Exploring the Nature Trails at Wildwood Park in Harrisburg

The Wildwood Park and Nature Center is located in Harrisburg Pennsylvania and allows visitors from around the area to view native wildlife in their natural habitat. The park is open year round and is free to visit. If you want to explore the lake and walk the surrounding trails, they're open from dawn to dusk, while the indoor nature center is open during specific hours throughout the year.

There are several different parking lots that visitors can use, with three of them having access to public restrooms. If you plan on visiting the Nature Center and don't want to do a lot of walking, you'll want to park in the Nature Center Lot which is located on the south side of the property.

There are several different walking trails that run around Wildwood Lake. Some of the trails are paved, some are wooden boardwalks and a few are uneven dirt trails. All of the trails are marked and you'll find maps of the park & trails at each parking lot/entrance. I suggest planning out your walking hiking route before you get started.

Description of Nature Trails:

Towpath Trail is an easy, level trail that is approximately 1 mile in length.

Wildwood Way is a moderately difficult trail with several long hills. It's 2.1 miles in length.

Delta Boardwalk is an easy, level trail with a wooden walkway that is 0.4 miles in length.

Meadow Trail is a grassy trail that loops through an open meadow that's 0.2 miles in length.

North Boardwalk does not connect with any other trails and is 0.4 miles in length.

East Shore Trail is moderately difficult dirt trails that is 0.9 miles in length.

Tall Timbers Trail is a difficult dirt trail that drops from a ridge that is 0.25 miles in length.

Fox Run Trail is a primitive dirt trail that loops through wet woodland and is 0.25 miles in length.

You can find a free downloadable and printable map by visiting their website HERE. Some of the trails are easier to walk than others and please remember, all trails are outdoors, so during wet & sloppy weather, the trails will be muddy. You'll want to wear season-appropriate clothing, comfortable walking shoes and I recommend bringing along sunscreen and bug spray.

Wildwood Lake is the home to many different native species of turtles, birds, frogs, ducks, geese, snakes, butterflies and other wildlife. You'll see migratory birds stopping by for a visit too. On the day that we visited, we saw three different species of turtles out sunning for the day. You'll see them sunning on logs, rocks and around the banks of the sprawling lake. The real highlight for us was seeing a white Egret and a gray Egret swimming around in the lake.

During the late spring and early summer seasons we like to visit to check out all of the colorful wildflowers that line the walking trails. It's a great time to see all of the animals springing back into action after a long winter. During the fall season we enjoy visiting again to see the wildlife preparing for winter and we love seeing the fall foliage as we walk along the trails.

Every year they put on an Art in Nature Show which starts in April and runs through the end of October. Local artists create nature-inspired trail-side creations which are displayed along some of the walking trails. For 2017, they showcased the natural artwork from 15 different artists. This artwork is then judged and winners receive prizes. The public can vote on their favorite piece by scanning the bar code with their phones located near the displayed pieces. How cool is that? Totally cool!

Throughout the year they host various events that are open to the public. You'll find guided and self-guided tours, exercise/fitness programs, scouting day camps & programs, volunteer days and more. There is always something to see and explore, and you can find a complete list of events right on their website.

We try to visit the park several times a year. Our grandchildren love to walk the trails, look for wildlife and participate in family-friendly events. Fortunate for us, it's only a 10 minute drive from our home and it's a great way to get the kids out in nature.  You can learn more by visiting the Wildwood Park official website online.