identify songs and recognize subtle wildlife signs along the shoreline. Named for Pennsylvania’s most famous forester and conservation governor, Gifford Pinchot State Park in Lewisberry combines family recreation with environmental education. The Environmental Learning Center offers exhibits on the park’s ecosystems, while hands-on scavenger hunts encourage children to search for insects, identify tree species, and track animal footprints. Outside, a solar array reflects the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ decades-long investment in renewable energy. A hub of old-growth forest conservation, Cook Forest State Park in Leeper became the first Pennsylvania state park acquired to preserve a natural area, and the towering white pines and hemlocks of its Forest Cathedral was named a National Natural Landmark. Check the calendar at the Log Cabin Inn Environmental Learning Classroom for educational events like fluorescent mushroom identification hikes. Nearby Clear Creek State Park in Sigel is an example of Pennsylvania’s long legacy of forest restoration. Once heavily logged, the land has been carefully stewarded back into a thriving woodland. Walk the Civilian Conservation Corps–built trails to spot blooming rhododendron (mid-June and early July), or cast a line to catch trout in Clear Creek and Clarion River. Naturalist-led programs at the amphitheater educate visitors on a variety of wildlife, from owls to lizards. Rock Hunting with Geologist Gale Blackmer For Gale Blackmer, geologist for Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, curiosity started young. “As a kid, I was always picking up rocks,” she recalls. “Geology is like history on steroids.” That early fascination grew into a career spent unraveling the state’s 1.4 billion years of geologic history — plenty to keep her busy, as many Pennsylvania state parks are built around striking natural features. “Some of my favorites are Pine Creek Gorge , the waterfalls at Ricketts Glen State Park , the Hickory Run State Park boulder field, and Pole Steeple ,” Blackmer says. For those eager to dig deeper, she champions the “walk and talk” approach. Led by Bureau of Geological Survey staff, these guided outings reveal the stories behind the rocks, the way geology shapes the land, and its ties to local history and culture. “People tell me they see landscapes in a more meaningful way afterward,” she says. Find upcoming programs at events.dcnr.pa.gov . Cook Forest State Park, Leeper 60 visitpa.com AMANDA BERG
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Travel Guide 2026: Page 60
