Little Buffalo State Park

Little Buffalo State Park is a place where people have met for centuries. Besides having extensive picnic areas, hiking trails and a lake for fishing and boating, the park is steeped in history. Historical features include a covered bridge, a restored, operating grist mill, an old farm house built on the site of a colonial tavern, and a narrow gauge railroad trace which feature one of the original railroad cars. Little Buffalo is a featured park, December, in the 2010 Pennsylvania State Parks Calendar.

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Directions - Weather  - Recreation  - Trails  - Winter Activities  - Winter Report  - Environmental Education  - Calendar of Events  - Accessibility  - History  - Wildlife Watching  - Nearby Attractions  - Volunteers  - Rules and Regs  - In an Emergency  - Contact Us  - Downloadables and Maps

Park Advisories

Directions

From PA 322, take the Newport Exit and follow PA 34 South through the town of Newport. One mile from town turn right onto Little Buffalo State Park Road to the park. From PA 322 to the park entrance is 4.6 miles.

Recreational Opportunities

Hiking  - Picnicking  - Swimming  - Boating  - Fishing  - Hunting  - Wildlife Watching  - Cross-country Skiing  - Ice Fishing  - Ice Skating  - Camping

Swimming: A state-of-the art swimming pool which is nearly half an acre in size sits along Holman Dam and features waterslides and a sprayground. The pool has a capacity of 1,285 swimmers and has a ramp for people with disabilities. The summer hours are 11 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. The pool opens for the Memorial Day weekend then weekends only until the second weekend in June when it begins seven days a week operation. Please call the park office for the official opening date. The pool is typically closed on weekdays beginning mid-August and then reopens for weekends including Labor Day which is the end of the pool season. There is a fee for pool use. Swimmers arriving after 4 p.m. receive a discount. Season passes are available at the park office. The pool is very popular and reaches capacity on holidays and many weekends. Mid-week swimming is often less crowded. A seasonal snack bar has hot and cold foods and beverages.

Fishing: The 88-acre Holman Lake offers year-round fishing opportunities. This warm water fishery enjoys natural reproduction of largemouth bass, catfish and panfish. The lake is designated as a "Big Bass Lake." Bass must be at least 15 inches long with a daily limit of four. Adult brook, brown and rainbow trout are stocked several times a year. Fingerlings of tiger muskellunge and walleye are also stocked. An ADA accessible fishing pier is located by the Main Boat Launch. See Winter Activities for information on ice fishing. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission rules and regulations apply.

For complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

Boating: Electric powered and non-powered boats are permitted. Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

There are two public boat launches on the north side of Holman Lake. Mooring sites for private boats are available for a fee from April 1 to Nov. 1. A boat rental is located next to the swimming pool and operates the weekend of Memorial Day through Labor Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, unless otherwise posted. Canoes, rowboats and pedal boats are available. For complete information on boating rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

Hunting and Firearms: Approximately 300 acres of Little Buffalo State Park are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, turkey, grouse, rabbit, pheasant and squirrel.

Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day to March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for ADA accessible hunting information.

Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment used for hunting may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner's car, trailer or leased campsite. The only exception is that law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms may carry said firearm concealed on their person while they are within the park.

For complete information on hunting rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission Web site.

Camping: flush toilets and showers
The modern campground is open from April to mid-October. There are forty sites, some have electric and water hook-ups, and 5 rustic camping cottages. All campsites have a picnic table and fire ring. Pets are permitted.

Explore the campground map.

Explore camping for more information.

Make a reservation

Picnicking: Many picnic tables offer nice views of the lake and most are shaded by beautiful oak, maple and ash trees. Charcoal grills are scattered throughout the picnic areas. All picnic areas are open from 8 a.m. to sunset.

There are two picnic areas in Little Buffalo State Park. The Main Picnic Area is a large, shaded lawn surrounding the swimming pools. There are showers, first-aid station, play field, seasonal food concession, playground equipment, boat rental, two picnic pavilions, horseshoe pits, restrooms and many picnic tables. The Main Picnic Area is closed November through April. The East Picnic Area, located by the Little Buffalo Historic District and open year-round, features picnic tables, restrooms, horseshoe pits, environmental interpretive center, picnic pavilion and the Moore Performing Arts Pavilion. The two picnic pavilions in the west side of the Main Picnic Area seat 80 people, and the picnic pavilion in the East Picnic Area seats 50 people. The picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee by calling 888-PA-PARKS. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first come first served basis.

Make a reservation

Playgrounds: There is a playground in the Main Picnic Area and in the East Picnic Area.

Hiking: Little Buffalo has approximately 8 miles of hiking trails. Sturdy footwear is recommended because of rocky footing on some of the trails. Explore Trails for complete trail descriptions.

Winter Activities

Explore the Winter Report for current snow and ice depths.

Cross-country Skiing: All hiking trails in Little Buffalo State Park are open for cross-country skiing, but skiing is recommended on Little Buffalo Creek Trail. A 2.5-mile loop can be skied by taking Little Buffalo Creek Trail to Main Picnic Area, then ski the Newport and Sherman's Valley Railroad trace. Return to Little Buffalo Creek Trail along the edge of woods. Park in the parking lot at the trailhead.

A popular loop in the East Picnic Area starts in the parking lot and follows the path to Clay's Covered Bridge. The trail passes Shoaff's Mill then returns to the starting point on either Mill Race Trail or the shorter service road.

Skiing is also permitted on service roads and unplowed roads in the day use area.

Ice Skating: Conditions permitting, a two-acre skating area is maintained on the east end of the lake by the Main Boat Launch. Heated rest rooms are provided. The skating area is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Ice thickness is monitored for safety.

Ice Fishing: Ice fishing is permitted on Holman Lake except in the ice skating area. The lake is noted for a high panfish harvest, along with trout and warm water game fish. The ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, be sure the ice is four inches thick and carry safety equipment.

Environmental Education and Interpretation

Little Buffalo State Park offers a wide variety of environmental education and interpretive programs. Through hands-on activities, guided walks and campfire programs, participants gain appreciation, understanding and develop a sense of stewardship toward natural and cultural resources.

Curriculum-based environmental education programs are available to schools and youth groups. Teacher workshops are available. Group programs must be arranged in advance and may be scheduled by calling the park office.

Programs are offered year-round. Many programs feature Shoaff's Mill. Over 12,000 people visit the mill annually. For more detailed information on programs contact the park office.

Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward.

Explore environmental education and interpretation for more information.

Special Events

Halloween Night: Held in the East Picnic Area on the Saturday before Halloween, this program features storytelling, pumpkin carving, refreshments and haunted hayrides. Activities start at 6 p.m.

Christmas Walk: This family oriented activity has become a popular holiday event in the county. Thousands of lights and holiday cutouts dot the East Picnic Area and provide the perfect holiday atmosphere. Santa always makes an appearance. Local 4-H Clubs sell cookies and hot chocolate. Local choirs sing carols many of the nights. The program runs December 17th through December 23rd from 6 to 9 p.m.

Explore the Calendar of Events to see when these events are scheduled.

Access for People with Disabilities

An ADA accessible fishing pier is located at the main boat launch. There is a paved trail from the swimming pool to the boat rental. Blue Ball Trail is paved and accessible in the East Picnic Area.

If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.

Watching Wildlife

There are many opportunities to see wildlife, but please observe from a safe distance and do not feed wildlife. Little Buffalo Creek Trail offers good opportunities for seeing white-tailed deer. The tracks of beaver, muskrat, and mink are evident in the stream beside the trail. Middle Ridge Trail is a good place to see turkey, grouse and also large colonies of Allegheny mound builder ants.

Holman Lake provides habitat for many animals, including; little green herons, egrets and beavers. The west finger of the lake is a good place to see wood ducks. Although not residents, Bald eagles and ospreys are often seen near Holman Lake. Many waterfowl use the lake as a rest stop during migration, including; Canada geese, mallards, blue-winged teal, mergansers, buffleheads, common loons and ring-necked ducks.

Many species of warblers inhabit the forests of the park. The common yellowthroat, yellow warbler and the blue-gray gnatcatcher are common. The blue-winged warbler can be seen in the power line along Millrace Trail and on the west side of the lake.

Eastern bluebird boxes are scattered throughout the park, but the best place to see bluebirds is along the Exercise Trail. Please enjoy viewing the bluebirds, but do not disturb the nesting boxes.

For extensive information on the wildlife of the park, explore the Natural History of Little Buffalo State Park.

Geology

Most of the Little Buffalo Valley is underlain by limey shale, which is the basis of the habitats of the park. Even though Little Buffalo State Park has reported record acid rainfall for the state, Holman Lake is full of life and is an excellent fishery. The limey shale neutralizes the acidic rain water which helps support a great amount of life in the lake and surrounding wetlands.

Nearby Attractions

Box Huckleberry Natural Area: Located just south of New Bloomfield on Huckleberry Road, this 100-acre plot is managed by the Bureau of Forestry. Visitors can hike a self-guiding loop trail and see the rare box huckleberry which grows here and in only two other locations in Pennsylvania. This is also a good place to see wildflowers like trailing arbutus and mayapple. Limited parking is available.

Hemlocks Natural Area: Located in the Tuscarora State Forest, this 120-acre plot of old growth timber is covered by massive trees 100 feet tall and four to six feet in diameter. Some of these giant trees started as seedlings about the time Christopher Columbus was discovering America! From the park it takes about 45 minutes to reach this site. Take 274 west to Big Spring State Park, turn left onto Hemlock Road. It is 5 miles to the natural area.

For information on nearby attractions, contact the Hershey Capital Region Vacation Bureau Inc. www.pacapitalregions.com

In an Emergency

Contact a park employee or dial 911.
For directions to the nearest hospital, look on bulletin boards or at the park office.

Nearest Hospitals

Carlisle Regional Medical Center
361 Alexander Spring Road
Carlisle, PA 17015
717-249-1212

Harrisburg Hospital
101 South Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-782-3131

For More Information Contact

Little Buffalo State Park
1579 State Park Road
Newport, PA 17074-9428
717-567-9255
Manager: Brett Fromm

E-mail: littlebuffsp@state.pa.us
An equal opportunity employer

Make online reservations or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, for state park information and reservations.