Capturing the Beauty of Pennsylvania’s State Parks
I carefully placed my foot on the next ledge at the summit of Poles Steeple in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, positioning my camera-mounted tripod alongside me. Always mindful of the importance of capturing the best possible photograph with each outing, I stretched down to the next ledge and, on hands and knees, crawled onto it to set up my tripod. The rock climber I had hired as a model was now more secure with his supporting ropes than I was, as I relied solely on the stability of the rocks and my own footing. Once in place, I took numerous photographs—switching between horizontal and vertical compositions and searching for sunbursts behind the climber.
An Abundance of Parks to Explore
Pennsylvania is home to 124 state parks, with a 125th in development. Together, these parks encompass 300,000 acres and feature 1,600 miles of state park trails. I have personally explored 80 of these parks, either by camping overnight or making day visits. Some, like Pine Creek Gorge, have drawn me back repeatedly for camping and aerial photography from Cessna airplanes. Others, including World’s End, Ricketts Glen, Promised Land, and Cowans Gap, have provided memorable experiences—like climbing down waterfalls in Ricketts Glen after a heavy winter snowfall. When I had no photographic assignments at my Harrisburg studio, I would often announce to my staff, “I’m heading out to the green,” referring to the parks and state forests marked in green on the Pennsylvania recreational map.
The History and Accessibility of Pennsylvania State Parks
Rothrock, near State College, was one of the first Pennsylvania state parks, established in the early 1900s. By 1955, when Dr. Maurice K. Goddard became director of the Department of Parks and Forests, there were 44 state parks. Dr. Goddard set out to create a state park within 25 miles of every Pennsylvania resident—a goal that, while not fully realized, has resulted in parks in 62 out of 67 counties. During my years in Harrisburg, I frequently visited nearby Gifford Pinchot and Pine Grove Furnace State Parks and enjoyed annual arts festivals with my family at Little Buffalo. After relocating to Philadelphia, I found that Neshaminy State Park and Ridley Creek were within a convenient 25-mile radius.
Memorable Adventures in the Parks
Driven to photograph Trillium flowers in Raccoon Creek State Park west of Pittsburgh, I wandered through the park in a light rain until I found the blooms, then fashioned a tent from plastic to protect both my camera and the flowers. Satisfied with the images, I left the park, the leaves beneath my feet making a gentle splashing sound. My determination to visit remote parks also led me across snow and ice to Salt Creek State Park in Susquehanna County, where I discovered several waterfalls.
Many parks, such as Shawnee and Pymatuning, rewarded me with stunning sunsets. At Ohiopyle, I watched kayakers and tubers navigating the rapids of the Youghiogheny River. My favorite campsites were always nestled beside forest streams, where I could fall asleep to the soothing sound of water flowing over rocks.
Camping and Lodging Experiences
My spouse and I last camped together at Hickory Run and Promised Land State Parks. More recently, we have opted for cabin stays, our latest being at Nockamixon State Park near Quakertown. For those who prefer cabins or the luxury tents now available in some parks, it’s best to make reservations in January as soon as they become available.
