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    Boyd Big Tree Conservation Area

    Nearby Attractions

    Information about Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area’s nearby attractions is available from the Visit Hershey-Harrisburg.

    Explore the Area

    This conservation area is located nine miles north of the Pennsylvania capital, Harrisburg, and just three miles from the Susquehanna River. Other nearby towns include Linglestown and Dauphin, with quaint shops and eateries.

    Fort Hunter Mansion and Park is found along PA 443 north of Harrisburg. This 40-acre Dauphin County Park was a settlement fort in the 1750s during the French and Indian War. The park has playgrounds, picnic areas, and tours of the mansion.

    The City of Harrisburg is the historic capital of Pennsylvania. The city has many attractions, including:

    • Pennsylvania State Museum
    • State Capitol
    • Governor’s Residence
    • Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts
    • National Civil War Museum
    • Riverfront Park
    • City Island

    Learn about some of the area businesses and things to do from the Harrisburg Area Chamber of Commerce.

    Nearby State Parks and Forests

    Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area is close to several state parks, where visitors can enjoy recreation, education, and other activities.

    Gifford Pinchot State Park

    The 2,338-acre Gifford Pinchot State Park is a park located in northern York county along PA 177 between the towns of Rossville and Lewisberry. The park consists of reverting farm fields and wooded hillsides with the 340-acre Pinchot Lake serving as a prime attraction.

    Recreational activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, disc golf, and camping.

    Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area

    The 803-acre Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area is dominated by large hardwood trees and is surrounded by Peters Mountain. This large block of nearly unbroken forest is a haven for wildlife.

    The main attraction to the conservation area is the elaborate trail system which connects to the Appalachian Trail on the northern slope of Peters Mountain.

    Little Buffalo State Park

    Little Buffalo State Park is located in Perry County. Thousands of people meet at Little Buffalo every year to picnic, swim, fish, hike, and experience nature and history. The park has eight miles of trails for a wide range of physical abilities.

    The main picnic area near the swimming pool features showers, first-aid station, play field, seasonal food concession, playground equipment, boat rental, two picnic pavilions that each seat 80 people, horseshoe pits, restrooms, and many picnic tables.

    Memorial Lake State Park

    The 230-acre Memorial Lake State Park is located near the base of Blue Mountain in East Hanover Township, Lebanon County. The park is surrounded by Fort Indiantown Gap, the headquarters for the Pennsylvania Army and Air National Guard.

    Recreational activities include hiking, picnicking, boating, and fishing.

    Swatara State Park

    The 3,520-acre Swatara State Park consists of rolling fields and woodlands situated in the Swatara Valley, between Second and Blue mountains. The scenic Swatara Creek meanders the length of the park and is surrounded by forests and wetlands that support a diversity of wildlife.

    Recreational activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, fishing, and hunting.

    Other Nearby Outdoor Spaces and Natural Places

    State Game Lands 211 is nearby and includes Rattling Run Trail, which is located near Rattling Run Creek.

    Pennsylvania Heritage Area

    Heritage Areas protect, enhance, and promote Pennsylvania’s historic, natural, cultural, and scenic resources.

    Susquehanna National Heritage Area recognizes the role the Susquehanna River plays for history, recreation, and the economy of York and Lancaster counties in central Pennsylvania.