Top state parks
State ParkPresque Isle State Park
State ParkCherry Springs State Park
State ParkColton Point State Park
State ParkLeonard Harrison State Park
State ParkBlack Moshannon State Park
State ParkOhiopyle State Park
State ParkRicketts Glen State Park
State ParkKettle Creek State Park
State ParkUpper Pine Bottom State Park
State ParkWorlds End State Park
State ParkPymatuning State Park
State ParkOil Creek State Park
State Parks by county
- Bedford County3
- Bucks County7
- Cameron County3
- Carbon County3
- Centre County7
- Chester County3
- Clinton County4
- Cumberland County3
- Franklin County4
- Huntingdon County3
- Luzerne County3
- Lycoming County3
- Montgomery County3
- Perry County3
- Potter County6
- Schuylkill County3
- Somerset County5
- Wayne County3
- York County4
All state parks (120)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presque Isle State Park | Erie County | — | Erie | 7 |
| Cherry Springs State Park | Potter County | — | Galeton | 2 |
| Colton Point State Park | Tioga County | — | Wellsboro | 2 |
| Leonard Harrison State Park | Tioga County | — | Wellsboro | 2 |
| Black Moshannon State Park | Centre County | — | Stormstown | 3 |
| Ohiopyle State Park | Fayette County | — | South Connellsville | 3 |
| Ricketts Glen State Park | Luzerne County | — | Harveys Lake | 4 |
| Kettle Creek State Park | Clinton County | — | Renovo | 2 |
| Upper Pine Bottom State Park | Lycoming County | — | Avis | 3 |
| Worlds End State Park | Sullivan County | — | Hughesville | 3 |
| Pymatuning State Park | Crawford County | — | Pymatuning Central | 3 |
| Oil Creek State Park | Venango County | — | Titusville | 3 |
| Delaware Canal State Park | Bucks County | — | Milford | 5 |
| Gouldsboro State Park | Wayne County | — | Big Bass Lake | 4 |
| Susquehannock State Park | York County | — | Susquehanna Trails | 5 |
| Ravensburg State Park | Clinton County | — | Avis | 3 |
| Laurel Summit State Park | Somerset County | — | Boswell | 3 |
| Kinzua Bridge State Park | McKean County | — | Smethport | 3 |
| Allegheny Islands State Park | Allegheny County | — | Oakmont | 7 |
| Nockamixon State Park | Bucks County | — | Perkasie | 5 |
| Parker Dam State Park | Clearfield County | — | Treasure Lake | 3 |
| Point State Park | Allegheny County | — | Pittsburgh | 7 |
| Raccoon Creek State Park | Beaver County | — | Midland | 4 |
| Ralph Stover State Park | Bucks County | — | Tinicum | 6 |
| Shikellamy State Park | Northumberland County | — | Northumberland | 5 |
| Hickory Run State Park | Carbon County | — | White Haven | 4 |
| McCalls Dam State Park | Centre County | — | Mifflinburg | 3 |
| Neshaminy State Park | Bucks County | — | Eddington | 8 |
| Keystone State Park | Westmoreland County | — | Latrobe | 4 |
| Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center | Cumberland County | — | Mount Holly Springs | 4 |
| Kooser State Park | Somerset County | — | Somerset | 3 |
| Lackawanna State Park | Lackawanna County | — | Dalton | 4 |
| Beltzville State Park | Carbon County | — | Palmerton | 5 |
| Bendigo State Park | Elk County | — | Johnsonburg | 3 |
| Benjamin Rush State Park | Bucks County | — | Normandy | 8 |
| Big Pocono State Park | Monroe County | — | Tannersville | 5 |
| Big Spring State Forest Picnic Area | Perry County | — | Newville | 3 |
| Lyman Run State Park | Potter County | — | Galeton | 2 |
| Marsh Creek State Park | Chester County | — | Eagleview | 5 |
| Maurice K. Goddard State Park | Mercer County | — | Stoneboro | 3 |
| Memorial Lake State Park | Lebanon County | — | Jonestown | 4 |
| Blue Knob State Park | Bedford County | — | Beaverdale | 3 |
| Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area | Dauphin County | — | Lawrence Park | 5 |
| Buchanan's Birthplace State Park | Franklin County | — | Mercersburg | 4 |
| Bucktail State Park Natural Area | Cameron County | — | Emporium | 2 |
| Caledonia State Park | Franklin County | — | Fayetteville | 4 |
| Canoe Creek State Park | Blair County | — | Williamsburg | 4 |
| Chapman State Park | Warren County | — | Warren | 3 |
| Laurel Mountain State Park | Somerset County | — | Waterford | 3 |
| Laurel Ridge State Park | Somerset County | — | South Connellsville | 3 |
| Lehigh Gorge State Park | Carbon County | — | Weatherly | 5 |
| Linn Run State Park | Westmoreland County | — | Ligonier | 3 |
| Little Pine State Park | Lycoming County | — | Jersey Shore | 3 |
| Locust Lake State Park | Schuylkill County | — | Mahanoy City | 5 |
| Tuscarora State Park | Schuylkill County | — | Hometown | 5 |
| Tyler State Park | Bucks County | — | Richboro | 7 |
| Varden Conservation Area | Wayne County | — | The Hideout | 4 |
| Warriors Path State Park | Bedford County | — | Martinsburg | 3 |
| Washington Crossing Historic Park | Bucks County | — | Yardley | 6 |
| Whipple Dam State Park | Huntingdon County | — | Pine Grove Mills | 4 |
| White Clay Creek Preserve | Chester County | — | Landenberg | 6 |
| Yellow Creek State Park | Indiana County | — | Clymer | 3 |
| Hillman State Park | Washington County | — | Burgettstown | 4 |
| Susquehanna State Park | Lycoming County | — | Duboistown | 5 |
| Swatara State Park | Schuylkill County | — | Pine Grove | 4 |
| Tobyhanna State Park | Pike County | — | Big Bass Lake | 4 |
| Trough Creek State Park | Huntingdon County | — | McConnellstown | 3 |
| Archbald Pothole State Park | Lackawanna County | — | Jermyn | 6 |
| Bald Eagle State Park | Centre County | — | Mill Hall | 3 |
| Mont Alto State Park | Franklin County | — | Mont Alto | 4 |
| Moraine State Park | Butler County | — | Prospect | 4 |
| Mt. Pisgah State Park | Bradford County | — | Troy | 3 |
| Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center | Berks County | — | Mohnton | 6 |
| Norristown Farm Park | Montgomery County | — | Norristown | 8 |
| Ole Bull State Park | Potter County | — | Galeton | 2 |
| Patterson State Park | Potter County | — | Coudersport | 2 |
| Penn-Roosevelt State Park | Huntingdon County | — | Boalsburg | 4 |
| Clear Creek State Park | Forest County | — | Marienville | 3 |
| Codorus State Park | York County | — | Parkville | 5 |
| Colonel Denning State Park | Cumberland County | — | Newville | 4 |
| Cook Forest State Park | Jefferson County | — | Marienville | 3 |
| Cowans Gap State Park | Franklin County | — | McConnellsburg | 3 |
| Pine Grove Furnace State Park | Cumberland County | — | Biglerville | 4 |
| Poe Paddy State Park | Centre County | — | Milroy | 3 |
| Poe Valley State Park | Centre County | — | Milroy | 3 |
| Prince Gallitzin State Park | Cambria County | — | Patton | 3 |
| Promised Land State Park | Pike County | — | Wallenpaupack Lake Estates | 4 |
| Prompton State Park | Wayne County | — | Waymart | 4 |
| Prouty Place State Park | Potter County | — | Coudersport | 2 |
| Fort Washington State Park | Montgomery County | — | Flourtown | 8 |
| Fowlers Hollow State Park | Perry County | — | Newville | 3 |
| Frances Slocum State Park | Luzerne County | — | West Wyoming | 5 |
| French Creek State Park | Chester County | — | Birdsboro | 5 |
| R. B. Winter State Park | Centre County | — | Mifflinburg | 3 |
| Reeds Gap State Park | Mifflin County | — | Milroy | 3 |
| Ryerson Station State Park | Greene County | — | Waynesburg | 3 |
| S. B. Elliott State Park | Clearfield County | — | Clearfield | 3 |
| Denton Hill State Park | Potter County | — | Coudersport | 2 |
| Elk State Park | Elk County | — | Johnsonburg | 3 |
| Erie Bluffs State Park | Erie County | — | Lake City | 4 |
| Evansburg State Park | Montgomery County | — | Skippack | 7 |
| Salt Springs State Park | Susquehanna County | — | Montrose | 4 |
| Samuel S. Lewis State Park | York County | — | Wrightsville | 5 |
| Sand Bridge State Park | Centre County | — | Mifflinburg | 3 |
| Shawnee State Park | Bedford County | — | Bedford | 3 |
| Sinnemahoning State Park | Cameron County | — | Emporium | 2 |
| Sizerville State Park | Cameron County | — | Emporium | 2 |
| Gifford Pinchot State Park | York County | — | Dover | 5 |
| Greenwood Furnace State Park | Mifflin County | — | Belleville | 4 |
| Hyner Run State Park | Clinton County | — | Renovo | 2 |
| Hyner View State Park | Clinton County | — | Renovo | 3 |
| Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center | Northampton County | — | Belfast | 5 |
| Jennings Environmental Education Center | Butler County | — | Slippery Rock | 4 |
| Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area | Dauphin County | — | Matamoras | 4 |
| Little Buffalo State Park | Perry County | — | New Bloomfield | 4 |
| McConnells Mill State Park | Lawrence County | — | Ellport | 4 |
| Milton State Park | Union County | — | Milton | 5 |
| Nescopeck State Park | Luzerne County | — | Beech Mountain Lakes | 5 |
| Ridley Creek State Park | Delaware County | — | Lima | 7 |
| Laurel Hill State Park | Somerset County | — | Milford | 3 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph state parks
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.