Parker Dam is a great family outdoor adventure destination with an exceptional day use area and is the gateway to Moshannon State Forest and the PA Wilds
Parker State Park Campground Review
The 968-acre Parker Dam State Park is a gateway to adventure located on the western end of Moshannon State Forest. It is less than 15 minutes from Route 80. The campground has 110 sites arranged in three main loops. Sites include electric, full hookup, and non-electric. There is a bathroom within each loop. The bathrooms in Loops A and B have showers, but the bathroom in Loop C does not. The Loop B bathroom is the most modern and has a single coin operated washer and dryer. Although the Loop A and C bathrooms are dated, like most Pennsylvania State Parks, the facilities are clean and generally well maintained. There is also firewood available for purchase near Site 107. You can see the arrangement of the campground in the excerpt of the DCNR Parker Dam State Park Campground map below.
The Parker Dam Campground is primarily geared toward campers and RVs. Most of the electric sites are long and narrow with generously sized paved driveways. Many of these sites have enough room and suitable surfaces for tents, but some do not. As a generalization, if you plan on tenting, your best bet is to get a designated tent site (non-electric). If you want to tent on an electric site, see the video at the end of the post to evaluate each individual site.
The interiors of loops A and C are relatively open fields with some trees, making them good for playing games. These are also conducive to creating a block camp with family and friends. There is a nice playground in Loop A and a smaller play area in Loop C. As typical for PA state parks, larger sites with more tree cover and screening tend to be on the outer edges of the loops.
Although much of the campground is open with interspersed trees as shown in the photos above, the southern half of Loop B is wooded with a beech stand.
One thing we appreciated about the campground is that all the sites are on flat ground. They are not designated as such on the map, but sites 109 and 110 are walk-in. It is also noteworthy that sites 97 and 99 have large boulders. These would be great sites for kids to play on the rocks, but there isn’t much real estate for multiple large tents. But because they are wooded, they would be a good option for hammocks.
Our favorite site is 110 followed by 109 because they are under a tall canopy and are the most remote. However, you can’t drive directly up to these sites.
Our favorite:
Non-electric (apart from 110 and 109): 50, 51, and 53 in the beech stand.
Electric: 89 and 90 because of their large size and they are adjacent to the woods.
Full hookup: 39 because it is the most spacious and is screened on one side by young beeches.
Our least favorite: 3, 21, 22, 49, 100, and 101because they are close together and/or on corners with streets on two sides.
Parker Dam State Park Cabins
Parker Dam State Park has 17 cabins available for rent year-round. Cabins are located at the foot of the hill to the west of Parker Lake (opposite side from the campground). Cabins come in log-style and lodge style and sleep 4, 6, or 8 people. The Tyler Cabin is a unique octagonal log cabin with a large central room, accommodating 12 people.
Cabins have bunk beds, mattresses, gas cooking stove, refrigerator, table and benches, gas heaters, and wood burning fireplaces. There are detached bathrooms
with shower and flush toilets near each cabin.
For more information, visit the Parker Dam State Park Website. You can find the cabin brochure here.
Parker Dam State Park Day Use Area
Parker Dam State Park features the 20-acre Parker Lake, just a few minutes’ walk from the campground. You can walk across the dam breast to enjoy the scenic views and take stairs down to the spillway.
There is a sand beach and swimming area with changing rooms and concession stand open from late May through September. Boats are available for rent next to the beach. During winter the lake is a popular spot for ice skating and ice fishing.
In addition to the lake and beach, there is a large day use area among the tall evergreens and open fields. There is a ball field, playground, bathrooms, multiple picnic areas, and pavilions. We were impressed with the overall design of the day use area, especially the beautifully rustic stone and timber pavilions – some even have fireplaces.
There are several trails through Parker Dam State Park, including the Laurel Run Trail along Parker Lake. Although there are only 5.25 miles of trails within the State Park proper, these lead to an extensive network of trails throughout Moshannon State Forest, including the famed Quehanna Trail.
Explore Parker Dam History
As with many Pennsylvania state parks, Parker Dam is on the site of a former logging hub. There is a display explaining the logging heritage at the Log Slide Trailhead, just south of the campground, next to the second car parking lot. You can see old tools, photographs, and read the story of the area. There is even a replica of the log slides used to transport timber to the Parker Lake splash dam.
Parker Dam was originally built as a splash dam. Logs harvested from the surrounding forest were dragged and slid on log slides into the splash pool during the winter, when the ice and snow facilitated their transport. The splash pools filled with water from snow melt and rain in the spring. The splash dams were then released, flushing the log rafts downstream through a series of waterways, ultimately to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River where they could be transported to sawmills at Williamsport. The current Parker Dam was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1935.
Most of the timber-rich Pennsylvania wilderness was logged multiple times. Parker Dam is no exception. After the timber boom ended, the Commonwealth began buying the harvested land in 1930 and reforesting it as part of the larger conservation movement. As with many state parks, Parker Dam is the site of a former CCC camp. You can learn more about the CCC and their construction of Parker Dam State Park at the Lou and Helen Adams CCC Museum next to the spillway.
Concluding Thoughts and Recommendation
One of the most noteworthy aspects of the Parker Dam State Park Campground is that it offers an abundance of activities on premise and is a gateway to extended adventures in Moshannon State Forest. As such, it is well suited to accommodate both a relaxed camping style and an adventuring style. We were especially impressed with the well designed and maintained day use area. This is an especially excellent campground for families. The large loop interiors make spacious play areas for kids, and the general openness of the area is helpful for keeping an eye on them. The campground is conveniently located, less than 15 minutes from Interstate 80.
Reservations can be made easily through the DCNR Website. As with all Pennsylvania state parks, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. There is no cell service in the campground or day use area. However, there is cell service at the intersection of Mud Run Road and Route 153, a five-minute drive from the park. There are pull-offs at this intersection where you can safely make use of the cell service.
For more information, visit the Parker Dam State Park Website.
Also, be sure to check out our other campground guides and reviews.
