Presque Isle State Park is on an arching, sandy peninsula that juts into Lake Erie, 4 miles (6 km) west of the city of Erie, in Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania. The peninsula sweeps northeastward, surrounding Presque Isle Bay along the park's southern coast. It has 13 miles (21 km) of roads, 21 miles (34 km) of recreational trails, 13 beaches for swimming, and a marina. Popular activities at the park include swimming, boating, hiking, biking, and birdwatching.
The Presque Isle peninsula formed on a moraine from the end of the Wisconsin glaciation and is constantly being reshaped by waves and wind. This leads to seven ecological zones within the park, which provides a classic example of ecological succession.
Park brochure for Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania. Published by Pennsylvania State Parks.
Presque Isle SP
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/PresqueIsleStatePark/Pages/default.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presque_Isle_State_Park
Presque Isle State Park is on an arching, sandy peninsula that juts into Lake Erie, 4 miles (6 km) west of the city of Erie, in Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania. The peninsula sweeps northeastward, surrounding Presque Isle Bay along the park's southern coast. It has 13 miles (21 km) of roads, 21 miles (34 km) of recreational trails, 13 beaches for swimming, and a marina. Popular activities at the park include swimming, boating, hiking, biking, and birdwatching.
The Presque Isle peninsula formed on a moraine from the end of the Wisconsin glaciation and is constantly being reshaped by waves and wind. This leads to seven ecological zones within the park, which provides a classic example of ecological succession.
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 pavilio