10 Most Scenic Small Towns In Pennsylvania For Nature Lovers
For nature enthusiasts, the northeastern US state of Pennsylvania should be a premier destination. Home to 124 state parks spanning over 300,000 acres, there are seemingly endless miles of natural preserves and wildlife areas to explore. Providing an excess of rural public land for visitors to enjoy, the "Keystone State" also boasts diverse terrain within its borders. Pennsylvania contains substantial, practically untouched forests full of ancient maple and hemlock trees, the Poconos Mountain range, and even the Allegheny National Forest. Whether you are a fisherman, hiker, mountain biker, hunter, or lover of watersports, this is the place for you — especially when one is traversing Pennsylvania's 10 most scenic small towns for nature lovers.
Altoona
The most populous city on this list, Altoona certainly has lots to do in the downtown area itself, but what really makes this a wonderful spot for nature lovers is the proximity to multiple outdoor attractions. It is part of the Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area, meaning it is near famous interstate recreational trail systems like the Juniata Water Trail and the 6 to 10 Trail.
Nearby Canoe Creek State Park is almost 1,000 acres of preserved land, and 155 acres of that is the massive surface of Canoe Lake, perfect for boating, swimming and year-round fishing. The park is also perfect for observing wildlife, since it is a rest stop for many species of migrating birds such as osprey and bald eagles, and the famous limestone mine in the park serves as a habitat for many endangered bat species.
Altoona is also the largest town in the vicinity of Blue Knob All Seasons Resort, only 30 minutes away. Blue Knob is home to the tallest skiable mountain in the state, or there are alternative easier trails for people new to skiing. They also offer lodging, a restaurant, and even a golf course, and the resort is open year-round.
State College
State College is home to Penn State University, which makes it attractive to college-aged individuals looking to further their education. It has a vibrant downtown, lots of nightlife, and most significantly for the purposes here, many outdoor recreational opportunities, which make it appealing to nature lovers, as well. Within 30 minutes in each direction, you can drive from State College to multiple unique state parks.
The first of these is Bald Eagle State Park, which is home to epic features such as the 80-mile-long Foster Joseph Sayers Lake, which is perfect for boating with six public launch areas, and the impressive Bald Eagle Mountain, which is surrounded by over 14 miles of hiking trails. One of these trails will lead you to the top of the mountain ridge, and over the side you can actually see remnants of a plane crash.
Another option, Black Moshannon State Park, gets its name from the many species of vegetation which dye the waters of its Black Moshannon Lake the color of tea. This state park is certainly unique in name, and also for being the home of several mountain biking trails which vary in difficulty level. A couple, such as Sleepy Hollow Trail and Star Mill Trail, are great for novice bikers or just people who are wanting a chill ride, while those seeking more of a challenge might be inclined to navigate the Ski Slope Trail.
Williamsport
Williamsport, a small city of about 30,000 people, lives in the Pennsylvania Wilds region of the state which is predominantly rural outside of the town and the tiny boroughs that surround it. It is a historic city, once famous for logging, which is ironic considering it is now enveloped by conserved lands. This makes it an ideal location for people feeling called to get outside, especially for its proximity to Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.
This gorge, which is a whopping 45 miles long, is a premier geologic feature of the state of Pennsylvania. The canyon is over 1,400 feet deep from its highest overlook, and a mile wide at certain points, with beautiful Pine Creek flowing down the base of it. Colton Point State Park, at the north end of the gorge on the western side, has campgrounds and entrances to four miles' worth of hiking trails which follow the gorge.
In fact, there are a multitude of trails suited to follow the natural wonder that is Pine Creek, and another popular one is the Pine Creek Rail Trail, which is a staggering 60 miles long. Different parts of this trail are good for various sightseeing methods, including hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and at certain points, even horseback riding.
Carlisle
Located in the Cumberland Valley, Carlisle is home to a different sort of state park, the Kings Gap Environmental Education Center. It is one of the few in Pennsylvania designed specifically to be informative to the public, with carefully designed trails and overlooks situated among natural wonders, dotted with signage which educate visitors along their way. The park surrounds the gorgeous centerpiece that is South Mountain, and Kings Gap describes the valley which travels through it.
The Cameron-Masland Mansion, which is on the park grounds near the Education Center headquarters, has been converted into lodging for visitors, and many hiking trails begin around one of those two main locations. These include the Kings Gap Hollow Trail, which winds along a lovely stream through the gap, the Cold Spring Overlook Trail, which ends in a breathtaking view of the Cold Spring Run Valley, and the Boundary Trail, marked by ample wild blueberry and huckleberry bushes.
Phoenixville
Part of the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area, Phoenixville might not be your first idea of a nature lover's dream, being near a huge city, but it sits at the junction of the Schuylkill River and French Creek. This means it is actually a quaint suburban borough that is also surrounded by perfect locations for outdoor recreation, especially for visitors who enjoy the water. You can hike or bike along the Schuylkill River Trail, which mostly follows old railway lines and actually stretches for over 100 miles, or alternatively, boat, float or paddle down its sister trail, the Schuylkill River Water Trail.
French Creek has its own namesake state park as well, and it is enormous at over 7,000 acres. This huge park is a base for a few uncommon activities; it is a hot spot for orienteering, or the art of compass usage and navigation, because it has developed a self-guided permanent course for this purpose on the park grounds. Also in the park near Hopewell Lake is a trendy eighteen-hole disc golf course, with maps and score cards available at the park office.
Honesdale
This small borough of only 4,000 residents, Honesdale looks tiny on a map, but it is surrounded by wilderness exploration opportunities, being located among the Pocono Mountains. If you want to enjoy nature and also get a lovely view of the charming little downtown area, you can hike the Irving Cliff trail, an out-and-back path which leads you to a ridge that overlooks the entire town. It is a one-mile trail which is doable for hikers of all skill levels. Also close to town, only about a 10-minute drive, is Prompton State Park, a slightly smaller park than some on this list, but it still has several amenities, including Prompton Lake and over 20 miles of hiking trails.
Also, only 15 miles south of Honesdale, you can experience Lake Wallenpaupack, the second largest lake that sits completely in Pennsylvania's borders. It has over 50 miles of shoreline, and its surface area covers a staggering 5,000 acres, making it perfect for swimming, fishing and boating. Around the lake are also plenty of gear outfitters selling supplies, campgrounds, and even a few restaurants, so it is a perfect place near Honesdale to spend a weekend.
Saint Marys
The incredibly diverse wildlife of Pennsylvania never fails to surprise. This region where the city of Saint Marys resides is known as elk country, because of its substantial population of wild elk, which are rarely found in the northeast US. The aptly named Elk State Park is near the town and is a large recreation area with over 3,000 acres of land to enjoy. The park's massive East Branch Lake actually takes up over one-third of that acreage, and it offers unlimited horsepower boating, since there is a lot of space on the lake to go as fast as you would like. The lake offers year-round fishing as well, since it has large populations of both warmwater and coldwater fish.
Saint Marys is also within easy driving distance of Bendigo State Park, a picturesque natural area in a valley which follows along the eastern branch of the Clarion River. That river, once horribly polluted, has been restored and brought back to life and now serves as a great source of natural beauty and entertainment, mainly in the forms of kayaking, paddling, and fishing, as the lake is a major source of local trout.
Mountain Top
A Luzerne County suburb, Mountain Top is a beautiful area surrounded by an array of state parks due to its central location in the Northeastern region of Pennsylvania. Some of these include Nescopeck State Park, Pinchot State Forest, and Hickory Run State Park. The latter is home to the strange national natural landmark called Boulder Field, a wide landscape which almost entirely lacks vegetation and is a striking sight due to some of the boulders being over 20-feet wide. According to the geological guide for the park, Boulder Field has been there for over 20,000 years, remaining relatively unchanged during that time.
Mountain Top is also close to Ricketts Glen Park, which is a big park that sprawls across three counties. Within its borders you can experience two awe-inspiring geological features: Grand View, the highest point on Red Rock Mountain which tops out at a height of almost 2,500 feet, and Kitchen Creek Gorge, a valley with a collection of over twenty waterfalls, the tallest of which is the 94-foot tall Ganoga Falls.
Gettysburg
Known mostly for its namesake battle in the American Civil War, Gettysburg also happens to be in a dreamy location for nature lovers. It is close to several fantastic parks, one of which is Michaux State Forest, a nature preserve that is utilized as a "working forest," which means it is used for both recreation as well as other practical means, all while keeping the forest as intact as possible. Working management for this huge forest can mean things like timber harvesting and natural gas drilling sites, which means this preserve is mapped out carefully to maintain its sustainability. Recreationally, it is a perfect place for activities like ATV riding, golfing and even cross-country skiing, since it stretches over 85,000 acres.
To get to another nearby natural wonder, Cunningham Falls State Park, you need to travel 20 miles from Gettysburg and hop slightly over the Maryland border, but it is truly worth it to see Catoctin Mountain, the 43-acre Hunting Creek Lake, and Cunningham Falls itself, which cascades over 70 feet.
Doylestown
The borough of Doylestown is near Philadelphia, but there is a considerable number of natural attractions surrounding it. There are multiple extensive trail networks which pass near and even through Doylestown, including The Circuit Trails, multi-use trails which stretch over 400 miles across the southeastern region and Pennsylvania's Delaware Valley, and the Lehigh Valley Trails, which actually connect to the famous Appalachian Trail.
Also right outside of downtown Doylestown is Peace Valley Park, spanning 1,500 acres and surrounding beautiful Lake Galena, which has a six-mile-long, paved hiking and biking trail all the way around it. There is a boat rental center at the lake, or you can bring your own non-motorized boat to enjoy the 500 acres of surface the lake has to offer. Fishing is plentiful as well, with the lake staying well stocked with trout, bass and catfish. Just across the street from Peace Valley Park, you can also find some of Bucks County's biggest lavender fields, for a truly relaxing and good-smelling detour.
William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, had a design in mind for his colony to be mainly rural farmland outside of the major urban centers, which would become Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and if he could see the place today, he would be pleased. Within driving distance of practically every town within the modern state's borders is a wild wonderland in some form. Whether you're trekking up the Bald Eagle mountain or kayaking down Pine Creek in the PA Grand Canyon, swimming in Canoe Lake or biking down the Schuylkill River Trail, prepare to be awed by Pennsylvania's picturesque landscapes wherever you go.
