Caledonia State Park

Lately, our rangers have been finding structures made of natural materials (Shelters, makeshift blinds, rock fire pits, rock stacks, rock dams, etc.) in the park. While we are happy people are getting outside, these structure-building activities hurt our natural resources, and go against the Leave No Trace principles. We would like people to enjoy nature and the beauty it provides naturally, with as little human intervention as possible. So when you come to our park, avoid building rock dams in our stream to protect the organisms that live there, and when practicing shelter building, use existing downed wood (do not damage standing trees/moss/etc.) and return the area to what it looked like when you arrived, so the next visitor can see nature in its most natural form, and we can protect the park's wild character!

When visiting Pennsylvania Parks and Forests, the motto is: Burn it where you buy it! Non-native, invasive, and destructive insects can hide in firewood from other areas, and travel with you wherever you go. To be sure to protect Pennsylvania’s forests, we recommend people don’t bring their own firewood from other counties or areas. Lucky for you, Caledonia State Park has firewood to purchase here, thanks to our Friends of Caledonia State Park group. You can find firewood... in these two places: One at the entrance to our park, and another at Hosack Run Campground (where you can also buy ice! Price: 8 pound bag is $2). Prices of firewood (Honor System, Cash Only): 6 pieces of hardwood: $5 10 pieces of hardwood: $10 1 piece of pine: $0.50 See more

Some park patrons have been lucky enough to see some black bear activity in or near Caledonia State Park! Right now, temperatures are so hot that bears are coming down towards water sources (Our stream/pond). July 1st is the peak of their breeding season, so bears are on the move (similar to deer in the rut)! There are some things to remember about bear safety, for humans and the beautiful animals themselves. First, the woods are their home and we want to enjoy the woods as w...ell, which means there will eventually be some human/wildlife overlap. Most of the time, bears will hear you before you hear/see them, and they will go away on their own. Here are some steps to take to keep bears and yourself safe in the woods, from the Pennsylvania Game Commission. 1. Be aware of your surroundings! Scan in front and around you often. Pay attention to any park signage saying Recent bear sightings! 2. If you are with friends or family, keep a conversation going to alert wildlife you are there. If you are alone, you can say Hey bear occasionally. 3. Keep dogs on a leash. 4. In the case that you see a bear, stop, stay calm, and let the bear know you are there, so you do not surprise it. Say, Hey bear, I’m right here in a normal voice, do not scream. This will give it time and space to go away on its own. 5. If the bear does not go away, back away slowly, while still talking to the bear, so you can see where the bear is. Sometimes they will stand up on their back two feet, but it is simply a curiosity tactic. 6. Do not climb a tree or run away, this is seen as a threat. 7. Move towards your vehicle, building, or another trail and allow the bear to continue doing bear things! 8. Bear attacks are rare, but if for some reason it does happen, wave your arms, deepen your yell, and fight back with sticks, rocks, or even bare hands. In the past, bears have been scared off if you are not an easy target. Visit this link to read about Black Bears in Pennsylvania! https://www.pgc.pa.gov//Bl/Pages/LivingwithBlackBears.aspx

The Caledonia State Park Pool will be closing for the season on August 17th, 2020. We will be operating normally, Friday through Tuesday 11-7 (closed Wednesday and Thursday), through August 16th. For anyone interested, please stay tuned for lifeguard position announcements to help us fill out our complement for next year. We will be looking the fill at least five positions. If you have any questions, please call the park office.

***UPDATE 2*** The pool is once again operational. Thank you for your patience. ***UPDATE***... The pool should be open at 2:00pm. Please call ahead to be sure. Thank you! Due to a power outage, the pool will be delayed in opening, today July 31. We will update this post as we have more information.

**UPDATE** The pool will open for its regular schedule today July 10th. We will be open 11am-7pm. We will continue to be closed Wednesdays and Thursdays due to lifeguard shortages. Thank you! Due to lifeguard illness, the Caledonia State Park pool will be closed for today July 7, 2020. We will update this post as we know more. as a reminder, Caledonia currently has a severe shortage of lifeguards and every impact is felt. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

The Caledonia Pool will be closed until Friday due to a maintenance issue. We apologize for the inconvenience .

Due to a shortage of lifeguards this season, the Caledonia State Park Pool may not run normally. We will be closed Wednesdays and Thursdays and the pool may only be half open on days we are running. Please check with the park office and the ticket booth at the pool before making decisions. Thank you!

Caledonia's Chinquapin Hill campground and the Park Office are expected to open when Franklin County goes to yellow phase on May 29th. Any reservations made before the 29th, even if they run through the weekend will have been canceled by the reservation center. Please be sure to check your reservation before coming to the park. As of right now, plans to open Hosack Run Campground and the pool are yet to be determined. Please be patient while we continue to navigate the beginning of our camping season. Thank you, and we will see you soon!

Caledonia State Park will be doing some maintenance on one of its bridges starting Friday morning and will be closed through Saturday. The bridge that crosses the East Branch of the Conococheague from the Thaddeus Stevens Trail to the Chambersburg Water Line will be closed for painting. Please plan your hikes accordingly. Thank you!

Update 4/29/2020: The Caledonia Golf Club course will reopen on May 1, 2020. The following facilities within state parks will reopen on May 1, 2020: the Caledonia Golf Club at Caledonia State Park, the Skippack Golf Course in Evansburg State Park, and the Neshaminy Marina at Neshaminy State Park.

With the weather expected to be very pleasant, Caledonia is anticipating large amounts of people in the park. While we continue to encourage healthful outdoor recreation, we also want to remind everybody to continue to practice social distancing and do not congregate in groups of more than ten people. To also help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 all facilities, restrooms, and playground will continue to stay closed at this time. Please plan your trip to our beautiful park accordingly. Thank you!

A reminder for fishermen: the PA Fish and Boat Commission has suspended the regional trout opener slated for April 4 here in Franklin County. Caledonia will now be part of the statewide opening day of trout season on April 18, 2020. Thank you for your attention in this matter.

Please see the annoucement regarding the short term status of state park events. Please call the office if you have any questions.