Bored of seeing the same old scenes at the gym day after day? Say no more. Central Pennsylvania is an outdoor lover’s dream. Tell the gym “see ya” for a few days this spring and have yourself a workout with nature. Grab a friend, grab the kids, or grab your pooch and go be active in your own backyard. Here are 10 places to try:
1. Pine Grove State Park (Cumberland County)
Tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains is a state park with lots of fun things for the whole family to do. Two public beaches allow swimming, kayaking, and canoeing. For hikers and bikers, Pole Steeple is a mile trail straight up the mountain with a view at the top you can’t miss.
1100 Pine Grove Road, Gardners, PA / dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/PineGroveFurnaceStatePark/Pages/default.aspx
2. Chickies Rock County Park (Lancaster County)
Perfect for an early morning hike to see the sunrise over the Susquehanna River.
880 Chickies Hill Road, Columbia, PA / co.lancaster.pa.us/262/Chickies-Rock-County-Park
3. Rails to Trails (Cumberland County)
An 11 mile biking trail between Newville and Shippensburg. Perfect for bikers who enjoy a lengthy, but flat ride.
98 Rich St., Newville, PA / cvrtc.org/index.php
4. Colonel Denning State Park (Cumberland County)
Looking for a challenge? Flat Rock trail is a 2.5 mile trail (one way) straight up the mountain. The hike–and the view from the top–will leave you breathless.
1599 Doubling Gap Road, Newville, PA / dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/ColonelDenningStatePark/Pages/default.aspx
5. Susquehannock State Park (Lancaster County)
Whether you want a walk in the woods or a challenging hike, you can expect beautiful views of the Susquehanna River.
1880 Park Dr., Drumore, PA / dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/SusquehannockStatePark/Pages/default.aspx
6. Capital Area Greenbelt (Harrisburg)
A 20 mile biking loop through Harrisburg, giving you both an urban and country scene during the ride.
Connect to the Greenbelt via the Walnut Street ped/cycle bridge in Harrisburg / caga.org/the-trail/
7. Little Buffalo State Park (Perry County)
Perfect for staying active with the family, this park holds a waterpark, a lake with kayak and canoe rentals, and numerous woodland trails.
1579 State Park Road, Newport, PA
8. The Gettysburg National Military Park (Adams County)
For the history buff hikers, enjoy learning about The Battle at Gettysburg on a 26 mile trail around the battlefields.
1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA / nps.gov/gett/index.htm
9. Northwest Lancaster County River Trail (Lancaster County)
Perfect for a bike ride, or taking a walk with the dog, this trail is full of greenery and the White Cliffs of Conoy overlooking the Susquehanna River.
Marietta, PA / nwrt.info/
10. Rocky Ridge County Park (York County)
A wooded park on the outskirts of York County with miles of trails ranked easy to challenging. Perfect for a hike or off road biking.
3699 Deininger Road, York, PA / yorkcountypa.gov/parks-recreation/the-parks/rocky-ridge-parks.html