wildwood park

We take our kids walking/hiking at Wildwood Park all the time. The main lake trail is excellent for biking and strollers. Lots of dog walkers. There are educational signs describing plants/trees/birds. There are hiking trails with bridges and bird observation decks. There is always a great number of migratory and uncommon birds. The smaller canal water way along the West side of the lake is home to hundreds if not thousands of turtles, frogs, bass and other aquatic lifeforms. A great place that is family oriented with bathrooms. There is also a nature center that has a full schedule of educational events, mostly family oriented.

This park is gorgeous, though small. It's a nice departure from the Susquehanna riverfront, as there are very few local parks in the Harrisburg area. However, I feel that no one ever talks about going there and it is underutilized. It seems like it is marketed to families with children, when really there is so much natural beauty and wildlife for anyone to enjoy. Perhaps they could hold more community events that target different populations. It is set in unfortunate surroundings right off of the highway, but once you are in the park, especially in the summer when the lily pads are present, you will instantly love the setting.

Great park for walking along the water and picnicing. They have quite a few turtles and waterfowl. Easy access from 322, 81, and Camron.

My daughter is in town and we were looking for something to do outdoors. I'm a member of Hershey Gardens, but they are closed for the season. She found this place online - a mere 50 miles for us - which is great - and it was super easy to find off 322. And what a find. Beautiful place even in January. We walked about 2.5 miles of trails. Visited their Nature Center and picked up a brochure on their nature lectures coming up this winter. My daughter leaves soon, but I will definitely be back. If you like natural trails along a lake, boardwalks through wetlands,(even some paved HA trails), birds and the woods - all amazingly tucked away along I-81 and 322 - this is it. It's a convenient on off the highway. Free admission. Beautiful place.

My parents live close to this park (we are from Michigan). Dillon (our yellow lab) and I love to do a lap of the park as many days as we can manage when visiting. Great scenery. Lots of ducks. Water to swim in (for Dillon). Lots of other friendly people on the trail. We ran into a group of deer last time out that gave us a weird look because it was a snowy day. They couldn't understand why anyone would be out for a walk on a day like that. They ran, but not that far. We saw a bluebird flying through the snow. The boardwalk was a little bit slippery with snow on it, but the rest of the path was solid. It is very nice to find a place like this so close to the city.

Surrounded on three sides by highways and industrial development, this is a quiet wetland oasis. Nice, modern walking trials are suitable for cross-country skiing when snowfall allows. Lots of wildlife including turtles, white and blue herons, hawks and frogs, plus lots of marsh and woodlands. Try the circular trail around the marsh and the boardwalk with visitor center. A good way to spend a few hours.

We love nature but do not get out of the house much to enjoy it between school and work. This place is great as it's close to downtown but like getting out in the country. It doesn't cost anything and there is plenty to see and do while learning about some native Pennsylvania species.

This Harrisburg gem is a hidden treasure!Kids can learn while having fun, and best of all it's free!Over the years, I've enjoyed taking my grandkids on self-planned "field trips"!Wildwood Park appeals to all ages , but especially K-5, who are naturally curious! We've experienced the "play space" withloads of "hands on" activities. Kids love the bird stations and can see so many things, both indoor and out, at their own pace.

Wildwood Park is a gem. Located outside Harrisburg at the conversion of I-81 . The park is peaceful and serene but you have the traffic noise around you. The many hiking trails and wetlands are gorgeous. Too many water fowl to count. The morning glory story is interesting. ( you will need to find out for yourself)The American Lotus is found in the shallow waters here. I'll come back in July to see the blooming period. Be sure to take some time out of your busy schedule to visit the park.

Our family goes to Wildwood Park quite often.It has many miles of boardwalks and pathways to hike on. You can also bike there, but not on the boardwalks. Great nature sites where you can view many species of birds and reptiles. I have seen egrets, great blue herons, shore birds, geese, ducks, snakes, turtles, frogs, fish, white tail deer, I have even seen an eel in the canal...Beautiful place to unwind, relax and and get back to nature for a little while. There is a nice nature center there too that has planned activities throughout the year.

This is a great play space for kids. Swings and slides are in good working condition. The view of the river is nice too.

Urban nature is the term I like to use for people like me. I live in the suburbs. I like to be outside, but not so much. I don't really want to camp. I like to walk, but prefer paved paths or better yet - boardwalks. I understand that this is not nature at all, but I like it! If you are like me - come here. Perfect! Although a little difficult to locate as we are not locals, once you find this place, it's pretty cool! The nature center sits way back off the road. It offer interactive exhibits on recycling, nature, conservation and local attractions. Kids can pick up a card and read about an environmental concept and get a stamp at each station. They will take home a card with 9 different stamps and hopefully some new knowledge.The center has great facts, large displays, a children's library, a kid's playroom and really nice place for parents to sit and watch the birds come & feed. There is no charge and clean restrooms. Once you grab a trail map, hit the boards! Many raised boardwalks. Some shaded, some sunny. Places to stop and use the provided binoculars to see birds. We came across HUGE grasshoppers.Disclaimer - Other people have commented on how loud the traffic from the highway was on the trails. To be honest, I thought they were lying. It is true. It is loud. Such a shame. BUT, ignore it, put some earbuds in and just go because this place is beautiful. Very clean. We felt safe walking the trails in our small group. Will definitely come back.**Wear walking shoes, not flops. Pets allowed, but must be leashed. Bikes NOT allowed on the boards.**

Great place to jog-has paved surfaces, boardwalk, and dirt trails. Dog-friendly, lots of wildlife, nice people there. Nature center is a great place to bring children.

This bit of land that was once a dump site is now a place to relax and enjoy nature. There is no fee and there are parking places in a couple areas. The first thing you might notice is the roar of the traffic on the highways that border the park. You can quickly forget those sounds if you pay attention and listen for the sounds of the birds that inhabit the park. Bring a camera to capture your sightings. The 3.1 mile path that circles the lake and marshes is a nice walk or take a shorter walk following one of the two boardwalks through the marsh. The nature center ( closed on Monday) offers many educational programs for adults and children. A nice place to unwind.

Wildwood is a nice hilly run on decent terrain, it's a 3.1 miles or 5K loop if you use the big trail. Be warned, if the weather is nice the park can be filled with people "just out for a walk" making running a tough.