Gouldsboro State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Gouldsboro State Park is located in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, spanning across 2,800 acres.
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Summary
The park is known for its beautiful scenery, including various forests, wetlands, and lakes. It offers numerous recreational opportunities for visitors, including hiking, fishing, boating, and camping.
One of the main attractions of the park is the 250-acre Gouldsboro Lake, which is perfect for fishing, boating, and swimming. The park also has several hiking trails, including the 1.5-mile Lakeview Trail, which offers scenic views of the lake. Visitors can also enjoy picnicking in designated areas and exploring the park's wildlife, including deer, bears, and birds.
In addition to its natural beauty, Gouldsboro State Park offers some interesting historical facts. The park is named after its founder, Jay Gould, a prominent railroad executive who owned the land in the late 1800s. The park was established in the 1930s as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public works program created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression.
The best time to visit Gouldsboro State Park depends on the season. In the summer, visitors can enjoy swimming and boating on the lake, while in the fall, the park's foliage is a popular attraction for leaf-peeping. Winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy cross-country skiing and ice fishing, while spring brings a burst of wildflowers and bird-watching opportunities.
Overall, Gouldsboro State Park is a great destination for nature lovers, history buffs, and outdoor enthusiasts. Its stunning scenery, recreational activities, and interesting facts make it a must-visit attraction in Pennsylvania.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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