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    Gifford Pinchot State Park

    Nearby Attractions

    Information about Gifford Pinchot State Park’s nearby attractions is available from Visit Hershey Harrisburg and Explore York County.

    Explore the Area

    Nearby Wellsville is known for its brick sidewalks and Gothic and Greek Revival style homes. Dillsburg Borough, located eight miles from the park, has two buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and drops a dill pickle in the center of town each New Year’s Eve. Harrisburg, Hershey, Gettysburg National Historical Park, and Lancaster County’s Amish Country are nearby.

    Learn about some of the area businesses and things to do from the York County Economic Alliance and the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC.

    Nearby State Parks and Forests

    Gifford Pinchot State Park is close to several state parks, where visitors can enjoy recreation, education, and other activities.

    Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area

    The 1,025-acre Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area straddles Blue Mountain and is the habitat of large trees of numerous species, which are homes for deep forest birds, especially warblers.

    Popular recreational activities include hiking, hunting, cross-country skiing, and wildlife watching.

    Codorus State Park

    The 3,500-acre Codorus State Park is in the rolling hills of southern York County. The 1,275-acre Lake Marburg has 26 miles of shoreline and is a rest stop for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds.

    The lake is also popular with sailboaters and motorboaters. Anglers love the lake for warmwater fishing and can also fish Codorus Creek for trout. Picnicking, swimming in the pool, and camping are also popular activities.

    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.

    Pine Grove Furnace State Park

    The 696-acre Pine Grove Furnace State Park is steeped in natural and historical features. It is located at the northern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in an area known as South Mountain. Visitors enjoy many recreational opportunities, including the two mountain lakes (Laurel and Fuller lakes), hiking the Appalachian Trail, biking the rail trail, and visiting the Appalachian Trail Museum.

    Other Nearby Outdoor Spaces and Natural Places 

    The park is located near Roundtop Mountain Resort, where you can ski and snow tube during the winter and do ropes courses and other outdoor activities in the warmer months.

    Pennsylvania Heritage Areas

    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.