Colonel Denning State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily sunrise – sunset
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- pa.gov(717) 776-5272
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Alert Lake DrawdownA drawdown of Doubling Gap Lake will begin on September 15, 2026. The lake is being drawn down to reclaim beach sand from the swimming area. Due to… (more)
A drawdown of Doubling Gap Lake will begin on September 15, 2026. The lake is being drawn down to reclaim beach sand from the swimming area. Due to the changing conditions and for safety, fishing and boating will not be permitted while water levels are down. The projects are expected to be completed by November 15, 2026, at which time the lake will be re-filled as precipitation permits. Please contact the park office for the latest updates or if you have any questions.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Covering about 257 acres, Colonel Denning State Park lies in Cumberland County, about 13 miles northwest of Carlisle.
The park supports cross-country skiing, winter sports, hunting in season, canoeing and kayaking, and boating. Water access includes a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and a fishing pier. Overnight options include 2 camping areas, with RV sites, tent sites, and group camping.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | sunrise – sunset | — |
Official wording
The park is open every day of the year, sunrise to sunset. Day use areas close at dusk. The park office is open specific hours. The beach, overnight areas, and other areas are open specific seasons and hours. Contact the park office for facility seasons and hours.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (Aspira), Pennsylvania State Parks contract
- Phone
- 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed
Pets are permitted on designated campsites.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping Season: ♿ The 49-site, tent and trailer campground opens the opening day of trout season and closes the day after rifle deer season in December. Colonel Denning State Park Campground Map (PDF)
♿ The 49-site, tent and trailer campground opens the opening day of trout season and closes the day after rifle deer season in December.
Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Restrooms with warm showers and a sanitary dump station are also in the campground.
Pets are permitted on designated campsites.
Firewood and ice are for sale at the campground host site. | — | Showers | — |
| Organized Group Tenting Qualified adult and youth groups may reserve the organized group tenting area for overnight use.
The organized group campsite can accommodate a maximum size group of 20 people.
This walk-to space includes:
• Five tent pads
• Lantern holders
• Large fire ring
• Picnic tables | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Camping Colonel Denning State Park Campground Map (PDF) ♿ The 49-site, tent and trailer campground opens the opening day of trout season and closes the day after rifle deer season in December. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Restrooms with warm showers and a sanitary dump station are also in the campground. Pets are permitted on designated campsites. Firewood and ice are for sale at the campground host site. Organized Group Tenting Qualified adult and youth groups may reserve the organized group tenting area for overnight use. The organized group campsite can accommodate a maximum size group of 20 people. This walk-to space includes: • Five tent pads • Lantern holders • Large fire ring • Picnic tables
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
HikingBoatingWinter sportsSwimmingCross-country skiingHuntingPicnickingFishingCampingCanoeing and kayaking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doubling Gap Nature Trail | 1 mi | Easiest | Recreations permitted: hiking Trailhead amenities: benches Beginning and ending at Doubling Gap Lake, this self-guided trail has several informational panels about the natural history of the area. In the spring, see wildflowers blooming in the wetlands near the trail.Hiking |
| Flat Rock Trail | 0.5 mi | Most difficult | Recreations permitted: hiking Trailhead amenities: none Start in the park and continue along the 2.5-mile Flat Rock Trail which leads to the top of Blue Mountain in Tuscarora State Forest. Two miles of this trail are on state forest land. This steep and rocky trail is worth the effort, ending at Flat Rock, a natural rock outcrop that provides a beautiful scenic vista of the Cumberland Valley.Hiking |
| Rattlesnake Trail | 1 mi | More difficult | Recreations permitted: hiking Trailhead amenities: none Rocky in places, the trail snakes through a mixed oak forest on the foothills of Blue Mountain.Hiking |
| Tuscarora Trail | 0.1 mi | Most difficult | Recreations permitted: hiking, backpacking Trailhead amenities: none Passing thorough a small section of the park, the Tuscarora Trail is the northern portion of an extensive 220-mile bypass route of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. Approximately 23 miles of this hiking trail cross the Tuscarora State Forest. Backpack camping is permitted along the state forest portion, and a rustic, open-faced shelter is located along the trail near Fowlers Hollow State Park.HikingBackpacking |
Trail descriptions from the park
Two trails lie entirely inside the park. Hikers can also access many miles of trails in the adjoining Tuscarora State Forest. Hiking information and maps are available at the park office. Colonel Denning State Park Map
Swimming
The sand beach is open from late-May to mid-September, from 8:00 A.M. to sunset. Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules for swimming. Smoke-Free Beach Smoking is prohibited on the beach and in the swimming area. For visitors who smoke and still want to use the beach, designated areas adjacent to the beach are provided. The restriction includes: • Cigarettes • Pipes • Cigars • E-cigarettes • Other handheld, lighted smoking devices
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Group facilities
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
- Fishing pier
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Colonel Denning State Park offers a range of accessibility accommodations to ensure all visitors can enjoy its natural beauty and recreational opportunities. Site 048 Site 048 offers modern electric with 30-amp service and a paved, back-in driveway that is 71 feet long. The maximum vehicle length is 40 feet. Accessible Picnic Tables There are ADA accessible picnic tables available throughout the Day Use Area. Pavilion 1 Fishing Access An accessible fishing pier is located near the dam. Access via the Pine Hill parking lot. . Swimming and Beaches An ADA accessible sand beach is open from late-May to mid-September, 8:00 A.M. to sunset. There is a water entrance ramp. Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules. GPS DD: Lat. 40.91622 Long. -78.05909 An ADA accessible scenic view is located on Pine Hill, offering a view of Doubling Gap Lake.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 1599 Doubling Gap Road
Newville, PA 17241-9756 - Nearest town
- Carlisle — about 13 mi northwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 40.2808, -77.4184
- Phone
- (717) 776-5272
- coloneldenningsp@pa.gov
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The park is eight miles north of Newville and nine miles south of Landisburg, along PA 233. GPS DD: Lat. 40.28083 Long. -77.41837
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Pennsylvania State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Sep 3, 2026
- DCNR Find a Park: content-fragment JSON feed used by the pa.gov park finder
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology