Why You Should Visit Codorus State Park in Pennsylvania

Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast or a family, looking for a great vacation Codorus State Park is a superb choice. This spectacular 3,329-acre park is located in the southeast corner of York County Pennsylvania and is striking from sunrise to sunset. Codorus has recreation opportunities for swimming, disc golf, boating, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and hunting. Winter sports include sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobile trails.

The park contains two hiking trails. The LaHo Trail has three interconnect loops and is 1.5 miles long. LaHo follows the lakeshore through wetlands and hardwood, around the Wildasin Flats, a cove along Lake Marburg. You may want to stop and fish or just hike enjoying the scenery along with viewing an old burial ground. The Mary Ann Furnace trail winds its way along a branch of Codorus Creek and Black Rock Flats. The woodland trail has sections of wide grass paths that go up and down gradual hills. The majority of the trail passes through quiet, second-growth woodlands where flora and fauna flourish; this trail is 3.5 miles long.

Included in the park is Lake Marburg a 1,275-acre lake with 26 miles of shoreline for boating and fishing activities. Lake Marburg is a warm water fishery and popular species are yellow perch, bluegill, northern pike, crappie, largemouth bass, catfish, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge. Lake Marburg is also great for sailing. Boat rentals are available at two locations on the lake. If you have, your own boat mooring spaces may be rented from April 1 through October 31. You can also find various angler areas and bow fishing is permitted in the shallow cove areas. Swimming is not allowed in Lake Marburg, but the park hosts a resort style, large in ground pool for swimming enjoyment.

The pool area is reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture with large wooden circular buildings that house, a snack bar, changing rooms, and bathrooms. Complimented by a sizeable circular in ground pool containing an island in its middle, you may feel like you in a resort. The area is set on hill over looking Lake Marburg, and is well staffed with lifeguards. The grassy knolls provide ample space for blankets and lounge chairs. Although there is an extra charge for pool use, it is well worth the $3.00 for campers, $4.00 for PA residents and $7.00 for other individuals. The pool opens Memorial Day and closes Labor Day.

Although the park is open for day use year around, the campground is in operation from early April through late October only. In addition to tent and RV camping, there are also cabins and yurts for rent. The cabins and yurts can sleep up to five people. Cooking is allowed inside the yurts, but not in the cabins. Although there is no running water in the cabins or the yurts, restrooms are nearby. One great feature of the state park is free hot showers and their deep utility sinks for washing dishes. Each yurt and cabin does have electricity and rates are reasonable.

Since York County boasts itself as the factory tour capitol of the world, even rainy days are fun with the local attractions available… Adults and children alike enjoy visits to Utz Potato Chip Factory, Snyder's Pretzels of Hanover (reservations for Snyder's is suggested), Renovah Pretzel Co. the only pretzel factory in the US that rolls all their pretzels by hand, Wolfgang Chocolate Factory , Harley Davidson and many others. History buffs can take a trip to Gettysburg, or to the Indian Step Museum, both are about a half hour drive from the park. Most of the tours and attractions are free or low cost and provide great inexpensive entertainment for families.