With the heart of summer vacation season underway, here’s a look at the top six beaches and five unique summer attractions you can discover at state parks across the commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources manages 124 state parks and here’s a breakdown of what it considers to be the top places to swim and play in the sand as well as some unique attractions that are worth the road trip:
Top 6 state parks for beaches
Bald Eagle State Park: Located in northcentral Pennsylvania in Howard, Centre County, Bald Eagle has a1,200-foot long sand and turf beach. It’s open in the summer through Labor Day, unless otherwise posted. The area has a children’s playground, snack bar, changing rooms, public restrooms and parking. Pets are prohibited in the beach area.
Beltzville State Park: In eastcentral Pennsylvania, swimmers will enjoy the beach at Beltzville State Park in Lehighton, near the Poconos.
A 525-foot sand beach flows along the 949-acre Beltzville Lake. It is open from 8 a.m. to sunset through Labor Day, unless otherwise posted. A food and refreshment concession at the swimming beach is open daily (weather permitting) during the summer season.
Laurel Hill State Park: Located near Somerset in southwestern Pennsylvania, this park’s 1,200-foot sand beach is open from 8 a.m. to sunset through mid-September. It’s a swim at your own risk beach located along the 63-acre Laurel Hill Lake. The beach has an ADA-accessible ramp to the lake, an ADA-accessible beach wheelchair and an ADA-accessible restroom. A food concession is available during the summer months.
Pine Grove Furnace State Park: This southcentral Pennsylvania state park in Gardners, Adams County, has beaches at Fuller and Laurel lakes that are open from 8 a.m. to sunset through Sept. 30. Laurel Beach is swim at your own risk. Fuller Beach has lifeguards on duty from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Labor Day weekend, unless otherwise posted. Please follow posted rules for swimming when lifeguards are off duty. Swimmers at Laurel Lake and especially at Fuller Lake are advised to exercise caution because of the extreme depths and cold subsurface waters.
Presque Isle State Park: Located in northwestern Pennsylvania along Lake Erie, the sandy beaches along this peninsula provide visitors with the only surf swimming in Pennsylvania. It’s similar to an ocean, but without the saltwater. Beaches are open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Labor Day, unless otherwise posted. Barracks Beach, the Mill Road Beaches and Beach 11 are smoke-free.
More: Headed to the beach? A guide to rentals, trails and more at Presque Isle State Park
Pymatuning State Park: Also located in northwestern Pennsylvania, Pymatuning State Park in Jamestown, Mercer County, has three public beaches, Linesville, Main Beach, and Beach Two; and the beach for campers in Jamestown Campground are open the weekend before Memorial Day through Labor Day, weather and conditions permitting. Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules.
More: Pennsylvania has 124 state parks, here are the 10 that have the most visitors
Five state park unique summer attractions:
Bucktail State Park/Bucktail Natural Area: Motorists looking for a ride in the Pennsylvania Wilds should consider this park’s Scenic Drive in northcentral Pennsylvania. The 75-mile route along PA 120 from Emporium, through Renovo, to Lock Haven runs through unspoiled forest lands, steep mountains, beautiful hills and deep valleys along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and Sinnemahoning Creek.
Cherry Springs State Park: Travelers who enjoy seeing the night skies need to plan a visit to Cherry Springs State Park in Coudersport, Potter County. The facility has a stargazing field located at the top of a 2,300-foot high mountain. What makes it unique is the surrounding state forest is relatively undeveloped and nearby communities are in valleys, shielding any light pollution that might affect the park.
There’s a Night Sky Public Viewing Area located north of Route 44 which is on the opposite side of the road of Overnight Astronomy Observation Field.
Night skies in Pennsylvania: State parks offer clear views for stargazers, astrotourists
There is also a backlit summer sky map wayside located on this pathway to guide you through the areas at night.
Jennings Environmental Education Center’s Prairie Visit: This western Pennsylvania center located in Slippery Rock, Butler County, is one of several state parks dedicated to providing environmental education and recreational programs to the community. One of the park’s main features is the Prairie Visit in a 20-acre prairie ecosystem. The area is home to distinctive prairie plants and the endangered massasauga rattlesnake. The DCNR reports the most noteworthy and spectacular prairie flower is the blazing star.
Jennings was the first reserve established in Pennsylvania to protect an individual plant species and remains the only public and protected prairie in the commonwealth.
Little Buffalo State Park’s unique swimming pool: Swimmers may want to visit this state park in central Pennsylvania in Perry County.
It has a state-of-the art swimming pool, which is nearly half an acre in size. The pool is located along Holman Lake and is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. until mid-August. The pool varies in depth from 1 to 5 feet and has 17- and 11-foot waterslides. The pool has a capacity of 1,285 swimmers and has a ramp for people with disabilities. A fee is charged for pool use which is $6 for adults on weekdays and $7 on weekends. Seniors pay $4 and children under 42 inches tall can swim for free. Swimmers arriving after 4 p.m. receive a discount to $4. Season passes are available at the park office. The DCNR reports the pool is very popular and reaches capacity on holidays and many weekends. Mid-week swimming is often less crowded.
Washington Crossing Historic Park/Bowmans Wildflower Preserve: Traveling to southeastern Pennsylvania, nature lovers should stop at Bowmans Hill Tower in Bucks County. The 125-foot Bowman’s Hill Tower, located in the Upper Section off of Lurgan Road, provides an incredible view of the Delaware River Valley. An entry fee of $7 for adults is charged. The experience is free to children under 5 and active military. The tower closes for the winter season.
The park preserves the site of George Washington’s boat crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolution and is a National Historic Landmark.
About 70,000 people each year visit Bowmans Hill Wildflower preserve that’s also found in Bucks County. Fields of summer wildflowers begin to appear in June, especially in the meadow. The display of flowers and fruit is continually changing. Visitors can walk among a variety of colored flowers and native grasses.
Brian Whipkey is the outdoors columnist for USA TODAY Network sites in Pennsylvania. Contact him at bwhipkey@gannett.com and sign up for our weekly Go Outdoors PA newsletter email on this website’s homepage under your login name. Follow him on Facebook @whipkeyoutdoors.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: What are the best beaches in Pennsylvania state parks?
