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.
18-hole course, mostly flat, easy to walk, with mostly par 3 holes with a few par 4's mixed in. Fun for all skill levels.
Peace park on Lighthouse Island featuring a Cross of Freedom, Statue of Liberty, Veterans Memorial, Chapel, replica scale model of 1893 Timber Crib dam, and more.
More than 100 sites suitable for tents and trailers. Electric, water, and sewer hook-ups, dump station, flush toilets and showers.
This small launch site managed by Western Pennsylvania Conservancy provides access to the Allegheny River for fishing and non-motorized boating.
Campground, Black Cherry National Recreational Trail, and fishing pier. Bathhouse pavilion, swimming, and picnic areas open from March through October.
Impressive geological formation, formed by the effects of wind and water over millions of years, accessible by a hiking trail. Directions to Umbrella Rock
New scenic 9-hole disc golf course with red and blue tees, new cornhole boards and bocce courts at the Jay Township Community Park.
Walking trail with wooden observation deck and interpretive educational signs providing information on wetland functions and species. Pavilion with picnic tables and benches. Open dawn to dusk June-October.
1,215-acre state forest natural area in the Elk State Forest with 4.8-mile hiking loop, Quehanna cross-country ski trail, and two stunning waterfalls along Wykoff Run Road.
