Parks & Recreation Areas
Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors Region is where adventure begins. Home to breathtaking state parks, expansive state forests, scenic recreation areas, and Pennsylvania’s only national forest, this spectacular region offers thousands of acres of public lands waiting to be explored. From towering old-growth forests and scenic overlooks to peaceful lakes, clear flowing streams, and abundant wildlife, every season brings a new reason to get outside here.
Whether you’re hiking through Cook Forest’s Forest Cathedral, paddling the Clarion or Allegheny Rivers, spotting elk in their natural habitat, mountain biking the region’s growing trail network, exploring scenic backroads, fishing world-class trout streams, or camping beneath some of the darkest skies in the eastern United States, you’ll find endless opportunities to create unforgettable memories.
The region also offers miles of trails for horseback riding, ATV riding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, gravel cycling, wildlife watching, and geocaching, making Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors Region a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts of every age and ability. From peaceful nature walks to backcountry adventures, you’ll discover that some of Pennsylvania’s greatest treasures are found right here, where wild places, fresh air, and authentic outdoor experiences are never far away.
Come explore Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors Region and discover why so many visitors return season after season to experience the beauty, recreation, and adventure found throughout our parks, forests, and recreation areas in Cameron, Elk, and Forest Counties.
Public Park with disc golf, walking/running path, playground, tennis & basketball courts, picnic pavilion, and large red oak trees.
216-acre rugged plateau with boulders, streams, steep valleys, and some old-growth forest with trees up to four feet in diameter.
This 1.93-acre park offers playground equipment, restrooms, a scenic walking trail, and three soccer fields, providing a perfect space for recreation and family fun.
Stroll 600 feet out and gaze down through the partial glass platform at the end of the walkway from Kinzua Viaduct and self-guiding exhibits.
On the Allegheny River at Tionesta, 22.5-acre island, open to public, Peace Park, boat launch, fishing pier, one-mile walk/bike trail, and Sherman Memorial Lighthouse.
Scenic 10-to-12-foot waterfall located in the Allegheny National Forest 9 miles north of Marienville. 0.6 miles hike out-and-back. GPS coordinates: 41.58462, -79.15959
Tent sites along the east branch of Millstone Creek open mid-April to mid-October, some electric, picnic tables, and fire ring. Flush toilets, showers, swimming, and pet friendly.
892-acre natural area offering remote hiking along the headwaters of Lower Jerry Run through a large stand of old-growth white pine and hemlock.
Hundreds of miles of trails designated for hiking, bicycling, equestrian, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, dirtbike, and ATV riding. Outdoor recreation including swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, picnicking, and camping. Marienville Ranger District Office, Marienville, PA – Open Tuesday thru Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed on federal holidays.
One of the largest white birch stands in Pennsylvania. 975 acres in the Quehanna Wild Area named for Marion E. Brooks, a pioneering environmentalist from Elk County.
