Pine Grove Furnace State Park — Attraction in Cooke Township

Perfect place to relax and take your kids. Took our little peanut there last weekend. She just turned 22 months, about to go on 2 and she loved every minute of it...views, trees, water, sand, geese and every leaf and pinecone and twig on the ground 🤣

It was off season so no swimming yet and it was completely empty which is welcoming at this time of year and when you are trying to inroduce your little one to a lake. Of course she did throw a gigantor tentrum because we wouldn't let her go swimming in freezing water. But then got over it once she discovered sitting in sand.

It is absolutely beautiful there! Clean grounds, bathroom facilities on site, picnic areas and amazing views. I believe concession stand as well! Whether you are a hiker or just like chilling on the beach getting some rays, this place covers it all. They also rent out picnic areas for small events and parties. From what I understand you can fish trout! t A perfect place to teach your kids fishing etiquette.

It does get buggy in that area once humidity rolls in during the summer, but that's just to be expected out of any place on water. The water does stay pretty cold as well throughout the swimming season, but honestly your kids won't care! They will stay in just like you did at their age until your lips went blue and you looked like a well aged prune.

There is a dam near by but they put markers and lines to warn you plus lines and markers to show deep and shallow areas.

Our three boys love going there as well! So if you are single, a couple or have a family the place is truly awesome and unique and will cater to the nature buff in you. And your dog(s) will thank you! It's a dog lovers paradise. Two lakes to enjoy, gorgeous hiking trails, unique historic places to see (the Furnace is amazing!), wonderful creek and views to go along with it. Seriously in awe of this beautiful park.

A little "hidden" gem. I wish I had something like this...

In terms of things to do it is great. Lots of trails, AT runs thru (and despite what some have said on here...yes, the part that runs directly thru the lake areas are paved but once you continue past the general thru-way you will find the rugged AT you would expect. You just have to follow the signs/markers). My only negative is how close the campground sites are, despite the website info page saying there is privacy for all sites. We are tent only campers, no RV, but you can still claim an RV site as long as it has a tent pad with it. Even though there are trees in between it still felt cramped. We stayed at site 19 and there were no trees in between us and 21. I felt like we were on the same site. Zero privacy. You sit there staring at each other and it was EXTREMELY uncomfortable. Site 17 and 25 are maybe the best but even then you are still in a crowded and cramped campground. So if you're looking for a communal feel to camping this is a good place. If you are looking for more privacy then this is definitely not the campground you'd want. I feel bad giving 3 stars because the place really is nice and my idea of camping (privacy)could be opposite of someone else's ideal (community) Otherwise it is a cool place with lots of trails. The AT museum is worth a stop in. We met a hiker highlighted on the wall...a record breaking woman who is the oldest woman to hike the AT from Georgia to Maine. Shed's in her 70s!! It was really really cool to meet and...

This is a must visit park in south central PA. If you enjoy the outdoors. It contains two lakes, Laurel and Fuller. Fuller is the better lake in my opinion. It is so clear that if there aren't a lot of people stirring up the water, you can wade in up to your waist and still see the bottom and all the little fish swimming around you. It is also a short walk from the old iron furnace for which the park is named, the Appalachian Trail Museum and the Pine Grove General Store, which has great burgers and ice cream. Fuller Lake is for swimming and fishing only, so if you want to boat or paddle board, you must go to Laurel. Boat rental is available there. The trails in the park are pleasant and safe. The hiker biker trail between the two lakes is patrolled often by Rangers, and is wheelchair and stroller accessible. While in the area, check out the ruins of Camp Michaux, a short distance from the park, which was a secret POW camp during WW2. Pole Steeple trail, inside the park, and Sunset Rocks and Blueberry Trail, a short distance from the park offer...