A Weekend at Gifford Pinchot State Park

In April, I attended the Pennsylvania Outdoor Content Creator Meetup at Gifford Pinchot State Park. This event was organized by Christian from the Hemlocks to Hellbenders podcast and sponsored by Explore York PA. The drive, while long, was easy. I listened to The Ghost Furnace Podcast and The American Birding Podcast. A little after 1 o’clock, I rolled up to the camping cottage to unload my stuff.

Dragonfly Cottage is at the back of the campground on the shore of the lake. As I hopped out of my car, a Bald Eagle took off from a snag across the water. Spotting the eagle felt like a good omen for the weekend. In a flash, I unloaded my bags and set up my bunk. I was set to share with Sara from Hiking Outdoor Family, Britt from Britt Around Town, and Michele from Adventures Abound.

A little later, I headed over to the Conewago Day Use area to meet everyone. I explored the area around our pavilion, finding lots of spring ephemerals. My favorites in this area were Virginia Springbeauty and Azure Bluets. Moss and lichens covered the diabase rocks scattering the area. Introductions were made, and before dinner we went on a hike along Lakeside Trail. Dinner was had, and then we loaded up to visit the vernal pools of Gifford Pinchot.

As Park Educator Beth spoke about vernal pools, I resisted the urge to dip my hands in the dark water. I wanted to hold tadpoles in my hands like a little girl. After she finished speaking, Beth let us explore the pool. I checked out the two citizen science projects there. On the far end is a CrowdHydrology station, and the near end a Chronolog station.

After we finished exploring, I headed back to our cabin to head to bed. I fell asleep fast – as I drifted off, I could hear the night calls of birds and a light patter of rain on the cottage roof.  

The following morning started with a shower and coffee. One of the creators, oneeyewanderz/itravel4coffee, brought an espresso machine. Yes, you read that right- an ENTIRE, ACTUAL espresso machine. He made me a latte, which energized me for our hike to Boulder Point.

Boulder Point is a unique geological feature at the park. It’s a “balanced rock” created by spheroidal weathering and repeated freeze-thaw cycles. About 200 million years ago, molten rock shot through Triassic-aged materials. Thousands of years of erosion revealed the diabase rocks. Keeping age in mind, these rocks may be a periglacial feature. 75 thousand years ago, a huge part of Pennsylvania lie under a glacier. The proximity to permafrost and dramatic freeze-thaw cycles would have accelerated erosion… leaving behind the rocks we see today.

While hiking, the huge variety of spring ephemerals growing at the park delighted me. I saw many species, including: Jack-in-the-Pulpit, trilliums, Wild Geranium, and Wild Pinks. Virginia Bluebells grew in masses- some of the plots also had pink and white varieties. White bluebells are rare, and carry the scientific name Mertensia virginica forma berdii. I saw many clumps of white bluebells, again feeling it was a good omen.

Back at the pavilion, we lunched and enjoyed a variety of interesting talks and programs. Our highlight was DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. She stopped to visit with us on her way to check on the forest fires in Michaux State Forest. Her words filled me with inspiration, and I thought about them often throughout the rest of the day.

During a break, I needed to rest and dry my feet. I attempted to take a brief nap, but instead relaxed at the picnic table at Dragonfly Cottage. With my polarized sunglasses, I watched bluegill and bass dart in the water close to shore. Further off, a Green Heron stalked the shallows. The air was full of the calls of Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Red-winged Blackbirds. My heart and soul felt restored while enjoying the peace around me.

Later after dinner, we met Dr. Reigner from the Office of Outdoor Recreation and Executive Director Blischke from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Their session was a facilitated discussion, and I learned a lot from the others in our group. Compared to everyone else, I’m a “baby” creator. The mentorship I was receiving from this session alone… priceless.

The following morning, we packed up and carried on in own ways- and I decided to go birding. At Boat Mooring Area #1, I picked up new lifers: Northern Parula and Yellow-rumped Warbler. On the drive between areas, I saw a Brown Thrasher in a bush! At the Quaker Race Day Use Area, I watched a Cooper’s Hawk get mobbed by a huge flock of crows.

I continued on to the Dam Overlook, hoping to spot more wilderness and forest species. I only saw and heard Tree Swallows. A tall chain-link fence separated visitors from the actual dam area. The fencing eliminated the chance for a scenic overlook. I understand safety concerns, yet it felt out-of-place. Disappointed, I left as a group of peppy flyfishermen started their hike down to the water.

Once I finished birding, I set off for home. I listened to more podcasts- my favorite one from was a Ghost Furnace episode on a sasquatch sighting. I also re-listened to Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation. I made an impromptu stop at another park, which I’ll share about soon. I stopped at Red Rabbit for lunch, turned off the GPS, and cruised home to my cat, fiancé, and hot shower.

I recommend visiting Gifford Pinchot State Park. There’s a little bit of everything for everyone. With plenty of water, you can kayak, canoe, and fish to your heart’s content. A variety of hiking trails will entertain any level of hiker. Be sure, though, to pack a padded sleeping bag- the camping cottage bunks are unforgiving!

Have you visited Gifford Pinchot State Park before?