Parks & Recreation in York County
York County is the home of three State Parks, almost a dozen County Parks, numerous Municipal Parks, as well as the Susquehanna River, Lake Marburg, Lake Williams, Lake Redman, Lake Pinchot, Roundtop Mountain Ski Resort & dozens of golf courses.
State Parks inYork County
Codorus State Park– The rolling hills of southern York County are the home of Codorus State Park. It is the largest of York’s State Parks covering 3,490 acres with a 1,275 acre lake. Lake Marburg has 26 miles of shoreline and is a popular location for sailboaters, motorboaters, windsurfers & fishermen. The park also offers a swimming pool, marina, camping, hunting, mountain biking, horseback riding & disc golfing. Wintertime activities include cross-country skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice skating & ice boating.
Gifford Pinchot State Park– Located in northern York County, Gifford Pinchot State park covers 2,338 acres including 340 acre Lake Pinchot. It offers swimming, picnicking, boating (electric motors only), fishing, hunting, hiking & camping. In the winter it is open to cross-country skiing, ice fishing, ice skating & ice boating.
Samuel S. Lewis State Park – This beautiful 85 acre park on the eastern side of York County overlooks the Susquehanna River, Kreutz Creek Valley & East Prospect Valley. It’s hilltop location makes it a great place for kite flying, stargazing & wintertime sledding. It also offers hiking & picnicking.
York County Parks
Heritage Rail Trail– One of York’s most popular parks is the Heritage Rail Trail with 21 miles of trails for hiking, jogging, bicycling & horseback riding. It runs from the Colonial Court House in York City through Seven Valleys, Hanover Junction, Glen Rock & New Freedom to the Maryland line. There it connects to the Torrey C. Brown Trail which extends an additional 20 miles to Baltimore.
John C. Rudy Park- this 150 acre park in East Manchester Township features pavilions, sports fields, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts, a cross-country running trail, a BMX track, a dog park as well as a multi-purpose trail for biking, rollerblading & hiking, & a Penn State master gardeners display.
Rocky Ridge Park– This 750 acre park is dominated by a mature oak forest. It is located northeast of York City on a rock strewn hilltop. It features 12 miles of multi-use trails open to hikers, horseback riders & mountain bikers. It also has picnic pavilions, softball field, volleyball court, fitness trail, horseshoe pits & two observation decks with scenic views of the Susquehanna Valley. From Thanksgiving until the end of December it is the home of “Christmas Magic”, a festival of lights.
William Kain Park– Just south of York City, near the town of Jacobus is William Kain County park. It covers 1,637 acres with 2 lakes, Lake Williams (220 acres) and Lake Redman (290 acres). Activities include fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, mountain biking & horseback riding. It also offers boat rentals, pavilion rentals, horseshoe pits, playground, volleyball court, a landing strip for radio controlled airplanes & a 35 foot walking deck along the lake with a quarter mile gravel loop trail that are ADA accessible & stroller friendly.
Richard Nixon Park– This 187 acre park is located in Springfield Township and has meadow, woodland & aquatic habitats. Its main feature is the 14,000 square-foot nature center which has a children’s area, a display on amphibians, birds & mammals of PA, live reptiles & a world wide collection of specimens with displays from the Arctic, African Savannah & Northwest Territories of the U.S. There are also over six miles of trails designed for observation of nature.
Spring Valley Park– 868 acre park with agricultural fields & aged forestland located in southern York County. This park features over 5 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, horseback riding & mountain biking, two horse show rings, horseshoe pits, pavilion rental, fishing in a one acre pond or the east branch of the Codorus Creek, hunting and a dog training area.
Apollo Park– This, mostly forested, 340 acre park is located in the river hill country of southeastern York County. The 193 mile Mason-Dixon Trail runs through the park. The park’s multi-use trail is open to mountain biking, hiking & horseback riding. The park also offers fishing & hunting. winter activities include cross-country skiing & snow shoeing.
Native Lands Park – This 187-acre property has 93 acres of designated park land & is part of the Native Lands Heritage Trail.
Highpoint Scenic Vista & Recreation Area– This park features 79 acres of meadow lands overlooking the scenic Susquehanna River. The 193-mile Mason-Dixon Trail runs through the park.
P. Joseph Raab Park– This 73 acre park located just southwest of York City is know as the York Iron Co. Mine Site.
For more information on all of the above York County Parks
go to http://yorkcountypa.gov/parks-recreation.html
Other Recreation Areas in York County
Lake Clarke, Susquehanna River -The Susquehanna River borders York County on the east and separates York & Lancaster Counties. Although there are many places to access the river, one of the most popular spots for boating is Lake Clarke. Lake Clarke was created in 1931 when the Safe Harbor Dam was built on the Susquehanna River. Safe Harbor Water Power Corp. provides picnic areas, boat ramps, playgrounds & other public recreation facilities at various location on both sides of the lake.
Rountop Mountain Resort – This ski resort is located in northern York County, near Lewisbury, & has year round activities. It offers skiing, snowboarding & snowtubing in the winter. During the summer it features paintball, a ropes course with zip lines, vertical trek & OGO balls.
Santaner Stadium~ Home of the York Revolution – Come and cheer on York’s Atlantic League Professional Baseball Team. The Rev’s have been league champions twice since their founding in 2007.
Golf Courses in York County
Golfers will be right at home with dozens of golf course scattered all over York County. There are too many to mention here, but you can check them out at golflink.com