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Cherry Springs State Park
Cherry Springs State Park is nearly as remote and wild today as it was two centuries ago. Its dark skies make it a haven for astronomers. Named for the large stands of black cherry trees in the park, the 48-acre state park is surrounded by the 262,000-acre Susquehannock State Forest. The Susquehanna Trail passes nearby and offers 85 miles of backpacking and hiking. |
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Dark Skies - Directions - Weather - Recreation - Winter Report - Woodsmen's Show - Environmental Education - Calendar of Events - Accessibility - History - Nearby Attractions - Volunteers - Rules and Regs - In an Emergency - Contact Us - Downloadables and Maps
Park Advisories
| 8/5/2008 9:16:00 AM | Firewood Advisory: Invasive Beetles found in Firewood Threaten Forests! Before bringing firewood to a Pennsylvania State Park, please read the information in the linked page about a very real threat to forests in Pennsylvania and all of North America. Firewood Advisory |
Directions
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Cherry Springs State Park in on PA 44 in Potter County. |
Recreational Opportunities
Camping: Rustic sites
There are 30 campsites and a sanitary dump station. All sites include a picnic table, lantern hanger and fire ring. Reservations are not accepted. The campground is open from the second Friday in April and closes in December.
Explore camping for more information.
Picnicking: The picnic area is south of PA 44. A landmark in the area is the historic log pavilion built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939. This unusual pavilion features two large, covered dining areas with fireplaces, surrounded by log and chink walls. The areas are connected together by a covered breezeway that also contains picnic tables. Surrounding the pavilion are huge white pine and Norway spruce trees and an old apple orchard where picnic tables and charcoal grills are available.
Mountain Bike Trail: A single-track mountain bike trail runs 15 miles from the state forest district office at Denton Hill to Patterson State Park and continues to Cherry Springs State Park. Trail maps are available at the Bureau of Forestry and Lyman Run State Park offices.
Environmental Education and Interpretation
Cherry Springs State Park offers a wide variety of environmental education and interpretive programs on a year-round basis. Through guided walks, hands-on activities, and campfire programs, visitors gain appreciation and awareness toward the natural and historical resources.
Weather permitting, a park educator or guest speaker presents public stargazing programs on the airport side of the park. Some of the programs are a partnership with the National Public Observatory as part of the Stars-n-Parks program. These free programs are available throughout the summer. Program schedules are published in the local paper and on the Cherry Springs State Park Web site.
Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward.
Explore environmental education and interpretation for more information.
Woodsmen's Show
In 1952, the first Woodsmen’s Show at Cherry Springs State Park attracted a crowd of 4,000 people. Today, the annual Woodsmen’s Show attracts thousands of spectators annually for the early August event. The show features lumberjack contests in tree-felling, log rolling, spring board chopping, standing block chop and chain-saw events. www.woodsmenshow.com
Access for People with Disabilities
If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks:
888-PA-PARKS (voice)
888-537-7294 (TTY)
711 (AT&T Relay Services)
History
Early Settlers
In 1818, Jonathan Edgcomb made his second try at settling in the wilderness of Potter County. Along the Jersey Shore Pike, Edgcomb constructed a log house that became known as the Cherry Springs Hotel. The hotel was in an extremely remote spot and for years the only visitors, other than travelers on the pike, were wandering American Indians.
Over the years, the pine and hemlock in the Cherry Springs area was lumbered off and in their place grew hardwood trees like sugar maple and the park’s namesake, black cherry.
Civilian Conservation Corps Era
The Cherry Springs CCC Camp was one of ten CCC camps constructed in the Susquehannock Forest District. A forester directed the work to be done at each camp, such as clearing underbrush, opening trails, and constructing buildings and roads.
Additionally, Camp Elliott (named for District Forester Harry Elliott) was set up at Cherry Springs. This camp was not connected with the CCC camps, but was under the supervision of the former Department of Forests and Waters. Unemployed college boys primarily stayed at this camp, and one of their accomplishments was to construct the 40-acre airfield at Cherry Springs (under the former State Bureau of Aeronautics) during the summer of 1935.
For more information on the CCC, explore the Civilian Conservation Corps Online Archive.
Nearby Attractions
For more information on nearby attractions, contact Potter County Visitors Association, 888-POTTER2. www.visitpottercounty.com
Susquehannock State Forest is a 262,000-acre state forest and offers hiking, snowmobile trails, and a wilderness experience. 814-274-3600 Susquehannock State Forest
Lyman Run State Park offers fishing, camping facilities ATV and hiking trailheads.
In an Emergency
Contact a park employee or dial 911.
For directions to the nearest hospital, look on bulletin boards or at the park office.
Nearest Hospital:
Charles Cole Memorial Hospital
1001 East Second Street
Coudersport, PA 16915-9762
814-274-9300
For More Information Contact
Cherry Springs State Park
c/o Lyman Run
Galeton, PA 16922
814-435-5010
Manager: Chip Harrison
E-mail: lymanrunsp@state.pa.us
An equal opportunity employer
Make online reservations or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, for state park information and reservations.
