York Springs is a rural area about 20 miles south of Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania. It sits in the foothills of the South Mountains, the northern most extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are three different state game lands that are with in a 30 minute drive of York Springs as well as two state parks, Kings Gap and Pine Grove. Gettysburg National Battlefield is about 20 minutes south of York Springs and it offers many siteseeing opportunities as well as good birding. The Appalachian Trail crosses through about 6 miles west of York Springs offering excellent day hiking and backpacking. York Springs is a fantastic area to bird due to its rural location and public lands.
State Game lands 249
State Game Lands 249 is a series of four large tracts containing a vast network of ponds meadows and woods. 249 is home to some of the last naturally reproducing pheasants in PA. Large numbers of wood warblers visit the game lands each fall and spring. The ponds are also home to numerous water fowl and herons. It is not uncommon to see double digit green heron numbers in the late summer and early fall. Directions can be found on PA Game Commission website.
Latimore Valley Fairgrounds
Latimore Valley Fairgrounds boasts a large population of red-headed woodpeckers and other cavity nesters. There are often over 5 red-headed woodpeckers in view at a time and many more can be heard. There are also a lot of red-bellied woodpeckers as well. Red-tailed hawks are often seen perched on campers in the near by Latimore Campgrounds. Please do not enter the campground without permission. Turn onto Latimore Valley Road from Route 15 and go until you reach the Latimore Valley Fairgrounds sign.
Crooked Creek Wetlands
Crooked Creek wetlands is about 30 minutes south of York Springs, near Mummasburg.It boasts a large number of waterfowl, egrets, herons, shore birds and, song birds. In 2014, a pair of hooded mergansers successfully nested at Crooked Creek. There has also been pairs of orchard orioles and red-headed woodpeckers. Parking is limited to the road side. Please do not enter the wetlands because the land is privately owned. All of the wetlands are visible from the road.
Kings Gap State Park
Kings Gap offers good birding as well as many educational programs, many of which deal with birding. Every fall, the Ned Smith Center For Nature and Art band saw-whet owls at Kings Gap. Kings Gap is about 20 minutes west of York Springs. Kings Gap is also has a small population of ruffed grouse, PA"s state bird. Many Warblers stop by Kings Gap, and some ,like the Hooded Warbler breed there. Directions available on PA State Parks website.
Pine Grove State Park
Pine Grove offers good birding especially in winter .The two lakes at Pine Grove attract many types of waterfowl. Patches of invasive barberry attract large numbers of birds into the park. When visiting be sure to stop by the Appalachian Trail Museum and General Store. Directions available on PA State Parks website.
State Game Lands 243
Small ponds and meadows much like State Game Land 249. State Game Land 243 is about 10 miles north of York Springs along the North Branch of the Bermudian Creek. Ring-Neck Pheasants can be found year round on SGL 243. Directions available on Pa Game Commission web site.
Latimore Township Park
Latimore Township Park often has killdeer as well as sparrows and the common song birds. Directions available from Latimore Township web site.
Michaux State Forest
The Michaux State Forest is a large tract of forest on South Mountain. It contains such birds as Louisiana water thrush, red-eye vireo, and ruffed grouse. It is an excellent stop for birding during all seasons.
Pinchot State Park
Pinchot State Park offers good birding year-round. Large lake attracts many species of waterfowl as well as shorebirds. In the past birds such as Red- Breasted Mergansers and Sand hill crane have been seen in and around the park. Directions available on Pa State Park website.
State Game Lands 249 is a series of four large tracts containing a vast network of ponds meadows and woods. 249 is home to some of the last naturally reproducing pheasants in PA. Large numbers of wood warblers visit the game lands each fall and spring. The ponds are also home to numerous water fowl and herons. It is not uncommon to see double digit green heron numbers in the late summer and early fall. Directions can be found on PA Game Commission website.
Latimore Valley Fairgrounds
Latimore Valley Fairgrounds boasts a large population of red-headed woodpeckers and other cavity nesters. There are often over 5 red-headed woodpeckers in view at a time and many more can be heard. There are also a lot of red-bellied woodpeckers as well. Red-tailed hawks are often seen perched on campers in the near by Latimore Campgrounds. Please do not enter the campground without permission. Turn onto Latimore Valley Road from Route 15 and go until you reach the Latimore Valley Fairgrounds sign.
Crooked Creek Wetlands
Crooked Creek wetlands is about 30 minutes south of York Springs, near Mummasburg.It boasts a large number of waterfowl, egrets, herons, shore birds and, song birds. In 2014, a pair of hooded mergansers successfully nested at Crooked Creek. There has also been pairs of orchard orioles and red-headed woodpeckers. Parking is limited to the road side. Please do not enter the wetlands because the land is privately owned. All of the wetlands are visible from the road.
Kings Gap State Park
Kings Gap offers good birding as well as many educational programs, many of which deal with birding. Every fall, the Ned Smith Center For Nature and Art band saw-whet owls at Kings Gap. Kings Gap is about 20 minutes west of York Springs. Kings Gap is also has a small population of ruffed grouse, PA"s state bird. Many Warblers stop by Kings Gap, and some ,like the Hooded Warbler breed there. Directions available on PA State Parks website.
Pine Grove State Park
Pine Grove offers good birding especially in winter .The two lakes at Pine Grove attract many types of waterfowl. Patches of invasive barberry attract large numbers of birds into the park. When visiting be sure to stop by the Appalachian Trail Museum and General Store. Directions available on PA State Parks website.
State Game Lands 243
Small ponds and meadows much like State Game Land 249. State Game Land 243 is about 10 miles north of York Springs along the North Branch of the Bermudian Creek. Ring-Neck Pheasants can be found year round on SGL 243. Directions available on Pa Game Commission web site.
Latimore Township Park
Latimore Township Park often has killdeer as well as sparrows and the common song birds. Directions available from Latimore Township web site.
Michaux State Forest
The Michaux State Forest is a large tract of forest on South Mountain. It contains such birds as Louisiana water thrush, red-eye vireo, and ruffed grouse. It is an excellent stop for birding during all seasons.
Pinchot State Park
Pinchot State Park offers good birding year-round. Large lake attracts many species of waterfowl as well as shorebirds. In the past birds such as Red- Breasted Mergansers and Sand hill crane have been seen in and around the park. Directions available on Pa State Park website.