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.
You can enjoy fishing in a 340-acre lake, home to largemouth bass, catfish and panfish. There are also trout-stocked waters available for enthusiasts during the spring season. Ice-fishing is an option when conditions allow it in winter months.
Gifford Pinchot State Park is located near Camp Hill, Carlisle and Dallastown
The accessible Quaker Race Day Use Area is on the west side of the lake and the Conewago Day Use Area is on the east side of the lake. Picnic tables, charcoal grills, convenient parking lots, drinking water, modern restrooms and horseshoe pits are throughout the areas. The Quaker Race area has a volleyball court. The Conewago area has a softball field. Four accessible picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Bicycling:
The trails between the campground and the Conewago Day Use Area are for joint-use by hikers, cross-country skiers and bicycles. The Multipurpose Trail network consists of a 3.5-mile outer loop with a number of internal connectors. The trail surface is packed gravel and the terrain is mostly flat with a few gentle hills. The trail is suitable for family use and most bicycles. Please be considerate of other trail users; ride to the right and signal when passing. The trail winds through woodlands and along the lakeshore and is designed for a slow, leisurely ride. Fast and reckless riding is prohibited. Trail access for the general public is from the Conewago Day Use Area. Campers can access the trails directly from the campground.
Cross-country Skiing:
When adequate snow cover is available, many of the hiking trails provide an excellent opportunity for cross-country skiing. The best trails are accessed from the Conewago Day Use Area or the special parking area at the campground entrance. These trails are marked for bicycling and include portions of Lakeside, Alpine, Oak and Gravel trails. Other good trails are the network of spur roads and trails in the interior of the park campground, which are closed to camping and vehicle use during the winter season.
The park offers a wide variety of environmental education and interpretive programs. Through hands-on activities, guided walks and evening programs, participants gain appreciation, understanding and develop a sense of stewardship toward natural and cultural resources. Pontoon boat tours of the lake are offered spring through fall. Programs are offered early spring through late fall. For more detailed information contact the park office.
A park-operated nature center in the Conewago Day Use Area is open during the summer. Wayside exhibits and informative brochures help visitors learn more about the park?s natural environment.
Curriculum-based environmental education programs are available to schools and youth groups. Teacher workshops are available. Group programs must be arranged in advance and may be scheduled by calling the park office.
The park offers a diverse bird population, ideal for birdwatching. Over 300 species have been recorded here.
Birders can explore various habitats including forests, fields and wetlands to spot different birds.
Popular spots include the Conewago Day Use Area and Pinchot Lake where waterfowl are often seen.
There's also an annual Christmas Bird Count event that invites visitors to participate in identifying local avian life.
A checklist of common species is available at the park office helping enthusiasts track their sightings.
Hawghead Baits
2215 Rosstown Rd
Wellsville, PA
(717) 432-4505
Fishing Creek Community Assn
520 Locust Rd
New Cumberland, PA
(717) 938-3416
Tom's Fly-Fishing Service
75 Pleasantview Ter
New Cumberland, PA
Unverified listing
Fishing Creek Elementary Schl
510 Fishing Creek Rd
Lewisberry, PA
(717) 938-6565
Ski Roundtop: Ofc
925 Roundtop Rd
Lewisberry, PA
(717) 432-9631
The park is near the metropolitan areas of York and Harrisburg. It is reached from Harrisburg via the Lewisberry Exit (35) of I-83 south then PA 177 south; or by US 15 south to Dillsburg, then to PA 74 south. From York, take PA 74 north or I-83 north. From I-83, take the Newberrytown Exit (32), PA 382 west to PA 177 south.
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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