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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
Plan a Trip to the Shore
03/10/2014 - 5:21pmThat would be the Pennsylvania sea shore. Presque Isle, a curved sand peninsula jutting into Lake Erie, is home to the only surf beach in Pennsylvania. There are 11 permitted public bathing beaches along Presque Isle.
Presque Isle is more than a beach. It offers visitors a beautiful coastline and many recreational activities, including b...
Read MoreAmerica's Only All-Water Cavern
03/10/2014 - 5:21pmNestled in Central Pennsylvania’s scenic Lion County, Penn’s Cave is America’s only all-water cavern and the only cave in Pennsylvania placed on The National Register of Historic Places. The limestone cavern is a natural landmark rich in geology and history. Glittering stalactites and stalagmites often appe...
Read MoreLake Arthur at Moraine State Park
03/10/2014 - 5:21pmThe gently rolling hills, lush forests and sparkling waters disguise a land that has endured the effects of continental glaciers and massive mineral extraction. Each year over one million boaters, hikers, bikers and swimmers visit the 16,725-acre Moraine State Park, yet never realize that many people helped restore the park from prior coal minin...
Read MoreNatural Splendor
03/10/2014 - 5:21pmOver 440 million years old, Indian Echo Caverns, a limestone cave, formed through the erosive properties of water. As water flowed over the limestone, it began to create small crevices and these small crevices led to larger ones, and eventually, over a series of millions of years, it created the cav...
Read MorePennsylvania's Most Historic Limestone Cavern
03/10/2014 - 5:21pmWant to escape the heat of summer? Then take a trip to Indian Caverns where the temperature is a constant 56 degrees Fahrenheit all year.
Nestled in a foothill of the Allegheny Mountains, Indian Caverns is located between State College and Altoona on scenic Route 45. The cave entrance overlooks Spruce Creek, a stream world renowned for it...
Read MoreBlooming Mountain Laurel
03/10/2014 - 5:21pmA profusion of native wildflowers herald spring and summer in Penn’s Woods. Chief among them is the evergreen Mountain Laurel. Former Governor Gifford Pinchot designated the Mountain Laurel as Pennsylvania’s official state flower on May 5, 1933.
Mountain laurel normally begins to bloom late May and its pink and white blossoms fill the woo...
Read MoreBorn to Ride!
03/10/2014 - 5:21pmThe Great Allegheny Passage, 25 years in the making, is an exploration of our nation’s history. Built on the abandoned grades of the Western Maryland Railway and the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, these rail lines served the iron and steel industry and carried freight traffic down the East Coast and westward. The nearly level 150-mile passag...
Read MoreEasy Downhill Rails-to-Trails Biking
03/10/2014 - 5:21pmVoted by Outside Magazine, “One of the 50 Best Rides in America,” The Lehigh Gorge Rail-Trail is a converted railroad bed, easy downhill trail that provides scenic traffic free riding for 25 miles along the Lehigh River. Pick your own pace as you pedal between towering mountains. You will discover dramatic scenery, numerous waterfalls,...
Read MoreThe Most Famous Hiking Trail
03/10/2014 - 5:21pmThe midway point of the most famous hiking trail, the Appalachian Trail, is located in the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania. The trail extends 2,180 miles from Georgia to Maine. A 13-mile section that is the longest, lowest and flattest section on the entire trail and one of the most accessible portions to the trail is the midway point in the C...
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