Parks around Hesston

Here you will find boating, fishing, camping, hiking, swimming, and scenic beauty. This twisting lake, the largest entirely within Pennsylvania, extends 27 miles and covers 8,300 acres.

The Path of Progress is a 500 mile driving route which winds through the hills and valleys of nine scenic southwestern Pennsylvania counties linking key historical sites and diverse points of interest. A distinct portrait of the combined industrial, cultural, and economic heritage of the area is revealed by traveling all or portions of the route.

The South Fork dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889 and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together to aid the "Johnstown sufferers." The story of the Johnstown Flood reminds us all, "...that we must leave nothing undone for the preservation and protection of our brother men."

The first railroad to circumvent the Allegheny Mountains, the Allegheny Portage Railroad was the finishing piece of the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal. "The Portage," opened in 1834, marking the first time that there was one, direct route between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. All things to all people, it served merchants, passengers, slaves in pursuit of freedom, and soldiers from the Mexican War.

The recreation area at this central Pennsylvania lake is operated and maintained by Clearfield County. Day-use facilities include a beach, launch ramp, picnicing and play fields. A modern campground is also located in this recreation area.

On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their lives. Because of the actions of the 40 passengers and crew aboard one of the planes, Flight 93, the attack on the U.S. Capitol was thwarted.

Bald Eagle State Park provides a marina, campground, picnic areas, and beach at this 1,730-acre lake. A historical village is under restoration. From I-80, exit 23, 10 mi N on PA 150.

Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural and recreational treasures!

Eisenhower National Historic Site is the home and farm of General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Located adjacent to the Gettysburg Battlefield, the farm served the President as a weekend retreat and a meeting place for world leaders. With its peaceful setting and view of South Mountain, it was a much needed respite from Washington and a backdrop for efforts to reduce Cold War tensions.

The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War, the Union victory that ended General Robert E. Lee's second and most ambitious invasion of the North. Often referred to as the "High Water Mark of the Rebellion", Gettysburg was the Civil War's bloodiest battle and was also the inspiration for President Abraham Lincoln's immortal "Gettysburg Address".

President Franklin D. Roosevelt created programs to give people a chance to rebuild their lives from the Great Depression. The Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps gave this land a second opportunity and through re-growth, a new role as a recreation area.

The Battle of Antietam, or Sharpsburg, on September 17, 1862, was the tragic culmination of Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North. That one fateful day more than 23,110 men were killed, wounded, or listed as missing. Approximately 4,000 were killed, and in the days that followed, many more died of wounds or disease. The peaceful village of Sharpsburg turned into a huge hospital and burial gr...

The Historic National Road was the nation's first federally funded interstate highway. It opened the nation to the west and became a corridor for the movement of goods and people. Today, visitors experience a physical timeline, including classic inns, tollhouses, diners, and motels that trace 200 years of American history.

The Historic National Road stands for adventure, freedom and exploration. A ribbon of roadway from the Chesapeake Bay to the mighty Allegheny Mountains, it is the road that built the nation. Today, you can experience more than 300 years of American culture, including inns, tollhouses, taverns, theaters, parks, and shops along the byway.

The Historic National Road is the Nation's first federally funded highway. Opening westward expansion, it became a transportation corridor for goods and people, creating the great cultural diversity we treasure. Visitors experience a physical timeline -- classic inns, toll houses, diners, and motels that trace 200 years of American history.

An unusual endowment of cultural resources attract visitors to Conemaugh Dam. Adjacent to the Dam site Recreation Area, historical development is currently underway with the construction of the Trail of Transportation History and the Tunnel view Historic Site. The riverside trail follows the towpath that runs along the Main Line Canal that once connected Philadelphia with Pittsburgh (1834 ? 1854...

23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into the North and led to Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

Surrounded by high mountains in a wild and scenic area, Kettle Creek State Park provides day use recreation facilities on Alvin R. Bush reservoir and campground adjacent to Corps land on the lake and downstream of the dam.

Situated among steep sided valleys and forested hillsides, Mahoning Creek Lake is surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Blessed with clean water and a varied thriving fish population. In 1971, one of the largest Northern Pike ever recorded (42-7/8?) was reeled in from the waters below Mahoning Dam. Mahoning is also known for its abundant Turkey and Ruffed Grouse populations.

Set in an area of rugged, unspoiled scenery. From Saltsburg, 3/4 mi S on PA 981.

The Allegheny Islands Wilderness now contains a total of 368 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Pennsylvania. In 1984 the Allegheny Islands Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In...

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail byway parallels the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes in New York and Pennsylvania. This adventure includes Niagara Falls; 1000 Islands; 29 lighthouses; War of 1812, farm, and nature sites; welcoming harbors, world-class sportfishing, bridges/ferries to/from Canada, and the Seaway Trail Discovery Center.

Follow America's "North Coast" on the Pennsylvania Great Lakes Seaway Trail. Recreation and history abound along the shores of Lake Erie, which offers both a rural landscape of lush farming and the hustle and bustle of historic downtowns. Historic sites tell stories of the War of 1812 and provide year-round activities.

At the heart of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway is its scenic landscape. In Pennsylvania, the stunning views from the byway provide the perfect setting for experiencing the monumental history and culture of this area. Travel from the downtown historic district of Gettysburg to the Gettysburg National Battlefield Park to witness the same fields bloodied in that epic Civil War battle. Thes...

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,185 mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.