The park is on the western edge of the Seven Mountains in northeastern Huntingdon County, an area of rugged beauty, abundant wildlife, breathtaking vistas, and peaceful solitude.
Greenwood Furnace State Park covers 423 acres, including a six-acre lake, campground, hiking trails, and a historic district. The park provides access to backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, hunting, and fishing in the surrounding 80,000-acre Rothrock State Forest.
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
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 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.
Hiking at Greenwood Furnace State Park
The trails of Greenwood Furnace explore historic places and pass through numerous habitats like forest and ridge top, and also connect to trails in the surrounding Rothrock State Forest.
Trail Blazes:
Yellow, Green, and Orange blazed trails are for hiking only
Blue blazed trails are also recommended for cross-country skiing, snow permitting
Red blazed trails are multi-use and may also be open to mountain biking, snowmobiling, and/or horseback riding
Orange diamonds designate snowmobile routes
Brush Ridge Trail
2.75 miles, red blazes, more difficult hiking
This trail begins along Broad Mountain Road or from the connector trail from Chestnut Spring Trail. The trail provides a ridge top perspective of the surrounding forest. Hikers can use Dixon Trail and Tramway Trail to form a loop, which returns to the park.*
Chestnut Spring Trail
0.5 mile, yellow blazes, more difficult hiking
Beginning by Picnic Pavilion #1, the trail follows a small stream that ambles among large rocks and fern-lined banks to its source at a spring house. The trail crosses Broad Mountain Road and winds back down the hill passing a charcoal hearth. To return to Picnic Pavilion #1, follow Broad Mountain Road to the first park road.
Dogtown Trail
1 mile, red blazes, easy hiking
Beginning at the parking lot on the west end of the campground, the trail enters the forest. The trail descends to and crosses a creek, intersects with Tramway Trail then crosses PA 305. On the mountainside, the trail parallels PA 305 east, crosses Viantown Trail, then climbs Brush Ridge to join Brush Ridge Trail to a connector trail to Chestnut Spring Trail and finally ends on Broad Mountain Road.
Lakeview Trail
0.25 mile, yellow blazes, more difficult hiking
This short trail is a nice walk around the lake with some great photo opportunities. Beginning on the west side of the lake dam breast, the trail climbs along the side of Brush Ridge under a closed canopy of trees with window openings offering views of the lake. At the upper end of the lake, a flat, gravel walking trail returns to the day use area at the beach.
Lorence Trail
1.2 miles, yellow blazes, more difficult hiking
From Monsell Trail, Lorence Trail steadily climbs to intersect Turkey Trail in Rothrock State Forest.
Monsell Trail
1 mile, yellow blazes, more difficult hiking
Beginning at the trail parking area across PA 305 from the park office, hikers should follow Standing Stone Trail for a short distance. Monsell Trail then climbs the hill past the church, through the remnants of an old pine plantation and past charcoal hearths. The trail returns to the day use area along the campground road and a gravel service road through the day use area, returning to the parking lot.
Moore Trail
0.5 mile, green blazes, easiest hiking
This loop begins at Picnic Pavilion #6 and meanders up and down the bottom of a mountain. Hikers can enjoy a wide variety of trees, ferns, and wildflowers. At the top of the hill, the trail shares the path with Monsell Trail before dropping back to its beginning.
Tramway Trail
This trail follows the old mule-drawn railroad that once hauled iron ore from the ore banks and mines to the furnace. Starting at the campground entrance road near the park cemetery, this trail follows PA 305. Hikers can return to the park by Tramway Trail or follow Dixon Trail to Brush Ridge Trail to return to the park.*
Viantown Trail
2.75 miles, blue blazes, more difficult hiking
This trail was an old wagon road that linked Greenwood Furnace to Viantown. The trail begins on the far side of the dam and passes the site of the Travellers Inn as it crosses Brush Ridge to Broad Mountain Road.*
Standing Stone Trail
72 miles (1 miles in the park), orange blazes, most difficult hiking
Part of the Great Eastern Trail System, this trail offers a challenging experience for seasoned hikers. Standing Stone Trail connects in the north to the Mid State Trail. In the south, the trail connects to Cowans Gap State Park, the Tuscarora Trail, and the Appalachian Trail.
The Stone Valley Vista Loop begins at the trail parking area across PA 305 from the park office. Standing Stone Trail climbs steadily for two miles up the spine of Stone Mountain to the Stone Valley Vista. For a 5-mile loop, hikers continue on the Standing Stone Trail to the four-way intersection and take the right turn onto Turkey Trail, which descends switchbacks.
Hikers then take the right turn onto Lorence Trail, and then right on Monsell Trail, returning to the trail parking lot. For a steeper climb, start on Monsell Trail and follow the directions in the opposite direction!
Picnicking at Greenwood Furnace State Park
Picnic tables, eight reservable picnic pavilions, and modern restrooms are in a spruce and pine grove close to the beach. This area is popular for picnics and reunions and has:
Playground
Snack bar
Horseshoe pits
Volleyball courts
Ball field
Unreserved pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis.
This activity or structure is ADA accessible.
Stay the Night at Greenwood Furnace State Park
Camping
flush toilets, warm showers, some electric hook-ups
Forty-nine tent and trailer campsites and two walk-in sites are open from the second Friday in April until mid-November. Forty-four campsites have either 30 or 50-amp electric hook-ups. Pets are permitted at designated campsites for a fee.
A shower house has flush toilets, warm showers, and sinks for dishwashing.
Trailers and motorhomes 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.
This activity or structure is ADA accessible.
Swimming at Greenwood Furnace State Park
A 300-foot sand beach is open from late May to mid-September, from 8:00 A.M. to sunset. A modern shower house, dressing area, and snack bar are nearby.
Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules.
This activity or structure is ADA accessible.
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
Wildlife Watching at Greenwood Furnace State Park
Wildlife is abundant in the area. The alert observer may see:
White-tailed deer
Black bear
Wild turkey
Ruffed grouse
Many species of small animals
Duck, great blue heron, and occasionally osprey visit the lake. At dusk, during 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.
Kayaking and Canoeing at Greenwood Furnace State Park
Non-motorized canoes and kayaks may be used on Greenwood Lake except during the opening weekend of trout season. Vessels can be launched by hand from a small access next to the ADA swimming ramp at the beach.
Non-powered boats must display one of the following:
Boat registration
Launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania state parks -- available at most state park offices
Launching permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Fishing at Greenwood Furnace State Park
The six-acre Greenwood Lake is regularly stocked with trout.
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is permitted.
Hunting at Greenwood Furnace State Park
During established seasons, about 320 acres are open to:
Hunting
Trapping
Training of dogs
Common game species are:
Deer
Turkey
Grouse
Special state park hunting regulations and laws apply.
Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas.
Sledding at Greenwood Furnace State Park
A small sledding hill is behind the park office.
Greenwood Furnace provides:
Parking
Picnicking facilities
Heated restrooms
Warming hut with a woodstove in Pavilion #3
Cross-Country Skiing at Greenwood Furnace State Park
Tramway, Dogtown, Viantown, and Brush Ridge trails are recommended for cross-country skiing, as are the grassy areas of the day use area.
Park trails connect to the Brush Ridge Multi-use Trail System in Rothrock State Forest.
Greenwood Furnace provides:
Parking
Picnicking facilities
Heated restrooms
Warming hut with a woodstove in Pavilion #3
Ice Skating at Greenwood Furnace State Park
Ice skating is popular on the natural ice of the beach area at Greenwood Lake.
Ice thickness is not monitored.
Greenwood Furnace provides:
Parking
Picnicking facilities
Heated restrooms
Warming hut with a woodstove in Pavilion #3
Snowmobiling at Greenwood Furnace State Park
The park features several orange-blazed snowmobile trails and serves as a trailhead to access 200 miles of roads and trails in the surrounding Rothrock State Forest. When conditions permit, snowmobiling begins after antlered deer season in December and ends April 1.
Greenwood Furnace provides:
Parking
Picnicking facilities
Heated restrooms
Warming hut with a woodstove in Pavilion #3