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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
Ski Season: Experience Blue Knob Mountain
02/18/2017 - 10:30pmUntil a 1920s geological survey proved otherwise, the massive mountain dome of Blue Knob was thought to be the highest point in Pennsylvania. Today, the mountaintop still holds the title as the highest skiable peak in the state and its ski slopes, snowmobile routes, and eighteen miles of hiking trails summon people from all over the Mid-Atlantic...
Read MorePittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade
02/18/2017 - 10:27pmThe 2nd largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the world. Pittsburgh's very large and active Irish community comes together each year to host this annual event. The parade in Pittsburgh dates back to as early as 1869. The purpose of the parade is to celebrate the freedom to be Irish and to enjoy the holiday to its fullest. A number of fundraising p...
Read MoreSki Elk Mountain in the Endless Mountains
12/08/2016 - 6:37pmSpend the season on the slopes at Elk Mountain Ski Resort, the premier skiing location in the state of Pennsylvania, just thirty miles north of Scranton. With twenty-seven slopes and trails, a 1000-foot vertical drop, and one of the best views in Pennsylvania, Elk Mountain is one of PA’s best winter adventures.
Located on North Knob of th...
Read MoreIn the Heart of Bald Eagle State Park
10/09/2016 - 9:29amPennsylvania's Bald Eagle State Park has a vibrant past, rich in history from eras ancient to industrial. Once part of the Great Indian Warpath, the Iroquois traveled past this forest and mountain to reach the southern Cherokee tribe and conduct raids. But millennia before, mountains surged towards the sky in a pre-glacial rippling of the landma...
Read MoreAt World's End: PA's Waterfalls and Mountain Vistas
09/24/2016 - 3:25pmIn the northern ranges of Pennsylvania's mountains rests some of the most interesting natural landmarks of our diverse state's environment. Waterfalls cascade down ancient hillsides and seven mountain ranges converge at a single location, creating what sightseers once described as the location of the end of the earth. Located in Luzerne, Columbi...
Read MoreThe Ironworks Legacy: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
09/05/2016 - 11:19amLocated at the northern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Pine Grove Furnace State Park is a natural and historical landmark built in 1764 by three men as an iron works facility crafting stoves and kettles. Eventually, they would supply the Revolutionary Army with munitions. The land was massive; it contained 17,000 acres that was eventually divi...
Read MoreGet Back to Nature in the Raystown Lake Region
06/07/2016 - 10:15amThe Raystown Lake Region of Pennsylvania has opportunities aplenty to breathe in the fresh air, walk through the forest or enjoy the unspoiled shoreline scenery of Raystown Lake. So bring your boots, kayak, mountain bike and fishing pole to really get the most out of your time in Huntingdon County. You will find many spots to relax and...
Read MoreWhat's Blooming in PA?
05/14/2016 - 4:27pmThe first signal of “Spring” is when we set our clocks ahead. The early weeks of Spring bring increasing daylight, warming temperatures and the rebirth of flora and fauna. New flower bushes and trees are blooming at Pennsylvania’s arboretums and botanical gardens.The best way to see what’s blooming in Pennsylvania is to plan a trip to one of the...
Read MoreLancaster Mud Sales
03/26/2016 - 4:21pmMud Sales are spring auctions that bring communities and visitors together in the middle of the Amish countryside. Hundreds gather both Amish and “English” (non-Amish), waiting for the first items to come up for bid. They start early, at 8:00 a.m.
Mud Sales are named such because they are held in the fields that are often muddy from the...
Read MoreGreat American Outdoor Show
02/02/2016 - 5:15pmFebruary and March is "Outdoor Show" season in Pennsylvania. A number of sports and outdoor shows are held throughout Pennsylvania. One of the largest outdoor shows on the East Coast is the Great American Outdoor Show being held February 6-14, 2016 at the PA F...
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