Although the weather might not quite feel like it yet, it’s finally spring.

While you may be itching to get outside, you might also be craving something new and different than the HUB Lawn or the Arboretum. Here’s where the Stone Valley Recreation Center comes in.

If you don’t already know, Stone Valley serves as a perfect opportunity for outdoor exploration and activities for students and those who just live nearby. Stone Valley is located just 14 miles from campus and is considered an extension of University Park’s Campus Recreation centers.

Stone Valley’s appeal comes through the large array of opportunities it offers. The facility has more than 20 miles of its own hiking trails, which then extend into even more trails in the Rothrock State Forest. In the winter, the trails are ideal for show-shoeing or cross country skiing. During peak fishing season, you can find a variety of fish in Stone Valley’s Lake Perez as long as you have a valid fishing license.

A huge perk for Stone Valley comes through discounts for students. Stone Valley offers a variety of activities like paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and rowboats. Although these activities aren’t open until May 29, students can still enjoy them in the late spring and early summer until September 6. It will cost students no more than $12 an hour to rent any of these boat options, sometimes running as cheap as $7 for a half-hour, two-person paddleboat.

Registered student organizations can also receive discounted rates for group boat rentals. Organizations must reserve a minimum of six or more boats for at least two hours, but they will be able to rent these boats at a cheap flat rental rate of $8 per hour in addition to some minor safety and insurance fees.

Students can also receive discounts on cabins for up to six people. There’s an option to rent either a four-person cabin or a six-person cabin, and both run for $60 a night during non-peak season and $132 a night during peak season. Peak season is considered to be during times like Arts Fest weekend, any Penn State home football weekend, commencement weekend, and other times explained here. Most cabins include amenities like access to a central bathhouse, electricity, a gas furnace, and a refrigerator.

For more information about Stone Valley and all it has to offer, visit its website.