Pennsylvania's Most Charming Beach Towns
From dense forests to farms and soaring mountains,Pennsylvania is known for many things, but what you may not know is that it also has some of the most charming beach towns.
While everyone’s summer go-to spot in Pennsylvania is the city of Erie, located along the shoreline of Lake Erie, that’s not everything the state offers of beaches. Pennsylvania has some of the greenest small beaches between its vast forests and mountain skylines.
This list of beaches is the perfect list of family-friendly destinations for road trips, private beach parties that make you feel like you own the shore, or an exciting state exploring adventure.
Howard - Bald Eagle State Park
Bald Eagle State Park is between Howard, Pennsylvania, and Marion townships. Not your standard beach, as the Bald Eagle State Park features everything from hiking trails to diverse wildlife in its forests that visitors can hunt in. 2185 acres of nature and greenery known for bird-watching sit on Bald Eagle Mountain across from the state park’s 1,2000-foot sandy shore. Additionally, the park offers a range of camping sites and watersport activities, from boating to kayaking, and an ecology learning center that covers the park’s history.
Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir is the center of life in the park and runs almost 8 miles long and is rich in different breeds of fish, including Capprie, Yellow perch, Tiger muskellunge, and more, making it one of the largest fishing lakes on this list.
Penn - Poe Valley State Park
A unique beach in its kind, Poe Valley State Park features a designated swimming pond centered in its colorful forest. Poe Lake is an artificial pond built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The pond spans over 25 acres of clean water, is home to many fish species, and is a source of life for the surrounding wildlife. The park spans 620 Acers; hunting is only permitted on 420 acres. The park is mainly a camper's attraction, as is offers a compact variety of appealing factors such as wildlife, water, greenery, and a calming vibe. To access the park as a camper, you must book your stay in advance as it can be fairly busy from April.
Hanover - Raccoon Creek State Park
7572 acres of stunning nature near Pennsylvania and West Virginia borders is a hub for many activities such as cross-country skiing, swimming, hiking, and more. Racoon Creek State Park was built as a Victorian-era health resort and developed into becoming one of the largest state parks in Pennsylvania. Enjoy 500ft of sandy shores backed by rich green wildlife forests such as raccoons, rabbits, deer, and more. The waters of the Main Racoon Lake span over 101 acres across the park, rich with various fish and suitable for all kinds of watersports. Additionally, you can hike down one of the 44-mile hiking trails to find the Frankfurt Mineral Springs.
Cummings Township - Little Pine State Park
Surrounded by beautiful massive mountains, Little Pine State Park is unique due to its location in the valleys of Cummings township, distanced 4 miles northeast of Waterville village. Little Pine Lake, over 4.2 miles in size, allows for all kinds of watersport activities and enjoys a sandy shore with green oak-covered turfs. Aside from being a go-to swimming destination, Little Pine State Park is known for its beautiful campgrounds and the Little Pine Outdoor Shooting Range. The Lake diverges into to separate runs, each located across from the other near "Hell Hollow," named Love Run, and Naval Run, that extend the water streams beyond the park.
Penfield - Parker Dam State Park
A scenic man-made lake and beach create the perfect relaxing vacation spot for outdoor fun, thanks to their uplifting surrounding green aura and beautiful rustic-style cabins. The state park is a popular destination for year-round events such as woodsy owl weekends, the fall festival, the pumpkin float, and many other family-friendly activities. Not your average beach party location, Parker Dam Park offers a calming, secluded beach where visitors can find spiritual peace and harmony with the diverse natural surroundings. Even in winter, there are plenty of activities to enjoy around Parker Dam State Park, ranging from skiing and sledding to ice skating when the dam thickens enough.
Fort Loudon - Cowans Gap State Park
This state park is perfect for family-friendly activities like hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, boating, and more. Explore a variety of natural habitats and wildlife while wandering through nearby forests, lakes, and streams. Have an adventurous day with kayaking or paddleboarding on Cowans Gap Lake, or take a walk along the several nature trails.
Cowans Gap Lake, a 42-acre body of water created by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), is named after John and Mary Cowan, the area's first settlers. With over ten spacious, rustic cabins, Cowans Gap State Park serves as a getaway destination rather than just a small beach town. The large lake is swim-friendly and home to many fish species. The park features over ten hiking trails, each offering a unique view of the landscape. Some popular trails include Geyer Trail and Logging Road Trail, favored by cross-country skiers.
Rush Township - Black Moshannon State Park
Finally, Black Moshannon State Park is mainly a spot for RV camping and summer getaways. It features one of the largest lakes among Pennsylvania’s most charming beach towns, with Black Moshannon Lake covering over 250 acres of water surrounded by woods and wildlife. The park offers many hiking paths and trails and is home to a variety of bird species, making it a popular gathering spot for wildlife enthusiasts. Sitting atop the Allegheny Front at an elevation of 1,900 feet, the park was established in 1937 when lumber mills were the main industry in the area. Black Moshannon Park has long been the favorite swimming destination for locals of Rush Township and nearby communities.
Pennsylvania Beach Destinations
Ultimately almost all beach destinations in Pennsylvania are surrounded by forest environments and serve the primary purpose of being a wildlife territory. Amazingly, none of these towns leave out the true characteristics of a sandy beach town while being the fascinating historic and green towns they are.
This list of the best Pennsylvanian Beach towns adds a new meaning to small-town beach holidays, making them much more abundant and outlandish than the norms. Pennsylvania beaches are the place to be if you’re looking for a little bit of everything. You can find more about the state's beautiful nature on this list of the seven natural wonders in Pennsylvania.
