Presque Isle State Park

The Tom Ridge Environmental Center opened in 2006.

Multi-use trails traverse Presque Isle Park, which extends seven miles into Lake Erie.

Historic Presque Isle lighthouse, built in 1872, is a popular site.

Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200-acre sandy peninsula that arches into Lake Erie. The park 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 number of the state's endangered, threatened and rare species than any other area of comparable size in Pennsylvania.

Presque Isle is a major recreational landmark for about 4 million visitors each year. As Pennsylvania's only seashore, Presque Isle offers its visitors a beautiful coastline and many recreational activities. These include swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, bicycling, and inline skating. A visit to Presque Isle State Park is not complete without visiting the Tom Ridge Environmental Center.

The center is the gateway to Presque Isle State Park. This 65.000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, green-designed facility encourages visitors to experience the unique history and ever-changing ecosystems of the park. The multifunctional building houses the park office, laboratories, and many opportunities for visitors. Climb the glass-enclosed tower for a spectacular view of Lake Erie, enjoy delicious cuisine while relaxing in the Sunset Cafe, tour the interactive exhibits, visit the Nature Shop, or immerse yourself in a large-format film in the Big Green Screen Theatre.