Explore the Area
This conservation area is located 19 miles north of the Pennsylvania capital, Harrisburg. Other nearby towns include Matamoras and Halifax, with quaint shops and eateries. The historic capital of Pennsylvania has many attractions, including the Pennsylvania State Museum, the State Capitol, the Governor’s Mansion, the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, the National Civil War Museum, and other attractions.
Learn about some of the area businesses and things to do from the Harrisburg Regional Chamber.
Nearby State Parks and Forests
Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area is close to five 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.
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.
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 8 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
There are a few other nearby outdoor spaces and natural places near Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area:
- Along PA 443 north of Harrisburg, Fort Hunter Mansion and Park sits on 40 acres in Dauphin County. This was a settlement fort in the 1750s during the French and Indian War. The park has playgrounds, picnic areas, and tours of the mansion.
- State Game Lands 211 is nearby and includes the Rattling Run trail.
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.