Hiking in the South
To go to the chart below select a park from the map or zoom in on the map.
| Big Spring State Park | 1 mile of trails park map A short loop trail leads to the site of the partially completed railroad tunnel. Historic interpretation is provided at the trailhead. The park provides access to the Iron Horse Trail, designed for day hikes and overnight hiking in Tuscarora State Forest. |
| Blue Knob State Park | 18 miles of trails park map The trails of Blue Knob are rugged and steep. Wear appropriate footgear when hiking. Explore Blue Knob for detailed trail descriptions. |
| Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area | 12 miles of trails park map The Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area boasts an extensive trail system with easy to challenging hiking. Explore Boyd Big Tree Preserve for detailed trail descriptions. |
| Caledonia State Park | 10 miles of trails park map The trails pass through forests and historic areas. A brochure on the hiking trails is available at the park office. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, which extends 2,000 miles from Springer Mountain in northern Georgia to Mount Katahdin in central Maine, traverses the central portion of Caledonia. |
| Canoe Creek State Park | 8 miles of trails park map The trails pass through forests, fields, shrubby areas, historic areas and along the lake shore. Please wear fluorescent orange when hiking during hunting seasons. |
| Codorus State Park | 19 miles of trails park map Although the park only has two “hiking only” trails, many miles of equestrian and mountain biking trails can also be hiked. All trails are in hunting areas so visitors should wear fluorescent orange during hunting seasons. Explore Codorus for trail descriptions. |
| Colonel Denning State Park | 18 miles of trails park map The 2.5-mile Flat Rock Trail rises to Flat Rock, a beautiful scenic vista of the Cumberland Valley. The one-mile, self-guiding Doubling Gap Trail is a moderate hike. The Hiking and Nature Trail Guide is available at the park office and has a map and detailed description of the hiking trails in the park and surrounding forest lands. In addition to the 18 miles of hiking trails, the park is a trailhead for the 105-mile Tuscarora Trail. |
| Cowans Gap State Park | 11 miles of trails park map Trails vary in difficulty from flat to very steep. Explore Cowans Gap for detailed trail descriptions. |
| Fowlers Hollow State Park | 6 miles of trails park map Fowlers Hollow State Park is a trailhead for a variety of hiking trails within and connecting to the trail system of the Tuscarora State Forest. The Tuscarora Trail is nearby. Be sure to acquire a Tuscarora State Forest Public Use Map before hiking on forest lands. |
| French Creek State Park | 35 miles of trails park map The hiking trails of the park explore forests, fields and the edge of the lake. For the safety of all park users please keep dogs leashed and under physical control while in the park. Explore French Creek for detailed trail descriptions. |
| Gifford Pinchot State Park | 18 miles of trails park map Most trails interconnect to allow hikers to tailor their outing to meet their individual desires. The longer through trails are marked with 3" by 5" rectangular white blazes. Shorter trails are marked with white, double bar blazes. Explore Gifford Pinchot for detailed trail descriptions. |
| Greenwood Furnace State Park | 25 miles of trails park map Many trails within the park and surrounding Rothrock State Forest offer hikers scenic views and glimpses of historical ruins from the 1800s ironmaking community. Explore Greenwood Furnace for detailed trail descriptions. |
| Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area | 8.5 miles of trails park map The trails explore forest habitats. Explore Joseph E. Ibberson for detailed trail descriptions. |
Kings Gap Environmental Education Center | 16 miles of trails park map Trailheads for the 16 miles of hiking trails are located at the three day use areas. A paved, ADA accessible trail is at the mansion. Explore Kings Gap for detailed descriptions of the trails. |
| Little Buffalo State Park | 8 miles of trails park map Hiking trails pass near the lake and streams, and through forests and fields. Sturdy footgear is recommended because of rocky footing on some of the trails. Explore Little Buffalo for detailed trail descriptions. |
| Memorial Lake State Park | 2 miles of trails park map The open nature of the park allows visitors to take casual walks through most of the park. Scenic views of the lake provide a tranquil setting, especially during spring and autumn. All hiking trails are easy walking due to the flat and wide stone surface. Explore Memorial Lake for detailed trail descriptions. |
| Milton State Park | 1 mile of trails park map The trails explore the riverine habitats of the north side of the river island. |
| Mont Alto State Park | 1 mile of trails park map Local mountain roads offer interesting short hikes and a flora that attracts a diversity of wildlife, especially woodland birds in Michaux State Forest. |
| Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center | 5 miles of trails park map Nolde Forest encompasses more than 665 acres of deciduous woodlands and coniferous plantations. A network of trails makes the center's streams, ponds and diverse habitats accessible to both students and casual visitors. There is a short, ADA accessible trail by the mansion. |
| Penn-Roosevelt State Park | 1 mile of trails park map Many trails begin in the park and continue into Rothrock State Forest. Explore Penn-Roosevelt for more information. |
| Pine Grove Furnace State Park | 4 miles of trails park map Pine Grove Furnace State Park has four miles of trails, and connections to longer trails, like the 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail. Explore Pine Grove Furnace for trail descriptions. |
| Poe Paddy State Park | 0.5 mile of trails park map The Mid State Trail, with orange rectangular blazes, passes through Poe Paddy. Hike through the 250-foot long Paddy Mountain Railroad Tunnel on the Mid State Trail by following the trail upstream along Penns Creek, crossing a pedestrian bridge and then going to the tunnel. |
| Poe Valley State Park | 3 miles of trails park map Poe Valley’s hiking trail system connects to the extensive trail network of Bald Eagle State Forest. The hiking trails vary from easy hiking to very rugged, steep trails. The 189-mile Mid State Trail passes through Poe Valley and is popular with backpackers and day hikers. |
| Prince Gallitzin State Park | 12 miles of trails park map Many trails begin at the Crooked Run Trailhead near the campground. Lakeshore Trail connects the Main Beach Area and Prince Gallitzin Marina. The Turkey Ridge trails explore the Peninsula. Explore Prince Gallitzin for detailed trail descriptions. |
| Raymond B. Winter State Park | 6.3 miles of trails park map Hiking trails provide easy hiking with only short stretches of steep inclines. Trails within the park are marked and maintained, but a map and proper attire are recommended for your comfort and safety. R. B. Winter is an ideal starting point for backpacking trips. Map and trail information for designated state forest trails are available at the park office. Parking is available for those who would rather not leave their vehicle along the highway. |
| Reeds Gap State Park | 6 miles of trails park map Hiking trails wander though forest and near Honey Creek. Explore Reeds Gap for trail descriptions. |
| Samuel S. Lewis State Park | 1 mile of trails park map The short hiking trails allow exploration of the pine forests and pass near interesting rock formations. |
| Shawnee State Park | 16 miles of trails park map Trails explore wetlands, forests fields and the lakeshore. Explore Shawnee for a chart of trails. |
| Shikellamy State Park | 2 miles of trails park map Paved paths encircle Shikellamy Marina. A walk around the one-mile nature trail on Shikellamy Overlook can reveal the wildlife that abounds in the park, like deer, songbirds and wildflowers. Different forest stages can be seen from scrub forest to mature hardwood forest. Unique geologic formations can be studied in the park and on the eastern boundary cliff trail extension. |
| Susquehannock State Park | 5 miles of trails park map The scenic hiking trails offer a wide variety of interesting habitats and evidence of people’s past use of the area. A Field Guide to the Natural History of Susquehannock State Park is available at the park office to assist you in discovering the natural resources of the park. Explore Susquehannock for detailed trail descriptions. |
| Swatara State Park | 15 miles of trails park map Swatara has a section of the Appalachian Trail and ten miles of multi-use trails. Explore Swatara for detailed trail descriptions. |
| Trough Creek State Park | 12 miles of trails park map The trails traverse scenic vistas, cool stream hollows, hillsides and ridge tops. A popular short hike crosses the suspension bridge and follows Rhododendron Trail to Rainbow Falls. Climb the steps along the waterfall, then hike on to Balanced Rock and return the same way. Some trails are steep and follow along cliffs with drop-offs. Exercise extreme caution and wear hiking shoes. Children must be supervised at all times. Trail conditions may be slippery when wet or icy depending on weather conditions. Explore Trough Creek for detailed trail descriptions. |
| Warriors Path State Park | 3 miles of trails park map The trails traverse through woods and field areas with the degree of difficulty ranging from easy to moderate. Please wear fluorescent orange when hiking during hunting seasons. |
| Whipple Dam State Park | 1 miles of trails park map The trails connect to Rothrock State Forest trails. |
