Pennsylvania has one of the biggest and most expansive natural areas in the entire country. It’s no wonder then that the state is just full of natural woodlands, nature preserves, and state forests. In fact, the name Pennsylvania itself translates to ‘Penn’s Woods’, after William Penn. 

If you’ve been looking to spend some time in nature, you can find no better place to do it than in Pennsylvania! Witness everything from old-growth forests, rolling hills, and astounding rock formations, to roaring waterfalls, extensive wildlife, and miles and miles of hiking trails. 

We’ve listed some of PA’s greatest parks and forests for you to discover and explore to your nature-loving heart’s content!

National Parks and Forests in Pennsylvania

Cook Forest State Park

Cook Forest is known for its stunning Forest Cathedral, made up of towering white pines and hemlock trees up to 300 years old and 200 feet tall, creating a church-like ‘ceiling’ above the forest floor. The 8,500-acre forest offers hiking trails, camping, picnicking, wildlife spotting, fishing, kayaking, and scenic overlooks where you can take in the sights, and even arts & crafts workshops and live theater performances in the Sawmill Center for the Arts located within the park. 

Kalyumet is located near Cook Forest State Park and is an excellent place to park your RV or stay the night before heading into Cook Forest. 

Allegheny National Forest

The Allegheny National Forest is Pennsylvania’s only official national forest and one of the largest forests in the state, spanning more than 500,000 acres. The area is full of old-growth forests, rivers, streams, and abundant wildlife for visitors to explore. The forest has plenty to offer anyone interested in seeing it, from hiking, camping, swimming, fishing, kayaking, ATV riding, biking, bird watching, and more. It’s the splendor of untouched nature and wilderness at its finest!

If you’re looking for even more adventure, Kinzua Bridge State Park is located right nearby. Here you can find Kinzua Bridge, once the longest and tallest railroad bridge in the world. Today, visitors can walk part of the reinvented bridge as a walkway and look out for a stunning view of the Kinzua Gorge.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area sits right on the border between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Pennsylvania side is located on the eastern edge of the Pocono Mountains. It’s named after the 1000-foot-deep Delaware Water Gap, a valley that cuts through the Kittatinny Ridge. About 28 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail also runs through this area.

The area is rich in hemlock forests, cascading waterfalls, river beaches, wildlife, and even perfectly preserved colonial villages. The area is ideal for hiking, picnicking, camping, swimming, paddling, fishing, hunting, and bicycling. 

Susquehannock State Forest

Susquehannock State Forest is one of the most unspoiled stretches of forests and wilderness in the Pennsylvania Wilds region, comprising about 265,000 acres in 3 counties, namely Potter, Clinton, and McKean counties. It is best known for having one of the most productive stands of black cherry trees in the world. It’s a great place to have a picnic, or just sit and enjoy nature. It’s wonderful for camping, hiking, picnicking, fishing, ATV riding, snowmobiling, and skiing during the winter.

Located within the forest is Cherry Springs State Park, easily accessible through the Susquehannock Trail. Cherry Springs is famous for its breathtaking views of the nighttime sky, making it the perfect spot for stargazing. 

Tioga State Forest

The Tioga State Forest comprises about 163,000 acres of land and is best known for being home to the Pine Creek Gorge, often called the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, a 47-mile gorge carved through the Allegheny Plateau by Pine Creek. While the gorge is a definite must-see, Tioga Forest is still well worth exploring due to the natural beauty of its old-growth forests, crystal clear streams and rivers, and abundant wildlife. Here you can enjoy the usual activities of hiking, camping, paddling, fishing, biking, horseback riding, and hunting.

Michaux State Forest

The Michaux State Forest is one of the best places to go for bird watching. Due to the natural peace and serenity of the area, the birdsong of many rare species can be heard, including the wood thrush, veery, and ovenbird. These birds are known to be very secretive and only breed within dense mountain woodlands, away from civilization. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of some of these birds that you won’t be able to find anywhere else, so don’t forget your binoculars!

Within Michaux State Forest is also historic Pine Grove Furnace State Park, which sits at the northern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers amazing views of the surrounding area.

Ricketts Glen State Park

Ricketts Glen State Park is most known for its beautiful waterfalls. In fact, there are about 22 named waterfalls within the park. The tallest of these, Ganoga Falls, has a drop of 94 feet. You can take a hike along the Falls Trails system to see the unmatched beauty of the park’s waterfalls or go swimming, boating, fishing, or picnicking at nearby Lake Jean. 

Tiadaghton State Forest

Just up Pine Creek, you’ll find Tiadaghton State Forest, one of the largest forested regions in Pennsylvania, comprising about 146,539 acres. It is located within the Pennsylvania Wilds region and is easily identifiable as one of the largest blocks of green woodland in the entire state. 

Tiadaghton’s biggest draw is, perhaps, its clear and fast-moving mountain streams, including Pine Creek. Kayaking, canoeing, and boating are all popular recreational activities within Tiadaghton, as well as hiking, camping, sightseeing, picnicking, and bird-watching.

Loyalslock State Forest

Loyalslock State Forest, named after the scenic Loyalslock Creek that runs through it, is the ideal place for hiking. The forest is famous for its panoramic views and overlooks and is one of the largest state forests in Pennsylvania, comprising about 114,552 acres across the northern tier of the Endless Mountains. 

From High Knob Overlook, you can catch a magnificent view of the forest and surrounding area, including up to 7 mountain tops from nearly 7 counties. While an excellent place to go hiking and sightseeing, Loyalslock State Forest is also great for camping, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, picnicking, and hunting. 

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With a staggering number of natural preserves and wildlife areas, Pennsylvania has some of the best parks, forests, and natural attractions in the country. You’re not going to want to miss out on any of these exciting opportunities to go outdoors and see the wonders of nature for yourself! 

And why not start with a stay here at Kalyumet? With easy access to Cook Forest State Park and the surrounding area, you’re on your way to experiencing more of PA’s most beautiful natural attractions.