Colonel Denning State Park near Hershey, PA is located in Doubling Gap, which is part of the northern part of Cumberland County. This park is a wonderful place for family and group events having 273 acres as well as a 3 ½-acre lake. The Park is named after Colonel William Denning, an American Revolution veteran that lived in a nearby area of PA and was instrumental in developing wrought iron cannons. It was in 1930 that Colonel Denning State Park became a state recreational area.
The Park is very large offering a tent and trailer campground with 52 different sites. The campground provides a sanitary dump station, non-flush toilets, a fire ring and a picnic table by each site. From the beginning of trout season each spring until the end of deer season the campground is open for tourists and campers alike.
There are also trails for hiking-eighteen miles of trails, in fact. The Hiking and Nature Trail is open at all times. The rangers or workers in the personnel office will give you a guide if interested. Many individuals use the roads and trails here for cross-country skiing in the wintertime.
The Colonel Denning State Park is host to many families interested in a picnic for the family. The 200-plus picnic tables and 2 picnic pavilions offer you a lot of room for large events. Play equipment for the children is nearby the pavilion. The beach's daily hours are from 8 a.m. until dark. A snack bar is always appreciated after a good swim.
Many of the acres of the park are open to hunting, trapping or fishing during the designated seasons. Doubling Gap Lake is a 3.5-acre lake great for trout fishing.
