Presque Isle State Park - Presque Isle, PA - Pennsylvania's Only Surf Beach

Situated four miles west of the city of Erie, Presque Isle State Park is located at 301 Peninsula Drive in Presque Isle, Pennsylvania. Presque Isle is the home of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's only surf beach. Presque Isle is actually a recurving sand spit that juts out into Lake Erie. Presque Isle State Park is a sandy peninsula that consists of 3,200 acres of land. The park can be reached by boat or via Route 832.

The Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) serves as the gateway to the park. TREC is primarily an educational center that teaches visitors about Presque Isle and the variety of the inhabitants and features of the peninsula. In addition, TREC is a research center that promotes environmental awareness and conservation efforts. Admission into TREC is free, and the center features an observation tower that is 75 feet tall. Interactive exhibits are also located at the center.

The peninsula of the park creates Presque Isle Bay, which is a deep, wide harbor. The bay attracts both pleasure boats and freighters. The park is a National Natural Landmark and receives roughly 4 million visitors each year. A wide variety of recreational activities are offered at the park like boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, bicycling, and inline skating.

The park permits both motorboats and non-powered crafts. Boats with internal combustion engines are not permitted in the interior lagoons. The interior lagoons are defined as the continuous body of water between Marina Bay and Misery Bay. Grave Yard Pond is not considered to be part of the interior lagoons. Powered and non-powered rental boats are available. There are four boat launches available as well. Scenic boat tours are offered that depart from Perry Monument. The boat tours enable visitors to see the three historic lighthouses in the area as well as other points of interest.

There are several popular shore fishing locations in the park, such as Waterworks Pond, Ferry Dock Pond, and Perry Monument. In addition to all boat landings and the lagoons, the east, west, and north piers are also popular fishing locations. Hunting is not permitted in the park with the exception of controlled goose and duck hunting in season. If needed, regulated wildlife management hunts may be offered.

The park's sandy beaches offer visitors the opportunity to swim. Unless otherwise posted, Presque Isle State Park's beaches are open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Regular hours of operation are 10:00am to 7:30pm. Additional information on the beaches and swimming opportunities can be obtained by calling the Lifeguard Headquarters at 814-833-0526. Recreational scuba diving is available in designated areas.

Presque Isle State Park is both biologically and geologically diverse. Due to the unique habitats found in the park, it is home to several of Pennsylvania's rare, threatened, and endangered species. There are 11 miles of hiking trails in the park. Bicycling and inline skating are not permitted on hiking trails but are popular activities on the 13.5-mile Karl Boyes Multi-purpose National Recreation Trail.

Picnic pavilions are available for rent and can be reserved by calling 888-PA-PARKS. Any unreserved pavilions are available for free on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, there are four enclosed picnic shelters in the Waterworks area that can be reserved. These shelters include picnic tables, electricity, water, and a fireplace.

Additional information about Presque Isle State Park can be obtained by calling 814-833-7424.