Visit Columbia County

Montour Preserve, Danville PA

If you are searching for the perfect vacation spot this year, look no further than Columbia County, in the heart of Central Pennsylvania. While visiting, take some time to explore the river towns of Bloomsburg and Berwick. Bloomsburg is a perfect central location to stay in the county while on vacation, with a bustling downtown and plenty of nearby amenities. This college town sits between two of the county’s most well known attractions; Knoebels Amusement Resort in the southern end of the county and Ricketts Glen State Park in the northern corner.

Nostalgia is heavy in the air at Knoebels Amusement Resort, where the old-fashioned rides and secluded woodland setting evokes sweet memories of childhood. Knoebels is America’s largest free-admission amusement resort, and also offers free parking. If you’re not the biggest ride enthusiast, simply pick up a booklet of ride tickets and only pay for the rides you wish to go on. The park has been named the “Favorite Traditional Amusement Park” in the country and the “Best Park for Families” by the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA). The park also boasts the number one wooden roller coaster in the world - the “Phoenix” - as awarded by Amusement Today in their annual Golden Ticket Awards. Roller coaster enthusiasts visit from all over the country to enjoy Knoebels’ iconic wooden coasters, as well as the park’s newer thrill rides like “The Impulse” or “Flying Turns” – the world’s only wooden bobsled coaster.

Ricketts Glen State Park, located in the northeast corner of Columbia County and extending into nearby Luzerne and Sullivan Counties, is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. In the park, hikers can enjoy a vast network of trails that take them past more than twenty stunning waterfalls. There is also a beach, lake, campground, kayak rentals, and much more. Additional county highlights include Bill’s Old Bike Barn and the Susquehanna River, a perfect location for a leisurely kayak, canoe, or tubing excursion..

The Columbia-Montour counties are also home to twenty-five covered bridges. Picturesque and historic, they recall a time when life was simpler and closer to the land. On a yearly basis, visitors from all over the world come to admire the antique craftsmanship of the bridges and relax in the quiet countryside. Symbols of small-town America, these covered bridges coax travelers off the beaten path to explore little streams and forgotten dirt roads. The area is also full of challenging mountain biking trails, and the counties' country roads are great for road cyclists as well. For those looking to quench their thirst after a long day of adventures, the recently unveiled River Rat Brew Trail encompasses fourteen local enterprising breweries with countless specialty drafts. From earliest blossoms of spring to the last leaves of autumn, the area has no shortage of fairs, festivals, carnivals, and parades. Local towns regularly play host to weekend street fairs with local artisans, performers and authentic cultural foods.

Places to Visit/Attractions

Knoebels Amusement Resort
Ricketts Glen State Park
Historic Covered Bridges
Montour Preserve
Bill’s Old Bike Barn
Rolling Hills Red Deer Farm
Pioneer Tunnel
Rohrbach’s Farm Market
Jackson Mansion
Bloomsburg Children’s Museum

Outdoor Recreation

Ricketts Glen State Park
Montour Preserve
Susquehanna River
Weiser State Forest – Roaring Creek Tract
Hopewell Park
Hess Recreation Area
Susquehanna Riverlands
Briar Creek Lake Park
Fishing Creek
Lake Jean