Whether your favorite animals are in a barnyard, native to the Pennsylvania woods, or from another land, chances are you can find them in the Susquehanna Valley. Connecting with nature and learning about animals often combines adventure, exercise, education, and entertainment—activities that can be enjoyed by the young as well as the young at heart. Turn the page for a list of parks, nature centers, wildlife sanctuaries, and refuges where you can go wild in Central PA!
Adams County
Photo courtesy Destination Gettysburg
1. Land of Little Horses
Visit with 24 tiny equines (aka miniature horses) and other animals at Land of Little Horses, located just west of Gettysburg and in operation since 1971. Daily events include entertaining and educational animal shows such as the “Parade of Breeds” and “Tortoise and Hare Race.”
Admission / 125 Glenwood Dr., Gettysburg, PA / landoflittlehorses.com
Photo courtesy Destination Gettysburg
2. Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve and Environmental Center
Tucked into the southwest corner of Adams County, this 600-acre preserve offers a nature center with reptiles, amphibians, and educational displays (open Tuesday through Saturday); 10 miles of hiking trails where you can catch glimpses of more than 60species of birds; unique rock formations; scenic vistas; secret glades; and crystal-clear mountain streams that serve as part of the ChesapeakeBay headwaters.
Free / 1537 Mount Hope Road, Fairfield, PA / strawberryhill.org
Photo courtesy Maureen Figueira Photography
3. East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue
A nonprofit sanctuary, East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue serves as a refuge for more than 40 species of exotic animals including birds, carnivores, and reptiles—all previously misused or abandoned. As a result, the sanctuary educates visitors about the consequences of human interference in animals’ lives, offering a unique perspective. Open weekends, May-October.
Admission / 320 Zoo Road, Fairfield, PA / eastcoastexoticrescue.org
Photo courtesy Destination Gettysburg
4. Catoctin Wildlife Preserve & Zoo
Ok, this zoo lies outside of Central PA, but we couldn’t resist including it anyway. Just an hour from York (20 minutes from Gettysburg), Catoctin is home to more than 300 species in distinct habitat areas such as white Bengal tigers in the Asian habitat and a neotropical bat building in the Latin American habitat. Regular admission includes programs, animal encounters, and petting zoo. Optional add-on: safari ride!
Admission / 13019 Catoctin Furnace Road, Thurmont, MD / cwpzoo.com
Cumberland County
Photo courtesy Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau
5. King’s Gap Environmental Education Center
With 2,531 forested acres on South Mountain and 20 miles of trails, King’s Gap offers sweeping mountain vistas, birding opportunities, an orienteering course, educational events, and gardens including butterflies and a pond with frogs. Part of the state park system, King’s Gap has rangers who lead guided hikes, while self-guided interpretive trails are also available.
Free / 500 Kings Gap Road, Carlisle, PA / dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/KingsGapEnvironmentalEducationCenter
Photo courtesy Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau
6. The Oakes Museum of Natural History
Featuring Smithsonian-quality exhibits, this museum is located on the first two floors of Messiah College’s Jordan Science Center. The African mammal collection is the largest of its kind in PA (200!) and includes an elephant, hippo, giraffe, and more. Another claim to fame: The museum has more than 200 bird nests and 17,000 bird eggs—the third largest private collection of bird eggs in the U.S.
Admission / One College Ave., Mechanicsburg PA / messiah.edu/Oakes
7. Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Perched at the northern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains (South Mountain), Pine Grove Furnace State Park is packed with 696 acres of natural and historical features: two mountain lakes with beaches, the Appalachian Trail Museum with one entire floor dedicated to children, plus guided walks and programs such as Orienteering for Beginners. The park is surrounded by Michaux State Forest, with additional hiking and wildlife-sighting opportunities.
Free / 1100 Pine Grove Road, Gardners, PA / dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/PineGroveFurnaceStatePark
Dauphin County
Photo courtesy Lake Tobias Wildlife Park
8. Lake Tobias Wildlife Park
Take a wildlife adventure via safari tours featuring educational and entertaining interactions with herds of wild and exotic animals. Mammals, reptiles, and birds represent six continents. Also available: animal exhibits, a petting zoo, new museum and education center which opened in 2017; a giraffe exhibit is set to open in 2018. Opens for the season in May.
Admission / 760 Tobias Road, Halifax, PA / laketobias.com
Photo courtesy Hershey Gardens
9. Hershey Gardens
Gracing Central PA with botanical beauty since 1937, Hershey Gardens’ 23 acres feature breathtaking flowers, shrubs, and trees, plus the hands-on Children’s Garden. Indoors, the Butterfly Atrium allows visitors the amazing opportunity to walk among 500-plus butterflies from around the world in a tropical setting, while the BugZone offers views of unique insects in glass terrariums.
Admission / 170 Hotel Road, Hershey, PA / hersheygardens.org
Photo courtesy ZooAmerica
10. ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park
More than 200 animals—all native to North America—are represented from friendly otters to the solitary mountain lion; the small, black-footed ferret to the large American Elk, and reptiles such as snakes to unique mammals like the porcupine. Established by Milton S. Hershey more than 100 years ago, ZooAmerica is attached to Hersheypark via a walkway bridge; the zoo is free with park admission. There is also a separate, year-round entrance specific to the zoo.
Admission / 201 Park Ave., Hershey, PA / zooamerica.com
11. Wildwood Park
A wildlife oasis on the northern edge of Harrisburg, Wildwood Park offers a nature center, trails, boardwalks around Wildwood Lake, and plenty of wildlife including birds, turtles, frogs, deer, and more. Check the website for scheduled programs. The park is part of the Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Department and is supported by the nonprofit Friends of Wildwood.
Free; some programs may have admission / 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, PA / wildwoodlake.org
Lancaster County
Photo courtesy Wolf Sanctuary of PA
12. Wolf Sanctuary of PA
Wolves have been extinct in Pennsylvania for more than 100 years. The nonprofit Wolf Sanctuary of PA provides a home to more than 40 rescued wolves, allowing the public the rare opportunity to see them in their natural woodland habitat and learn about their fascinating behavior and biology. Tours are offered several times a week at set times; see the website in order to plan your visit. “Full Moon Tours” are offered once a month.
Admission / 465 Speedwell Forge Road, Lititz, PA / wolfsanctuarypa.org
13. Cherry Crest Farm
Although perhaps best known for its corn maze (voted one of the top 10 mazes in the country by readers of USA Today), Cherry Crest Farm is a working farm with many other attractions, including a Barnyard Animal Grove where visitors can pet a donkey, sheep, and goats; hold a baby chick; or learn how milk is processed. The farm opens Memorial Day weekend; the corn maze opens July 1.
Admission / 150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, PA / cherrycrestfarm.com
Photo courtesy Discover Lancaster
14. Nookside Stables
Adventure and education combined! Nookside Stables offers a one-hour, guided horseback riding adventure through 47 acres of Lancaster County’s rolling pastures and meadows for those 10 and older (beginners welcome). For younger adventure-seekers, there are pony rides and wagon rides. Bonus: Visitors can pet the sheep too.
Admission; advance reservations required / 500 Landisville Road, Manheim, PA / nookside.com
15. Eastland Alpacas
A 30-acre farm, Eastland Alpacas is dedicated to breeding and raising quality alpacas—known for their peaceful, intelligent, friendly nature and outstanding fiber-producing ability. Native to the South American Andes Mountains of Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, alpacas sport a variety of colors. Visit Eastland Alpacas’ farm store anytime, or schedule a farm tour in advance.
Donation/Admission / 2089 Risser Mill Road, Mount Joy, PA / eastlandalpacas.com
Lebanon County
16. Swatara State Park
Swatara Creek meanders the length of this state park, surrounded by 3,520 acres of rolling fields, wetlands, and forests comprising the Swatara Valley, between Second and Blue Mountains. Extensive hiking and biking trails include sections of the Appalachian and Swatara Rail Trails. A historic, cast-iron, reconstructed bridge carries AT hikers over the creek. Kittatinny Ridge (Blue Mountain) is designated by Audubon Pennsylvania as the largest of the state’s “Important Bird Areas.” Nest boxes are maintained for bluebirds, hawks, wrens, and ducks.
Free / 1450 Suedburg Road, Pine Grove, PA / dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/SwataraStatePark
York County
17. Codorus State Park
Located in the rolling hills of southern York County, Codorus State Park features several wildlife habitats—forests, fields, wetlands, and a large lake. The 1,275-acre Lake Marburg, with 26 miles of shoreline, serves as a magnet for many types of birds including osprey—often seen diving into the water to catch fish. Keep your eyes open for turtles too. An overlook allows visitors to view an active bald eagle nest.
Free / 2600 Smith Station Road, Hanover, PA / dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/CodorusStatePark
904666358
18. Gifford PinchotState Park
Located in northern York County, the heart of 2,338-acre Gifford Pinchot State Park is Pinchot Lake. Eighteen miles of hiking trails include a section of the Mason-Dixon Trail. Look for wildflowers in the spring and the giant swallowtail butterfly (largest butterfly in the US) during the summer; enjoy bird-watching year-round. Visit the environmental learning center during summer weekends. Check the events schedule for interpretive pontoon boat tours!
Free / 2200 Rosstown Road, Lewisberry, PA / dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/GiffordPinchotStatePark
19. Rocky Ridge County Park
Offering spectacular views of the Susquehanna Valley, Rocky Ridge County Park’s elevation provides one of Central PA’s prime viewing spots for migratory birds—via two observation decks and a bird blind. The first established York County park, Rocky Ridge includes 750 acres of mature, mixed-oak forest. Nature lovers can hike, bike, or ride on more than 12 miles of trails.
Free / 3699 Deininger Road, York, PA / yorkcountypa.gov/parks-recreation/the-parks
20. Perrydell Farm
Tour a working dairy farm in York County! The Holstein (black and white) herd at Perrydell numbers about 250, with 130 of them milked twice a day (no hormones here). Timing is everything for the self-guided tour: You might see cows being milked, calves being fed, or milk being bottled. Visit their farm store to take fresh milk home with you—or enjoy hand-dipped ice cream on the spot. Free self-guided tour; reservation and admission required for groups of 10 or more.
90 Indian Rock Dam Road, York, PA / perrydellfarm.com
