HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced the return of its popular Driving Tours of State Game Lands, offering residents and visitors the chance to explore some of the Commonwealth’s most scenic and ecologically rich landscapes from the comfort of their own vehicles.
The tours highlight the extensive habitat management work being carried out across Pennsylvania and showcase the diverse wildlife that benefits from these efforts. All events are free, open to licensed passenger vehicles, and will take place rain or shine.
One of the standout dates for car enthusiasts is the Stoney Valley Tour through State Game Lands 211 in Dauphin County, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., aligning with the busy week of automotive festivities surrounding Hershey Car Week. Beginning at the Ellendale Forge gate, located six miles east of Dauphin Borough along Stoney Valley Road, the tour traverses more than 44,000 acres of rugged terrain before concluding at the Gold Mine gate.
State Game Lands 211 stretches across Dauphin, Lebanon, and Schuylkill counties and features an abandoned railroad bed running west to east, as well as major hiking routes like the Appalachian and Horse-Shoe Trails. Along the route, Game Commission personnel will be stationed at key points to share site-specific information and answer questions about wildlife, forest management, and recreation opportunities.
For Hershey Car Week visitors, the timing offers an ideal opportunity to combine a passion for automobiles with Pennsylvania’s natural beauty—trading concours lawns and auction blocks for forest roads and fall foliage. The drive-through format provides a relaxed way to explore landscapes not typically accessible by car while still enjoying the week’s automotive theme.
The Game Commission emphasized that the tours are designed to underscore the value of Pennsylvania’s state game lands, not only as hunting areas but also as destinations for hiking, birdwatching, and nature exploration. “These driving tours provide a good example of the opportunities available on game lands statewide, while showcasing how habitat work being done on these tracts benefits wildlife,” the agency noted in its release.
MORE INFORMATION: PA.GOV
