Between Harrisburg And Allentown Is Pennsylvania's State Park With Fishing, Kayaking, And Fossil Hunting

The Keystone State boasts 125 state parks that span 300,000 acres of wilderness. Located between Harrisburg and Allentown, roughly an hour away, Swatara State Park is a wildlife-rich forest and wetland ecosystem that invites visitors to enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreation for free. Swatara Creek and Trout Run are thriving fishing holes for catching local species and park-stocked trout, while kayakers, canoers, and tubers can also enjoy Swatara Creek for its convenient boat launches with easy water access. The park also offers 34 miles of multiuse trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It is even home to a segment of the iconic Appalachian Trail. 

Swatara State Park also tells a uniquely rich story in natural history, making it a prime spot for amateur fossil hunting. "Great place for a family trip. What a wonderful way to get the kids into nature. Well maintained and easy to follow trails. Many cool things to check out while on a hike. We really found fossils and my kids were so excited," a past visitor raved.

The 3,520-acre Swatara State Park is open year-round daily from sunrise to sunset. This makes it a nice location for seasonal activities like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Located in central Pennsylvania, the park is a worthy stop for those road-tripping in the region or locals in nearby towns. Those flying from out of state should fly into Harrisburg International Airport, which is located a little over half an hour away from the park. 

Swatara State Park is rich with wildlife, making it a prime spot for birdwatching, animal spotting, and hunting. There have been over 175 bird species spotted and logged in eBird at Swatara State Park, including hawks, woodpeckers, ducks, vultures, and bluebirds, making the park appealing to fans of Lake Ontelaunee, Pennsylvania's scenic lake for fishing and birdwatching, less than an hour east. Hunting is allowed during established seasons, from big game like elk to small game like birds and rabbits.

There are also many fishing holes for anglers to drop a line. Trout Run stream is especially active in the springtime, where stocked trout can be caught, while the larger Swatara Creek is suitable for catching brook trout, panfish, and smallmouth bass. Panfish and largemouth bass can also be found in Wagners Pond. "It's beautiful back there plenty of hiking trails plenty of fishing spots it's great to take your kids," a Google user said. Anglers age 16 and older must have a Pennsylvania fishing license, which you can get online. 

The state park's section of the 60-mile Swatara Creek Water Trail also supports thrilling paddling and tubing, with boat launches located at Swopes Valley Trailhead, Waterville Bridge Parking Lot, and Lickdale Trailhead. "The family and I went kayaking/fishing down the Swatara river and it was exhilarating!" another Google reviewer shared. "We started at the Swopes boat ramp and ended at Licksdale ramp, which was around 8.5 miles and took us about 4-5 hours. Tubing would have been really fun too – make sure to check the water levels before you go because there are tons of rocks and about 5 rapids." Check out more wildlife-packed, peaceful paddling on the Susquehanna River in Vosburg Neck State Park two hours north.

Just like America's 10 most breathtaking destinations to see fossils, Swatara State Park is the perfect place to play paleontologist for the day. The region was once a sunlight-rich seafloor, where filter-feeding organisms lived during the Middle Devonian Period, 375 million years ago. There is an exposed fossil bed located along Bear Hole Trail, where young excavators and amateur archaeologists can try their hand at digging up an undiscovered treasure. "Their fossil pit is pretty nice too, just be sure to bring tools to break rocks open. The picture is of a Trilobite I found while chipping away the rock," a Google reviewer shared. 

Whether you are looking for fossils or a challenging hike, the 4.8-mile Bear Hole Trail is a great trail for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Hikers can enjoy various points of interest on this trail, like the Bordner Cabin and Aycrigg's Falls. Avid and long-distance hikers also frequent the state park as it hosts a small 2.4-mile segment of the historic Appalachian Trail that runs from Maine all the way to Georgia. 

For those short on time, Swatara State Park has many trails under a mile, like the 0.3-mile Mifflin Trail, the 0.8-mile Moonshine Trail, and the 0.5-mile Round About Loop through wetlands. Trout Run Loop is another 0.5-mile fun and short trail along Trout Run Creek with water sounds and views. "There were fragrant flowers all along that smelled so good in May! Very easy walk at just under a mile. It would be the perfect trail for young kids as long as you keep them close and on the paved paths," an AllTrails user recommended. As evident in the name, the 9.5-mile Mountain Bike Trail would also be the best path for mountain bikers.