Greenwood Furnace State Park

15795 Greenwood Road
Huntingdon, PA 16652-5831
814-667-1800

Nestled in the mountains of northeastern Huntingdon County, historic Greenwood Furnace State Park offers a unique recreational experience. The park is on the western edge of an area of Central Pennsylvania known as the Seven Mountains. It is an area of rugged beauty, abundant wildlife, breathtaking vistas and peaceful solitude.

The park covers 423 acres, including a six-acre lake, and is surrounded by an 80,000-acre block of Rothrock State Forest. The park office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday year-round, and daily during the summer season.

A walk through historic Greenwood Furnace evokes images of the community that flourished here from 1834 to 1904. Greenwood Furnace was a busy industrial complex, with all the noise and dirt of a 19th century ironmaking community. The village throbbed with life: the roaring of furnace stacks, the shouts of the workmen, the hissing of the steam engine, the creaking of wagons loaded with charcoal, and the cast house whistle signaling another pour of molten iron. The furnaces were hot (3,000 degrees Fahrenheit) and cast clouds of smoke and cinders into the air, which rained down indiscriminately on grass, people, livestock and buildings, rendering everything sooty and gray. At night, the fire’s red glow lit the sky, probably allowing residents to walk about without lanterns. Greenwood Furnace was a village built around an inferno.

The entrance to the park is on PA 305; a 10-minute drive west of Belleville or a 35-minute drive southeast of State College.

Recreational Opportunities

Camping: modern sites, some with electricity
Fifty one (51) forested tent and trailer campsites are open from the second Friday in April until the end of deer season in December. Forty-six (46) campsites have either 30 or 50 amp electric hookups. A washhouse with flush toilets, hot showers and laundry tubs is available.

Trailers and motor homes may use a convenient, sanitary dump station at the campground entrance. The maximum stay is 14 days during the summer season and 21 days during the off-season. Campers must vacate the park for 48 hours between stays.

Swimming:
A 300-foot sand beach is open from late-May to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset. Swim at your own risk. A dressing area and restroom are nearby.

Fishing:
The six-acre Greenwood Lake is regularly stocked with trout. Ice fishing is permitted. All Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws and regulations apply.

Picnicking:
Picnic tables and seven picnic pavilions are in a spruce and pine grove setting close to the beach. Unreserved pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. A playground, snack bar, horseshoe pits, volleyball courts and a ball field make this area popular for picnics and reunions.

Snack Bar:
A food and refreshment concession near the beach serves visitors in the summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend.

Environmental and Historical Interpretation

Interpretive programming at the park is centered on the former Greenwood Furnace and the company town that grew up around it. Archeological work and extensive research has done much to uncover not only the physical plant, but also the social structure of the community.

Year-round interpretive programming makes a visit to Greenwood Furnace an interesting educational experience. Guided walks, living history and evening programs interpret much of the natural and historic resources of the park. Programs for school and civic groups are offered by appointment. School programs are offered free and are custom-tailored to meet the teacher’s educational needs. A Teacher’s Guide to Greenwood Furnace is available to educators on request.

Several special events are held throughout the year. Old Home Days Heritage Festival is held in early August. An archaeology day camp is held in late June. The Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering, a weekend of music-related workshops, is held in September. Check out the Calendar of Events or contact the park office for details.

Greenwood Historic Walking Tour:
Greenwood Furnace was once a thriving ironmaking village. Today, only a handful of its 127 buildings remain. This walking tour explores a portion of the historic district and includes parts of the town, tramway, historic roads and charcoal hearths. A free guide to the historic district is available at the park office and visitor center.

Blacksmith Shop:
This historic building has displays on the history of the park and offers blacksmithing demonstrations in the summer. It is open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the summer months and weekends in the May, September and October.

Visitor Center/Park Office:
The Visitor Center/Park Office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There are temporary exhibits on display.

Gift Shop:
A gift shop in the Visitor Center/Park Office sells a variety of items, including Smokey Bear memorabilia, historical and natural books, music, videos, historical and children's nature books, field guides, T-shirts and sweatshirts, postcards, and other items. Hours are the same as the Visitor Center/ Park Office hours. Visa, Discover Card, MasterCard, and debit/check cards are welcome. Proceeds benefit Pennsylvania State Parks.

Wildlife

Wildlife is abundant in the area. The alert observer may see white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, ruffed grouse and many species of small game. Duck, great blue heron and occasionally osprey visit the lake. During early evening hours in late May and June, whip-poor-will sing their unique call.

Feeding wild animals such as bear, raccoon, duck, goose, and skunk is strongly discouraged. When wildlife loses its fear of people, these animals become pests and dangerous situations can result. Please help in maintaining healthy wildlife populations by not feeding the animals.