Poe Valley & Poe Paddy State Park
If you are looking for an adventure close to State College Poe Valley & Poe Paddy State Park are a must add to your list!
From Potters Mills, go east on US 322 for 1.5 Miles to near the top of Seven Mountains Scenic Area, then follow marked state forest roads for 10 miles to Poe Valley. Follow the signs after arriving at Poe Valley to connect you to the road to get to Poe Paddy which is about 4 Miles from Poe Valley.
Be sure to follow directions on signs or prepare ahead of time as there is no service to load a GPS or no cell phone reception once you get back the dirt roads.
The drive out to the Parks feels like you are riding off the beaten path; following dirt roads surrounded by trees and nature.
Poe Valley is a 620-Acre PA State Park in Penn Township, Centre County. The park is surrounded by Bald Eagle...
This 62-Acre Nature Preserve is home to a variety of mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, hundreds of bird species, and a diverse plant population.
Located in State College, PA at 548 Puddintown Road you will escape into the wonders of Nature that take place at this setting. There is a beautiful pollinator garden with a variety of flowers and plants. Also enjoy the mutiple different wildlife there is to see including fish, mammals & a large variety of Bird Species.
The grounds are open daily- Dusk to Dawn. This Nature center is rated one of the top things to do in State College! There is a large parking area so it is easy for you to obatin access into the nature center.
There is a barn that can be rented out for activites along with being able to rent out the entire Nature Center grounds for a wedding or event! The staff is friendly to work...
Rising in the mountains near
Penn State, Spring Creek has been named one of the finest wild trout stream in Pennsylvania.
Whether you are looking for a Park to take children to, go on a hike for the weekend, bike riding, or of course fishing, Spring Creek is a beautiful spot that you must stop at if you are in the
State College Area.
Spring Creek Park offers outdoor recreation and nature preservation. A public space open to the general public. The park offers open spaces under the maintenance of State College Parks Department.
The park offers a playground with a sandbox area, 3 picnic pavilions, 2 sand volleyball courts, 4 tennis courts, walking paths, adult softball field, adult baseball field, 2 basketball courts, fitness unit, very cool covered bridge, fishing, restroom building (seasonal),...
Whether you’re looking for an overnight excursion or simply a short day-hike, the Mid State Trail should be at the top of your list.
Known as the “wildest footpath in Pennsylvania,” the 320-plus mile trail runs just south of State College on its route from the Maryland to the New York border. It covers diverse topography and is located mostly on public land, including the nearby Rothrock and Bald Eagle state forests.
The State College section of the trail is the most popular, but you’ll still find serenity in abundance. Our local section is known for its beautiful views and a monument near Little Flat Fire Tower that was erected to commemorate the trail’s birthplace. Founded by Professor Tom Thwaites of the Penn State Outing Club in 1969, the trail holds a special place in the heart of Penn Staters and Pennsylvanians alike.
The trail passes through or near...
Surrounded by multiple state forests and parks,
Centre County outdoors lovers have a lot to be thankful for. Hikers especially have an abundance of options to enjoy— one of them being the 80-mile Standing Stone Trail (SST), which runs south of
State College and
Penn State University.
Initially built as the Link Trail to connect the Mid State and Tuscarora trails, the SST received its current name in 2007. It’s also part of the Great Eastern Trail — America’s newest long-distance trail that spans from Alabama to New York.
Running along the ridge and valley section of the northern Appalachian Mountains, the SST features many views and unique cultural attractions. The most popular section of trail, by far, is the Thousand Steps hike, just south of Huntingdon.
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Outdoor activities are plentiful in the region, thanks in part to public land like Rothrock State Forest.
Located just minutes from
State College and
Penn State University, this 215,000-acre tract of mountainous terrain in
Centre, Mifflin and Huntingdon counties offers hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing and much more.
Founded in the early 20th century by neighboring Mifflin County native Dr. Joseph Rothrock, the forest was initially barren due to excessive logging and resource extraction. Concerned that the barren ridges would not regrow without proper management, Rothrock took action in 1895 when he was appointed the first commissioner of what’s today known as the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This was the beginning of Pennsylvania’s...
When you’re feeling the need to get out of town and explore the outdoors, consider Black Moshannon State Park.
Located less than 25 minutes from State College and Penn State, and 15 minutes from Philipsburg, the park was built around its namesake lake – Black Moshannon Lake, formed by a dam on the Black Moshannon Creek. Home of the largest reconstituted bog/wetland complex in the state, there’s plenty of water-related activities here, along with great hiking trails and wildlife habitat to explore.
Open year-round, this 3,481-acre park has something for everyone. One of the best times to visit is during the summer, when warmer temperatures allow for swimming in the lake. Feel free to stretch out on the sandy beach and take in the fresh mountain air! Kids will love this alternative to their local community pool.
If you feel like...
Covering almost 60 percent of its land, forests are a vital resource to Pennsylvania. They provide recreation and are also an important part of the economy.
In fact, the state is the number one producer of hardwoods in the country, with $5.5 billion worth of products produced annually. The lumber industry has also been important historically, but in the late 1800s, its clear-cutting practices lead to decimated forests across the state.
Early pioneers like Joseph T. Rothrock contributed greatly to forest conservation, eventually leading to the formation of the state forest system. Today, the Commonwealth manages 20 state forests comprising of 2.2 million acres in 48 of the state’s 67 counties.
Some of Centre County’s 535,100 forested acres are within the Bald Eagle State forest, which contains over 193,000 acres of land for public enjoyment. This sizable tract sits in the Appalachian Mountain section of the state, which is characterized by long northeast-southwest ridges interspersed by wide,...
Of the six state parks located in Centre County, Bald Eagle State Park is perhaps the crown jewel.
Situated on the banks of a 1,730-acre manmade lake in Bald Eagle Valley, this park offers a variety of activities to keep any outdoor lover entertained.
The park offers two campgrounds, boating, fishing, swimming, one of the nation’s top eco-friendly hotels, and so much more.
STAYING HERE
Located 30 minutes from State College and Penn State, and 15 minutes from Bellefonte, this park is an easy trip for most county residents. Those coming from farther away can enjoy easy access from interstates 99 and 80.
If you’re looking to enjoy the park’s amenities with overnight accommodations, there’s a variety...
