PA State Parks

Exploring Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County

Collage of scenes from Little Buffalo State Park showing Holman Lake with boats along the shore under a blue sky, the park’s swimming pool with water slides and visitors on the lawn, Clay’s Covered Bridge surrounded by green trees, and the stone-based entrance sign for the state park set among lush summer foliage.

Little Buffalo State Park in Perry County offers visitors a mix of history and outdoor recreation across its 923 scenic acres.

The park was created through the efforts of state representative Allan W. Holman Jr., with the lake named in his honor, providing a lasting tribute to his vision for a public recreation space in the region.

Wooden boat dock extending into the calm waters of Holman Lake at Little Buffalo State Park, with rowboats and paddleboats lined up under a blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds and surrounded by lush green trees.

Whether you’re looking to explore historic structures, hike wooded trails, or relax lakeside, Little Buffalo State Park has something to enjoy in every season.

Historic Blue Ball Tavern at Little Buffalo State Park surrounded by trees with golden fall foliage, a grassy lawn with fallen leaves, and a clear blue autumn sky in the background.

What You’ll See at Little Buffalo State Park

The large swimming pool at Little Buffalo State Park features two twisting water slides and a splash pad, making it a popular summer destination for families.

People enjoying a summer day at the swimming pool at Little Buffalo State Park, featuring two large blue water slides, poolside umbrellas, swimmers in the water, and visitors relaxing in chairs on the grassy lawn under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Shaded grassy areas around the pool offer plenty of space for visitors to set up chairs or towels and enjoy a full day of swimming and sun.

Families enjoying a sunny day at the swimming pool at Little Buffalo State Park, with children playing under water features, visitors using the large blue water slides, and people relaxing on the grassy lawn with umbrellas and tents, surrounded by green trees and hills.

The park’s picnic areas are tucked under oak and maple trees, providing cool shade while you enjoy your lunch.

Picnic area at Little Buffalo State Park during autumn, featuring picnic tables and grills under vibrant trees with golden and orange foliage, with fallen leaves scattered on the grass and Holman Lake visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

Holman Lake is an 88-acre lake where visitors can boat in the warmer months and fish throughout the year.

Angler fishing from a wooden pier extending into Holman Lake at Little Buffalo State Park, with calm water reflecting clouds and tree-covered hills under a bright summer sky.

Several hiking trails wind through the park, including routes that pass along the shoreline of Holman Lake.

Gravel path of Fisherman’s Trail at Little Buffalo State Park winding through a lush green forest alongside Holman Lake, with sunlight filtering through the trees on a summer day.

The Blue Ball Tavern Museum, operated by the Perry County Historical Society, sits on the foundation of an early 1800s tavern that once served travelers along the Carlisle Pike.

Exterior of the Blue Ball Tavern Museum at Little Buffalo State Park, showing a historic tan building with red shutters, a wooden porch, and a hanging sign in the foreground, with a “Open Today” sign on the lawn under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Inside, visitors will find displays of period furnishings, local history exhibits, and artifacts that share the story of the tavern’s place in community life.

Interior of the Blue Ball Tavern Museum at Little Buffalo State Park, featuring a historic dining room display with an antique wooden table set with oil lamps, plates, and dried flowers, surrounded by vintage chairs, a cast iron stove with cookware, and wooden cabinets filled with period artifacts.

The museum helps visitors understand how the tavern served as a gathering place for sharing news, opinions, and meals.

Historic interior of the Blue Ball Tavern at Little Buffalo State Park featuring a rustic wooden dining table set with pewter dishes and mugs, surrounded by wooden chairs, with a wooden staircase leading to the upper floor, stone and plaster walls, wooden floors, and lanterns creating an 1800s tavern atmosphere.

Shoaff’s Mill is a fully restored grist mill built around 1840, offering live demonstrations of the milling process on summer weekends.

Exterior view of historic Shoaff’s Mill at Little Buffalo State Park, featuring a large wooden water wheel, beige siding with red-trimmed windows, and a wooden walkway surrounded by green trees under a partly cloudy sky.

The mill, once operated by the Shoaff family for a century, processed grains and produced cider for the local community.

Interior of Shoaff’s Mill at Little Buffalo State Park featuring historic milling machinery with wooden gears, belts, and pulleys, wooden benches for visitors, stone walls, a workbench with tools, and natural light coming through a window.

The waterwheel and interior machinery provide a fascinating glimpse into the technology of the past.

Interior view of Shoaff’s Mill at Little Buffalo State Park, showing historic wooden grain processing equipment, including a fanning mill and belt-driven machinery, surrounded by timber beams and windows letting in natural light.

Clay’s Covered Bridge, originally constructed in 1890, now serves as a pedestrian bridge within the park.

Front view of Clay’s Covered Bridge at Little Buffalo State Park, showing the red wooden exterior with white trim, green sign with the bridge’s name, and surrounding lush green trees under a partly cloudy summer sky.

The red wooden structure spans Little Buffalo Creek, offering a picturesque spot for photography and a connection to the park’s trails.

Interior view of Clay’s Covered Bridge at Little Buffalo State Park, showing the wooden floorboards, beams, and trusses leading to a tree-lined opening on the far end under natural daylight.

October brings vibrant fall colors to Little Buffalo State Park, with the trees around Holman Lake and the trails displaying brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows.

Accessible playground at Little Buffalo State Park surrounded by picnic tables and trees with vibrant autumn foliage in shades of yellow and orange under a clear blue sky.

It’s a popular time for visitors to enjoy foliage walks or simply relax by the lake while taking in the autumn scenery.

Clay’s Covered Bridge at Little Buffalo State Park surrounded by vibrant fall foliage in shades of orange and yellow, with fallen leaves on the ground and a bright blue sky peeking through the trees on an autumn day.

The Roger Flickinger Visitor Center at the park provides helpful information for planning your visit and learning more about the area.

Front view of the Roger Flickinger Park Office and Visitor Center at Little Buffalo State Park, featuring a red metal roof, stone and wood exterior, landscaped shrubs, and a bright blue sky overhead.

Inside, you’ll find taxidermy displays of native wildlife and a detailed scale model of Shoaff’s Mill, helping visitors appreciate the natural and historical significance of the park.

Detailed scale model of Shoaff’s Mill on display at the Roger Flickinger Visitor Center at Little Buffalo State Park, featuring the mill building with red-trimmed windows, large water wheel, wooden walkways, miniature trees, a horse-drawn wagon, and small animal figures creating a historic scene.

Final Thoughts

Little Buffalo State Park offers a rewarding mix of history, recreation, and natural beauty for visitors of all ages.

Kayak and rowboat stored along the grassy shoreline of Holman Lake at Little Buffalo State Park, with calm water reflecting a blue sky filled with puffy white clouds and a backdrop of tree-covered hills on a summer day.

Whether you are coming for a swim, a hike, or to explore the park’s rich past, it’s a destination worth adding to your Pennsylvania travel plans.

Nearby Attractions

Exploring an Abandoned Railroad Tunnel in Perry County is your guide to exploring the Conococheague Mountain Tunnel, a 19th-century unfinished railroad tunnel located in the present-day Tuscarora State Forest, near Big Spring State Park.

A collage of four images showcases different perspectives of the abandoned Conococheague Mountain Railroad Tunnel in Perry County, Pennsylvania. The top left image features a hiker in a red jacket and orange beanie standing at the rugged entrance of the tunnel, surrounded by fallen branches and moss-covered rocks. The top right image captures the hiker exploring the interior, with jagged rock walls arching overhead and a partially frozen pool of water on the tunnel floor. The bottom left image looks toward the bright entrance from deep inside the tunnel, emphasizing the rough, unfinished excavation of the failed Path Valley Railroad project, which was abandoned in 1895. The bottom right image shows the hiker standing at the back of the tunnel, where the passage narrows into darkness, highlighting the eerie, isolated atmosphere of this historic site within the Tuscarora State Forest.

Hiking the Hawk Rock – Eagles Edge Loop in Perry County is your guide to is a scenic yet challenging 2-mile hike that rewards hikers with spectacular views from a pair of fabulous overlooks.

A collage of four images taken along the Hawk Rock - Eagles Edge Loop hike in Perry County, PA, featuring hikers admiring the scenic views at Eagles Edge Vista, a hiker posing atop Hawk Rock overlook, a hiker ascending a rocky staircase portion of the trail, and a hiker standing beside the trailhead sign for the Duncannon Borough Watershed.

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