King Reserve

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

King's Gap Environmental Education Center in Pennsylvania is a scenic 2,500-acre park known for its panoramic views of the Cumberland Valley, over 25 miles of hiking trails, and rich biodiversity.


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Summary

The historic Cameron-Masland Mansion offers a unique overlook and educational programs. Visitors enjoy hiking, birdwatching, and seasonal events. Entry is free, and the park is open daily from sunrise to sunset, year-round. Fall is especially popular for foliage. Top trails include the Mansion Trail and Scenic Vista Trail. Wildlife includes deer, foxes, and over 100 bird species. No camping is allowed, but the park is ideal for day-use nature exploration.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
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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