Login | May 18, 2026
Three Pennsylvania state park gems
PETE GLADDEN
Published: May 18, 2026
Typically when talk turns to awesome park vacations most of us conjure up visions of any one of our many wonderful national parks.
But I have to admit that I’ve had equally as many fantastic vacations in state parks as I’ve had in national parks.
And the really cool thing about exploring state parks is the fact that some of them are so far off the beaten path and so obscure that they’re far less visited than the national parks.
What’s more, occasionally one of these little gems can turn out to be a true vacationing nirvana!
So here’s three obscure state parks I’ve enjoyed over the years, all of which reside in Northcentral Pennsylvania, a region that’s provided me with a kaleidoscope of five-star memories.
Ole Bulle State Park, PA
Located off SR 44, about a 4.5-hour drive from Akron-Cleveland on I-80 east, the 132-acre Ole Bull State Park is nestled in the beautiful Kettle Creek Valley of Potter County.
This area of PA is part of a vast region called the Black Forest, so named because it once existed as a thick canopy of tree covered wilderness that stretched unbroken across some of PA’s highest mountain ridges.
Even today the area is so remote, wild and heavily forested that there’s usually no cell service unless you’re atop a mountain - which is why it’s known as the “PA Wilds.”
Here you’ll encounter the state’s most rugged mountains, a highly dissected landscape of ridges and valleys where 1,000-2,000-foot elevation changes between valley floors and ridge tops is not uncommon.
It’s a topography that offers a feast of dramatic vistas.
Another truly impressive attribute is the area’s stately stands of towering hemlock groves, stands of ancient timber that remind me of the massive groves of redwoods I hiked through when visiting CA’s Redwood National Park.
And the hiking here?
There’s a plethora of top-notch hiking trails in and around Ole Bull that provide plenty of solitude far away from the crowds.
A hiking trail pdf can be found at: https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=1753199&DocName=OLBU_ParkGuide.pdf.
There are also an astonishing tangle of single-lane gravel fire roads in and around the park that make for top-notch gravel cycling routes.
Heck, these roads are so amazing and so fun to ride that I ended up writing a mountain biking guidebook about the region in 2009!
The campground has a variety of modern amenities including a small beach along quiet little Kettle Creek, log rental cabins, picnic pavilions and electric and rustic camp sites.
Hyner Run/Hyner View State Parks, PA
Situated off SR 120 and another 4.5-hour drive on I-80 east, Hyner Run/Hyner View are two more PA State Park gems.
Hyner Run is named for the stunning little stream that’s carved a narrow chasm through the surrounding mountainscape, all of which makes for surrealistic scenes out of a Lord Of The Rings movie what with its lush, forested mountainsides, tranquil waterfalls, and towering stands of hemlock trees.
These parks lie in Clinton County and are part of Sproul State Forest, so they aren’t considered part of the Black Forest region, but you’ll still find gorgeous stream valleys and rugged mountain ridges.
One such ridge, which is adjacent to Hyner Run State Park, is Hyner View State Park, and it’s rated as one of PA’s most scenic vistas, offering captivating views of the West Branch Susquehanna River some 1300 feet below.
Both parks are situated close to some great hiking trails, one of which, the Donut Hole Trail, is 50-mile-long loop.
There’s also the Long Fork and Hyner View trails, both of which are stellar hikes.
Whatever trail you choose know that you’re in for some steep and rugged trail miles, but that effort is always rewarded with spectacular vistas at the ridge tops.
For a great pdf trail map of the region go to: https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=3541264&DocName=Donut%20Hole%20East.pdf
If you’re into gravel biking, well, there’s a myriad of amazing gravel fire roads in and around these parks just as there is around Ole Bull.
Hyner Run offers electric and rustic camping, a swimming pool, a small playground, a children's rock climbing wall and a picnic area.
So there it is, if you want to create some wonderful summer memories this season, check out these three PA parks.
Heck, they're really just around the corner!