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Gifford Pinchot State Park
Categories: Active Life Parks Active Life Lakes Parks, Lakes [Edit]
2200 Rosstown RdLewisberry, PA 17339
(717) 292-4112
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
8 reviews for Gifford Pinchot State Park
8 reviews in English
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Review from Mike M.
San Diego, CA
5/23/2009
This is the third PA state park in which I've camped (Rickett's Glenn and Promised Land being the others) and I must say that I was quite pleased with my experience here. I camped on a site that was right on Pinchot Lake and it was absolutely beautiful, especially when the sun set directly over the lake. Each site allows one car for free and an additional for $4/day. A fire pit with a cook rack is also provided. Sites are gravel and fairly level, unlike Promised Land.
There are plenty of activities, including canoeing, kayaking, hiking, fishing, and swimming. My friends and I rented kayaks for $15 for the first hour and $8 each additional hour. Facilities include running water sinks, toilets, and showers, so it isn't the most rustic park is you prefer it that way.
A number of sites have electricity and allow for trailers or mobile homes. Some sites even allow pets, but not on sites near the lake. For PA residents, campsite are $15/day. Non-residents pay $17/day. Additional amenities will add to your charges. Receive one night free if you book a week long stay. Cabin, yurts and Adirondack shelters are also available by reservation.
The PCNR website is quite informative, so use it to your advantage when choosing your site and accomodations. Information on all PA state parks is found on the website also.
If you love camping, I would recommend this park. For first time campers, this park is also ideal. The less rustic conditions are a nice introduction to the activity. Reservations can be made online at http://www.visitPApark... or by phone at 888-PA-PARKS. Go, make smores and mountain pies, and relax! -
Review from Angela S.
Philadelphia, PA
10/21/2011
The park had some pretty areas, but overall the campground did not impress me. We were lucky that there were very few campers the weekend we visited, because many of the sites were flooded -- understandable, after the summer we had, and considering the fact that many sites are lakeside.
The difficult thing about this campground is that each site is so... random. You might get a brand-new picnic table, you might get one cracked in half; you might get a fire ring which is on a steep slope; you might have a 9x9' camping pad and you might get a 7x16' one! We had a difficult time finding one big enough to fit our 10-person tent (okay, so it was huge). There were so many empty spots we just moved to a different one, but if it had been summer and the only one left was slanted and unenchanted, I'd have been angry.
The campground hosts were sort of erratic, too. The next area over had some very friendly folks, but ours were M.I.A. most of the week. The ranger, when I spoke with her, was quite helpful and friendly.
Bathrooms are quite clean. Pro tip: bring a bar of hotel soap and just leave it in the bathroom so you don't have to carry yours back and forth. The floors were somewhat flooded, but again, most of PA was flooded too. The showers had quite large gaps between the stalls, so everyone can watch each other shower. Not a fan of that.
Overall, it's not a hellish place or anything, just sort of boring and mediocre. It's not a terribly interesting part of the state. Next time I think I'll stick to the mountains. -
Review from Dan R.
2/3/2008 3 photos
Pretty decent state park (2,338 acres) about an hour south of Harrisburg, Pa. Close to York and Dillsburg, Pa it has many activities. You can hike, bike, fish, sail or camp here its main point is its proximity to HBG. . it has a large lake (340 acres) and in the warmer months it has a concession stand with all kinds of goodies.
its admission free and you can just go on a summer day and swim or sunbath. Hiking trails are alright, i have tried several of the advanced onces. There is a decent loop the whole way around the lake, partially exposed, partially wooded. The last time i went there were boats out on the lake, some people swimming and a group of school kids on a field trip fishing. Not like hiking up north, but still not bad. http://www.dcnr.state....Listed in: Pennsylvania State Parks
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Review from Mark S.
Columbia, MD
6/17/2010
Well, our annual camping trip ended us up here in the Giff. I was cautiously optimistic on the way in, longtime followers will know how much I hate camping, but alas, all hope was dashed when we got to our assigned spot!
See, the regular spots look to be pretty nice, but since we were with a group of folks, we got stuck in the group area, which was just nasty!
Our "campsite" consisted of the parking pad, and about 10 square feet of rocky ground on which to pitch our tent. The fire ring, which was bolted to the ground, was on a slope behind the parking pad and so overgrown with vegetation that there was no hope of using it.
The picnic tables were literally falling apart, only held together by the inch thick layer of moss on the top. So gross!
The bath house was unremarkable, everything appeared to work. The beach was nice and the fishing area was placed in a well thought out part of the park, although PA has some jacked up fishing regulations, I must say, but you can't blame the park for that.
Like other places I've been, no enforcement of the "11:00 curfew and quiet time," but what is one to do? Carry weapons? Hmmmm.....
Can't say I'd go back here, but then again, that's my general attitude towards camping in general! -
Review from Jeff S.
Lemoyne, PA
6/13/2008
Pinchot Park is great if you get a bunch of foodie friends together, pack up a gourmet picnic lunch and enjoy a sunny weekend day at the Day Camping area. There's plenty of parking but get there early to grab the best picnic table (even earlier if you want one of the grills).
there's plenty of room to play ball or frisbee, swimming in the lake, trails for hiking and biking, etc. Full restroom / changing facilities, even a snack bar. The beach is grass, but comfortable and well maintained, there is a nice park for the kids nearby.
http://www.dcnr.state....Listed in: Great Day Trips
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Review from Khalid S.
Harrisburg, PA
5/10/2008 1 photo
Gotta agree with Dan, not like hiking up in Northern PA but still pretty good since it's so close to Harrisburg/York. We went hiking on a trail that runs along the lake, it was pretty muddy since it had rained the night before. Not too scenic...
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Review from Michael M.
Ellicott City, MD
6/27/2009
I wish I could give this less than one star. You can find a better spot to spend your weekend.
My fiancé and I arrived on a Friday night, along with our dog. Upon being greeted (gruffly) at the gate, I was handed a Christian Worship bulletin. The park "chaplain" suggested that we attend the Worship service on Sunday. This was a strange way to be greeted at a state park.
After this somewhat odd introduction, the attendant could not find our registration. Luckily, we had printed out the receipt from our reservation online. They told me to park and come in the office to "sort this out." I'm not really sure why we had to "sort this out" - I've camped in other PA state parks and we just pull up to our reserved site and begin camping, while leaving our receipt in the car window in case the ranger comes by while we're out.
I went inside the office, and the attendant finally found our registration. She (again, gruffly) mentioned that I didn't look like a female (the registration was in my fiancé's name), and gave me a stiff look up and down. She then reminded me specifically that there was no alcohol and no fireworks. I'm not sure why she assumed I was going to have a drunken firework-laced rave at my campsite, but I was off put by this comment.
She then mentioned that there were no pets allowed. Well, we had reserved a campsite that allowed pets. We had looked for specifically for parks that allowed pets. I mentioned that I reserved such a site, and we had a dog. She then gave a long sigh, and asked if I had "remembered to bring proof of immunizations." Again, we have camped at other PA parks and have NEVER been asked this question. I offered that my dog had a rabies tag on her collar, and the attendant again gave a long sigh and said "well I guess that will have to do..." I was shocked at the attitude given by this attendant toward the mere _concept_ of having a pet camping. She insisted I bring in my dog's collar. Upon bringing it in, she handed me a pamphlet of "pet rules" and insisted I "carefully read every rule." ...and then again reminded me about not having alcohol or fireworks.
Come on. I came in, conservatively dressed, in a Prius with my Fiancé and dog. Do I really look like the kind of guy who would pull up and throw a gigantic party with dogs, booze, and fireworks?
...and the anti-pet attitude didn't stop there. After reading their pet rules, we realized we weren't allowed to leave the very small portion of the campground that housed the pet campsites. We couldn't even walk our pet through the campground or the "day-use" area - only the trail specifically listed for pets. There were "no dog" signs at every intersection from the pet area.
I can understand that families with pets could be segregated from non-pet families in a campsite - but in the entire park?
Another strange dog rule: We had to have our dog on a leash no longer than six feet (SIX FEET??) the entire time the dog was in the park. We usually have a 20-foot rope that we tie to a tree to allow our dog to roam the campsite, but not to leave the borders.
Seems I'm not alone in having an AWFUL time at this park: http://www.rvparkrevie...
For being so obsessed with following the rules, my observation of the facilities indicated that they were not particularly well-kept. The bathrooms were particularly smelly and dirty, and the grass around the campsites was deeply rutted by large RV's.
The best part of my specific campsite was that the fire pit was angled _away_ from the campsite and toward the parking area. There was no way to enjoy the fire without sitting in the trunk of our car. Brilliant.
Wish I could say more about the other trails and the lake, but WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT THEM.
Look around. You can find a better place to stay. Don't waste your time at Gifford Pinchot. (We enjoyed Pine Grove Furnace State Park last fall with our dog. The campground was clean and the staff was friendly.) -
Review from brian r.
Harrisburg, PA
8/5/2008 2 photos
Very well kept park with a good day's worth of hiking trails in addition to an enormous lake, RV parking, cabins for rent, and campsites. There is also a nice swimming area that is roped off from the rest of the lake. When I went the place was pretty quiet, except for the swimming area that was quite crowded. They have a reasonable concession stand there that sells food as well, nice spot for a day trip.
Listed in: Favorite Destinations Around…
