Photo by Beth Price-Williams at Pet-Friendly PA
Chances are pretty good that, if you live in PA, you’re around 25 miles from the closest state park in Pennsylvania. That’s been the goal of Pennsylvania officials since the 1950s when Maurice K. Goddard oversaw the then 44 state parks as the Department of Parks and Forests’ director. He suggested that all Pennsylvanians would benefit from being within easy driving distance of at least one state park.
Since 1955, the state park system in Pennsylvania has blossomed, and we now have 124 state parks in all corners of the state, each offering a variety of amenities, from boating and camping to hiking and horseback riding. Pennsylvania, however, is unlike a lot of other states when it comes to its state parks for one significant reason. Entrance to all of the state parks in Pennsylvania is free (fees do apply for camping), and pets are permitted in designated areas.
What Pennsylvania State Parks Allow Pets?
State parks in Pennsylvania allow pets, but they are only permitted in certain places designated as day-use areas. Some park campgrounds also welcome pets. If you’re planning to soak up the sun at a park’s sandy beach or spend considerable time at the visitor center, or other buildings, you’ll probably want to leave your pets at home.
What Is a Pet?
That might seem like a bit of an odd question, but the answer is one the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), which runs Pennsylvania’s state parks, takes seriously. Only those animals considered pets by the DCNR are permitted in state parks.
While dogs are arguably the most common pets who visit Pennsylvania state parks, visitors are allowed to bring other beloved pets, too. Cats are permitted as are caged pets, including birds, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Even if you allow your birds to free fly or your rabbits to roam at home, they must remain caged for the entirety of their time at the park. That’s a rule for all caged pets.
Unfortunately, even though some of us may consider goats, pigs, and sheep as pets, the DCNR doesn’t, so they’ll have to stay home.
If you’re planning a trip to a state park in Pennsylvania and aren’t sure if your pet is allowed, call 888-PA-PARKS.
Important Rules for Pets (And Their Parents)
We’ve all dealt with situations where one person can ruin a good thing for everyone. By following the DCNR rules at Pennsylvania state parks, we as pet parents will help ensure our pets continue to be permitted while helping keep the space clean and welcoming for everyone.
The DCNR does not allow aggressive dogs at Pennsylvania state parks, and rabies shots must be up-to-date for cats and dogs. Because Pennsylvania requires all pups to have a dog license, your dog must have a current tag on his collar.
Your pet must remain with you at all times. If you have to run to the bathroom or stop in a building, such as the visitor center, you can leave them alone for a short time.
Pack It In, Pack It Out
Remember the saying “pack it in, pack it out,” whether you’re bringing pets with you to one of Pennsylvania’s state parks or not. Whatever you take with you – snack packages and water bottles, for example – when you visit a state park or a neighborhood park or when you set off on a hike, bring it back out with you.
Don’t forget to clean up after your pets. Carry poop bags with you, pick it up, and throw it away. Cleaning up after pets ensures they will continue to be welcomed at our state parks.
10 Must-Visit Pet-Friendly State Parks in Pennsylvania
1. French Creek State Park – Elverson
Whether you’re planning a day trip or an overnight getaway, French Creek State Park promises a full menu of activities, including disc golfing, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The park is as popular in the summer, with its sandy beach and boating, as it is in the winter when you can go cross-country skiing, ice fishing, ice skating, sledding, and snowshoeing. Some campsites at French Creek State Park are pet-friendly.
Address: French Creek State Park, 843 Park Rd, Elverson, PA 19520
2. Beltzville State Park – Lehighton
An idyllic destination for a pet-friendly day trip in Pennsylvania, Beltzville State Park doesn’t have camping facilities, but it offers plenty to do all day long. The gem of the state park is, arguably, the 949-acre Beltzville Lake, popular for boating, fishing, and swimming off of the sandy shore. Go on a leisurely hike with your pet; enjoy some time mountain biking, or sit down to a tasty picnic at one of the tables. Beltzville State Park transforms into a wonderland in the winter, offering such popular activities as cross-country skiing, iceboating, ice fishing, and snowshoeing.
Address: Beltzville State Park, 2950 Pohopoco Dr, Lehighton, PA 18235
3. Worlds End State Park – Forksville
Immerse yourself in nature at Worlds End State Park, perfect for a day trip or a getaway. Flanked by Loyalsock State Forest, the cozy state park allows pets in designated camping areas, including in some primitive cabins. The pet-friendly state park in Pennsylvania promises adventure in every season, from swimming and whitewater boating in the summer to cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing in the winter.
Address: Worlds End State Park, 82 Cabin Bridge Rd, Forksville, PA 18616
4. Lyman Run State Park – Galeton
Welcoming pets at some of its campgrounds, Lyman Run State Park offers an idyllic backdrop for a getaway or a day trip, depending on how much time you have. Explore the 595-acre Pennsylvania state park on a hike; go boating on Lyman Run Lake; try geocaching, or enjoy a picnic. Lyman Run State Park also has a sandy beach that leads into the cool water or, if you prefer an adrenaline rush, set off on an ATV. Don’t discount a visit to the cozy state park during the winter either. Popular cold-weather activities include ice fishing, ice skating, sledding, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing.
Address: Lyman Run State Park, 454 Lyman Run Rd, Galeton, PA 16922
5. Bald Eagle State Park – Howard
Bald Eagle State Park is the place to go for nature lovers. The pet-friendly state park in Pennsylvania is home to a variety of wildlife – white-tail deer, squirrels, cottontail rabbits, monarch butterflies, osprey, and snapping turtles. Hiking, boating, fishing, and picnicking are all popular daytime activities and, if you don’t have time to do it all, make reservations for one of the pet-friendly campsites. Add a winter visit to Bald Eagle State Park, too, where you can go cross-country skiing, ice boating, ice fishing, ice skating, sledding, and snowshoeing.
Address: Bald Eagle State Park, 149 Main Park Rd, Howard, PA 16841
6. Caledonia State Park – Fayetteville
Breathe in the fresh air and bond with your pets any time of the year at Caledonia State Park, home to several pet-friendly campsites. If you’re bringing your pets along, go on a leisurely hike, or dig into a picnic. The Pennsylvania state park also features such warm-weather activities as golf and swimming in the pool while winter’s focus turns to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Address: Caledonia State Park, 101 Pine Grove Rd, Fayetteville, PA 17222
7. Elk State Park – Wilcox
Pack your camera for your trip to Elk State Park, a magnificent destination where you’ll likely see plenty of wandering elk. Spend the day exploring on a scenic hike or boating on East Branch Lake before indulging in a leisurely picnic. One day is usually not enough, so reserve a spot at one of the pet-friendly campsites to make it an overnight adventure. Treat yourself to a unique view of the lake in the winter when iceboating and ice fishing are both popular.
Address: Elk State Park, 631 E Branch Dam Rd, Wilcox, PA 15870
8. Cook Forest State Park – Cooksburg
Perhaps best known for its old growth forest in the majestic Forest Cathedral Natural Area, Cook Forest State Park promises adventure year-round. With so much to do, you might want to book one of the pet-friendly campsites. When not hiking through the Forest Cathedral, explore other hiking trails at this pet-friendly state park in Pennsylvania, or while the days away biking, kayaking, canoeing, or horseback riding. Bundle up after it snows for wintertime fun that includes cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, and snowshoeing.
Address: Cook Forest State Park, 113 River Rd, Cooksburg, PA 16217
9. Ohiopyle State Park – Ohiopyle
Chase waterfalls – Ohiopyle Falls, Cucumber Falls, and Jonathan Run Falls – at Ohiopyle State Park, a massive 20,500-acre state park in Western Pennsylvania. Spend a few nights at one of the pet-friendly campsites, check out the tumbling cascades, slide down Meadow Run Natural Waterslide, hike, and mountain bike. Return when the temperatures plunge for cross-country skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing.
Address: Ohiopyle State Park, 124 Main St, Ohiopyle, PA 15470
10. Presque Isle State Park – Erie
A list of some of the best pet-friendly state parks in Pennsylvania would be incomplete without Presque Isle State Park. With nearly a dozen beaches, some pet-friendly, the day-use state park is the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day. When you’re not lounging on the sand or wading in Lake Erie, go on a hike, have a picnic, or snap photos of the natural scenery, including wildflowers. Presque Isle State Park may be quieter in the winter, but you’ll still find plenty to do. Bundle up for a day cross-country skiing, iceboating, ice fishing, ice skating, or snowshoeing.
Address: Presque Isle State Park, 301 Peninsula Dr, Erie, PA 16505
All of the state parks in Pennsylvania are pet-friendly, with restrictions, and these are just a few of the best. Entrance to Pennsylvania state parks is free, making them a fun destination to spend the day – or go on a camping adventure (campgrounds do have fees) without breaking the bank.
