Outdoor Things to Do in Crawford County

Pymatuning is the second most visited state park in Pennsylvania, anchored by a large reservoir that ranks among the area's best fishing lakes for walleye, muskellunge, crappie, perch, and bass. You can swim at four managed beaches, rent boats at the Espyville, Linesville, and Jamestown marinas, and hike the Ackerman, Tamarack, and Log Cabin trails. Boats are limited to non-powered craft or motors up to 10 horsepower.

The Linesville Spillway at Pymatuning is one of the most unusual attractions in the state, where carp cluster so densely that ducks and geese seem to walk on the water. A promenade, parking area, and restrooms added in 2007 make it easy to visit. Just up the road, the Linesville Fish Hatchery, built in 1939, sits on 97 acres and is free to explore.

Conneaut Lake is the largest natural lake in Pennsylvania, covering about 925 acres and formed by glaciers as a kettle lake at the end of the Pleistocene. Fed by surrounding springs, it has been a beloved recreation destination for well over a century. The lakeside setting is ideal for boating, fishing, and simply enjoying the water.

Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Woodcock Creek Lake rests among gently rolling hills in central Crawford County near Meadville and Saegertown. You can hike the trails, paddle a canoe or kayak, play the 18-hole disc golf course, or walk the one-mile-long dam. Below the dam, Stainbrook Park offers picnic shelters, walking paths, and a visitor center.

Near Titusville, the Oil Creek State Park bike trail is a scenic 9.7-mile asphalt path built on a historic railroad grade that runs alongside Oil Creek through wooded parkland. The trailheads sit at Petroleum Centre to the south and the Drake Well Museum to the north, with bike rentals, a visitor center, and restrooms available at Petroleum Centre. It is one of the most pleasant rides in the region.