Exploring RB Winter State Park in Union County

Exploring RB Winter State Park in Union County PA.

If you’re looking for the best things to see and do at RB Winter State Park in Union County, you’re in the right place!

Exploring RB WInter State Park in Union County Pennsylvania.
A fall afternoon at the park.

RB Winter State Park is a 695 acre recreational area located in western Union County, near the Centre County line.

A map to RB Winter State Park along Route 192 in Union County, PA.
A map to RB Winter State Park along Route 192 in Union County.

The park lies in a shallow basin, completely surrounded by the rocky ridges of the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Fall foliage as viewed from the RB Winter State Park scenic overlook.
Fall foliage as viewed from a scenic overlook above the park.

The focal point of the park is Halfway Lake, a seven acre lake which is filled by spring-fed mountain streams.

Picnic table near the beach at RB Winter State Park in Union County, PA.
Picnic table near the beach.

Halfway Lake is contained by a hand-laid, native sandstone dam that was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid-1930s, the first cement and stone dam ever built by the CCC in the United States.

Halfway Dam on a late summer day at RB Winter State Park in Union County Pennsylvania.
Halfway Dam on a late summer day.

The park is named in honor of state forester Raymond Burrows Winter, who was instrumental in establishing the park, having worked there and in the surrounding state forest for 45 years.

Raymond B. Winter plaque at the state park named in his honor.
Raymond B. Winter plaque at the state park named in his honor.

The Best Things to See and Do at RB Winter State Park

The park is open every day of the year, sunrise to sunset, with day use areas closing at dusk.

Halfway Run near the Lakeside Trail at RB Winter State Park in Union County Pennsylvania.
Hiking along Halfway Run near the Lakeside Trail.

Fishing at RB Winter State Park

Halfway Lake is a coldwater fishery, stocked with brown, rainbow, and brook trout.

Fishing on Halfway Lake at RB WInter State Park in Union County Pennsylvania.
Fishing on Halfway Lake.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks Halfway Lake and Rapid Run (one of the lake’s tributaries) regularly during the season.

Fishing pier at RB Winter State Park.
Fishing pier at Halfway Lake.

Swimming at RB Winter State Park

RB Winter State Park features 300 feet of white sand beach on the northern shore of Halfway Lake.

The beach at RB Winter State Park in Union County Pennsylvania.
The beach.

The beach is open to swimming from late-May to mid-September, 8:00 A.M. until sunset.

Quiet October day on the beach at RB Winter State Park.
Quiet October day on the beach.

A seasonal food and refreshment concession is located at the beach house, near the changing rooms.

Concessions near the beach at RB Winter State Park in Union County Pennsylvania.
Concessions near the beach.

Boating on Halfway Lake

Kayaks and other small, non-motorized boats are permitted on Halfway Lake.

Kayaking at RB Winter State Park in Union County Pennsylvania.
Kayaking on Halfway Lake.

Hiking at RB Winter State Park

6.3 miles of hiking trails are located within the park’s boundaries

Hiking the Lakeside Trail at RB Winter State Park in Union County Pennsylvania.
Hiking the Lakeside Trail.

Many of the park’s trails connect with longer trails in the surrounding Bald Eagle State Forest, making RB Winter an ideal starting point for backpacking trips.

Fall foliage along the Mid State Trail as it passes through RB WInter State Park.
Fall foliage along the Mid State Trail as it passes through the park.

The park is a middle trailhead for central Pennsylvania’s Mid State Trail, which stretches 327 miles from Bedford County in the south to Tioga County in the north.

RB Winter State Park is a middle trailhead for central Pennsylvania’s Mid State Trail.
RB Winter State Park is a middle trailhead for central Pennsylvania’s Mid State Trail.

There are trails of varying degrees of difficulty at RB Winter State Park, including many perfect for beginners or young children.

Rock formations along the Lakeside Trail at RB Winter State Park.
Rock formations along the Lakeside Trail.

Picnicking at RB Winter State Park

About 150 picnic tables are dispersed throughout the park, many with available charcoal grills.

Picnic area at RB Winter State Park in Union County PA.
One of many picnic areas at the park.

Halfway Run Environmental Learning Center

The environmental learning center features taxidermy displays of native wildlife, a hands-on science area, and numerous field guides.

A cold day at RB Winter State Park in Union County PA.
The Halfway Run Environmental Learning Center.

Fall Foliage at RB Winter State Park

RB Winter State Park is an excellent fall foliage destination in central PA.

Fall foliage along the beach at RB Winter State Park in Union County, PA.
Fall foliage along the beach.

The scenic overlook above the park, along McCall Dam Road, is one of my favorite fall foliage destinations here.

Fall foliage along the road leading to the scenic overlook at RB Winter State Park.
Fall foliage along McCall Dam Road leading to the scenic overlook.

From here you have an excellent southern view of Halfway Lake below and the Bald Eagle State Forest beyond.

A perfect fall day for selfies at the RB Winter State Park scenic overlook.
The scenic overlook above the park.

RB Winter State Park in the Winter

Winter is another fantastic time to visit the park.

Halfway Lake at RB Winter State Park.
Halfway Lake on a winter day.

The beach area is a great place to build a snowman.

The beach at RB Winter State Park.
Building a snowman on the beach.

Halfway Lake freezes over.

Looking across Halfway Lake towards the snow-covered beach at RB Winter State Park in Union County Pennsylvania.
Looking across Halfway Lake towards the snow-covered beach.

And Halfway Dam becomes an ice-cold waterfall.

Halfway Dam on a winter day at RB Winter State Park in Union County Pennsylvania.
Halfway Dam on a winter day.

Registered snowmobiles are permitted on designated park roads, which lead to more than 300 miles of roads and trails in the Bald Eagle State Forest.

Snow-covered Sand Mountain Road leading into RB Winter State Park.
Snow-covered road at the park.

Directions to RB Winter State Park

The park office is located at 17215 Buffalo Road, Mifflinburg, PA 17844.

Fall foliage around the office at RB Winter State Park.
Fall foliage around the park office.

If navigating by GPS, use coordinates 40.990860, -77.193889 for the park office.

Raymond B. Winter park sign near the spillway on the lake.
Park sign near the spillway on Halfway Lake.

No matter the time of year, RB Winter State Park is a fantastic place to relax and take in the natural surroundings of central PA!

RB Winter State Park in Union County.
Relaxing on a swing near Halfway Lake.

Nearby Attractions

Hassenplug Covered Bridge is one of five existing historical covered bridges in Union County, and the oldest covered bridge in Pennsylvania!

Exploring the Hassenplug Covered Bridge the oldest covered bridge in PA.
Hassenplug Covered Bridge in Mifflinburg.

The Millmont Covered Bridge has the distinction of being the longest covered bridge in Union County.

Millmont Red Covered Bridge over Penns Creek in Union County PA
Millmont Covered BRidge in Union County.

Spanning just 3 acres, Sand Bridge State Park in Union County is the smallest state park in Pennsylvania!

Exploring Sand Bridge State Park the smallest state park in Pennsylvania.
Sand Bridge State Park, the smallest state park in Pennsylvania.

The Abandoned Alvira Munitions Bunkers are located on State Game Lands 252 in Union County, the former site of a munitions factory and explosives depot during WWII.

Inside one of the abandoned Alvira bunkers.
One of the 149 abandoned Alvira munitions bunkers on State Game Lands 252 in Union County.

Logan Mills Covered Bridge is the last remaining historic covered bridge in neighboring Clinton County.

Logan Mills Bridge Clinton County Pennsylvania
Logan Mills Bridge in Clinton County, Pennsylvania

The 8 Best Scenic Overlooks in the Bald Eagle State Forest is your guide to 8 fantastic ROADSIDE scenic overlooks in the Bald Eagle State Forest that require no hiking whatsoever!

New Lancaster Valley in the Bald Eagle State Forest.
New Lancaster Valley Vista in the Bald Eagle State Forest.

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Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.