A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for State Park Sinnemahoning Sinnemahoning EXPLORE PENNSYLVANIA WILDS Pennsylvania Wilds is two million acres TheGorge 7,734-acre and hang-gliding Cook Forest at HynerState ParkView lies of public lands for hiking, biking, fishing, in scenicState Park northwestern offer exciting Pennsylvania. challenges. Once Pennsylvania State Parks Mission boating, hunting, and exploration in The PA Wilds is also home to an called the ”Black Forest,” the area is famous northcentral Pennsylvania. Within the impressive and diverse community of The primary purpose of Pennsylvania state parks is to provide for its stands of old growth forest. Cook For- twelve-county region are: 29 state parks, skilled artisans, craftspeople, and producers opportunities for enjoying healthful outdoor recreation and serve as including Sinnemahoning; eight state est’sworking ”Forest across Cathedral” a variety of of towering media. white outdoor classrooms for environmental education. In meeting these forest districts (1.3 million acres); 50 state pinesConnecting and hemlocks these unique is a National establishments Natural is purposes, the conservation of the natural, scenic, aesthetic, and game lands; and Allegheny National Forest Landmark.the Wilds The Cooperative Clarion River of Pennsylvania, connects Clear (500,000 acres). originally named the Pennsylvania historical values of parks should be given first consideration. Creek State Park to Cook Forest State Park Highlights of the area are: elk watching, Wilds Artisan Trail. The Artisan Centers Stewardship responsibilities should be carried out in a way that along a scenic 10-mile stretch of river which scenic PA 6, Pine Creek Gorge (PA Grand in the nearby towns of Emporium and protects the natural outdoor experience for the enjoyment of current Canyon), the darkest skies in the east at is popularCoudersport for canoeing feature the and work rafting. of these and future generations. Cherry Springs State Park, and hundreds ClearWilds Creek Cooperative State Park artisans. encompasses 1372 visitPAparks of miles of trails, bike paths, and trout acres in Jefferson County. The park occupies fishing streams. For the more adventurous, a scenic portion of the Clear Creek Valley whitewater rafting through Pine Creek Printed on recycled paper 2017 from PA 949 to the Clarion River. Mark and Judy Walters SINNEMAHONING STATE PARK HISTORY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION Directions The people who settled along the First Sinnemahoning State Park offers year- Wildlife watching pontoon boat tours Outdoor photography workshops are Fork were a rugged, self-reliant group of round environmental education and of the George B. Stevenson Reservoir are offered several times each year. The Sinnemahoning State Park is located on individuals, as attested to by the area’s interpretive programs. Through hands- offered on most Sundays from Memorial workshops focus on digital wildlife and PA 872 in Cameron and Potter counties most famous resident, Chauncey “Chance” on activities, guided walks, and evening Day to Labor Day. In addition, specialty landscape photography and are designed for in northcentral Pennsylvania. The park is Logue. He was responsible for planting the programs, participants gain appreciation, bird-watching tours that feature a hot the novice photographer. More advanced 13 miles north of the intersection of PA maples in 40 Maples Day Use Area. Visitors understanding, and develop a sense of brunch served onboard are scheduled workshops will be available in the future. 120 and PA 872 (outside of the village who count the trees will see that Chance stewardship toward natural and cultural several times each year. Contact the park office for dates, times, and of Sinnemahoning) or 15 miles south of actually planted 48 maples. Chauncey’s resources. Biking programs are offered on selected applicable fees. Austin. The Park Office and Wildlife Center photo and story can be seen on the display Curriculum-based environmental Saturdays from May to October. The park For more information on educational is located 0.5 mile south of the northern panel near the restrooms in the day use area. education programs are available to schools has ten hybrid bikes in various adult sizes programs and special events, contact the intersection of PA 872 and Park Road. The By the turn of the century, most of and other youth groups. Group programs for use during the program or you may park office at 814-647-8401 or online at northern entrance of the park is about 3 the timber had been harvested and huge must be arranged in advance and may bring your own. Helmets are provided and www.events.dcnr.pa.gov. miles north on PA 872. expanses of once-forested hillsides stood be scheduled by calling the park office. must be worn. GPS DD: Lat. 41.47341 Long. -78.05653 bare and subject to erosion and wildfires. Teacher workshops on a variety of subjects Wildlife watching programs and In the years following the Great are also available. opportunities are available year round. Mark and Judy Walters Reservations Depression, the Civilian Conservation Canoe and kayak programs are very Participants may search for amphibians in Sinnemahoning State Park is located near tributary to the Sinnemahoning Creek. At Make online reservations at Corps (CCC) began putting young men popular from spring to fall. The park offers the spring, watch bald eagles snatch a fish the center of the Pennsylvania Wilds’ scenic the southern end of the park, a 145-acre www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free Thomas Taber III collection back to work in the valley. From 1933 paddling programs that range from basic to from the lake, or observe black bear gorging steep valleys region and encompasses 1,910 reservoir created by the George B. Stevenson 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 1936, Lushbaugh Camp, S-139-PA, competitive racing. on fall berries. acres of beautiful scenery and outstanding Dam offers excellent fishing and water to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, for state The original inhabitants called this area Boom towns sprang up and quickly grew operated near the present-day site of Brooks wildlife habitat. Situated in Cameron recreation opportunities. The abundance of park information and reservations. Sinnemahoning, derived from the American into major centers for commerce and Run Cabin. and Potter counties, the park is nestled wildlife within the park provides visitors Indian word “Achsinnimahoni” meaning entertainment. NEARBY ATTRACTIONS between the green-shouldered ridges of with opportunities to view bald eagles, “stony lick.” The first Europeans to enter The 1850s ushered in the railroad era for Pennsylvania’s Elk and Susquehannock coyotes, elk, and bobcats. In addition, the the valleys of the First Fork were most the Sinnemahoning Valley. The Lowlands Information on nearby attractions is state forests. The park is long and narrow park’s geographic location is excellent for likely fur trappers, followed by the first Trail was built upon the rail bed of the available from: and includes lands on both sides of First visitors to explore the other treasures of the few permanent settlers who scratched Goodyear Brothers Railroad, which was Potter County Visitors Association, Fork Sinnemahoning Creek, a major Pennsylvania Wilds region. out a meager living farming the available constructed around the turn of the 20th 888-POTTER2. www.pottercountypa.org bottomlands. century as part of the Sinnemahoning Valley Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau, The 1800s saw the beginnings of a Railroad System. It later became part of 814-849-5197. www.visitpago.com PARK OFFICE AND WILDLIFE CENTER logging boom in northcentral Pennsylvania; the Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad and The 200,000-acre Elk State Forest Opened in 2011, this LEED (Leadership in an industry that targeted the abundant eventually the Baltimore and Ohio. provides opportunities for hiking, primitive Energy and Environmental Design) certified old growth pine and hemlock forests. camping, hunting, fishing, and general green building provides office space for recreational activities. 814-486-3353 John R. Plate park administration and an area for park The 262,000-acre Susquehannock The Elk Scenic Drive outlines a 127- interpretive programs and environmental HISTORY OF THE PARK State Forest abuts the northern portion Kinzua Bridge State Park in McKean mile corridor passing through Clinton, education classes. It also provides of Sinnemahoning State Park. It provides County features the Kinzua Bridge Sinnemahoning State Park was developed four-dam initiative to control flooding on transferred to the Bureau of State Parks. Clearfield, Cameron, and Elk counties. The information to help orient visitors and opportunities for hiking, primitive camping, skywalk, which allows visitors to stroll as a recreational facility after the the West Branch Susquehanna River. The During high water events, the dam is scenic drive takes travelers through the offers a centrally-located starting point for fishing, boating, hunting, and other 600 feet out on the viaduct towers and peer completion of the George B. Stevenson dam was re-named in honor of George B. regulated in accordance with instructions Pennsylvania elk range and offers views exploration of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The recreational activities. 814-274-3600 down a glass platform at the end of the Dam and the formation of the reservoir. Stevenson, a Clinton County Senator who issued by the Baltimore District, U.S. Army of some of the most beautiful areas of the