Gifford Pinchot State Park
Encyclopedia
Gifford Pinchot State Park is a 2238 acres (905.7 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Warrington Township
, York County
, Pennsylvania
in the United States
. The park contains wooded hillsides, reverting farm fields, and 340 acres (137.6 ha) Pinchot Lake. It is near York
and Harrisburg
in the south-central part of the state.
The park is named after former Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot
. Pinchot was governor from 1923-1927 and 1931-1935. Gifford Pinchot National Forest
in Washington state bears his name as well. The park was dedicated in 1961 by Governor David L. Lawrence
.
Easy trails
Moderate trails
Difficult trails
.
Conewago Lake holds largemouth bass
, hybrid striped bass
, muskellunge
, catfish
, carp
, walleye
, crappie
and sunfish
. It is a Pennsylvania Big Bass Lake and thus, special regulations cover minimum size and creel limits for all species of bass. During the winter months, when conditions permit, ice fishing
is allowed on the lake. Ice fishermen mostly catch largemouth bass and the occasional walleye, muskellunge, crappie or sunfish.
The park also boasts a large beach in the Quaker Race Day Use Area. It is open from mid-May to mid-September. Beginning in 2008 lifeguards will not be posted at the beach. During the winter, when conditions permit, ice skating and ice boating are allowed on Conewago Lake, as well.
, rabbit
, waterfowl
and squirrel
. Hunting is restricted to bows and arrows only until the traditional small game season begins, then muzzleloader
s and shotguns are allowed. Handguns and center fire rifles
are never allowed in the park. Hunting is prohibited during the spring and summer and dog training can go on in designated hunting areas from Labor Day until March 31.
is to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about Disc Golf and encourage the public to become regular participants in Disc Golf as a wholesome, outdoor, low-impact, and fun exercise!
Boulder Woods:
The Boulder Woods recreational course is perfect for those who want to develop their Disc Golf skills or to compete in Amateur Disc Golf events. The 18-hole Boulder Woods Recreational Disc Golf Course is located in the Conewago Day Use Area, off Alpine Road, at Gifford Pinchot State Park.
Quaker's Challenge:
A new, 18-hole championship length, Disc Golf course is currently under construction on the west side of the lake in the Quaker Race Day Use Area with an expected completion date of Fall 2007, however, the course is currently playable as of August 2007. The championship course will be a great option for those seeking longer and more challenging Disc Golf holes.
Both courses are open to the public and are free to play. Score cards and course maps are available on-site.
Warrington Township, York County, Pennsylvania
Warrington Township is a township in York County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 4,532 at the 2010 census. The township is named after Warrington, England, like many townships having English names in York County.-Geography:...
, York County
York County, Pennsylvania
York County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The park contains wooded hillsides, reverting farm fields, and 340 acres (137.6 ha) Pinchot Lake. It is near York
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
and Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
in the south-central part of the state.
The park is named after former Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot was the first Chief of the United States Forest Service and the 28th Governor of Pennsylvania...
. Pinchot was governor from 1923-1927 and 1931-1935. Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in southern Washington, USA. With an area of 1.37 million acres , it extends 116 km along the western slopes of Cascade Range from Mount Rainier National Park to the Columbia River. It includes the 110,000 acre Mount St....
in Washington state bears his name as well. The park was dedicated in 1961 by Governor David L. Lawrence
David L. Lawrence
David Leo Lawrence was an American politician who served as the 37th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1959 to 1963. He is to date the only mayor of Pittsburgh to be elected Governor of Pennsylvania. Previously, he had been the mayor of Pittsburgh from 1946 through 1959...
.
Trails
There are more than 18 miles (29 km) of marked, maintained trails within the Gifford Pinchot State Park. Most of them interconnect. The trails are classified in one of three categories, easy, moderate, and difficult.Easy trails
- Alpine Trail: 0.5 miles (804.7 m), a wide gravel path known for its wildflowers. This trail begins on the east side of Conewago Day Use Area.
- Gravel Trail: 1.2 miles (1.9 km), this wide trail follows an old woods road and has a gravel surface.
- Oak Trail: 0.4 miles (643.7 m), a short trail that connects the campground with the interpretive center at the western end of the Conewago Day Use Area.
- Old Farm Trail: 1 miles (1.6 km), follows an old farm road to the top of Straight Hill. Connects Lakeside, Oak, and Ridge Trails.
Moderate trails
- Midland Trail: 0.5 miles (804.7 m), a trail with dirt and rock surfaces and steeper slopes, runs through most mature forest in the park.
- Fern Trail: 0.5 miles (804.7 m), another trail with rock and dirt surfaces as well as steeper slopes, runs through same mature forest as Midland.
- Quaker Race Trail: 1.7 miles (2.7 km), best reached through Quaker Race Day Use Area This trail has a dirt or rocky surfaces, uneven terrain and one steep hill.
- Ridge Trail: 1.2 miles (1.9 km), the trail wanders through old overgrown pasture, then climbs into a maturing oak and hickory forest along the top of Straight Hill. It has a dirt and rock surface. Butterflies are abundant along this trail.
Difficult trails
- Beaver Creek Trail: 1.5 miles (2.4 km), a trail that goes through wooded terrain. Sections of the trail can also be rocky or muddy when wet. Many habitats, including wetlands, can be seen in this undeveloped section of the park.
- Lakeside Trail: 8.5 miles (13.7 km), longest trail in the park. The walk is about six hours and some of the remote sections of the trail are narrow and have uneven footing.
- Pinchot Trail: 1.4 miles (2.3 km), rocky and/or wet surfaces. The habitat is mostly maturing oak and hickory forest. A number of old stone walls provide reminders of long abandoned efforts at farming.
- Mason-Dixon TrailMason-Dixon TrailThe Mason Dixon Trail connects the Appalachian Trail with the Brandywine Trail, passing through Gifford Pinchot State Park and White Clay Creek Preserve in Pennsylvania and White Clay Creek State Park in Delaware.-External links:*...
: 200 miles (321.9 km), this trail passes through Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania
Water Activities
The 340 acres (137.6 ha) Conewago Lake provides opportunities for boating. It has 24-hour launch areas and 286 shore moorings and canoe racks that can be rented from April 1 to November 1, the boat rental also rents electric motors and trolling engines for boats. Boats using the lake, with a motor 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 CommissionPennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is the state agency responsible for the regulation of all fishing and boating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
.
Conewago Lake holds largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
, hybrid striped bass
Hybrid striped bass
A hybrid striped bass, also known as a wiper or whiterock bass, is a hybrid between the striped bass and the white bass . It can be distinguished from the striped bass by broken rather than solid horizontal stripes on the body...
, muskellunge
Muskellunge
A muskellunge , also known as a muskelunge, muscallonge, milliganong, or maskinonge , is a large, relatively uncommon freshwater fish of North America. Muskellunge are the largest member of the pike family, Esocidae...
, catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
, carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
, walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
, crappie
Crappie
Crappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
and sunfish
Centrarchidae
The sunfishes are a family of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes. The type genus is Centrarchus . The family's 27 species includes many fishes familiar to North Americans, including the rock bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and crappies...
. It is a Pennsylvania Big Bass Lake and thus, special regulations cover minimum size and creel limits for all species of bass. During the winter months, when conditions permit, ice fishing
Ice fishing
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice anglers may sit on the stool in the open on a frozen lake, or in a heated cabin on the ice, some with bunks and amenities.-Locations:It is a popular pastime...
is allowed on the lake. Ice fishermen mostly catch largemouth bass and the occasional walleye, muskellunge, crappie or sunfish.
The park also boasts a large beach in the Quaker Race Day Use Area. It is open from mid-May to mid-September. Beginning in 2008 lifeguards will not be posted at the beach. During the winter, when conditions permit, ice skating and ice boating are allowed on Conewago Lake, as well.
Hunting
Around 1780 acres (720.3 ha) are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs from fall archery season through the end of the traditional winter seasons at Gifford Pinchot State Park. The most common game species are White-tailed deerWhite-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, rabbit
Eastern Cottontail
The eastern cottontail is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae. It is one of the most common rabbit species in North America.-Distribution:...
, waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
and squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the eastern provinces of Canada...
. Hunting is restricted to bows and arrows only until the traditional small game season begins, then muzzleloader
Muzzleloader
A muzzleloader is any firearm into which the projectile and usually the propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle of the gun . This is distinct from the more popular modern designs of breech-loading firearms...
s and shotguns are allowed. Handguns and center fire rifles
Centerfire ammunition
A centerfire cartridge is a cartridge with a primer located in the center of the cartridge case head. Unlike rimfire cartridges, the primer is a separate and replaceable component....
are never allowed in the park. Hunting is prohibited during the spring and summer and dog training can go on in designated hunting areas from Labor Day until March 31.
Picnicking
On the west side of the lake is Quaker Race Day Use Area and on the east side Conewago Day Use Area. They both contain charcoal grills, picnic table, parking lots, restrooms, horseshoe pits and drinking water. Quaker Race area has a volleyball court and Conewago, a softball field. Picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee.Horseback riding
There are no horse rentals but there is a northeast section of the park set aside for horseback riding. There are several miles of interconnecting, mowed trails that wind through reverting farm fields, pine plantations and deciduous woodlands.Disc Golf
The focus of Pinchot Disc GolfDisc golf
Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000...
is to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about Disc Golf and encourage the public to become regular participants in Disc Golf as a wholesome, outdoor, low-impact, and fun exercise!
Boulder Woods:
The Boulder Woods recreational course is perfect for those who want to develop their Disc Golf skills or to compete in Amateur Disc Golf events. The 18-hole Boulder Woods Recreational Disc Golf Course is located in the Conewago Day Use Area, off Alpine Road, at Gifford Pinchot State Park.
Quaker's Challenge:
A new, 18-hole championship length, Disc Golf course is currently under construction on the west side of the lake in the Quaker Race Day Use Area with an expected completion date of Fall 2007, however, the course is currently playable as of August 2007. The championship course will be a great option for those seeking longer and more challenging Disc Golf holes.
Both courses are open to the public and are free to play. Score cards and course maps are available on-site.
Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48.3 km) of Gifford Pinchot State Park:- Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation AreaBoyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation AreaBoyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area is a Pennsylvania state park in Lower Paxton and Middle Paxton Townships, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The land for the conservation area was donated to the state by real estate developer Alex Boyd in 1999. Boyd Big Tree Preserve...
(Dauphin CountyDauphin County, PennsylvaniaDauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
) - Codorus State ParkCodorus State ParkCodorus State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Heidelberg, Manheim, Penn, and West Manheim Townships in southwestern York County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park was created around Lake Marburg, an artificial lake covering , and is named for Codorus Creek, which forms the lake...
(York County) - Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation AreaJoseph E. Ibberson Conservation AreaJoseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area is a Pennsylvania state park in Middle Paxton and Wayne Townships, Dauphin Couny, Pennsylvania in the United States....
(Dauphin County) - Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training CenterKings Gap Environmental Education and Training CenterKings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center is a Pennsylvania state park in Cooke, Dickinson and Penn Townships, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acquired the land in 1973, from the C. H. Masland and Son Carpet Company...
(Cumberland CountyCumberland County, PennsylvaniaCumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 235,406.-History:...
) - Memorial Lake State ParkMemorial Lake State ParkMemorial Lake State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in East Hanover Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is completely surrounded by Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, headquarters of the Pennsylvania National Guard...
(Lebanon CountyLebanon County, PennsylvaniaAs of the census of 2000, there were 120,327 people and 32,771 families residing in the county. The population density was 332 people per square mile . There were 49,320 housing units at an average density of 136 per square mile...
) - Pine Grove Furnace State ParkPine Grove Furnace State ParkPine Grove Furnace State Park is a protected Pennsylvania area that includes Laurel and Fuller lakes in Cooke Township. The park provides various outdoor recreation activities, has the remains of the Pine Grove Iron Works, and was the site of the 1830 Laurel Forge, 1880s Pine Grove Park, and an...
(Cumberland County) - Samuel S. Lewis State ParkSamuel S. Lewis State ParkSamuel S. Lewis State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Lower Windsor Township, York County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Mt. Pisgah is an high ridge that is the focus of recreation for the park. The ridge separates East Prospect Valley from Kreutz Creek Valley. An overlook on Mt. Pisgah...
(York County)