PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK VISITORS’

Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200-acre sandy peninsula that arches into Lake Erie. As Pennsylvania’s only “seashore,” Presque Isle offers its visitors a beautiful coastline and many recreational activities, including swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, bicycling, and in-line skating.

Presque Isle is a day-use park that provides year-round recreational opportunities. Overnight accommodations are available nearby.

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.

A National Natural Landmark, Presque Isle is a favorite spot for migrating birds. Because of the many unique habitats, Presque Isle contains a greater number of the state’s endangered, threatened, and rare species than any other area of comparable size in Pennsylvania.

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.

Amenities include a boat launch, comfort station, environmental education center, lighthouse, marina, parking, picnic shelter, picnic tables, ranger station, sanitary dump or pump out station, seasonal food and refreshment concessions at the beach.

Tom Ridge Environmental Center

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-the-art, 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 during 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.

An educational center at heart, TREC is dedicated to teaching visitors about Presque Isle and the many different forms of life that inhabit this unique peninsula.

Guide

TREC also serves as a center for research, contributing to conservation efforts and promoting environmental awareness, helping to preserve the unparalleled beauty of Presque Isle.

Large-format movies, guided tours, and other activities are available.

Admission is free to the interactive exhibits and the 75-foot observation tower.

Park Hours

The park is open every day of the year, sunrise to sunset. Day use areas close at dusk.

The park office is open specific hours. The beaches and other areas are open specific seasons and hours. Contact the park office for facility seasons and hours.

Reservations

Reservations can be made by visiting https://www.dcnr. pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/PresqueIsleStatePark/Pages/ default.aspx or calling 888-727-2757 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.