Yellow Creek State Park - Experience a lakeside retreat without all the crowds

Wouldn’t it be nice to just get away from the crowds? To visit a park that’s not crammed with people, with their music, and their yapping dogs and all their other stuff. To experience some damn peace and quiet. Since the pandemic, outdoor spaces have become incredibly popular. Cabins and campsites are booked months in advance. Beaches are crowded with families in the summer. And trails are seeing more visitors than ever.  So where can we go to get away from it? The answer is state forests. But, not everyone wants a wilderness experience. They want to spend time in the outdoors while still being close to a bathroom and their car. It’s a sentiment I share. So are there any state parks that are not crowded? Yes, there is. They’re not hidden gems per se. But they are quiet refuges. Crowds never get too big. Parking lots never get too full. And there’s still an opportunity to hike, mountain bike, picnic, fish and stay overnight without feeling like you’re being smothered by people.  One such quiet refuge is Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County.  Located on the western edge of the Allegheny Mountains, Yellow Creek State Park is a quiet escape surrounded by rolling hills. At less than 3,000 acres, the park is small but not too small.  The centerpiece of the park is Yellow Creek Lake. Any time spent at the park should be at or in the lake. You can fish, paddle, swim or just relax on the beach. Can’t you imagine having a perfect lazy morning here, watching the fog roll off the hills with a cup of warm coffee in your hand.  Reading a book at the beach before going for a swim. Having a picnic while watching the migrating birds. Taking a hike without the noise of a ceaseless world. Don’t you need that? Don’t you deserve that? I think you do.  And Yellow Creek State Park is the perfect place to unwind.  On this episode, I speak with James Tweardy. James is the manager of Yellow Creek State Park.  Be sure to support our 2026 sponsors: Keystone Trails Association Purple Lizard Maps Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation Sisters' Sunflowers Discover Clarion County Go Laurel Highlands  Support the show Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.  Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen Music: Jon Sauer Graphics: Matt Davis