Raymond B Winter State Park PA

RB Winter State Park, located in Hartley Township, Union County, PA, has activities for everyone. Enjoy a pleasant day, or spend the week. If you want to spend more that a day, you can always camp out at the campground or rent one of the cabins. If you decide to rent a cabin, schedule ahead.

Halfway Dam Lake provides swimming and fishing, so everyone is happy! Be prepared though, the lake is fed by an artesian spring. So, the water is a cold 50 degrees F(10 degrees C)!

The photo is a sandstone rock formation at RB Winter State Park. Thanks, Dincher, for the photo that is licensed under Creative Commons.

Spend the day swimming!

When we go to the park, the kids always go swimming even though the water is a bit chilly. But, the kids still love it. I can remember taking my daughter swimming, and she would actually be shivering because the water was so cold. She would not want to leave too early, though!

Town pools are nice, but you can't catch minnows and other wildlife while you are swimming!

The swimming area does not have a lifeguard anymore. You do swim at your own risk. So, if you have children, plan on being right there with them.

Take a hike on any of the trails at RB Winter State Park. There are over 6 miles of trails just in the park.

The park is also a trail head for the hiking, mountain biking and snow mobile trails in Bald Eagle State Forest.

We usually take the Overlook trail. We walk up the side of the mountain. We take a few minutes to enjoy the spectacular overlook view. Then we walk along the ridge for awhile before taking the trail back down to the lake.

This new edition of a classic hiking guide to Pennsylvania's heartland features 11 new hikes. Veteran trailblazer and outdoor activist Tom Thwaites, the author of two other 50 Hikes guides to Pennsylvania, has completely revised and updated this guide to the central portion of Penn's Woods. A wonderful area of wild country and wildlife, this region offers a vast network of maintained trail systems, yet is nevertheless lightly traveled.

The author has added 11 new hikes to reflect changing trail conditions, and has rehiked and checked each of the remaining hikes for this fourth edition.

Each hike includes a topographical map, information on mileage, rise, and difficulty, and narrative on sights you'll see along the way. 11 new hikes in this edition, 40 black and white photographs, 51 maps, index.

Or a birthday party!

Spend the day swimming, hiking, bike riding. Then have a lovely picnic. You can find plenty of tables, but you need to get there early if you want a table near the water.

My daughter loves to have her birthday party at Halfway Dam. The entire family spends the day with us. We watch the kids freeze in the water and play in the sand. Then we grill burgers and hot dogs and just have a great time.

Weber's Go-Anywhere gas grill adds convenience to the fun of camping and tailgating.

This compact unit has a surprisingly generous grilling area--large enough to fit four medium steaks. The push-button ignition system makes lighting the fire easier than ever, and the patented heat-distributing Flavorizer bar ensures that your food cooks evenly and efficiently every time.

Here is the perfect grill for the beach, camping, or a weekend getaway to the lake. This portable grill features Weber's patented Flavorizer System, which distributes heat evenly across the cooking surface, essentially eliminating flare-ups.

It is best to ride a mountain bicycle if you are going to bike. The trails are well-defined, but can be rough. I doubt if the tires on a city bike would last very long!

RB Winter State Park is the perfect place for camping. You can even camp for free if you volunteer to be a host for the other campers.

If you prefer indoor camping (like me!), then cottages and one cabin are available for rental. You must call ahead to reserve those.

To reserve a camp, pavillion, cottage, or cabin, go to Pennsylvania DCNR.

Spend the day, have a picnic.

Are you lucky enough to have a similar area near your home?