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Hemlocks to HellbendersAuthor: Christian Alexandersen
Hemlocks to Hellbenders is an award-winnning podcast hosted by Christian Alexandersen highlighting Pennsylvanias parks, forests and great outdoors. Our episodes feature engaging conversations with park managers, forest rangers, scientists, educators, outdoor recreationalists, volunteers, officials and more that help you plan your next adventure in the Commonwealth's incredible parks and forests. Language: en-us Genres: Nature, Places & Travel, Science, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Pymatuning State Park - Explore the largest lake in Pennsylvania, where ducks walk on the backs of fish
Episode 3
Tuesday, 3 February, 2026
Pymatuning State Park is big in every sense of the word. It is the largest state park in Pennsylvania. Its Pymatuning Reservoir is the largest lake in Pennsylvania. And it’s one of the most visited state parks with more than three and a half million visitors a year.But just because it has these big qualities does not mean you’ll be unable to find your own peaceful spot at Pymatuning. For every space taken up by a family BBQing, there are nooks and crannies that allow you to explore the park that straddles the Ohio and Pennsylvania state lines.And while there are plenty of great ways to discover the park on land, like by hiking or biking or even playing disc golf, this park needs to be explored by the water. The park’s crowning jewel is it’s 17,088-acre reservoir. The Reservoir plays the perfect host for sailboats, motorboats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. The park has three marinas and three concession areas where you can rent a boat for the day. There’re also numerous boat launches located in both Ohio and Pennsylvania to get you on to the water safely. While in the water, you have the opportunity to explore the stunning beauty that this park has to offer. You can cast out lines and fish all day or simply paddle between the numerous islands. I can just imagine waking up early, and getting my kayak on the water. Silently paddling between islands as I take in the sounds of the birds and swaying trees around me. A perfect peaceful paddle. And you may be thinking at this point, “Christian, why haven’t you talked about the most well-known feature of Pymatuning State Park? Where the ducks walk on the backs of fish.” Don’t worry, we’re getting there. On this episode, I speak with Jared McGary. Jared is the environmental education specialist at Pymatuning State Park.Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:Keystone Trails AssociationPurple Lizard MapsPennsylvania Parks and Forests FoundationSisters' SunflowersDiscover Clarion CountyGo Laurel Highlands Support the showVisit 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 AlexandersenMusic: Jon SauerGraphics: Matt Davis
