You are here
Enjoy Pennsylvania's Great Outdoors
PA is home to more than 54,000 miles of rivers and streams, 116 state parks, 20 state forests, and the Allegheny National Forest. More than 100 greenways and rail trails are available for non-motorized recreation, including some of the longest bicycle rail trails in the country. Pennsylvania recreational corridors total more than 2000 miles.
Because of these protected natural resources, the state is well known for hiking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, whitewater sports, and bicycling. These special places can be found throughout the state, always a short distance away from the cities and towns of every region.
And sometimes, getting there is half the fun. There are 19 scenic drives, including the Route 6 scenic drive and State Heritage Corridor that spans 400 miles along the state’s northern regions.
Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty of places to roam. You’re never too far from the countryside in Pennsylvania.
Outdoor & Recreation Blog
The Perfect Pennsylvania Getaway
10/04/2020 - 11:24amWhat better place than Pennsylvania for a fall getaway? With endless rolling hills, valleys, and mountain ridges covered in dense forests (not to mention dozens of bed and breakfasts in every region), Pennsylvania is prime leaf peeping material and the perfect autumn destination.
Ready to get away, but don't have a specific place in mind?...
Read MoreBest Hikes in Pennsylvania
08/26/2020 - 8:58amWhat better place than Pennsylvania for a fall getaway? With endless rolling hills, valleys, and mountain ridges covered in dense forests (not to mention dozens of bed and breakfasts in every region), Pennsylvania is prime leaf peeping material and the perfect autumn destination. Our many state park vistas and viewpoints are guaranteed...
Read MoreMaple Sugar Weekends in Pennsylvania
03/08/2020 - 6:23pmFor some, maple is associated with the brilliant fall colors of New England or Canada, while for others it’s associated with the comfort of more close-to-home weekend breakfasts—but for those who hail from Pennsylvania’s maple regions, the first tapping of the maple trees is the quintessence of spring. Welcome spring and all the delicate sweetne...
Read MoreA Pocono Ski Retreat
02/02/2020 - 4:17pmIf your bout of Seasonal Affective Disorder is proving difficult to beat without breaking out of your routine, perhaps a change of pace and perspective are in order at one of the many stellar ski resorts in the Pocono Mountains—where snow won’t slow your morning commute and where “crisp” rather than cold can describe the fresh mountain air.
... Read MoreEmbrace the Season: Ski Roundtop, Whitetail & Liberty
01/07/2020 - 7:23amPennsylvania’s stunning mountain ranges provide more than incredible views: they supply some of the best slopes for skiing, snowboarding, and snowtubing in the country. Don’t be snowbound this season—embrace the snow and defy seasonal limitations by planning a weekend getaway to some of the greatest ski resorts in the state, all within short dri...
Read MoreNew Year’s Eve Drops Across Pennsylvania
12/02/2019 - 10:57amIf for most Americans watching the crystal ball drop in Times Square is the standard way to ring in the New Year, for Pennsylvanians their unique New Year’s “drops” have a mythos (and gravity-compelled object) unique to each community. While certain cities across the United States mark the beginning of the New Year by raising or dropping an obje...
Read MoreBike the Trails of PA’s Pine Creek Gorge and the Great Allegheny Passage
10/21/2019 - 10:18amPennsylvania has long been famous for its endless expanse of old-growth forest and breathtaking landscape among the Appalachian Mountain Range. And with the greatest amount of miles in the nation for foot travelers like hikers, bikers, bird viewers, and outdoor enthusiasts, Pennsylvania is the state you want to be in if your winter-time cabin fe...
Read MoreThe Hiking Trails and Fall Foliage Vistas at PA’s Rothrock State Forest
10/20/2019 - 11:15pmNamed in homage to Pennsylvania’s “Father of Forestry,” Joseph T. Rothrock, the Rothrock State Forest comprises a near-100,000 acre tract of ridges, forest, and marsh in Huntingdon, Centre, and Mifflin Counties. As clear-cutting rapidly deforested the state, once covered in 95% forest, Rothrock battled desperately to purchase land from lumber co...
Read MoreJoin the Celebration - Pine Grove Furnace State Park is 100 Years Old!
10/20/2019 - 11:14pmIn 1764, partners George Stevenson, Robert Thornburgh and John Arthur built an iron furnace along Mountain Creek named Pine Grove Iron Works. It manufactured ten plate stoves, fireplace backs, iron kettles and possibly munitions during the American Revolution. In 1913, the 17,000-acre Pine Grove Iron Works was sold to the Commonwealth of Pennsyl...
Read MoreThe Traveler's Guide to the Galaxy at Cherry Springs State Park
10/20/2019 - 11:13pmYou’ve never seen the sky like this before. Every generation preceding us always looked upwards in wonder at a night sky brimming with the beauty of stars and the glowing arms of the Milky Way. The widespread use of artificial light around the world now hides the sky from 80% of mankind on Earth. For the first time in human history, we cannot se...
Read More