GIFFORD PINCHOT STATE PARK
Gifford Pinchot State Park, a 2,338-acre full service park, is in northern York County along PA 177 between the towns of Rossville and Lewisberry. The park consists of reverting farm fields and wooded hillsides with the 340-acre Pinchot Lake serving as a prime attraction.
Camping Cottages:
Three cottages sleep five people in single bunks and double/single bunks, and have wooden floors, windows, electric heat, porch, picnic table, fire ring, electric lights and outlets. Nearby Bathhouse Seven provides toilets, showers, drinking water and a dishwashing station.
Yurts:
These Mongolian-style tents are round, on a wooden deck and sleep six people in single bunks and double/single bunks. Yurts have a cooking stove, refrigerator, countertop, table, chairs, electric lights, electric heat, outlets, fire ring, and picnic table. Nearby Bathhouse #7 provides toilets, showers, drinking water and a dishwashing station.
Camping: modern sites, some with electricity
With 339 campsites at the southern end of the lake, this park provides one of the largest state park campgrounds in the Commonwealth. The campground opens on the second Friday in April and closes by the end of October. All of the sites have macadam pads and can accommodate virtually any piece of camping equipment from a large motor home to the smallest tent. The campground has an accessible swimming beach, outdoor amphitheater, some accessible campsites, hiking trails, boat launching and mooring area, sanitary dumping stations, staffed campground office, and modern bathhouses with flush toilets and showers. Pets are not permitted in overnight areas.
Organized Group Tenting:
The 50 sites, which can hold up to 250 people, are in the campground. This modern area is for scout, church or other organized groups that wish to camp together. Advance reservations are required.
BBs / Inns
Enjoy casual and comfortable, country elegance and delicious breakfasts in this 200 year old brick farmhouse situated on 10 acres. We are located near the Appalachian Trail and numerous outdoor activities which include world-class fly fishing. We are less than 5 miles away from the The US Army Heritage and Education Center and many Carlisle collector car events throughout the year.
15.3 miles from park*
Horseback Riding:
In the northeast section of the park is an area set aside for horseback riding. This area includes several miles of wide, mowed, interconnecting trails that wind through reverting farm fields, pine plantations and deciduous woodlands. There is a large, gravel parking area off of Alpine Road, a short distance south of the intersection with PA 177. There are no horse rentals.
Boating: electric motors only
The 340-acre Pinchot Lake has three launch areas available 24 hours a day. There are 286 shoreline mooring and canoe rack spaces that may be rented from April 1st to November 1st. Mooring areas include a number of larger spaces designed to accommodate the increasingly popular day sailors and catamarans, while rack spaces accommodate sailboards and smaller sailboats. There are several types of boats and electric trolling motors for rent at the boat rental from late spring through early autumn each year.
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.
Pinchot State Park has something for everyone year round. Fishing, sailing, biking, swimming, nice lakeside trail, camping, horse trails friendly park staff and rangers. We love this park. The food at the Concession Area provides amazingly great food (pizza, hamburgers, fresh cut fries) ~a real secret. Throughout the summer, we would go there just to have a bite and enjoy the scenery. Go there to relax, picnic, BBQ, or just to work remote or get away from the norm...
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