One of the area’s greatest assets is the 4,000-acre County Park system, comprised of eight distinct parks with over 61 miles of trails. The newest of these is the recently completed Heritage Rail Trail, a 21-mile linear park connecting downtown York with the NCR Trail in Maryland. William H. Kain County Park includes Lake Redman and Lake Williams and is a popular destination for canoeing and fishing. Richard M. Nixon County Park is dedicated to environmental education and contains a nature center featuring over 170 big game mounts as well as six miles of trails.

York County is also home to three State parks. Gifford Pinchot State Park comprises 2,338 acres in scenic northern York County and includes the 340 acre Lake Pinchot as well as 18 miles of trails. Samuel S. Lewis State Park, the smallest of the three, is located on the highest point in the area and offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Susquehanna River. Codorus State Park is located near Hanover in the southwestern portion of the county and is best known for the sprawling 1,275-acre Lake Marburg. The park also contains a 198-site campground and one of the largest swimming pools in Pennsylvania.

The picturesque 447-mile Susquehanna River borders eastern York County and is a popular destination for boating, windsurfing, water skiing, and fishing.

For winter excitement, Ski Roundtop offers sixteen slopes and ten lifts, providing ample opportunity for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. Other popular cold weather activities like ice-skating and hockey are available at several venues throughout the county.