Pennsylvania’s picturesque Cumberland Valley is known for its scenic landscape and vast outdoors. Whether you visit in spring, summer, fall, or winter, the Valley has a variety of accessible outdoor activities suitable for all individuals -- from ADA-accessible trails to ADA-compliant play structures.
Check out these eight locations that offer exciting, accessible outdoor fun.
If you need accommodation to participate in activities at our three state parks—Kings Gap, Colonel Denning, and Pine Grove—due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.
Kings Gap Environmental Education Center
Kings Gap Environmental Education Center encompasses a sprawling 2,531 acres featuring several accessible outdoor trails. The sweeping Cameron Masland Mansion, located at the top of a winding four-mile drive, is ADA-accessible and offers excellent views of the manicured property. You'll find paved parking and several accessible parking spots. The Mansion also offers weekend stays from late April through mid-November. The Kings Gap Suite is ADA-accessible.
Those yearning for a taste of nature can visit the scenic Whispering Pines Trail and White Oaks Trail, both paved and ADA-accessible. These easy trails, each including a 0.3-mile loop, feature excellent opportunities to spot local flora and wildlife. Have your camera or smartphone handy because you may catch a glimpse of an owl or white-tailed deer.
Recently, the park added 68 acres that provide even more accessible hiking opportunities.
Colonel Denning State Park
Colonel Denning State Park has 273 acres of largely shaded woodland surrounded by rolling mountains. Whether you’re in the mood for a picnic or simply want to enjoy the fresh outdoors, the park is worth a visit in virtually every season.
Fishing is one of the favorite activities of park visitors. The park offers an ADA-accessible fishing pier on Doubling Gap Lake. The 3.5-acre lake is stocked with trout, among other fish, and is also open for ice fishing in the winter.
Hunting is allowed on selected park acres during established seasons. Common game species include deer, squirrel, and turkey. You can contact the park office for details on ADA-accessible hunting.
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Nestled in the vast Michaux State Forest, which offers panoramic views of the Cumberland Valley, Pine Grove Furnace State Park covers 696 acres brimming with wildlife and nature activities.
Wheelchair-accessible outdoor activities include the ADA-accessible Hiker-Biker A.T. Trail, a three-mile, family-friendly trail that travels from the Furnace Stack to the Laurel Lake area. This scenic trail is partially paved and connects to multiple other trails throughout the park.
Pine Grove Furnace State Park also has 75 acres open to hunting, trapping, and training dogs during established seasons. You can contact the park office for details on ADA-accessible hunting.
Children's Lake
Children’s Lake in picturesque Boiling Springs offers the perfect Cumberland Valley location for families with kids. Full of resident ducks, geese, and swans, Children’s Lake is ideal for birding or simply relaxing on one of its many benches to take in the striking scenery of this man-made lake and the surrounding historic buildings.
Children’s Lake also draws anglers of all ages to its ADA-compliant fishing pier that extends into the lake for beautiful views of its seven acres of crystal clear water. The fishing pier was recently added as part of a large renovation project at Children’s Lake, including dam improvements and a new pedestrian bridge.
Now, the new and improved Children’s Lake still maintains its original charm and allure while looking to the future and being more accessible for guests of all abilities.
Cumberland Valley Rail Trail
The 13-mile Cumberland Valley Rail Trail is ideal for wildlife viewers of all ages and abilities. It’s also a great getaway for history buffs, as the trail features historical markers that explain the area's agricultural and Civil War heritage.
Several sections of the trail are paved, including a half-mile section at the Newville Trailhead and the paved “Sculpture Path” at Shippensburg Station, which is also home to the Cumberland Valley Railroad Museum and the Conrail Museum. In addition, Shippensburg Station and the Newville Trailhead have paved parking with accessible spots.
Lower Allen Community Park
If you need a wheelchair-friendly outdoor gathering area, look no further than Lower Allen Community Park. The 110-acre park includes four pavilions, campsites, and athletic fields for rent, but one of its main draws is its ADA-accessible “fortress.”
Located in the park’s center — and complete with wheelchair-accessible ramps — the Fun Fort “fortress” playground is for families and children of all ages and physical abilities.
Pride of the Susquehanna
Riding on the Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat offers a cool way to beat the summer and early fall heat — and it’s also handicapped- and wheelchair-accessible. The stern-driven paddlewheel riverboat was built in 1988 and is operated by the Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society, a mission-driven organization that aims to benefit the Susquehanna River region.
The Pride of the Susquehanna sells snacks, ice cream, candy, soda, beer, and wine during its sightseeing cruises. You can also snag tickets for one of its many unique events, which include jazz, murder mysteries, sunset cruises, and themed cruises for kids.
The riverboat can also be privately chartered for weddings, parties, business functions, anniversaries, and more, making it a one-of-a-kind yet still accessible event venue. (NOTE: The Pride will not operate during the 2024 season.)
LeTort Park and Fort LeTort Playground
Another accessible family-friendly location is the popular LeTort Park and Fort LeTort Playground, a 12-acre site that can accommodate picnics and family gatherings.
The park’s reconstructed playground opened in early October 2023 and meets ADA compliance measures, allowing children of all abilities to enjoy the exciting offerings. To accommodate a need for more inclusive play, the renovation included the addition of a poured-in-place rubber surfacing material and an ADA-compliant ramp for easier navigation of the structure.
LeTort Park Main Pavilion also offers 36 tables that can be rented individually or as a whole pavilion, while LeTort Park Lions Pavilion has four tables available as a whole pavilion rental.
Other Locations
In addition to the highlights noted above, fishing enthusiasts will find handicapped-accessible fishing piers at Spangler's Mill in Camp Hill and Leidigh Park in Boiling Springs.
