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.
Seasons and Hours
The park is open every day of the year, 8:00 A.M. to sunset. Day use areas close at sunset.
The park office is open specific hours. The beach, overnight areas, and other areas are open specific seasons and hours. Contact the park office for facility seasons and hours.
Reservations
Make
online reservations or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), from 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday to Saturday.
Directions
The park is near the metropolitan areas of York and Harrisburg.
From Harrisburg, take 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.
GPS DD: Lat. 40.087 Long. -76.888
Top 10 Things to Do
Discover the challenge of hiking the Mason-Dixon Trail.
Join us on an educational pontoon boat tour of Pinchot Lake.
Experience the fun of flat-water kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding on Pinchot Lake.
Enjoy a round of disc golf with friends or family at one of our two 18-hole courses.
No tent, no trailer, no problem! Enjoy a stay in one of our yurts or camping cottages with a gorgeous view of the lake.
Hike one of our trails throughout the summer to discover the giant swallowtail butterfly, the largest butterfly found in the United States or Canada.
In May, the eastern red bud trees can turn the park a lovely pink hue with their abundant blooms. A great time to discover the beauty of our spring woodlands!
Check out the diabase boulders and rock outcrops throughout the park that make for picturesque lake scenes or spots for quiet solitude.
Pinchot Lake offers 340 acres of “Big Bass” waters to challenge even the most experienced angler, or plentiful bluegills to delight even the youngest angler with a fishing pole.
Enjoy a night under the stars in the campground.
Learn, Experience, Connect
The park offers a wide variety of environmental education and recreation programs year-round. Participants gain appreciation, understanding, and develop a sense of stewardship toward natural and cultural resources through:
Hands-on activities
Guided walks
Evening programs
Pontoon boat tours of the lake are offered spring through fall. For more detailed information contact the park office.
The environmental learning center in the Conewago Day Use Area is open weekends during the summer. Visitors can explore the center's exhibits to discover more about the park’s natural environment.
Curriculum-based environmental education programs are available to schools and youth groups.
Popular topics include:
- Adaptations
- Seasonal habitats
- Bird life
- Insects
- Forest ecosystems
- Lake ecology
Teacher workshops are available. Group programs must be arranged in advance by calling the park office.
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
A two-plug, electric-vehicle charging station is available for public use near the beach concession in the Quaker Race Day Use Area. Please move to another parking space once your vehicle has been charged.
Access for People with Disabilities
This activity or structure is ADA accessible. The park office is a completely ADA accessible building. If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.
In an Emergency
Call 911 and contact a park employee.
Directions to the nearest hospital are posted on bulletin boards and at the park office.
Nearest Hospital
UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg
111 South Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-782-3131