National and State Parks - Recreational Areas
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Codorus State Park
State Park Information
State Park Overview
Camping
Camping modern sites, some with electricity
The 198-site campground opens the second Friday in April and closes the third Sunday in October. The sites are suitable for tents or recreational vehicles up to 50 feet in length. Thirteen walk-in sites are available for tents only. Hot showers, flush toilets and a sanitary dump station are available. Many campsites have electric hookups. Eight campsites with electricity can accommodate people with disabilities. From Memorial Day to Labor Day the maximum stay in the campground is 14 consecutive nights. All camping equipment must be removed from the park for 48 hours before returning.
Trails
Mountain Biking There are 6.5 miles of trails in the designated 195-acre Cross-country Skiing and Snowmobile Area on the northern shore of the park. During hunting seasons, the trails are open on Sundays only.
Snowmobiling Registered snowmobiles may use 6.5 miles of trails in the designated 195-acre Cross-country Skiing and Snowmobile Area on the northern shore of the park daily after the end of deer season in late December.
Cross-country Skiing There are 6.5 miles of trails in the designated 195-acre Cross-country Skiing and Snowmobile Area on the northern shore of the park. During hunting seasons, skiers should wear fluorescent orange.
Picnicking
Boating
Boating Activities up to 20 hp motors permitted
The 1,275-acre Lake Marburg has seven boat launch ramps around the lake. All are open to the public, but the campground launch is only for the use of registered campers.
Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following boat registration from any state launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are available at most state park offices launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Mooring spaces may be rented from April 1 to October 31
18 canoe rack spaces
42 sailboat rack spaces
146 sailboat dry storage spaces
108 marina slips for boats up to 16 feet long
272 marina slips for boats up to 24 feet long
Swimming
Fishing and Hunting
Fishing
The 1,275-acre Lake Marburg is a warm-water fishery. Popular species are yellow perch, bluegill, northern pike, crappie, largemouth bass, catfish, muskellunge and tiger muskellunge. Many angler parking lots and areas are available. Bow fishing is permitted in the shallow cove areas.
Codorus Creek is in the Selective Harvest Program. The Pennsylvania Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws contains all of the information on this program. East Branch Codorus Creek is an approved trout stream. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission rules and regulations apply.
Hunting
About 2,900 acres are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel and waterfowl. Hunting in Codorus State Park is limited to the use of three types of short-range weapons, shotgun, muzzleloader and bow during the appropriate hunting seasons. Waterfowl hunting is especially popular and 25 duck blinds are awarded by lottery on the third Saturday in September.
Hunting woodchucks -lso known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day to March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for accessible hunting information.
Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. The park is used by other visitors during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment must be kept in the owners car, trailer or camp.
History of the Area
The impoundment of Codorus Creek is the result of a cooperative project between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the P. H. Glatfelter Paper Company of Spring Grove, Pennsylvania. This undertaking is the first of its kind in the Commonwealth and is designed to serve the water supply needs of a private industry and the town of Spring Grove and
to provide a public recreation area.
The P. H. Glatfelter Company paid approximately $5.5 million to construct an earth fill dam, 109 feet high, 1,690 feet long and 750 feet thick. The dam itself is on Glatfelter property and is not owned by the park. The gates at the dam were closed to impound water in December 1966. The Commonwealth acquired the park land under the ?Project 70? land acquisition program during 19652966. Originally the park was known as Codorus Creek State Park. Lake Marburg is named for the small community of Marburg that is covered by the lake.
The design and construction of the park facilities were funded by the ?Project 500? bond program and the federal government?s Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The main launching area, off of Sinsheim Road, was the first project in Pennsylvania completed for public use under the ?Project 500? Program. This lighted facility, open 24 hours a day, year-round, was dedicated for use on May 9, 1970.