Nature Awaits: The Ultimate Guide to the Midstate’s Parks, Preserves and Forests, Part 4- June 2016June 15, 2016
Lebanon & Perry Counties
Legend
A Appalachian Trail
ATV All-Terrain Vehicle Trails
B Boating
BC Bicycling
C Camping/Cottages
DG Disc Golfing
E Educational Programs
F Fishing
H Hunting
HR Horseback Riding Trails
HT Hiking Trails
MB Mountain Biking
O Orienteering
RC Rock Climbing
S Swimming
SC Scuba Diving
Lebanon County
Coleman Memorial Park
1400 W. Maple St., Lebanon
Nature trails and historic markers populate the Coleman Memorial Park. The park also features a miniature golf course and several annual events.
E, HT
Memorial Lake State Park
18 Boundary Road, Grantville
Surrounded by Fort Indiantown Gap, Memorial Lake is 230 acres of prime fishing, boating and picnicking areas.
B, F, HT
Swatara State Park
1450 Suedburg Road, Pine Grove
Named for the Swatara Creek, the park is a hotspot for kayaking, canoeing and tubing. For land-lovers, the park boasts 24.2 miles of hiking trails, including access to the Appalachian Trail.
A, B, BC, F, H, HT, HR
Lion’s Lake Park
North Lebanon Township, Lebanon
Paved walking trails for walking and roller blading, Lion’s Lake Park boasts a 13-acre lake that can be used for fishing and restricted boating.
B, F, HT
Stoever’s Dam Park
946 Miller St., Lebanon
The city-owned park has its own 23.5 acre lake for fishing. The park also has athletic fields and offers camping at reasonable rates.
B, C, F, HT
Willow Springs Park
199 Millardsville Road, Richland
Willow Springs’ spring-fed lake offers scuba diving and camping for visitors. While fishing and swimming in the lake are no longer permitted, there are plenty of other activities for the whole family.
C, SC, HT
Union Canal Tunnel Park
N. 25th St., Lebanon
Located at 25th Street and Union Canal Drive, The Union Canal Tunnel was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1994. The park offers narrated boat rides for visitors.
B, E, HT
H.M. Levitz Memorial Park
28 Park Drive, Grantville
Hiding an unnamed tributary of the Swatara Creek, H.M. Levitz Memorial Park contains several miles of trails and a pond, as well as athletic fields and volleyball courts.
HT
Quittie Creek Nature Park
536 Bachman Road, Annville
Formerly an abandoned limestone quarry and wetland near the Quittapahilla Creek, the now 23-acre woodland area and quarry serves the area as a passive recreation park.
E, HT
Perry County
Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area
4455 Big Spring Road, Blain
A one-mile loop trail, which leads to a partially completed railroad tunnel, access to the Iron Horse Trail and plenty of picnic tables and pavilions, all nestled in the side of Conococheague Mountain, make this park a great place for a short nature break.
H, HT
Fowlers Hollow State Park
5700 Fowler Hollow Road, Blain
On the edge of Tuscarora State Forest, the 104-acre Fowlers Hollow sits at the intersection of several multi-use trails, making it a hiker’s delight as well as a great location for mountain-biking and horseback-riding. The trout-stocked, Fowler Hollow Run also meanders through the state park.
C, F, H, HR, HT, MB
Hawk Rock Overlook
S. River Fire Road, Duncannon
Perhaps one of the top-10 best scenic views of the Susquehanna Valley in the state, Hawk Rock offers roughly a mile-long hike that ascends some 700 feet. Access to the Appalachian Trail is also available.
A, HT
Little Buffalo State Park
1579 State Park Road, Newport
Perhaps one the most popular state parks in the region, Little Buffalo offers a state-of-the-art, nearly half-acre swimming pool, boating and fishing on Holman Lake, eight miles of hiking trails, camping and environmental education opportunities.
B, C, E, F, H, HT, S
Legend
A Appalachian Trail
ATV All-Terrain Vehicle Trails
B Boating
BC Bicycling
C Camping/Cottages
DG Disc Golfing
E Educational Programs
F Fishing
H Hunting
HR Horseback Riding Trails
HT Hiking Trails
MB Mountain Biking
O Orienteering
RC Rock Climbing
S Swimming
SC Scuba Diving
It is important to note that these parks, forests and nature preserves encompass hundreds, if not thousands, of acres of land. Many parks have multiple points of entry with no nearby landmarks or notable towns – some even cross county lines. The addresses included can accurately get visitors to within a few miles of the park, but at times are not the precise address for the park. Follow signs when possible, and please be aware of your surroundings. Most of all, enjoy the natural beauty and grandness our area has to offer.
Compiling this guide was challenging for a number of reasons. Not every local park, ball field or recreational area could be added to the list. Our staff compiled the list with the idea of presenting parks and outdoor areas that offer the most to outdoorsmen and nature lovers.
For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation’s website at dcnr.state.pa.us.
This article appears in the June 2016 issue of Harrisburg Magazine