Raymond B. Winter State Park — Attraction in Hartley Township

This is a beautiful park with great hiking, even in the winter. We hiked the overlook trail starting across the street from the beach parking lot. Expect a lot of switchbacks and a rocky trail. But the way up the mountain is beautiful and hosts several ferns, moss and low shrubs that stay green through the winter. The view at the top is an overlook of the valley and surrounding mountains. You can continue on the overlook trail by going down the road a few hundred feet from the overlook. In the winter, the snow-covered path is gorgeous.

We also hiked the nature trail to the beach. It is an easy hike and well worth it as you go under a thick canopy of pine trees. It opens to the lake and beach. Even in the winter, the spring at the end of the trail is bubbling in the sand.

We cannot wait to return to explore more trails!

Adding to this to share more about the beach. The sand is perfect, soft sand. The park keeps the beach clean and takes the sand. Because the lake is spring fed, it is VERY cold. If you want an experience of just going to the beach to wade in the water and feel the sand, this is a perfect beach. But if you hope to spend a long time in the water, you may find it too cold.

The beach concession has good food. Hamburgers, hot dogs, pulled pork, fish sandwich, etc. It also has the typical beach concession goodies like ice cream.

Each time I come to this park, I love it more and more. When you visit the beach…be sure to make a quick drive up...

Beautiful lake out in the forest; I go swimming there almost every summer, and it has hiking, fishing, etc. No lifeguards, and it is a little far out from the main towns, but that can add to the "out in nature" feeling. I go on 45 sometimes and stop at the Sheetz there to get food, then cross over to 192 heading west by the Forest Hill Road. Free to get in, there are restrooms at the parking lot, as well as at the beach, and they have a foot washing fountain to get sand off before putting on shoes. You can just wear whatever clothes you find suitable for water/sand; a technical bathing suit isn't required.

People mention that the water is always cold, but I discovered a trick about a month ago: I ended up getting there in the late afternoon on a Saturday, so there were less people there, and the sun/heat had been heating the water all day by that point, so it wasn't as bad. Although, by the time I left, I was driving out of the forest (though, just getting onto the main route of 192 isn't tricky) in...

We stayed in RBW campground site #46 Sept 2021. It may be our new favorite campground. There are a number of nice rustic sites, ours may have been the best. Site was flat with plenty of room for tent and space around the fire, and it had woods on a hill behind it, perfect for hammocks. It's a small, one loop campground with 2 nice bath houses, one with showers and dish washing sinks. There is no cell service at all other than while hiking on the Overlook Trail. There are nice trails right from the campground. Wood is sold on the honor system with a wheelbarrow to transport it to your site. There also are a couple walk-in sites which are not far off the road, but nice, open and flat. They also supply a wheelbarrow at the parking area for those sites to take your equipment in. DCNR rangers make regular rounds and are very nice. While we were there we just had a very welcoming feeling from fellow campers, (many being regulars), the camp host, and the Rangers. Looking forward...