Forum Discussion

schlep1967's avatar
Mar 20, 2020

Pennsylvania State Park Closure

Received in an email from PA State Parks/Reserve America..


Important Park Updates:

Pennsylvania State Parks Facilities will be closed for 14 days effective Tuesday, March 17 to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As part of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, all buildings at the parks, including park offices and restrooms, will be closed, and all events and public educational programs will be canceled. All overnight and day use rental facilities will also be closed.

The public will still be able to access trails, lakes, rivers, forests, roads, and parking areas for passive and dispersed recreation, such as hiking.

While these park facilities are closed, state park rangers and park managers will continue to work to ensure security and that public safety is protected.

As an additional service, reservations with an arrival date in April 2020 may, if they chose, transfer or cancel their reservation with no penalty. We encourage guest to cancel online if they made their reservation online. We will go in and do a second adjustment to refund the cancellation and transaction fees within three to five business days.

If you booked through the call center, please call 888-PA-PARKS, Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. All transfers must go through the call center.
  • kfp673 wrote:
    In SE PA opening day trout is the first Saturday in April so we camp every year. With being home so much right now we are itching to get out and were going to hit a state park this weekend but everything shut down. Guess we will keep our eye on them and call some private parks as well to see what is open when.


    Better check the Fish Commissions website. They cancelled the early season in southern PA.



    MODERATOR'S EDIT: Per the site Admin's request, I am closing all COVID-19 threads and directing future comments to one thread in Around the Campfire: 2019–20 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC POSTINGS
  • rhagfo wrote:


    They may want to rethink keeping day use areas open. In Oregon and Washington people have flooded to day use areas and beaches. Ignoring the social distancing!


    They should just shut it all down. Leave room for the FTers, let everyone else stay home. Too many people think they are smarter than the medical experts. Slowing the spread is vital if we are to avoid overwhelming the health care system.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    schlep1967 wrote:
    Received in an email from PA State Parks/Reserve America..


    Important Park Updates:

    Pennsylvania State Parks Facilities will be closed for 14 days effective Tuesday, March 17 to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As part of Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, all buildings at the parks, including park offices and restrooms, will be closed, and all events and public educational programs will be canceled. All overnight and day use rental facilities will also be closed.

    The public will still be able to access trails, lakes, rivers, forests, roads, and parking areas for passive and dispersed recreation, such as hiking.

    While these park facilities are closed, state park rangers and park managers will continue to work to ensure security and that public safety is protected.

    As an additional service, reservations with an arrival date in April 2020 may, if they chose, transfer or cancel their reservation with no penalty. We encourage guest to cancel online if they made their reservation online. We will go in and do a second adjustment to refund the cancellation and transaction fees within three to five business days.

    If you booked through the call center, please call 888-PA-PARKS, Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. All transfers must go through the call center.


    They may want to rethink keeping day use areas open. In Oregon and Washington people have flooded to day use areas and beaches. Ignoring the social distancing!
  • In SE PA opening day trout is the first Saturday in April so we camp every year. With being home so much right now we are itching to get out and were going to hit a state park this weekend but everything shut down. Guess we will keep our eye on them and call some private parks as well to see what is open when.
  • You are rather early for camping in PA, many campgrounds don't open till mid April. Of course this year might be tough all season.
  • Curious where my fellow Mid-Atlantic area campers are going if anywhere. Per above, I just had to cancel my April reservations for Trout season opening day, but we would like to go somewhere rural. We were preparing to head to any random park or campground just to get out of the house this weekend but it does not look like anything is open. That said, there are full timers that must be somewhere, so something has to be open.

    Is anyone at all camping?

    Thanks all and stay safe!
  • A time for local, state and federal park employees to practice full safety measures and to be brave.

About Campground 101

Recommendations, reviews, and the inside scoop from fellow travelers.14,716 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 10, 2025