Shirleysburg PennsylvaniaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Shirleysburg, Pennsylvania.
1. Rockhill Trolley Museum
HISTORIC TROLLEY COLLECTION
The Rockhill Trolley Museum offers visitors a chance to experience historic trolley cars and learn about the important role of electric railways in American transportation history. Visitors can enjoy scenic rides on restored trolleys through the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside.
2. East Broad Top Railroad
HISTORIC STEAM RAILROAD
The East Broad Top Railroad is a preserved narrow-gauge railroad that offers scenic train rides through the picturesque Pennsylvania countryside. Visitors can step back in time while riding in vintage rail cars pulled by historic steam locomotives.
3. Birdy's Scooters and ATV's
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE RENTALS
Birdy's Scooters and ATV's provides exciting outdoor adventure opportunities with their rental services for exploring the beautiful terrain around Shirleysburg. Visitors can experience the thrill of riding through scenic trails and enjoying Pennsylvania's natural landscapes.
4. EBT Foundation Inc
RAILROAD PRESERVATION ORGANIZATION
The EBT Foundation Inc is dedicated to preserving the historic East Broad Top Railroad and its industrial heritage. Visitors can explore exhibits about railroad history and the important role this narrow-gauge line played in Pennsylvania's industrial development.
5. Ghost Town Trail
SCENIC RAIL TRAIL
The Ghost Town Trail offers hikers and cyclists a beautiful path through the countryside with remnants of historic mining towns along the route. Visitors can enjoy the natural beauty while learning about the area's rich industrial past through interpretive signs along the trail.
6. Bells Gap Rail Trail
WOODLAND HIKING PATH
The Bells Gap Rail Trail provides a challenging but rewarding hiking and biking experience with significant elevation changes and beautiful forest scenery. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Pennsylvania countryside while traversing this former railroad corridor.
7. Swigart Auto Museum
VINTAGE AUTOMOBILE COLLECTION
The Swigart Auto Museum houses America's oldest automobile collection with rare and one-of-a-kind vehicles dating back to the early days of motoring. Visitors can marvel at the beautifully preserved automobiles and learn about the evolution of transportation technology through the decades.
8. Raystown Lake
OUTDOOR RECREATION PARADISE
Raystown Lake offers 8,300 acres of clear water surrounded by 21,000 acres of forested mountain terrain for boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Visitors can enjoy swimming beaches, boat rentals, and camping facilities while exploring Pennsylvania's largest lake entirely within the state.
9. Lincoln Caverns
UNDERGROUND NATURAL WONDER
Lincoln Caverns invites visitors to explore spectacular underground formations including stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones in two connected cave systems. Guided tours take guests through beautifully illuminated passages while explaining the geological processes that created these natural wonders.
10. Trough Creek State Park
SCENIC GORGE EXPLORATION
Trough Creek State Park features a scenic gorge carved by Great Trough Creek with unique geological formations including the suspended boulder called Balanced Rock. Visitors can hike through hemlock forests, view spectacular waterfalls, and explore the historic Trough Creek iron furnace ruins.
11. Greenwood Furnace State Park
HISTORIC IRON PRODUCTION
Greenwood Furnace State Park preserves a historic iron-making community with restored buildings and a lake created to power the ironworks. Visitors can swim in the lake, hike through forests once harvested for charcoal production, and learn about Pennsylvania's industrial heritage through interpretive exhibits.
12. Whipple Dam State Park
PEACEFUL LAKE RETREAT
Whipple Dam State Park centers around a serene 22-acre lake surrounded by mixed hardwood forests perfect for swimming, fishing, and picnicking. Visitors can rent boats, explore hiking trails, or simply relax on the sandy beach while enjoying the natural beauty of central Pennsylvania.
13. Thousand Steps Trail
HISTORIC HIKING CHALLENGE
The Thousand Steps Trail features a stairway of stone steps built by quarry workers in the early 1900s as their daily route to work on Jack's Mountain. Hikers who conquer this challenging climb are rewarded with spectacular views of the surrounding valleys and a deeper appreciation for the area's industrial heritage.
14. Huntingdon County Historical Society
LOCAL HERITAGE CENTER
The Huntingdon County Historical Society preserves and displays artifacts and documents telling the story of the region's rich history from Native American settlements through industrial development. Visitors can explore rotating exhibits in the McMurtrie House and research local genealogy in the society's extensive archives.
15. Lake Perez
UNIVERSITY RECREATION AREA
Lake Perez offers a beautiful 72-acre recreational lake within Penn State University's Stone Valley Recreation Area for fishing, boating, and nature observation. Visitors can rent canoes and kayaks to explore the peaceful waters or hike the surrounding trails through forests managed for environmental education and research.