Outdoor Adventures

Explore the Outdoors!

Erie’s largest outdoor playground, Presque Isle State Park is a National Natural Landmark nestled between the shores of Lake Erie and beautiful Presque Isle Bay. Welcoming over 4 million visitors each year, enjoy seven miles of sandy surf beaches to stretch out on, fly a kite, build a sandcastle or just soak in some rays. Open year-round and free to the public, Presque Isle offers swimming, surfing, hiking, biking, rollerblading, boating, kayaking, surreys, ice-kiting, cross country skiing, canoeing, birding, fishing and world-class sunsets. Recreation equipment rentals are available inside the Park.

Presque Isle State Park is part of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, an America’s Byway™, a 518-mile scenic driving route that follows the shores of Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River in New York and Pennsylvania.

Aerial view of Presque Isle State Park

Bicyclists along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail

Top Must-Sees!

Presque Isle State Park
Your Sailing Adventure - NEW attraction! Set sail on a 4-day adventure, private charter or sunset cruise aboard this beautiful sailing vessel. Tours set to begin Memorial Day weekend 2021.
Greater Erie Regional Trail Network - Are you looking for Trails in Erie PA? Find the best places to hike, walk, fish, walk your dog, have a picnic, and so much more!
Mount Pleasant of Edinboro - In addition to winter recreation (tubing and skiing), Mt. Pleasant is also open for the summer season offering over 6 miles for hiking or biking, picnicking, dog walking and nature watching.
Great Lakes Seaway Trail
Golfing - Multiple golf courses ready to challenge your skills!
Fishing - Shore or stream, boat or charter, cast your line for diverse game fish species including steelhead, trout, walleye, muskies, pike, bluegill.
Scenic Boat Tours - Scallywags Pirate Adventures (interactive tours for all swashbucklers), Victorian Princess(authentic paddle-wheel boat), The Lady Kate (14-mile, narrated cruise through the open waters of Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and Gull Point)
Asbury Woods Nature Center - 250 acres of well-kept trails, nature center, gift shop and boardwalk.
Peek n' Peak Resort - Skiing, tubing, golfing, zip-line, aerial adventure course, spa and more.
PLUS! Double DAB Riding Stables, Erie Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Goodell Gardens & Homestead, Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park (LEAF), Pennsylvania’s Scenic Route 6.

Self Guided Tours - Driving/Walking

Grab your family or friends and set out for a do-it-yourself outdoor adventure! Here are our suggestions for fun outdoor tours:

Download the FREE Hello Erie mobile app and check out two GPS-based walking tours: Gems of The City, a walking tour of historic (lower) Downtown Erie (Dickson House, Hamot House, Captain John Richard’s House, St. Patrick’s Church and more) and the West Bayfront Walking Tour which includes the Bicentennial Tower, Dobbins Landing, West Canal Basin and more. FOODIES! Eat your way through downtown Erie or the charming town of North East on the Erie Food Tours which includes stops and tastings and a bite of history at the area's most popular restaurants.

Updated Erie Mural Arts Tour!

Take a self-guided tour of Erie's Mural Arts! Explore over 80 murals located throughout Erie County. Explore by yourself or with family and friends. Make it an adventure in the pursuit of great art! Be inspired by the creativity of our local muralists and residents. Most of the murals are located outside, however, there are a few located inside buildings (specifics can be found in the mural descriptions). The majority of murals are not artificially lit, therefore we recommend viewing them during daylight hours.

Download the Erie County Mural List

Map out your Mural Adventure with our Google Mural Map!

Download the Erie County Mural Google Map

Greater Erie Regional Trail Network

Do you like to hike in the woods, walk in a city park, and take a stroll on the waterfront? Erie County has a vast array of park and recreational opportunities to explore. To find trail locations, go to www.erietrails.org to view trail route maps, photos of venues and terrain, plus upcoming activities and events. Check out the newest trail at Wintergreen Gorge. 1.2 miles of gorgeous scenery including four-mile creek and the gorge overlook. (pictured: Wintergreen Gorge Trail)

Washington's Trail

This trail is a driving route through western Pennsylvania. Traversing modern highways, the route commemorates young George Washington's first military and diplomatic venture in the Fall and Winter 1753 - 1754. Today, the route follows major roads. However, in some areas there are alternate historic or scenic routes suggested which may more closely align with Washington's travel in the Fall of 1753, and these are likely to be back roads.

Download the Washington's Trail brochure

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Let’s Move Outside!

The Let’s Move Outside! Erie County Recreational Passport is a collaborative program of Erie Yesterday, Erie County Department of Health and VisitErie. It’s an innovative program promoting healthy living and physical activity through the use of public art, local history and outdoor recreation. Download Let’s Move Outside! Erie County Recreational Passport.

Learn More

FISHING!

NEW! Lake Erie was ranked #3 out of the Top 100 Best Bass Lakes of the Decade by Bassmaster Magazine. View the slideshow here. Fishing enthusiasts are presented with a variety of options in the spring. Steelhead is plentiful from late September to early May in Lake Erie tributaries and creeks. In April, pan fish and bass are found in smaller ponds, while pike and muskies are seen in Presque Isle Bay depending on the ice melt. April also brings the arrival of trout season plus the appearance of bass and walleye in Lake Erie. All of the above mentioned fish species are available in May with the exception of Steelhead. Smallmouth bass travel to Presque Isle Bay in May to spawn and June is heavy with trout, bluegill and inland pike.

For more interesting fish bits:

FishUSA.com
FishErie.com
ESC FishingInfo sheet
Northwest Pennsylvania Fishing Report
Fishing Lake Erie & its Tributaries: http://www.fishandboat.com/Resource/Lakes/Pages/LakeErie.aspx
Lake Erie Tributary Fishing map
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission mobile app, click here.

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Boat Plug-ins

Charge your boat battery at any of the following locations (visit our Stay page for contact info):

Bayfront Inn, Ramada by Wyndham Bel-Aire Hotel, The Presque Isle Hotel, Courtyard Bayfront Marriott, Glass House Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Express (Peach St.), Quality Inn & Suites Presque Isle, Riviera Motel, Sheraton Erie Bayfront, SpringHill Suites, Steelhead Inn, Sunset Motel, TownePlace Suites, Wingate by Wyndham.

Download the "Hello Erie" App