Pine Grove Furnace State Park Reviews

My husband and I spent a fall afternoon here. The furnace site is interesting but small. There is a paymasters house that you cannot enter. The ironmasters house was also closed for a special event during our visit. Nonetheless, the display around the furnace is nice and shows how the iron was made.

The real highlight for us was walking along path around Fuller Lake, the sandy beach, and the Appalachian Trail. The sandy beach is a bit out of it's element as there is no white sand locally. I think black sand would have been more fitting to the surroundings. The access to the Appalachian trail is clearly marked. The path on the trail itself is quite steep, so bring good shoes, a walking stick, and water if you intend to go far on the trail itself.

fairly close to home yet seems like miles and miles.....clean, quiet, peaceful....great for weekend get aways..

Stayed in the youth/group camping area with troop of Boy Scouts. Facilities were perfectly fine. Drinking water easily accessible. Area nice and clean. Plenty to do & see around. Small swimming lake on site with beach area, plentiful parking, and free showers, which we made good use of after hiking on the Appalachian Trail all day. Camp Rangers were extremely helpful, friendly, gave terrific advice, and went well beyond call of duty to assist us in any way. AT museum on site is a must-do. Doesn't take long, is free, and quite informative. Furnace remains are an interesting aside, also. Trails well marked, maps easy to find & read. Chose to drive the 30 minutes back to stay here again rather than the next park/campground we were scheduled to stay at because we liked it so much and the other park wasn't anywhere near as friendly.

This is a nice State Park to visit in South Central Pennsylvania. Like all state parks in that State there is no admission charge. It is centered around a lake with water activities like swimming, boating, fishing and others. There are various picnic areas and concessions. There is a visitor center and Appalachian Trail Museum because this is close to the halfway point on the Appalachian Trail. There is an ice crea, shop near the museum where hikers (and others) celebrate this milestone with a half gallon of ice cream. However due to staff shortages, this shop is frequently closed. In addition to the Appalachian Trail there are a few other hiking trails but they are rather non descript. The Pole Steeple trail is quite exciting however . It is quite steep but not exceedingly difficult. At the top there are rock formations. One must exercise caution but a beautiful view is afforded. This park is a bit different than others in that there are many private homes along the park roads.. when this park was founded they did not buy out the homes and tear them down but let the original homes stay where they were. There seems to be a comfortable co existence.

This park is at the midway point on the famous Appalachian Trail and offers lots of hiking and wildlife. About 40 min NW of Gettysburg, PA. Rustic park with very clean facilities!

Nice leisurely walk between Fuller Lake and Laurel Lake. Wide mostly shaded trail. Lakes for cooling off on both ends of the trail. Available for biking too. Restrooms and bath houses available on both lakes. Canoes kayaks and row boats can be rented on the larger Laurel Lake

the Appalachian trail goes through this park and you might meet hikers from all over the world. There are also 2 lakes, which are accessible for swimming and paddle boating. You also find an old furnace there with its history.

This a great park to camp, as well as spend the day with family on a picnic, swimming, or fishing. The two lakes are great and very peaceful.

Pine Grove Furnace is such a wonderful state park. It offers a museum, swimming, creek access, it's pet friendly and the Appalachian Trail runs through it. I absolutely love this park.

In the interest of disclosure, we are cabin owners adjacent to the park.

Pine Grove Furnace has really grown and developed into a very nice day, weekend or weeklong destination. The state has invested money into improving the old foundry grounds as well as adding improvements to the beach and picnic area around Fuller Lake.

Both Fuller and Laurel Lake have nice clean beaches and the crowds are more family oriented than other close parks (York Co)

The various trails, General Store, overnight camping and the ability for children to play in the creeks, and puddles makes this a great place for families to unplug and enjoy being outside.

We have been here many times for many different events and activities. There are several pavilions available for day use/rental and make great picnic spots. The two lakes offer a variety of swimming, boating, and fishing options. The park also hosts a variety of activities throughout the year for families. The swimming area isn't huge and gets very busy/full in the hot summer, but you can't beat free swimming in a cool lake.
The old furnace relics are interesting and educational for local history buffs.
There are some hiker accommodations available and there is some Appalachian Trail information, as the trail goes right through the park.
You are sure to find something you will like. Enjoy the many outdoor activities and the beautiful scenery.

Loved this state park and will definitely be going back. Beautiful wooded spots, great for swimming, hiking and Kayaking. Several other state parks in the area with great hikes. Pole Steeple Trail is only 1.5 miles and is moderate up hill hike, but a beautiful view at the top. Several places to hop on the Appalachian Trail. The Camp store offers great breakfast wraps, afternoon burgers are end of day ice cream and funnel cake. No cell reception, but wifi at camp store

Spent a day here with family in the water, kayaking and picnicking. The lake and man made sandy beach were clean and the water is roped off at a depth of 4/5 feet to keep the canoeists at a safe distance but be aware no lifeguards are on duty. The water looks reddish brown but don't let that put you off as this is due to the lake being formed on an old iron ore mine -there were plenty of fish to be seen! Showers and changing rooms are available along with a small snack bar. Hired a two-man kayak for $20 an hour and that was plenty of time!

We stayed two nights at the group camping site for labor day weekend. It was hot and muggy but thankfully did not rain. We like having a group campsite to ourselves as it gave us privacy. The downside is the woefully inadequate toilets for the group camp site (dark and stinky). We had to walk to the excellent and clean shower/bath facilities in the family camp site down the street. They cost an extra $4 per shower. You can pick up extra fire wood at camp site 37 as well. There were lots of families with kids. We spent time at the beach at Fuller Lake and the kids caught some small fish. For the humidity, friends recommended bringing some rock salt for the tent to dehumidify the air; I will try that next time. The bugs were not horrible (I would use bug spray though). It was a good weekend outdoors with friends.

Went here after a trip to Gettysburg National Military Park and after camping 2 nights in Caledonia SP. Took a lovely drive up through Michaux State Forest to get to Pine Grove, on our way to 76 to head back home to NJ. So glad we did because we got here early and explored the lake and grounds, and went to the Appalachian Trail Museum. Got my passport book stamped as its a National Scenic Trail. We then went and hiked Pole Steeple Trail which was awesome- we scrambled instead of switchbacks and it was a good workout. Great views and payout as it was the only mountain top view of the weekend. Drove back to the AT Museum area of the park and got Hershey's ice cream (peach and chocolate) at the General Store. seriously good eats.. all in all- this was an amazing trip and a gorgeous, fun, park that also has History!

My spouse and I started enjoying camping this year, and Pine Grove Furnace was the first campground we visited as adults. Although we loved Pine Grove Furnace while we were there, we only grew to love it more as we stayed at some other parks during the summer. Just to share a few of the things we loved about the campground . . . . First, we love the sites - our site was extremely private, which is exactly what we were looking for while camping. Second, we loved the freedom that we had in setting up the campsite; unlike many parks (as we later found out), you are not restricted to a small pad for setting up your tent. Third, the campsite is set away from other activities, which reduces traffic in and around the campground. Fourth, the bathroom/shower/dish sink facilities are beautiful! We plan to camp at Pine Grove Furnace several times during 2014.

As a local this is one of the places I go when I want to experience the great outdoors. We got sandwiches and drinks from a Sheetz and spent sometime at the park watching the activities on Laurel lake which has a boat and bike rental available and the new "bathhouse. Fuller Lake is also in the park and the Appalachain Trail museum is here along with some local history relating to the furnace. There is also a campground associated with the park but I have no first hand knowledge of that. Only thing preventing an excellent is some of the picnic tables are well past their prime.

This is a fabulous campground. The camping area is small, but it was not crowded when we were there (1st week of July, but not the weekend). The bathrooms are amazingly clean. I don't think I've ever been in a campground bathroom that did not have bugs in it! The showers were also clean and warm, but they only stay on for a few seconds -- you just have to keep pushing the button. The accessible one stayed on longer. There are campground hosts -- a couple who stay there in an RV, sell firewood, and are available to help with all kinds of things. They were lifesavers for us; when our car battery died (from leaving the doors open to pack the car?), they gave us a jump. There are two lakes to swim in, great hiking and biking trails, the Appalachian Trail Museum, and the Appalachian Trail, of course! We met people who had been hiking the trail for months. If you hike up to the rocky lookouts, beware of rattle snakes. We saw a copperhead. It is also near Gettysburg, and we did spend a day there.

I love the great beach and swimming area for kids, snack bar open all summer, clean toilet and shower facilities, and boat rentals. This is our favorite place to swim and picnic. Surrounded by trees, it's like being in a little mountain oasis.

We took our family camping and hiking here. The Pole Steeple Trail is especially nice, and the midway point of the Appalachian Trail features a nice museum and cute little store. My children enjoyed visiting with the sweaty through-hikers eating ice cream on the veranda of the store. The campground is very nice, but quite busy on the weekends. We attended an evening ranger program that was informative and fun for the children. Beware of ticks and be sure to wear bug spray with plenty of deet. Also, poison ivy abounds, so be aware of your surroundings. There is a nice biking trail and we wished we had brought bikes, but it is so easy to get to this park, that one could easily drive out for a ride without going camping.

We've been to Pine Grove Furnace to camp twice now and it doesn't disappoint. It has everything we love to do: swimming in the beautiful Fuller Lake (although better to go in the morning or evening to avoid the crowds on the weekend), lots of great hiking easy enough for kids to do, great bike riding, beautiful creeks to wade around in, fields to see the stars and campsites that are large and private (although we scouted it out before we went to know which were the best). I hate to leave this review and have more people go and take away the peace and quiet but it's too good not to share!

If you visit Pine Grove you must take the Pole Steeple hike. The campsites are spacious, clean and wooded. Hershey's ice cream at the general store is also a favorite for Appalachian trail hikers. Make sure you read the journal at the general store that hikers sign, always interesting!

Fall Weekend Getaway
We spent the weekend of September 15 & 16, 2017 at Pine Grove Furnace State Park Campground. It was a fall weekend getaway in our Motorhome with our 3 cocker spaniels. Excellent campground ! We were in site #29, easy to back in, nice shade, large and secluded. ( See photos ) Within 50 feet from water and 150 feet from the bathhouse. Campground host and others were very friendly. Normally, we try to get locations with full hookups as I would prefer them. However, this was a nice large site. Plenty of places to walk with the dogs and enjoy nature with peace and quiet. Will plan a visit again !

My husband and I went here for the first time last weekend! We spent over 6 hours here and could have spent a lot more time there.

This park offers two lakes wihlth opportunities to swim--Fuller Lake is smaller and has lifeguards. Laurel Lake is larger without lifeguards, and has the boat launch. Both have concession stands and both are nice, sandy beaches. There are an abundance of picnic tables and grills, but they get packed as the day goes on!! It got very busy in the hours that we were there.

There are so many trails at this park. We ended up partially on the Appalachian trail and then on Pole Steeple. If you can do it, I highly recommend the Pole Steeple trail to get to the vista. It was so gorgeous! Worth the long hike we took. Swamp Trail is very tiny but a nice step in nature. We can't wait to go back.

My husband and I took our 4 year old daughter there for a long weekend in the spring. The campground was gorgeous. The bathrooms were well kept and had a big plus...a family bathroom with a shower! Very helpful and welcomed amenity for us. There were so many trails of all different levels. A must do? Pole Steeple Vista. Its a moderate hike, but our daughter did it without an issue. The view was incredible. It left me speechless. Bring the camera! Fuller Lake was great. Nice and peaceful, great bathhouses. There were snack bars there (not opened yet for us). Hiking the Appalachian Trail was a great experience. The museum is quaint, and seeing the trail registry is awesome. Lots to do, especially in the summer. Boat rentals also...all in all a great park that i hope to visit again.

Im a bit of a picky campsite chooser. We tent camp, so i like to find more private sites. The one and only reason i didnt give the campground 5 stars was because of the close proximity of the sites. There were several there that were more private...i will definitely choose one of those next time (we had site 10 i believe)

This is a great state park with a lot to do: hiking the AT, bike riding, swimming, boating, historical sites (furnace, iron master's mansion, etc.), AT trail museum and approximate halfway point, ranger led programs. 2 lakes: Fuller and Laurel. Boat (canoe and kayak) and bicycle rentals available at Laurel lake. Swimming at both. Fuller lake is not life-guarded. Fuller is a former quarry and is quite deep (up to 75 ft. deep) so if you are not willing to watch your children every minute, this is not the lake for you. Laurel is shallower with a larger beach and warmer water. Showers and snack bar available at Fuller lake (not sure about Laurel). There is also a general store/snack bar near the AT Trail museum where thru hikers often stop to consume 1/2 gallon of ice cream to celebrate the 1/2 way point. Playgrounds in the campground and also at Laurel lake. The park office also has activity backpacks to borrow for little naturalists. Pole Steeple is a must - you can get to it off the AT with a longer but less vertically challenging hike. Ask the rangers for directions. In addition to camping, you can also rent the historic paymaster's cabin in the park or stay at the Ironmaster's Mansion hostel, both within the park.

I have been coming to this campground for 35 years. It has always been clean and well-maintained. It's camping, not the Hilton, so expect some dirt/debris on the bathroom floors from campers coming in with hiking boots and bare-footed kids, especially on the weekends when this campground is almost always completely full. Bathrooms are cleaned once a day (around noon). It's not that long ago that this was a primitive campground with only pit toilets and no showers. I have never heard of any bear or raccoon problems at this campground, but the chipmunks will get into food left out on picnic tables so keep food stowed away. All of the campsites on the inside of the loops are quite close together as are some on the outer side. A lot of this has to do with increasing the size of sites to accommodate ever-increasingly larger RV's (parking areas have gone from 20 ft to up to 60 ft), addition of tent pads (that removes about 196 sq ft of buffer between sites), and the removal of buffer plants between sites during the electric hookup additions and by campers looking for a better marshmallow toasting stick or kindling. Best sites for privacy: with electric hookup, 53 and 55; with pets, 1; non-electric, 17 and 74. Let your kids explore the creek trail on their own and watch out for the resident toads and try not to hit them on the campground road. Tenters should not feel that they have to restrict themselves to tent only sites. These sites were all originally intended for tents; the tenting sites just have the tent pads, which are not fun to sleep on unless you have a bed roll or something to put under your sleeping bag. Campground host is at site 37 and firewood can be purchased there (5$/6 pcs you pick out yourself) and an emergency phone can be found there, too, if you don't have signal. For the most quiet and a better chance at solitude, camp here during the week and not the weekend.

We camped here for our first stay in a state park. The sites were big, private and clean. The campground Host was directly behind us and they were very friendly. The bathhouse was very clean. We enjoyed hiking the Pole Steeple trail along with relaxing on the beach afterwards. There is nothing that I can say we disliked about this park. We look forward to visiting again!

Went for a hike up to Pole Steeple for a beautiful view and then hiked over to Laurel Lake. This is a beautifully maintained state park that is perfect for everyone. Trails, lakes for swimming, and picnic areas. Great place to visit nature.

If you are looking for a park that offers serenity and privacy this is not it. My youngest son and I camped there for 3 nights, arriving on a Thursday. The park was jammed. A combination of tents and RVs filled the Horshoe loop camping area where we stayed. Tent campers were mostly families, several sites had multiple family groups. RV sites were mostly older campers. We stayed on site #21 and were a little surprised that the site immediately next to ours had a fire ring less than 35 feet from our tent pad with nothing blocking either site's view. Heard every conversation from neighboring sites. For privacy it appeared that site #24 had the best arrangement. During normal working hours on both Thursday and Friday there was some kind of power equipment being used in the immediate area. Not very peaceful. On the plus side the area is beautiful. The park has two lakes, each has a day use area. Laurel Lake, the larger of the two lakes, allows boating and you can rent boats at this location. Swimming is allowed at both Laurel and Fuller lakes, as is fishing. There is a General Stopre that caters to Appalachian Trail hikers (the AT runs through the park and marks the halfway point between Maine and Georgia). Firewood and ice are sold in the store, along with a host of items hikers and campers might need. Our tent pad was elevated but composed of fine gravel. Would really advise anyone tent camping to double the ground tarp to save the tent floor. There were two bathroom buildings within easy walking distance from our site. One location contained showers. The other location without showers was not the cleanest facility although with the crowd of people in the camp site it was to be expected. There is also an Appalachain Trail museum that is fairly interesting. The old iron smelting furnace provides some interesting information on the area's former industry. Trails are well marked if you are hiking within the park. The area itself is beautiful and located next to a state forest. we were surprised that there were no special regulations for possible bear encounters. No mention of bears in the park at all which, again, was very surprising because of the location. If you can deal with the lack of privacy between sites, this isn't a bad place to camp.

When I visited this park, I swam at laurel lake and hiked the pole steeple trail. The water is beyond cold and takes getting used to but in hot summer days, it can be amazing. The area where the lake is has picnic tables and charcoal grills. Very family friendly. The hiking was the best for me however, the pole steeple trail is an excellent starter for people who are just beginning to hike. It can be challenging for beginners because the entire hike is uphill. The end is worth it and it makes you feel proud when you make it to the top. The park has great photography opportunities as well. Worth a few visits.

We stopped by specifically to see the furnace. What a stalwart structure! Loved the educational signs too, which help to contextualize what is left to be seen. Thoroughly enjoyed seeing it and then hiking around the park for about 30 minutes. We even found some blue slag glass! Early on a weekday, we had the park to ourselves, simply serene. Beautiful fall wildflowers along the shady hiking trail.

My husband and I booked site 2 for a week.
If you are looking to disconnect and enjoy nature, this is the place!
It is a smaller campground, cell service is very hit or miss, and peaceful.

I stayed two nights here in my popup camper, in the horseshoe loop pets area. Most of the sites were big, level, and fairly private. Unfortunately there was poison ivy all over the place, right next to the gravel areas. This is especially dangerous in a pet area where dogs are walking in the vegetation and bringing it back into the populated areas.

Just northish of Gettysburg, located in the fruit belt (make sure to stop and get some fruit in the summer!!) is this awesome State park with old growth pine groves which are so gorgeous! There are bathroom facilities and showers that are fairly new and very well taken care of. Most people come in on Friday and leave on Sunday, everyone is friendly and helpful. If you stay past the weekend the wildlife comes out and woke up Sunday night to hooting owls:) There are lots of hiking trails and if you go to the main center near the camp store, you can get activity backpacks for kids! It's half way on the Appalachian Trail and have a museum and this is where you might see hikers doing the ice cream challenge. Easy drive to Gettysburg if you forget something. The cell signal is very weak with most of the time no cell service. PA state parks app offers maps you can download which are helpful. There is a lake for swimming and also some other history about WWII POWs being held there. Pretty much something for everyone. They also have a festival in the fall:)

I hate to write this because I don't want to open the floodgates of campers to my favorite spot. But I must. My husband and I are tent campers (not backpackers, we are too old for that!). I'm not a big fan of bears, and many PA state parks are loaded with them. Not so here at Pine Grove, and the sites are large and lovely. yes there are many electric sites, so you do get lots of happy RV campers. , but there are quite a few pet free and no electric sites. It is on the Appalachian Trail, (midway point!) and there is a nice camp store, lots of nice hiking and two lakes with sandy beaches, swimming and canoe and kayak rentals.. Flush toilets and hot water showers . Yes, you do have to keep pushing the timed water button, but oh well... It is about a 2.5 hour drive from Valley Forge interchange of the PA Turnpike near Phila, which is not too far. Just right!

I've been to both lakes in the past and go to Fuller Lake often in the summer but this was our first time camping at the campground. We had a site on Horseshoe Loop... The sites are fairly close together but we didn't mind. We had a water source right next to the site and an easy trail to the nice bathhouse. Plenty of room on the site for both our large 10 x 20 tent and our screen tent. The site was all gravel but again we didn't mind and didn't have any issues. We had electric hook-up at our site as well which was nice because we were able to keep the inside of our tent cool and comfortable for sleeping in the 90+ degree heat and humidity that we experienced while we were there. The camp host was friendly and helpful and made sure to keep campers informed of weather-related matters (there were severe thunderstorms in the area that weekend as well). There is a small camp store for supplies. The Appalachian Trail Museum was interesting. And the campground is secluded while being conveniently located not far from nearby towns (Carlise, Shippensburg, Gettysburg, etc.). We love our weekend here and will definitely be returning.

Decided to do the Pole Steeple Trail while we were here because we were seeking a shorter hike with a great overlook. You can see the entire park including the lake from the top. The trail forks, so you can choose a short steep incline or a much easier path to the top. This park is the halfway point of the Appalachian trail! Looking forward to going back to hike some longer trails!

Plenty to do here. There were hundreds of people all over the park. Most were in big groups with picnic gear in hand. A lot were swimming in the lake. There is no charge to use the park. We came to hike on the Appalachian Trail.

We had our first introduction to this park when we met family members for a picnic at the Laurel Lake recreation area. We arrived around 10:00 a.m. and were very surprised to see how many people were already here and staked a claim on some picnic tables in the only pavilion. We had a great view of the lake from the pavilion although the many people who were going to the lake used the pathway through the pavilion. We shuffled the tables around and had consolidated into one area and was much more private. Having the bathroom/shower house close by was a definite advantage. Now for the down side. There are two lakes. One larger and the other smaller. The larger for swimming, kayaking and canoeing. The smaller with the same newly renovated shower house. The larger lake was for smokers! The smaller for non smokers! I thought I have been around but I never saw anything like this before. After we were all set up, we the nonsmokers, were told we were in smoking area!! People were smoking on the beach too! Enough said! what a shame to come and enjoy the beautiful great outdoors and the fresh mountain air and smell cigarette smoke!

My family and I tent camped here for two nights and loved the campground. We checked in midweek and enjoyed the quiet. The weekend proved to be much busier, but campsites were large and well spaced out so you still have a sense of privacy. Showers were clean. The iron furnace and AT museum nearby were neat to see. The nearby lakes have designated swimming areas and are a great place to cool off during the summer. Make sure to hike the Pole Steeple trail for some outstanding views of the Pennsylvania forest.

We had a wonderful time because of ranger john. He was wonderful he helped my disable. Husband and got him a park I g spot close so he did not have to walk far thank you ranger john you were wonderful

Came here to camp overnight with my BF to hike the Appalachian Trail. I thought the campground was clean and wonderfully quiet. And I'm not sure why some reviewers complained about the bathrooms/showers. Both were amazingly clean!!! A++++ for both! We hiked Pole Steeple Trail and Sunset Rocks which were great...more challenging in the heat! Don't forget to visit the AT museum!!!! Also, the park rangers at the info center and super friendly and knowledgeable about the entire park and trails.

This park is nice and neat. Plenty to do, little Lake for swimming , has a beach for sun bathing, kayaks, hiking etc. It is part of the Appalachian trail. Love the view from Steele Point.

Camped with dog in Pine Grove Furnace State Park at Site 030. Campground and Park are beautiful and well maintained! Site 030 was an easy back-in with small trailer and close to clean showers and bathrooms. Campground host accommodating and friendly with firewood ($5 per bundle of 6). The dumpster and water was a close walk away. Nice hiking trails! Friendly State Park staff! Excellent Appalachian Trail Museum next to AT. Will return to this park again!!

Loved everything about Pine Grove Furnace State Park. It really had so many different activities to offer! We especially loved the hiking and the AT Museum.

Hiking - Many awesome trails and lookouts. We did a 4 mile loop - Pole Steeple (beautiful rocky lookout over valley, section of Appalachian Trail and finished out with the 1.5 mile Mountain Creek Trail. The hiking was not difficult, but was very rewarding and scenic.

Appalachian Trail Museum - Incredible one-of-kind museum celebrating the AT and the hikers that have made it. Interestingly, the park is the site of the half-way mark on the trail. 1,069 miles each way. Watch out for the limited hours for the museum.

History - Site of iron furnace and several other historical buildings.

Swimming/Boating - Two lakes that offer swimming(beach) and boating.

Stayed one night on our way to Kentucky. Spacious sights. I really liked that there were "Dog" and "no dogs" sections. I love dogs but respect that not everyone else does. Clean and quiet, host family very helpful. Would recommend.

Two very nice beaches, two play sets for the younger children. Lots of trails that are well kept. Appalachian Trail goes through there. Campground nice, quiet and well kept. We go every year and love it.

This is the halfway point for the Appalachian Trail. There is a museum here, but it was already closed when we got here. The old iron furnace stack was much larger than I anticipated. Only a few hikers at the general store eating the obligatory half gallon of ice cream. Very cool. Took photos in front of the AT signs.

Close to Gettysburg attractions. Beautiful trails. Quiet camping. Bring the kyacks for a calm water paddle.

We have stayed at the campground in this park several times now. It is very busy on the weekends in the summer, so we highly recommend reservations if you want to camp on the weekends. On Sunday, many of the sites are empty. The facilities are reasonably clean but not as clean as some of the other PA state parks we've visited.

The campsites are fairly spacious, shaded and most offer some privacy. Most sites are fairly level with a good gravel surface for RVs. Many sites offer electric hookups. Some sites have tent pads.

This is a wonderful little park for a family outing. It has nice picnic facilities and a small swimming area with beach. There are several hikes available with connections to longer trails in the adjoining state forest. The small lake is not suitable for boating.

Spent a few days here in May with my dog. Wanted to do some hiking and we definitely got to do that. The Campground sites were very nice and clean, and the bathrooms and showers were also clean and well kept. The camp host was especially friendly and helpful. All the park employees I had contact with were exceptionally helpful and friendly. The hiking was great even in the rain. We enjoyed ourselves very much and would definitely return. I didn't use the beach because of the dog, but it was beautiful and very clean. The campstore had great food for when you are too lazy to cook (or too tired from your hike)

We camped 1 night. The site we stayed in (21) was well spaced from the others. The park is on the quiet end which is great to feel one with nature. The general store was a great place to relax and see hikers that are starting or passing through. It rained the second day we were there so we couldn't hike as we wanted to but instead went to the Appalachian trail museum next to the general store. This free museum was Awesome. Well set up, friendly staff and very informative. Can't wait to return and hike!

This State Park is a little off the beaten track but well worth the stay. It a great stop for hickers and trail walkers. The Laurel Forge and the Ironmaste's Mansion are worth visiting. The Appalachian Trail Museum is full of information on some of the pioneers and users of the Appalachian trail. If you are a WWII buff a visit to the ruins of Camp Michaux is not to be missed. From the park entrance drive apporx. 3 miles south on Hyway 233. Turn right on Michaud Rd. About a mile in there is a spot to park. WAlk a ways and you fill find ruins of a WWII camp used to interrogate war time prisonners. There is a sign describing the place.

If you're camping a couple of days it's worthwhile to have enough supplies for the duration of your stay as grocery stores are not close by.

We met friends from the area and friends traveling through from south to north for a corgi meet-up (we all have Welsh Corgis.) There were 13 corgis and one dachshund - and a bunch of people as well. We met at the picnic area near the actual furnace and, on this Tuesday after Labor Day, we had the place to ourselves with the exception of one small group. We had lots of space to run around and play (and we cleaned up after ourselves!) There is an Appalachian Trail museum here (the trail goes right through the park) as well as cabins and camping areas, a general store and several lakes. It is truly a gorgeous area. Not many trash cans around (and if you bring a dog, bring your own poop bags!)

This is really a beautiful campground. Mostly wooded. We stayed for three days in a pop up and had a fantastic time. Hike to the top of Pole Steeple...again beautiful view! Went to Fuller Lake and had a scavenger hunt with our kids. If you like to do hiking this is a great area to go to.

Pine Grove is a beautiful campground that is relatively small and quiet. There is a mix of electric and primitive sites and water spigots spread throughout the campground loop. One end of the loop has a bathhouse that includes separate mens/womens restrooms with shower stalls and a separate family restroom (no shower). The backside of the building has two camp sink to wash dishes, each sink has a shelf above it to assist in the dish washing process. The other end of the loop has a family restroom with no showers or camp sink. This building only has four large family restrooms. The sites numbered in the 40s are typically filled with RVs since there are almost no trees and it's very sunny. The campground is relatively level and quiet. The campground host sold wood, but I would recommend purchasing it from the camp store instead. The camp store wood is kiln dried and maes an excellant fire, whereas the campground host wood was wet and green and basically put our fire out. Bathhouse with showers is very clean and the family restrooms in the other building are nearly spotless. There are plenty of fun things to do here and in this general area. During the summer the rangers offer nature-based activities (e.g., dried flower bookmarks, kayak tours). We enjoyed our visit and will be back each summer.

The park is well maintained! The buildings look new (with some older ones mixed in). The have a few park specific hiking trails through some gorgeous areas....but the park also contains a few miles of the Appalachian Trail. The old furnace is neat to see and the signs are plentiful so you can learn about the history! We will definitely be back!!!

We came up here on a whim for a hill walk, not realizing what a great place this is for hiking, walking. We did the Pole Steeple trail behind Laurel Forge Pond. It was brief with a big payoff. Unlike some descriptions, it is not dangerous for kids (unless you let them roam at the top). There is a kinder/gentler way to the top. From there, you can join the AT. There is also camping, swimming nearby, for the summer. We definitely intend to return here.

We consider this to be our family lake...two lakes actually Laurel and Fuller. We have had birthday parties, anniversaries and 50 years of memories. The campground is delightful and have two family campouts there a year.

This State Park has beautiful views and great trails. The lake is pretty nice, but I noticed a lot of people who would walk their dogs right across the beach area and others who weren't technically smoking but instead puffing on electric cigarettes. There was no one there to willing in enforce rules and the life guards seemed oblivious.
The staff at the General Store were kind and accommodating, prices were a little high ($1 for a can of soda), still not bad though.
My biggest complaint was the bathrooms. The woman's bathroom was very dirty; mud on the floor, dead bugs on the sinks and wads of hair all over the floor. I didn't see the men's room but my husband, who loves PGF, said it was just as bad. We have 4 kids and need to know that they can shower in a clean restroom.
Overall, it really is a beautiful place, but it really needs to be cared for much more closely.

We stayed here the night of September 7th, This campground has all new modern bath house facilities, with motion detecting lights, so the lights aren't on all night long polluting the campsites with their bright lights.

The campground has very narrow roads, and every site is under a complete canopy of mature trees.

There is just lots to to at this campground. Both Fuller, and laurel lakes are within walking and biking distance. Fuller is probably a 20 minute walk. Laurel would be a walk of over an hour. If camp here bring your bikes! the trails are definitely wide enough to bike on.

There is a nice camp store right as you turn in, and it looks like fuller lake has a snack bar, and Laurel lake also has one.

Having grown up coming here, I can say although both lakes are different than when I grew up(flush toilets, and updated facilities), I would still prefer to swim at the cleaner, and more secluded fuller lake over Laurel lake.

Now Laurel lake has the canoes, paddle boats and Kayaks, you can rent. Behind laurel lake there is this semi difficult trail that takes you up to the top of the mountain.

There is just everything you would want in a camping experience at this campground.

I just did a video on this on youtube. Just type in the Suburban Hippie Experimentalist and look for the video with Pine Grove Furnace in the name.

A nice state park with something for everyone, from picnicking and swimming to boating and hiking. Updated facilities. Mid-point of the Appalachian Trail. Museum.

Camping: Very clean campground. Dog friendly - all people and dogs were very considerate (with only one exception). There is no tinder/kindling around though so bring your own (rolled up newspapers) but you can buy some logs from the campground host. General store has good prices if you forget something.

Hiking: Bit hit or miss. Pole steeple was a good hike, if new to hiking you will require breaks. I did the loop back down the AT which was a very easy hike. Was hoping to do the mile loop on the other side of the stream but there was no good way to reach it. Also hiked to Sunset Rocks. This is definitely an advanced area and will require a little bouldering for the best views. There is also no trail marker at the parking lot but the trail is obvious (there appears two heads but they connect). At the park center they give you a handout with written directions. However, they are inconsistent with how they refer to a trail (by name or distance), making it a bit confusing. The map also does not contain all the trails listed on their recommendations.

I love coming here! There is so much to do. You can picnic, swim in 2 beautiful lakes, fish , camp, explore and walk the Appalachian Trail. It is a gorgeous area and very relaxing. It is also wheelchair accessible.

I live in the Gettysburg area and Pine Grove Furnace State Park is a wonderful place to visit. I've spent a lot of time there over the years and it was a favorite place to spend a day when I was growing up. It's a beautiful area with mountains and impressive trees and Mountain Laurel. The lake, which was a quarry, offers swimming and fishing and picnicking. The water is a little chilly since it's so deep and spring fed. There's a sandy beach area and life guards in season. The trails are wonderful. The park itself offers trails and then there's the Appalachian Trail which passes through the park. I especially enjoy the creek and I love to go wading in it to cool off. It can be a little slippery, so a pair of Teva sandles is perfect. If you're in the area or live close by, it's definitely worth visiting.

The parking is a joke during the fall festival. Will not waste my time again. I had my grandchildren with me and they were beyond disappointed.

Very nice, quiet, clean campground. Bathrooms exceptionally well kept. Heard owls and coyotes at dusk. Convenient to I-81.

We camp here each October during the National Apple Harvest Festival held nearby. The campground is fairly small but has many very nice campsites. Many of the sites on the outside of the loops look out into the forest rather than at the backside of the neighbor's RV, which is a big plus! There is one shower house for the campground and one restroom facility. Both are recently rebuilt and are very nice.

The park is home to the recently opened Appalachian Trail Museum, which has a lot of information on the trail and some very informative exhibits.

Along with the October festival, the South Mountain Fair is held in late August at the South Mountain Fairgrounds, not far at all from Pine Grove Furnace. Gettysburg isn't too far away, either.

Once you get away from the popular lakes and campgrounds, Pine Grove and the larger Michaux State Forest are wild and quiet, despite their proximity to I-81 and the Gettysburg area. Great hiking trails and clean facilities.On a mid summer Saturday morning, the traffic was not bad. Very helpful ranger staff at the visitor center. We will return again.

This is a great place for families to come and have fun. Picnicing, swimming, hiking, wide open places for games all contribute to the splendor. The setting is beautiful so go spend a day with the kids. No better place to do it.

We visited during the Fall Furnace Festival. Large grounds and beautiful setting. Also home to the Appalachian Trail Museum as it is the halfway point. We'll visit again so we can better explore without so many people.

We went for a hike in the woods for some time. then we looked around at the different trails but it was very cold so we went back to room.

This campground has alot to offer. It has sites with electric hookups. Some are very secluded, some are not. The bath houses are fairly new and very nice. They have a very nice bathroom/snack bar at the lake. There is a small museum at the office and a campstore with camping supplies and snacks. You are about an hour from Gettysburg, Harrisburg and Hershey. There is a former POW camp about a mile away. You can buy a book in the office about it and you can buy a map that is numbered so you can take a walking tour of the ruins.

Visited this small state park to do some hiking. We did the Pole Steeple trail. It is a moderate difficulty mostly uphill climb and not too long, only about 1 mile up. It is rocky in most spots, but was not too bad. The pinnacle has absolutely stunning views. The rock formations are a bit tricky to navigate in spots, so check your footing carefully. Great place to have a picnic lunch sitting on the rocks overlooking the small lake and forest terrain. There are a few other trails, that we did not check out, but may return someday.

We stayed there for 1 night with our 2 kids -- what a great place! The grounds are kept very clean and are well maintained. There is a very fun beach and lake just a short distance from the campground -- great for kids! We had fun there, and loved the hiking/biking trails that were all around the lake. The campground itself had some of the best tent camping sites that we've seen. Plenty of space between sites, a fun, brand new playground within walking distance, and very clean shower/restroom facilities. We will be sure to return -- loved our stay!

Hiked Pole steeple trail. Only .75 miles but it is pretty much straight up! Loved it! The view is worth it! From the top you can see Laurel Lake. Hike down and visit Laurel Lake for a swim and a picnic.