Pennsylvania beaches provide the ideal summertime retreat. There is something fun and engaging for everyone on these stunning coastlines – from swimming and fishing, to exploring an underground cave system!
Presque Isle State Park stands out as a premier beach destination in Pennsylvania, featuring 11 stunning beaches that face Lake Erie and are open all year. Locals and visitors alike enjoy spending their summer days there!
Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle State Park, as its name implies, is situated on an arching sandy peninsula that protrudes into Lake Erie. It’s one of Pennsylvania’s most visited parks, offering visitors various activities to keep them busy – pristine beaches, rich history, breathtaking views all make Presque Isle an incredible spot. As a National Natural Landmark this National Natural Landmark makes an incredible stopover.
The park offers 13 beaches, each providing something different. Beach 11 is particularly beloved among families due to its shallow waters and playground area; additionally it features a concession stand and beach ramp to assist those with disabilities in accessing it. Other beaches provide more secluded scenery with spectacular lake views while hiking trails allow visitors to explore its natural splendor.
Visitors to the park can also enjoy wildlife-related activities, such as bird-watching. With 339 bird species such as waterfowl and shorebirds calling the park home – many migrating each year from faraway locations – many birders venture out onto its trails in search of these majestic feathered guests. Other creatures residing within it, including reptiles and amphibians can be spotted for those willing to venture off the beaten path.
Presque Isle State Park is known for its breathtaking sunsets, some of the most breathtaking in the world. As the sun rises over Lake Erie and reflects off of its surface, creating breathtaking sunset views. Additionally, Presque Isle’s location on its eastern shore helps mitigate summer heat – it typically experiences only 3.8 days with temperatures exceeding 90 degF (32 degC) each year.
Tom Ridge Environmental Center, commonly referred to as TREC, provides visitors with an interactive way of exploring this 3,200-acre peninsula. Offering interactive exhibits and educational workshops as well as a 75-foot observation tower – visitors are welcomed all year long for free admission! For additional information about the park visit its official website.
Bald Eagle State Park
Bald Eagle State Park is a great place to visit for a weekend or vacation getaway. It is located in the beautiful mountains of Central Pennsylvania and offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation activities, including swimming, fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, boating, hiking trails, and more. It is a popular destination for visitors to the area and is home to a number of campgrounds, cabins, and yurts.
The main attraction in this state park is the Foster Joseph Sayers Lake, which is the focal point of the year-round recreational activities at the park. This lake is surrounded by forest, fields, and wetlands, offering a variety of outdoor activities. The diverse geology of the park provides the backdrop for its lakes, forests, and fields. The old field habitat is undergoing natural succession, with grasses giving way to goldenrod and asters, and gray dogwood and sumacs being pushed out by pines and maples. These areas provide homes for bluebird, monarch butterfly, woodchuck, cottontail rabbit, and squirrel. The woods of the park include mature oak and hickory forests, which are homes for deer, porcupine, and turkey.
A popular activity at the park is fishing, which is a popular pastime for locals and tourists alike. There are 13 streams that run through the park, which provide excellent fishing opportunities. The park also has a marina and offers several public boat launches. It is also a great location for picnicking, camping, and hiking.
In the summer, visitors to the park can enjoy a variety of fun water activities, such as swimming at the beach area or renting a boat. The park also has miles of trails for hiking and biking.
In addition to the many recreational activities that this park has to offer, it also has a number of scenic and historical attractions. These include the ruins of the Lenape Indian Chief Woapalanne’s homestead, which was built in the mid-1700s. The park is also home to a variety of bird species, making it an ideal location for nature lovers and photographers. It also hosts a pumpkin chucking festival every October.
Mauch Chunk Lake Park
Mauch Chunk Lake Park is a wonderful option for family getaways near Historic Jim Thorpe, featuring a 2.8-mile lake suitable for boating and fishing, the Mauch Chunk Creek and Switchback Trail offering hiking opportunities, as well as access to additional trails and wildlife observation points provided by Carbon County Environmental Center. Camping cabins can also be found here along with swimming lessons specifically tailored for kids.
Mauch Chunk Lake lies along its half mile coast, providing visitors with a scenic beach to relax on. Its soft light brown sand is welcoming to visitors and open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day; visitors can enjoy boating, fishing and picnicking activities here as well as playgrounds and a food stand on site.
Carbon County Parks and Recreation Department operates this park with its main attraction being a sandy beach and swimming area, open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with lifeguards present for safety. Furthermore, this park features a snack bar, food and beverage stand as well as restroom facilities – perfect for family fun!
The beach at Centennial Park is popular with swimmers and kayakers, and boat rentals are also available. Additionally, visitors to the lake enjoy fishing for bass, walleye, crappie, perch and bluegill.
At this park, in addition to offering sandy beach fun, visitors can also find several activities such as boardwalk trails that lead past enclosures housing injured raptors and owls which have been hit by cars or illegally shot, rendering them incapable of returning back into the wild. Also visit CCEEC Museum which educates children about environmental conservation efforts and local wildlife.
Staying nearby the park? Hotels such as The Inn at Jim Thorpe provide historic charm while Hampton Inn Lehighton boasts modern amenities and comforts. Additionally, several dining options such as Molly Maguire’s Pub and Summit Hill’s Twin Cafe provide additional dining experiences in close proximity.
Black Moshannon State Park
Black Moshannon State Park boasts a 250-acre lake at its core and surrounding forests that make for an all-season destination. Visitors to Black Moshannon can swim or boat on tea-colored waters while hiking one of six trails of different lengths; camping, hunting, and picnicking opportunities also exist in Moshannon State Forest nearby.
Winter in the park transforms it into a winter wonderland for snow sports enthusiasts, offering opportunities for ice fishing, skiing and snowboarding – plus guests can use its snowmobile trail. Additionally, two luxurious cottages are available from April until mid-December; guests may use this as an opportunity to stay in comfort.
The park is part of Pennsylvania WildsOpens In A New Window, a 2 million-acre public land area in northcentral Pennsylvania that offers recreational activities like hiking, biking, kayaking, hunting, and fishing for two million acres of public lands to explore by hiking, biking, kayaking, hunting, fishing or any other means imaginable. Parks within its realm stand out for their natural treasures, rich histories and outdoor adventure experiences that no other parks in this region can match.
Black Moshannon State Park is an outstanding example of a bog ecosystem, which refers to freshwater wetlands covered with sphagnum moss. This unique ecosystem creates the ideal conditions for wildlife such as rare plants as well as great birding spots in central Pennsylvania.
Park visitors will find many things to see and do at the park, including walking the Bog Trail and visiting its scenic overlook. The Bog Trail provides an easy trail for exploring boggy areas full of plants and animals; its scenic overlook is popular among birders and photographers.
Campsites at the park are clean and well-kept. Amenities provided include showers and toilets; additionally there is also a group tenting area which can accommodate up to 60 people.
The park is open year-round and makes an excellent family vacation spot, featuring a lake that is great for swimming as well as campgrounds that make for an excellent base camp. Plus there’s trails and even a nature center!
