Overview
As Pennsylvania’s leader and chief advocate for conservation and outdoor recreation, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) will inspire citizens to:
- Value their natural resources
- Engage in conservation practices
- Experience the outdoors
Hiking
Hiking is the most popular outdoor activity in Pennsylvania, and it’s no wonder with all of the outstanding opportunities, from short loop hikes on state park trails to long, multi-day options on state forest lands, to family-friendly adventures on one of Pennsylvania’s rail-trails.
Hiking
Biking
If your need for speed is on two wheels, there are lots of options in our Pennsylvania state parks or the vast network of rail trails in Pennsylvania for a spin on flat, family-friendly trails.
Biking
Kayaking and Canoeing
Pennsylvania is a paddler’s paradise because it is blessed with an abundance of lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds all across the commonwealth for kayaking and canoeing. Many of these paddling opportunities exist within our state parks and forests.
Kayaking and Canoeing-
November 13, 2026 ICYMI: Shapiro Administration Releases Plan to Protect Pennsylvania’s Parks and Forests from Climate ChangeThis week, the Shapiro Administration released a new Climate Action Plan to protect Pennsylvania’s state parks, forests, and outdoor recreation areas from the impacts of climate change while reducing emissions from DCNR’s operations.
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November 12, 2026 Drawdown of Lake Frances at Nescopeck State Park to Continue as DCNR Evaluates Existing Dam Structural IssuesDCNR is continuing engineering evaluations of the dam at Lake Frances in Nescopeck State Park following the discovery of conditions that have raised concerns about the long-term stability of the structure.
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November 12, 2026 Hyner Run State Park Open House Scheduled for November 19DCNR will host an Open House at Hyner Run State Park in Clinton County to introduce a large-scale improvement project at the park.
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November 10, 2026 Shapiro Administration Unveils New Plan to Protect Pennsylvania’s Parks and Forests from the Impacts of Climate ChangeThe Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)’s Climate Action Plan establishes measurable goals through 2050 to prepare public lands and recreation areas for climate impacts and reduce agency greenhouse gas emissions.