Samuel S. Lewis State Park

Samuel S. Lewis State Park is an 85-acre (34 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Lower Windsor Township, York County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Mt. Pisgah is an 885-foot-high (270 m) ridge that is the focus of recreation for the park. The ridge separates East Prospect Valley from Kreutz Creek Valley. An overlook on Mt. Pisgah gives visitors of view of the Susquehanna River Valley. Samuel S. Lewis Park is twelve miles (19 km) east of York near U.S. Highway 30.

Samuel S. Lewis State Park
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
South-to-southeast view of the Susquehanna River Valley, Samuel S. Lewis State Park.
Location of Samuel S. Lewis State Park in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Samuel S. Lewis State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Lower Windsor Township, York, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates	39°59′47″N 76°32′57″W
Area	85 acres (34 ha)[1]
Elevation	689 ft (210 m)[2]
Established	1954
Named for	Samuel S. Lewis
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Samuel S. Lewis State Park

History

The land on which Samuel S. Lewis Park came together from four different pieces of property. Samuel S. Lewis, the namesake of the park, donated his 35-acre (14 ha) farm to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1954. Walter Stein sold his 1-acre (4,000 m²) arboretum to the state in the same year. The state bought an additional 15 acres (6.1 ha) from the Almoney Farm to complete the initial parcel of park land. The last piece came into place in 1999 when the state purchased an additional 14 acres (5.7 ha) of land.^[1]

Recreation

Samuel S. Lewis State Park offers recreational opportunities for many visitors. Picnic tables are available on a first come first served basis and three pavilions may be reserved for day use. There is a one-mile (1.6 km) hiking trail through a pine forest bypassing some rock formations. The crest of Mt. Pisgah is ideal for kite flying. Kite flying clubs gather here to hone their skills and offer help to novice kite flyers.^[1]

Scenic view

Mt. Pisgah is the highest point in the area. The scenic view atop Mt. Pisgah offers a panoramic view of the surrounding towns, fields, and the Susquehanna River. It has become a popular spot for astronomical observation as clubs frequently hold star-gazing events at the overlook. The summit of Mt. Pisgah is also a popular site for weddings.^[1]

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Samuel S. Lewis State Park:^[3][4][5][6]

• Codorus State Park (York County)
• Gifford Pinchot State Park (York County)
• Gunpowder Falls State Park (Maryland)
• Rocks State Park (Maryland)
• Susquehannock State Park (Lancaster County)

References

1. "Samuel S. Lewis State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2006.
2. "Samuel S. Lewis State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. August 30, 1990. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
3. "Find a Park by Region (interactive map)". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
4. "Map Location Reference". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on October 13, 2005. Retrieved November 4, 2006.
5. Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
6. 2007 General Highway Map York County Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). 1:65,000. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 8, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2007. Note: shows Samuel S. Lewis State Park

External links

• Pennsylvania portal

• "Samuel S. Lewis State Park official map" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. (264.4 KB)