams Falls Class A Campground	Westmoreland County		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	1957	R. B. Winter State Park	Named for Raymond B. Winter, a Forest Ranger who established park and worked there 45 years; also known as "Halfway Dam State Park"
High Rocks State Park	Bucks County		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		Presque Isle State Park	Was only the second "State Park" by name in 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 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	Originally named for Theodore Roosevelt, who had no connection to this park; renamed for its focus, the Delaware Canal
Tohickon State Park	Bucks County	1965	Nockamixon State Park	Proposed in 1958 as "Tohickon" (on Tohickon Creek), but name changed before 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

Former parks

The following seventeen 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.



Image:PresqueIsleLighthouse.jpg| Presque Isle State Park, lighthouse

Image:RalphStover.jpg| Ralph Stover State Park, High Rocks view Image:Upper Pine Bottom State Park.JPG| Upper Pine Bottom State Park, picnic table Image:Wildcat Hollow at LRSP.jpg| Lyman Run State Park, Wildcat Hollow

Former State Park
County or Counties
Date jurisdiction changed
Current Name
Remarks
Allegheny River State Park	Venango County	1980s	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		Brandywine Battlefield	Now a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site
Bushy Run Battlefield State Park	Westmoreland County		Bushy Run Battlefield	Now a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site
Colerain State Park	Huntingdon County		Colerain State Forest Picnic Area	Now part of Rothrock State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry), also known as "Colerain Forge"
Conrad Weiser Memorial Park	Bucks County	1953	Conrad Weiser Homestead	Now a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site
Crooked Creek State Park	Armstrong County		Crooked Creek Lake Recreation Area	Now a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site
Curwensville State Park	Clearfield County		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 National Park Service site
George W. Childs State Park	Pike County	1983	Part of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area	Now part of National Park Service site, donated to the state for a park in 1912 by the widow of Dr. Childs
Hemlock State Forest Park	Perry County		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	Legislature created park in early 1930s, but did not fund it, so it never came into existence
Snyder-Middleswarth State Park	Snyder County	1980s	Snyder Middleswarth Natural Area and Picnic Area	Now part of Bald Eagle State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry)
Valley Forge State Park	Montgomery County	1976	Valley Forge National Historical Park	Now a National Park Service site, established 1893 as the first state park in Pennsylvania
Voneida State Forest Park	Centre County		Hairy Johns State Forest Picnic Area	Now part of Bald Eagle State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry), established 1922, named for "Hairy John" Voneida
Washington Crossing State Park	Bucks County		Washington Crossing Historic Park	Now a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission site, established July 1917

Other names of former parks

The following are significantly different former or alternate names for two former Pennsylvania state parks.

See also

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

Notes

References

1. Note: despite the title, the list has all 120 parks and is the default reference for current individual state parks.
2. Note: URL is to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection reprint of article
3. Note: Search on "State Park" in Pennsylvania for current and former state parks
4. Note: shows Snyder Middleswarth Natural Area, Hairy Johns Picnic Area
5. Note: Despite the title, there are twenty-one parks in the list, with Colton Point and Leonard Harrison State Parks treated as one.

External links

• Official Pennsylvania DCNR Welcome to Pennsylvania State Parks page

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		Voneida State Forest Park	Named for "Hairy John" Voneida, a 19th century hermit who lived nearby; now a State Forest Picnic Area in Bald Eagle State Forest (Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry)