7 National & State Parks In Pennsylvania You Have To Visit

Pennsylvania’s large variety of state and national parks encompasses a wide range of landscapes, from rolling mountains and dense forests to rivers, canyons, lakes, and even some historic sites. These protected areas offer opportunities to engage with this eastern state's longstanding natural and cultural heritage, whether through hiking, fishing, wildlife observation, or historical exploration.

Each park we will be covering here has distinct features, like awe-inspiring geological formations, record-breaking waterfalls, and preserved battlefields, each providing educational and recreational value for the public at large. How many of these destinations are going on your to-do list this year?

Presque Isle State Park

Presque Isle State Park sits on a peninsula jutting into Lake Erie, encompassing Pennsylvania’s only real sandy shoreline. The park hosts 3,200 acres shaped by wind and wave action, forming lagoons, sandspits, and shifting beaches that you can walk or boat amongst today.

On top of its scenic value, this unique geography makes it one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the state, being a critical stopover for migratory birds with over 300 recorded species. Because of that, it has been officially recognized as an Important Bird Area.

Containing eleven miles of beaches that attract anyone from swimmers and anglers to boaters and birdwatchers during the summer months, its interior lagoons also feature spots to launch a kayak and other smaller craft. Furthermore, the area's trails and paved paths will take you to habitats ranging from marshes to forested dunes. Lastly, make a point of stopping by the historic Presque Isle Lighthouse and the Perry Monument, which both highlight the peninsula’s past as a nautical landmark.

Open year-round, Presque Isle State Park adapts with the seasons, offering opportunities for ice fishing and cross-country skiing during winter, and cooler temperatures along with colorful foliage in the fall. Regardless of when you come, it is definitely among Pennsylvania's top-tier green spaces.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area sits on nearly 70,000 acres along the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border, centered on a dramatic section of the Delaware River where it cuts through a sizable chunk of the Appalachian Mountains. On the Pennsylvania side, the park features some of its steepest cliffs, forested ridges, and river floodplains, each supporting a wide range of plant and animal life.

Stroll along more than 100 miles of hiking trails (with 27 miles of the Appalachian Trail), which primarily run along ridge tops and offer expansive views of the river valley below. Raymondskill Falls, the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania, is a notable highlight that ought to be seen if you're in the area. On the other hand, the river itself is a popular place for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and swimming in designated areas.

Delaware Water Gap is also a cool spot for history lovers, with a collection of old-timey farmsteads, churches, and archeological sites within the recreation area that reflect its centuries of human use.

Ricketts Glen State Park

Ricketts Glen State Park is noted for its extensive system of beautiful waterfalls and old-growth forest. The park spans nearly 13,200 acres across Luzerne, Sullivan, and Columbia Counties and contains portions of the Glens Natural Area, a National Natural Landmark. It provides year-round access for the public, including winter activities such as ice climbing and cross-country skiing, making it one of the state’s most versatile parks for outdoor exploration in Pennsylvania.

If you're up for it, be sure to check out the Falls Trail System, which guides you past a whopping 21 named waterfalls varying in height from 10 to almost 100 feet, with Ganoga Falls being the tallest. The trail network also links to Lake Jean, a reservoir used for swimming, boating, and fishing.

As mentioned, Ricketts Glen presides over a collection of ancient tree stands, some more than 300 years old, offering a window into the region’s pre-settlement ecology. With that, wildlife is abundant here, with black bear, white-tailed deer, and numerous bird species commonly observed throughout.

Ohiopyle State Park

Ohiopyle State Park in southwestern Pennsylvania is one of the state’s most visited natural areas, covering about 20,500 acres along the Youghiogheny River Gorge. This park is recognized for its surprisingly rugged landscape, where fast-moving waters have cut through sandstone over eons, forming a waterway filled with waterfalls, rapids, and deep channels.

Ohiopyle Falls, a 20-foot drop on the river, serves as the central draw for tourists, while smaller cascades like Cucumber Falls are also accessible via short side trails. The park is, of course, a hub for whitewater rafting, too, particularly along the Lower Youghiogheny, which attracts paddlers of differing skill levels.

Beyond river-based recreation, more than 79 miles of trails cross the park, ranging from lighter riverside walks to tougher sections of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. Cyclists frequently opt to use the Great Allegheny Passage, a long-distance rail trail passing through Ohioplye.

Gettysburg National Military Park

Gettysburg National Military Park preserves the site of one of the most decisive battles of the American Civil War, fought in July 1863. Covering around 6,000 acres around the borough of Gettysburg, the park includes swathes of fields, ridges, and woodlands that formed the backdrop to the three-day, namesake battle.

Today, more than 1,300 monuments and memorials dot the landscape, commemorating many of the regiments and individuals who took part in the battle. Key locations to see, such as Little Round Top, Cemetery Hill, and Pickett’s Charge, are open for visitors, offering you direct connections to pivotal moments in the fighting. Moreover, the park’s museum and visitor center house a number of historical displays, with various artifacts, exhibits, and the restored Gettysburg Cyclorama painting available to see.

Walking and driving tours make exploration all throughout the former battlefield easy, while ranger-led programs interpret its military and political significance. As a park that features both a pristine natural setting and countless important Civil War landmarks, Gettysburg is among the best destinations for history buffs across the United States.

Hickory Run State Park

Hickory Run State Park in the Pocono Mountains boasts one of Pennsylvania's oddest geologic formations. Its most distinctive feature is the aptly named Boulder Field, a National Natural Landmark covering 30 acres with a barren expanse of sandstone boulders deposited by glacial activity over 20,000 years ago. Hickory Run also protects a diversity of wildlife habitats, including nearby wetlands that support amphibians and bird species.

For an active outing, the park contains 44 miles of hiking trails, with a mix of easier day hikes to longer backcountry paths that make their way through stream crossings, past waterfalls, and into hardwood forests. Hawk Falls Trail is a popular route leading to a 25-foot cascade. If you want to spend some time by the water, the park’s Sand Spring Lake is the place for swimming, while Cold Spring Run and Hickory Run provide some great fishing holes.

With campsites, local cabin rentals, and picnic areas abounding, this fantastic state park, located just an hour north of Allentown, accommodates both day use and extended stays.

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Valley Forge National Historical Park is another ideal destination for history buffs, preserving the site of the Continental Army’s 1777-1778 winter encampment during the Revolutionary War. Located just northwest of Philadelphia, this park covers over 3,500 acres of pristine wildlands and historical structures.

Must-see features include reconstructed log huts, Washington’s Headquarters, and original earthworks that illustrate how soldiers endured harsh conditions while reorganizing under General George Washington. 35 miles of trails crisscross the park as well, used for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding through its verdant countryside setting.

Interpretive programs and exhibits are available to help explain the significance of the encampment, where training and discipline ultimately helped transform the Continental Army into a more effective force, one that eventually made the United States the country it is today.

Find Your Favorite Park in Pennsylvania

These Pennsylvanian parks present a balance of natural beauty and historical significance, offering locations that appeal to a wide range of interests. From the waterfalls of Ricketts Glen to the battlefield at Gettysburg, each site recommended above preserves a distinct part of the state’s story, while also providing space for some good old outdoor fun.

Whether exploring geological landmarks, hiking forested trails, or learning about pivotal moments in American history, these destinations remain vital places for education, reflection, and outdoor experiences for residents and visitors alike in the Keystone State.