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Park brochure for Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania. Published by Pennsylvania State Parks.
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Presque Isle
Presque Isle
State Park
A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for
DISCOVERING PRESQUE ISLE AND ITS NATURE
Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200-acre
sandy peninsula that arches into Lake Erie.
The park, established in 1921, is reached by
PA 832 or by boat. The road system within
the park forms a loop about 13 miles in
length.
The neck of the peninsula is attached to
the mainland four miles west of downtown
Erie. The park creates Presque Isle Bay, a
wide and deep harbor for the city of Erie.
The bay attracts many pleasure boats and
worldwide freighters, making Erie an
important Great Lakes shipping port.
Presque Isle is a National Natural
Landmark. Because of the many unique
habitats, Presque Isle contains a greater
Pennsylvania State Parks Mission
The primary purpose of Pennsylvania state parks is to provide
opportunities for enjoying healthful outdoor recreation and serve as
outdoor classrooms for environmental education. In meeting these
purposes, the conservation of the natural, scenic, aesthetic, and
historical values of parks should be given first consideration.
Stewardship responsibilities should be carried out in a way that
protects the natural outdoor experience for the enjoyment of current
and future generations.
visitPAparks
Printed on recycled paper
THE TOM RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
THE NATURE OF PRESQUE ISLE
Misery Bay and Perry
Monument
The Erie Indians lived along the southern
shores of Lake Erie and were early
inhabitants of the area. They hunted game
from the forests, gathered plants, and fished
from the waters of Lake Erie in birch-bark
canoes. According to legend, the Erie
ventured far into the lake to find the place
where the sun sank into the waters. The
spirits of the lake caused a great storm to
arise, so the Great Spirit stretched out his
left arm into the lake to protect the Erie
from the storm. Where the sheltering arm
of the Great Spirit had lain in the lake, a
great sandbar in the shape of an arm-like
peninsula was formed to act as an eternal
shelter and harbor of refuge for the Great
Spirit’s favorite children, the Erie.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS
Environmental Education
Public Programs
The park offers a wide variety of
environmental education programs.
Through hands-on activities, guided walks,
and evening programs, participants gain
appreciation, understanding, and develop
a sense of stewardship toward natural
and cultural resources. Contact the park
office or visit http://trecpi.org for program
offerings.
The Presque Isle Curriculum allows
students of all ages to explore the resources
of the park. The curriculum helps meet the
Pennsylvania Academic Standards set by
the Pennsylvania Department of Education
for Environment and Ecology, Science and
Technology, and others.
Year round, Presque Isle State Park
offers the Bureau of State Parks’ DiscoverE
Outdoor Programs for Young People
(ages 4-17). Younger learners explore the
outdoors through structured play, reinforced
by stories and crafts. Older youth participate
in outdoor educational and recreational
activities, and conduct special projects.
Environmental educators at Presque Isle offer educational and recreational programs throughout
the year. There are programs on history, art, wildlife, plants, and outdoor recreation. Pontoon
boat tours through the interior of the peninsula provide opportunities to view abundant wildlife
and scenic views.
During the War of 1812, Little Bay was
the temporary home of the fleet of ships
commanded by Commodore Oliver Hazard
Perry. Six of his eleven vessels were built
in Erie at the mouth of Cascade Creek. The
shores and waters of Presque Isle protected
the fleet during construction.
Courtesy of VisitErie
In addition to the park office, the TREC
hosts the offices of national, state, and
local agencies and groups, including, the
Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources, Department of Environmental
Protection – Office of the Great Lakes,
Pennsylvania Audubon, Presque Isle
Audubon, Environment Erie, PA Sea
Grant, Presque Isle Partnership, the Natural
History Museum of TREC, Tom Ridge
Environmental Center Foundation, and the
Purple Martin Conservation Association.
The TREC is home to the Regional
Science Consortium, a group of colleges,
universities, high schools, and conservation
groups. The consortium collaborates on
research and provides college-level course
work using Presque Isle State Park’s
resources for learning in unprecedented
ways.
Ecologically Diverse
Courtesy of VisitErie
Presque Isle Gallery and Gifts sells the
works of local artists, memorabilia, and
books on the peninsula and the Lake
Erie region.
The Sunset Café is a quiet spot to relax
with refreshing beverages and great food.
The café also provides fine cuisine for
catered business meetings and after hours
events at the TREC.
As part of the center’s overall educational
mission, the TREC has classrooms and
laboratories for educational programming
and research.
A pavilion located on the grounds of
the TREC is utilized for school field trips,
workshops, lectures, and special events.
Native plant gardens throughout the
grounds provide educational opportunities.
2017
PARK HISTORY
Erie Nation
The Tom Ridge Environmental Center
(TREC) is the gateway to Presque Isle
State Park, and the gateway to discovery.
This 65,000 square-foot, state-of-theart, green-designed facility encourages
visitors to experience the unique history
and ever-changing, diverse ecosystems of
Presque Isle State Park. Built to symbolize
the peninsula in its architectural design,
the TREC opened in 2006 and is the first
building in the Pennsylvania Bureau
of State Parks to earn a LEED silver
certification rating. This multi-functional
building houses the park office, laboratories,
and many opportunities for visitors.
The orientation theater provides
a multimedia experience that takes
visitors through 12,000 years of history,
breathtaking seasons, and spectacular
sunsets of Presque Isle.
Interactive and educational exhibits
allow visitors to simulate the forces of
wind and water, illustrating their effects
on the peninsula through time. The
exhibits showcase Presque Isle’s history,
ecosystems, wildlife, plants, unique sand
formations, top bird migrations stops, and
more. The Discovery Center has hands-on
activities for the young and young at heart.
The Big Green Screen, a 4-story-high,
45-foot-wide, large format theater, offers
the best in science and entertainment films
for people of all ages. For more information
about current films and show times, visit
biggreenscreen.com.
The 75-foot, glass-enclosed observation
tower affords spectacular views of
Lake Erie.
Presque Isle Lighthouse
The Presque Isle Lighthouse was built in
1872 and first lit on July 12, 1873. The
57-foot tower has a redbrick dwelling at the
base and is open for tours. It flashes a white
light that is still maintained by the U.S.
Coast Guard.
www.PresqueIsleLighthouse.com
number of the state’s endangered,
threatened, and rare species than any other
area of comparable size in Pennsylvania.
Presque Isle is a major recreational
landmark for about four million visitors
each year. The park offers visitors a
beautiful, sandy coastline and many
recreational activities, including swimming,
boating, fishing, hiking, bicycling, and inline skating.
Whether you come to enjoy the sandy
beaches, study ecological diversity, or learn
about the historical significance of the
peninsula, there is something for everyone
at Presque Isle State Park.
On September 10, 1813, in the Battle of
Lake Erie, Commodore Perry and his men
defeated the British at Put-in-Bay, near
Sandusky, Ohio. Perry’s first flagship, the
Lawrence, was heavily damaged during the
battle, requiring him to transfer his flag to
the brig Niagara. He then re-engaged and
defeated the British fleet using the Niagara
as his flagship.
After the battle, Perry and his men
returned to Little Bay and Presque Isle
Bay to repair their fleet and seek medical
treatment for the wounded. They stayed
in the protection of the bay because of
threats of another British uprising. During
the winters of 1812-1814, many of Perry’s
crew suffered from poor living conditions
and the harsh winters. As legend has it,
many of them died and their bodies were
buried in the adjacent pond known as
Graveyard Pond. In remembrance of their
hardships during those winters, Little Bay
was renamed Misery Bay by the surviving
sailors.
The hull of the Lawrence, then eventually
the Niagara, was sunk in Misery Bay to
preserve and protect them from the weather.
The Lawrence was raised in 1875 but was
destroyed by fire in Philadelphia during the
Centennial Exhibition of 1876. The Niagara
was raised in 1912 and rebuilt for the 100th
anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie in
1913. A replica of the Niagara sails from its
dock at the Erie Maritime Museum.
The Perry Monument on Crystal Point
was built in 1926 to commemorate this
significant battle during the War of 1812
and the valor of the sailors in Perry’s
Command.
Waterworks Park
The city of Erie developed this area in
search of a cleaner water source. In 1908,
workers began placing a pipe from the
lake to the settling basins. In 1917, the
pumphouse was built. At that time, it
contained a steam boiler and engine. Water
was drawn from the lake to the settling
basins and then pumped across the bay to
the city of Erie. This pumphouse and water
supply system operated from 1917 until
1949. Currently, the pumphouse is used as
a zebra mussel control facility for Erie’s
water supply as well as a surrey and bike
rental concession.
There are six distinct ecological zones on
Presque Isle, each with a specialized plant
and animal community. The record of
geological succession can be traced through
each of these zones. The zones include:
Lake Erie, the bay and shoreline; sand plain
and new ponds; dunes and ridges; old ponds
and marshes; thicket and sub-climax forest;
and climax forest.
Because of the diversity of ecological
zones at Presque Isle State Park, many
different species of plants and wildlife
inhabit the park from the shoreline to the
climax forest. Of all the plants and animals
on Presque Isle, birds are the most studied
and understood. The peninsula’s location
along the Atlantic Flyway and the diversity
of natural habitats make Presque Isle State
Park a haven for bird life. Migrating birds,
including several species of special concern,
rest, feed, and nest here. Over 339 species
of birds have been recorded on Presque Isle,
including 47 species of special concern.
Gull Point: A Fragile
Ecosystem
is closed to all public use from April 1
through November 30. Visitors can view
this area from an observation platform
reached via the Gull Point Hiking Trail.
Due to the ecological sensitivity of this
area, please stay on the designated trail.
The entire shoreline of the natural area
is also off limits to walkers and boaters.
A Migrating Peninsula
Geologists believe that 11,000 years ago
Erie was under a giant sheet of ice called
a continental glacier. As the glacier melted
and retreated north, rocks, pebbles, and sand
fell off, creating a ridge called a “moraine.”
So much ice melted that the valley to the
north of Erie became a lake. The waves of
newly created Lake Erie deposited sand on
the moraine and created Presque Isle.
Presque Isle is a great location to see
longshore drift in action. Wave by wave,
eastward-moving wind pushes water and
sediments. The accompanying forces of
erosion and deposition continually shape
Presque Isle’s eastward migrating coast.
This action greatly impacts the beaches
and interior lands. When Presque Isle first
formed, it probably was about three miles
to the west.
The French name Presque Isle means
“almost an island.” The park area has been
a real island several times. Storm waves
have broken through the neck to isolate the
main section of the spit at least four times
since 1819.
A number of shoreline management
techniques dating to the 1800s have been
used to compensate for the loss of beach
sand and serve to protect the park. Since
1819, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
has attempted to control erosion at Presque
Isle and has successfully closed a number of
breaches in the neck of the peninsula caused
by storms.
Efforts to control beach erosion
now consist of a combined thrust of 58
breakwaters and beach nourishment.
Breakwaters slow erosion by partially
blocking the waves, reducing wave energy.
Weakened waves drop sand, which results
in less sand carried along the shoreline
and a “building out” of the beaches. The
breakwaters have reduced the volume of
sand required to nourish the beaches.
The most ecologically dynamic area on
Presque Isle, Gull Point, harbors some of
the best examples of ecological succession
in the park. This dynamic area, however, is
also the most fragile. Many of Gull Point’s
plant species are threatened or endangered
in Pennsylvania.
Jutting out into Lake Erie, Gull Point
offers a safe haven and resting spot for
migrating and nesting birds. Shorebirds
migrate yearly from beyond the Arctic
Circle to the southern reaches of South
America and back again.
To preserve the resources of this area,
the easternmost portion of Gull Point has
been set aside as a State Park Natural Area
for rare and migratory shorebirds to rest,
feed, and possibly nest. This natural area
North Pier Light
Guiding ships into Erie Harbor since 1858,
this square, metal pierhead light is located
at the end of the Erie Harbor Channel.
Visitors can walk out to the light and watch
the boat traffic in the harbor channel.
Presque Isle Boat Tours
A scenic tour of Lake Erie is offered at the
park. A concession is located at the Perry
Monument. Contact the park office for
prices and a schedule.
CLIMAX FOREST
DUNES AND RIDGES
SAND PLAIN AND NEW PONDS
LAKE ERIE
Great black-backed gull
Lake sturgeon
Largemouth bass
Spotted sandpiper
Sea lamprey
Greater yellowlegs
OLD PONDS AND MARSHES
Western sand darter
Lake trout
Map turtle
Red-shouldered hawk
Freshwater clams
Beaver
Canada goose
Wood duck
Crayfish
THICKET AND SUB-CLIMAX FOREST
Great blue heron
Silverweed
Great horned owl
Coyote
Red-headed woodpecker
Raccoon
Red fox
Monarch
Fox squirrel
SWIMMING
Courtesy of VisitErie
The sandy beaches, washed by the clear
waters of Lake Erie, provide visitors
with the only surf swimming within
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Beaches are open daily from Memorial
Day Weekend to Labor Day. Swimming is
permitted at swimming areas listed below
unless otherwise posted. The regular hours
are noon to 7:30 PM.
BEACH 1: This long stretch of sand is
located near the park entrance and has
restrooms and a reservable pavilion.
BARRACKS BEACH: Near Beach 1, this
beach has restrooms and three first-come,
first-served picnic pavilions.
BEACH 6: This large beach has sand
volleyball courts, a beach house with
changing areas, restrooms, and a food and
beverage concession.
BEACH 7 (Waterworks Beach): In
addition to restrooms, this beach features
a ramp that provides ADA access to the
water’s edge. This beach is adjacent to
picnic areas, with playground equipment,
the Rotary Pavilion, and other reservable
picnic shelters.
BEACH 8 (Pettinato Beach): This
beach has a beach house with changing
areas, restrooms, and a food and beverage
concession.
MILL ROAD BEACHES: (Stone
Jetty, Short Jetty, Saw Mill, Ainsworth,
Goddard) These beaches allow visitors to
enjoy unspoiled, relatively quiet shoreline.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
TRAILS
Restrooms are at Short Jetty and Saw
Mill. The Mill Road Beaches incorporate
swimming areas with shaded picnic
facilities.
BEACH 9 (Pine Tree): This beach
has picnic facilities, a reservable picnic
pavilion, and a restroom.
BEACH 10 (Budny Beach): Equipped
with a beach house with changing areas,
restrooms, and a food and beverage
concession, this beach lies between the
Sunset Point area (popular with kite flyers
and wind surfers) and Gull Point.
BEACH 11: This is the most sheltered
beach and features shallow water, a large
sandy beach, and a beach house with
changing areas, restrooms, and a food and
beverage concession. Beach 11 is adjacent
to picnic areas, playground equipment, and
a reservable picnic pavilion.
SWIMMING AREA PET GUIDLINES:
Inside designated guarded zones, leashed
dogs are permitted in the tree line area only.
Outside of designated guarded zones,
leashed dogs are permitted on the sand and
in the water. People may not swim outside
designated guarded zones, however, they
may wade up to the knee, no more than 10
feet from the shore. In addition, dogs must
never be left unattended, and their owners
are responsible for cleaning up after them.
There are approximately 11 miles of hiking
trails at the park. Bicycling and in-line
skating are prohibited on hiking trails. Due
to fluctuating lake levels, portions of trails
may be seasonally flooded and impassable
without appropriate footwear.
PINE TREE TRAIL: 0.7 mile
This trail follows the edge of a sand plain
community and a stand of pines. Along this
trail are the remains of the biology field lab
that was used by Dr. O.E. Jennings to study
plant succession on Presque Isle.
LONG POND TRAIL: 1 mile
This trail follows the shoreline of Long
Pond, one of the ponds within the lagoon.
About halfway along this trail is a boat
landing, which is a popular fishing spot and
offers a scenic view of the lagoon.
FOX TRAIL: 0.5 mile
This trail winds through wooded swamps
and oak-maple forests. It is maintained as a
cross-country ski trail in the winter.
GULL POINT TRAIL: 1.5 miles
This trail begins at the kiosk at the east end
of the Beach 10 (Budny) parking lot
and winds its way through the Gull Point
Natural Area (GPNA). In this constantly
evolving area, hikers usually see all phases
of natural succession in the park and
experience ever-changing trail conditions.
Much of the trail is sandy, but at times
the trail can be muddy or wet due to
changing lake elevations. Before hiking
Gull Point Trail, visitors are encouraged
to stop at the Tom Ridge Environmental
Center to find out about trail conditions.
Visitors are reminded that during the
closed period of the April 1 through
November 30, visitor access to GPNA is
only permitted on the trail surface, to and
from the observation platform.
DUCK POND TRAIL: 0.5 mile
This trail begins at Duck Pond and
intersects the Canoe Portage Trail and
connects with the Old Gas Well Trail.
NORTH PIER TRAIL: 0.7 mile
This trail follows the shoreline between
North Pier and Beach 11, along one of the
sand ridges. An old firing range used for
training during World War II may be seen
along this trail.
PA SEAWAY TRAIL: This trail follows
the Lake Erie shoreline through Erie County
from New York to Ohio and includes the
Karl Boyes Multi-purpose Trail. This trail
is designated as a Pennsylvania Scenic
Byway.
OLD GAS WELL TRAIL: 0.5 mile
This trail follows a ridge between Beach 7
and the Marina. The trail passes a gas well
that produces gas used at Presque Isle
State Park.
CANOE PORTAGE TRAIL: 0.25 mile
This short walk between sand dunes and
forest connects Beach 8 (Pettinato)
to Marina Lake.
RIDGE TRAIL: 0.5 mile
This trail follows the edge of Cranberry
Pond along a portion of ridge that was a
beach dune 300 years ago.
MARSH TRAIL: 0.25 mile
This trail bisects Cranberry Pond, one of
the many ponds on Presque Isle. The pond
formed as water was trapped between two
ridges.
SIDEWALK TRAIL: 1.25 miles
This historic trail was constructed by
the U.S. Lighthouse Service as a path
from the Presque Isle Lighthouse to the
U.S. Lighthouse Service boathouse in
Misery Bay. The trail was once a wooden
boardwalk and was resurfaced with
concrete in 1925.
DEAD POND TRAIL: 2 miles
This trail leads over several former dunes
and through several distinct ecological
zones. Hikers will pass through oak-maple
forest, pines, and sand plains.
A-TRAIL: 0.2 mile
This short trail connects Pine Tree Picnic
Area to Dead Pond Trail and passes through
a vernal pond. When the vernal pond fills
with water in the spring, the trail is wet.
B-TRAIL: 0.25 mile
This short trail connects Pine Tree Road to
Dead Pond Trail and passes through a stand
of pines.
GRAVEYARD POND TRAIL: 0.75 mile
This trail follows the shoreline along
Graveyard Pond, which legend says was the
final resting place for many of Commodore
Oliver Hazard Perry’s men during the
winter of 1812-1814. Two boat landings
along the trail offer scenic views of the
lagoons and Big Pond.
KARL BOYES MULTI-PURPOSE
NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL:
The Multi-purpose Trail and extension
makes a 13.5-mile circuit in the park. This
paved trail is designated as a National
Recreation Trail. This ADA accessible trail
is popular with bicyclists, in-line skaters,
and joggers. During the winter, the trail
is plowed from the park entrance to the
Public Safety Building for hikers. For
cross-country skiers, the trail is left snow
covered from the Public Safety Building to
Perry Monument. The trail was renamed in
2003 for the late State Representative Karl
Boyes.
Tell us about your hike at:
Presque Isle is a day use park that provides
year round recreational opportunities.
Overnight accommodations are available
nearby. Nearly 11 miles of hiking trails
appeal to hikers, nature walkers, and
cross-country skiers. The paved Karl Boyes
Multi-purpose National Recreation Trail
provides 13.5 miles of scenic trail along
Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie for walkers,
joggers, bicyclists, and in-line skaters.
Presque Isle offers swimming, boating,
fishing, and beautiful sandy beaches to its
summer visitors. Winter enthusiasts visit the
park to enjoy the outdoors and participate in
a variety of ice and snow activities.
MARINA: Open May 1 through October
31, the Marina has nearly 500 slips that can
accommodate boats up to 42 feet in length.
Individuals wishing to moor their craft on
a permanent or temporary basis need to
contact the marina office or park office to
determine slip availability because there are
waiting lists for permanent assignments.
A park concession in the marina has
gasoline and diesel fuel, a sewage pump-out
station, and limited chandlery.
For more information call the Marina
Office (seasonal) at 814-833-0176 or the
Presque Isle State Park office at
814-833-7424.
BOATING: Both non-powered craft
and registered motorboats are permitted.
Internal combustion engines are prohibited
in the interior lagoons, which are defined
as the continuous body of water between
Misery Bay and Marina Lake, excluding
Graveyard Pond. A boat rental concession
in the Graveyard Pond area provides a
variety of powered and non-powered craft.
Beaching of boats along the Presque Isle
shoreline is permitted 100 feet outside of
designated guarded zones. A slow minimum
height swell speed must be observed within
all park waters, which includes all waters
within 500 feet of the shoreline.
WATER SKIING: Water skiing is
permitted in Presque Isle Bay and Lake
Erie. Water skiing is prohibited within 500
feet of the shore except for the purpose of
takeoff or approach.
CAUTION: Water conditions can change
dramatically in a very short period of
time. Please heed all weather notices.
Listen to marine channel 16, the Coast
Guard Emergency Channel on a VHF
radio, or NOAA Weather Radio 162.400
MHZ, for current boating conditions.
Visit PALakeErieBuoy.com for real time
weather information.
BOAT LAUNCHES: Launching areas are
available to accommodate various sizes of
craft. Vista Launch is only recommended
for small watercraft and personal watercraft
(jet skis). Niagara Launch has two ramps
and can accommodate small to medium
sized craft. West Pier Launch area is the
largest facility with four launching lanes
and is recommended for larger watercraft.
The Lagoon Launch area can accommodate
small to medium-sized craft. Fluctuations
in lake levels may impact launching
procedures.
RECREATIONAL SCUBA DIVING:
Recreational scuba diving is permitted in
designated waters of Presque Isle State
Park. Divers must be certified and must
register at the Public Safety Building to
receive information on waters open for
diving. Snorkeling is prohibited in Presque
Isle State Park waters.
SURFING: Surfing is permitted at the
following designated locations: Beach
1 (100 feet west of the westernmost
swimming area on Beach 1), Beach 10 (100
feet east of the swimming area on Beach
10), and North Pierhead Light (100 feet
north of the North Pier and extends to 100
feet south of Beach 11 swimming area).
Wearing of a US Coast Guard approved
PFD is not required in these designated
areas.
HUNTING: Hunting is prohibited in the
park except for controlled waterfowl and
deer hunting in season. Waterfowl hunting
is restricted to designated and authorized
blinds only. Deer hunting is restricted to
archery and flintlock muzzleloader seasons.
Regulated wildlife management hunts may
be conducted if needed. Please contact the
park office for information on regulated
wildlife management hunts.
Use extreme caution with firearms at
all times. Other visitors use the park during
hunting seasons. Firearms and archery
equipment used for hunting may be uncased
and ready for use only in authorized hunting
areas during hunting seasons. In areas not
open to hunting or during non-hunting
seasons, firearms and archery equipment
shall be kept in the owner’s car or enclosed
trailer. Exceptions include: law enforcement
officers and individuals with a valid
Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms
are authorized to carry a firearm concealed
on their person while they are within a
state park.
PICNICKING: Picnic facilities with
tables, grills, and charcoal disposals are
available throughout the park. Refer to the
map for locations.
PICNIC PAVILIONS: A number of
picnic pavilions are available for rental,
accommodating from 30 to 200 people.
Pavilions that are not reserved are available
free of charge on a first-come, first-served
basis.
PICNIC SHELTERS: There are three
enclosed day use picnic shelters in the
Waterworks Area. Shelters include
electricity, water, picnic tables, and
a fireplace. Advance reservations are
required.
FISHING: Common species are perch,
bass, walleye, trout, and steelhead in Lake
Erie, and panfish, perch, bass, muskellunge,
walleye, northern pike, crappies, smelt, and
steelhead in Presque Isle Bay.
•
Bowfishing is permitted. Popular shore
fishing locations are Waterworks and the
Ferry Dock, East and West piers, Perry
Monument, North Pier, lagoons, and all
boat landings.
WINTER ACTIVITIES: Popular winter
activities include ice fishing, iceboating,
and ice skating, which occur on Presque Isle
Bay, Misery Bay, and in the Marina area,
and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
on the park trails. The park website has
winter ice and snow conditions. Ice
thickness is not monitored.
A cross-country ski and snowshoe rental
is at Shelter #1 in the Waterworks Day
Use Area and operates during the winter,
conditions permitting. Equipment rental is
available when the concession is open.
In addition to recreational activities,
experience the natural wonders of Presque
Isle during the winter months. Look for
the impressive ice dunes, formed by the
combination of lake ice, wave surge, and
freezing spray. Do not climb on ice dunes
which are hazardous. A walk along the
beach often reveals animal footprints in
the snow.
BIRDING: Presque Isle State Park has
been rated by BirdWatching magazine as
one of the top birding spots in the country.
Presque Isle’s location on the Atlantic
Flyway makes it a favorite spot for birds
to stop to feed and rest on their migration
across Lake Erie.
Waterfowl migration occurs in March
and in late November through December.
Shorebird migration peaks in April and in
September. Warbler migration is observed
in mid-May and in September. Over 339
species of birds have been identified on
the peninsula.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Access for People with Disabilities
ADA accessible restrooms, picnic tables, and parking spaces have
been designated throughout the park. There are ADA accessible
fishing piers, restrooms, picnic pavilions, picnic tables, and grills
at the East Pier and West Pier areas, which also provide spectacular
views of Presque Isle Bay and the skyline of Erie. The Tom Ridge
Environmental Center and the Stull Center are ADA accessible.
This symbol indicates facilities and activities that are Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible for people with disabilities.
This publication text is available in alternative formats.
If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to
a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.
In an Emergency
Call 911 and contact a park employee.
For directions to the nearest hospital, look on bulletin boards,
at the Public Safety Building, or contact the park office at the Tom
Ridge Environmental Center (TREC).
NEAREST HOSPITAL
UPMC Hamot
201 State Street
Erie, PA 16550
814-877-6000
General Rules and Safety Notices
Outdoor recreational activities are restricted to locations where
physical improvements or postings designate the appropriate purpose
and use. Fires and the disposal of hot coals are permitted only in
concrete receptacles. Do not bury hot coals in the sand. Place trash
and all other litter in provided containers and only dispose of trash
and litter accumulated during the use of state recreation areas. Please
consult the park website for up-to-date safety advisories.
•All pets must be on a leash or safely restrained and attended at all
times. Pets must be controlled at all times.
•Swimming is only permitted on guarded beaches during times when
guards are on duty. Please stay off breakwalls.
•Inflatable or buoyant coast guard approved swim aids are allowed
only with direct adult supervision. Body boards with tethers are
permitted on guarded beaches.
•Diving at beach areas is prohibited. This includes running entry dives
and diving from the shoulders of another person.
•Winter ice conditions on the Lake Erie side of the park are
unpredictable. Stay off ice dunes.
•Deer ticks are found at the park. Precautions should be taken when
walking through grassy or bushy areas.
•Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
•Do your part to keep wildlife wild! Enjoy wildlife from a safe
distance and do not feed or approach wild animals, including gulls
and geese.
Nearby Attractions
Information on nearby attractions is available from VisitErie.
www.visiteriepa.com
ERIE BLUFFS STATE PARK: This 587-acre park along the Lake
Erie shoreline offers scenic views from the 90-foot bluff and hiking,
picnicking, fishing, and hunting opportunities.
i
Information and Reservations
email: presqueislesp@pa.gov
Presque Isle State Park
www.trecpi.org
301 Peninsula Drive, Suite 1
www.visitPAparks.com
Erie, PA 16505
814-833-7424
GPS DD: Lat: 42.10964 Long: -80.15384
Make online reservations at www.visitPAparks.com or call
toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM,
Monday to Saturday, for state park information and reservations.
Pocket Ranger™ App by Parks by Nature