Gifford Pinchot State Park
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Gifford Pinchot State Park is in northern York County, Pennsylvania. The park is a full service 2,338 acre state park. The park contains wooded hillsides, reverting farm fields, and 340-acre Pinchot Lake. It is located near York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the south-central part of the state.
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[edit] The park's namesake
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.
[edit] Park activities
[edit] Trails
There are more than 18 miles 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: .5 miles, 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, this wide trail follows an old woods road and has a gravel surface.
- Oak Trail: .4 miles, 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 mile, follows an old farm road to the top of Straight Hill. Connects Lakeside, Oak, and Ridge Trails.
Moderate trails
- Midland Trail: .5 miles, a trail with dirt and rock surfaces and steeper slopes, runs through most mature forest in the park.
- Fern Trail: .5 miles, 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, 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, the trail wanders through 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, 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, 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, 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 Trail: 200 miles, this trail passes through Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania
[edit] Water Activities
340-acre Pinchot 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 Commission.
Talk about boats begets talk about fishing. Pinchot Lake holds largemouth bass, hybrid stripped 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 boats a large beach in the Quaker Race Day Use Area. It is open from mid-May to mid-September. Lifeguards are on duty from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. During the winter, when conditions permit, ice skating and ice boating are allowed on Pinchot Lake, as well.
[edit] Hunting
Around 1,780 acres 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 deer, rabbit, waterfowl and squirrel. Hunting is restricted to bows and arrows only until the traditional small game season begins, then muzzleloaders 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Other Sports
[edit] References
Pennsylvania DCNR: Gifford Pinchot State Park
