13.1 miles of trails

Many hiking trails begin or pass through Parker Dam State Park and continue into the surrounding Moshannon State Forest. Some trails travel through a tornado blowdown, while others follow streams or pass through hardwood forests. Hike the Trail of New Giants and then Souders Trail to compare a young forest to a mature forest.

Parker Dam State Park Trail Map (PDF)

Trail Definitions

Difficulty Ratings

Easiest -- For beginner trail users. Grade is gentle with few obstacles.
More Difficult -- For the majority of trail users. Grade is steeper and trails narrower with embedded rocks or roots on the trail surface.
Most Difficult -- For trail users with advanced skills. Grade is steep and provides a definite physical challenge. Routes may not be well marked. Elevation gain or loss is severe.

Trail Route Type

Loop -- Start and end at the same location and follow a single trail to form a loop.
Out-and-back -- Start and end at a trailhead and follow a single trail to an endpoint or specific point of interest, then return along the same route.
Point-to-point -- Trails are generally longer in distance and parks may often contain only a portion of the trail within their boundary. Hiker starts and ends in different locations, often requiring a shuttle.
Connector -- Begin and end in connection with another trail or trails but do not terminate at a trailhead.

0.42 mile in the park, 2.2 miles total  |  Easiest hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms, picnic tables

Evidence of beavers, like cuttings, tracks, lodges, and dams, can be seen along this 2.2-mile trail which follows Mud Run through park and Moshannon State Forest land. The trail also passes through a hardwood forest, a hemlock forest, and pine plantations.

0.8 mile  |  Easiest hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: non-flush restrooms

This trail is a walk down memory lane to the days of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In the 1930s, this was the road used daily for travel between the residential CCC camp (now the Organized Group Tenting Area) and the work site at the dam. A connector trail leads to Laurel Run Trail.

1.6 miles  |  More difficult hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: none

Long used by fishermen, this trail starts near the campground bridge, follows the eastern shoreline of the lake, traverses the dam breast, and follows Laurel Run. This trail also winds through the tornado blowdown area.

0.3 mile in the park  |  Easiest hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, backpacking
Trailhead amenities: none

A display at the trailhead shows historic lumbering tools and an authentic reproduction of a log slide, which were used in the 1870s to harvest timber. Along the trail can be seen the places where the Civilian Conservation Corps workers cut stone in the 1930s to build Parker Dam.

The trail is part of the 73-mile Quehanna Trail, which is blazed in orange, and connects to Stumpfield Trail via a pipeline which is blazed in yellow.

Quehanna Trail

1.25 miles in the park, 73 miles total  |  Most difficult hiking  |  Point-to-point trail  |  Orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, backpacking
Trailhead amenities: none

This trail travels from the park through the Quehanna Wild Area. Backpacking trips range from one to seven or more days.
Only experienced hikers should use these wilderness trails. The main trail is blazed in orange. Connector trails are blazed in yellow. 

There is no backpack camping in the park. The Stay the Night section has more information on backpacking the Quehanna Trail.

The Quehanna Area Trails Club maintains the trail and has additional information.

0.2 mile in the park, 0.9 mile total  |  Easiest hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none

Begin at the campground amphitheater and traverse a meadow that was once a forest of pine and hemlock. Look for large stumps left from logging at the turn of the 20th century. Stunted trees and thick shrubs are evidence of repeated wildfires that destroyed topsoil and slowed forest regrowth. This 0.9-mile trail connects with Log Slide Trail by following the pipeline through Moshannon State Forest.

1.2 miles  |  More difficult hiking  |  Out-and-back trail  |  Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking
Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms, picnic tables

On May 31, 1985, one of Pennsylvania’s largest and strongest tornadoes roared through the park and destroyed the towering forest of ash, oak, beech, and sugar maple trees.

The Trail of New Giants cuts through the blowdown and the 250-acre Windstorm Preserve. Walk the trail and see the forest regenerating. A 1/4-mile spur trail leads to two beautiful vistas of the park and surrounding forest.