National Parks of Pennsylvania

There is currently nineteen National Park Service Site in Pennsylvania and 10 associated sites.

Official National Parks of Pennsylvania

1. Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
2. Appalachian National Scenic Trail
3. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
4. Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
5. Eisenhower National Historic Site
6. First State National Historical Park
7. Flight 93 National Memorial
8. Fort Necessity National Battlefield
9. Friendship Hill National Historic Site
10. Gettysburg National Military Park
11. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
12. Independence National Historical Park
13. Johnstown Flood National Memorial
14. Middle Delaware National Scenic River
15. Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
16. Steamtown National Historic Site
17. Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
18. Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
19. Valley Forge National Historical Park

Associated sites of Pennsylvania

1. Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
2. Chesapeake Bay
3. Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
4. Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site
5. Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
6. North Country National Scenic Trail
7. Oild Region National Heritage Area
8. Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area
9. Schuylkill River Valley National Heritage Area
10. Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail

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Pennsylvania National Parks

Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Depending on where you are from, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail either starts in Mount Katahdin, Maine and ends in Springer Mountain, Georgia, or starts in Springer Mountain, Georgia, and ends in Katahdin, Maine. The Appalachian Trail is 2,181 miles long and passes through 14 states (Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine).

There is 229.6 miles of trail in the state of Pennsylvania.  The Susquehanna River is the dividing point between the northern section of the AT and the southern section of the AT.  At Pine Grove Furnace State Park, thru-hikers are halfway done with their hike.  At the Pine Grove Furnace General Store, thru-hikes must stop in and complete the half-gallon challenge.  The half-gallon challenge is where they eat a half-gallon of ice cream to celebrate being halfway done.

Every year several thousand people attempt to thru-hike the trail.  Tens of thousands of people will hike sections of the trail each year.  The trail was officially completed in 1937 but the improvement has been ongoing since then.  The trail is maintained by 31 different trail clubs and other partnerships.

Things to do in Appalachian National Scenic Trail: Hiking, Wildlife Viewing, Scenic Views

How to get to Appalachian National Scenic Trail: There are multiple access points along the trail. Many of which are driveable.

Where to Stay in Appalachian National Scenic Trail: Along the trail, there are numerous shelters and backcountry campgrounds. Hotels are available in towns along the trail.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail Entrance Fee: There is no entrance fee for the Appalachian Trail but the trail passes through numerous state and national parks, forests and public lands which may charge an entrance fee or have overnight permit fees.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail Official Website: Click Here

Map of Appalachian National Scenic Trail: Download

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site

Eisenhower National Historic Site

First State National Historical Park

First State National Historical Park protects the history of early colonial Delaware and the events leading up to Deleware being the first state to ratify the United States Constitution.  The park spans sites mostly in Delaware with a few sites in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.  This region was settled by Dutch, Swedes, Finns, and English. The park protects the cultural landscape of the Brandywine River Valley and examines the early settlers relationship with the Native Americans in the region.

The park is made of seven sites.  They are Beaver Valley, Fort Christina National Historic Landmark, Old Swedes Church, New Castle Court House Museum, The Green, John Dickinson Plantation, Ryves Holt House.

The First State was created in 2013 by President Obama as a National Monument. In 2014, Congress elevated the monument to a Historical Park.

Flight 93 National Memorial

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Friendship Hill National Historic Site

Gettysburg National Military Park

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

Independence National Historical Park

Johnstown Flood National Memorial

Middle Delaware National Scenic River

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

Steamtown National Historic Site

Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail is about 3,000 miles of water routes along the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  The rivers are located in the following states – Washington D.C, Deleware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The water routes follow the voyages of Captain John Smith between 160 -1609. Smith produced the first maps of the region.

The much of the Historic trail is included in the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.  The trail passes thru many state and local sites where you can rent canoes and kayaks.  Boat tours are offered in the bay.

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail was established on December 19, 2006.

Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network

The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network is a collection of over 150 parks, refuges, museums, historic communities, and water trails along the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  This network included sites in Washington D.C, Deleware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The Chesapeake Bary watershed drains into the large estuary called the Chesapeake Bay.  The Chesapeake Bary is a 200-mile long bay that connects the Susquehanna River and the Atlantic Ocean.  Over 15o rivers and streams drain into the bay.  The bay ranges from 2.8 miles wide to 30 miles.  There is an estimated 11,684 miles of shoreline.

Visitors to the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network can explore a range of sites and learn about the history, culture and natural importance of the area.

Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor

Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail follows the route Meriwether Lewis and William Clark took across the United States’ newly purchased territory.  The trail starts at Camp Dubois, Illinois and passes thru Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and ends in Washington.  The trail is a combination of auto, land and water routes.

The Lewis and Clark expedition started in May 1804 with the goal to find a practical route across the western region of North America. They were to lay claim to these lands to limit European expansion.  The expedition was a success.  Lewis and Clark crossed the Louisiana purchase and made it to the Pacific Ocean.  They recorded the plants, animals, and landscapes as they traveled.  They laid the foundations for future relationships with the American Indian tribes of the relationships.

The trail was established on November 10, 1978.  There are over 100 stops along the trail.

Things to do in Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail: Hiking, Auto Tours, Museums,

How to get to Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail: The sites are located in the 16 states the trail runs through.

Where to Stay in Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail: There are various places to stay along the trail.

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Entrance Fee: There may be nominal fees at trail-related federal, state, or locally owned historic sites and interpretive facilities.

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Official Website: Click Here

Map of Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail: Download

Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River

North Country National Scenic Trail

Oild Region National Heritage Area

Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area

Schuylkill River Valley National Heritage Area

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail is a 680-mile long Historical Trail.  The trail is sometimes known as the Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route.  The route follows the road used by George Washington’s Continental Army and Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau’s Expédition Particulière took on their way from Newport, Rode Island to Yorktown, Virginia. Yorktown was the final battle of the American Revolutionary War.

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail is primary an auto trail.  While the route forces on the march to Yorktown, the trail passes thru or near many other important revolutionary war sites. Rhode Island sites include the Joy Homestead.

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail passes through Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Washington D.C, and Virginia.

Things to do in Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail: Auto touring, bicycling, walking, historical tours, guided tours, museums

How to get to Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail: There are major airports all along the route.

Where to Stay in Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail: The trail follows major highways and lodging is located along the route.

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail Entrance Fee: Free, but some of the federal, state, and privately managed buildings along the trail may have an entrance fee.

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail Official Website: Click Here

Map of Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail: Download

View all the National Park Service Sites in neighboring states:

• National Parks of New York
• National Parks of New Jersey
• National Parks of Delaware
• National Parks of Maryland
• National Parks of West Virginia
• National Parks of Ohio