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Hickory Run State Park
The 15,990-acre Hickory Run State Park, Carbon County, lies in the western foothills of the Pocono Mountains. This large park has over 40 miles of hiking trails, three state park natural areas and miles of trout streams. The Boulder Field, a striking boulder-strewn area, is a National Natural Landmark. |
Explore
Directions - Weather - Recreation - Stay the Night - Trails - Winter Activities - Winter Report - Environmental Education - Calendar of Events - Accessibility - History - Wildlife Watching - 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 |
| 6/16/2008 8:50:00 AM | The Organized Group Tent Camping Area (OGT) has recently been relocated to an area near the family campground. The new location will provide utilities for a future comfort station and is expected to decrease the frequency of black bear encounters with campers.
Sites A thru J are currently open for reservations. The remaining sites of K, L, and M will open in the near future.
We would like to thank our visitors in advance for their patience and understanding during this relocation project and any finishing touches that remain to be completed. You may contact the park office at 570-443-0400 for any further information or call 1-888-PA-PARKS to make a reservation. |
| 5/17/2008 2:27:00 PM | A major rehabilitation project to the Sand Spring Day Use Area has recently started. The project is planned to add a new, modern comfort station and shower house, a new food concession building and improved access and parking for the beach and picnic areas.
The park will work with the contractors to keep the swimming area open as much as possible, however there may be times when certain sections of the picnic and swimming areas will be closed due to safety concerns. The swimming area will be operated under the Open Swim Guidelines, meaning that no lifeguards will be on duty and swimming will be at your own risk.
Hickory Run State Park would like to remind our visitors to stay clear of all construction areas and equipment at all times. |
| 9/24/2007 9:44:00 AM | Due to an active black bear population, the park is requiring all visitors to take certain precautions while exploring the park or staying in the campgrounds. Bear are generally not dangerous to people if they are left alone, however, as with all wild animals their behavior is unpredictable. All visitors, especially overnight guests, shall abide by the following: NEVER approach a bear to pet, feed, or photograph it. ALL food and scented items must be stored in locked vehicles. If a bear approaches you, NEVER throw food or other objects; they can act as an attractant rather than a deterrent. Do not run from a bear; stay together as a group, clap your hands and shout loudly while backing away slowly.
For more information on black bear and their behavior, visit the following website from the Pennsylvania Game Commission: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/lib/pgc/blackbear/pdf/living_with_bears.pdf
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Directions
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From I-80, take Exit 274 at the Hickory Run State Park Exit, and drive east on PA 534 for six miles. From the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, take Exit 95 and drive west on PA 940 for three miles, then turn east on PA 534 for six miles. The park is within a two or three-hour drive from Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and New York City and one hour from Allentown, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. |
Recreational Opportunities
Trails - Picnicking - Swimming - Fishing - Hunting - Disc Golf - Wildlife Watching - Cross-country Skiing - Snowmobiling - Ice Skating - Organized Group Cabin Camps - Organized Group Tenting - Camping
Picnicking: The large picnic area is near Sand Spring Lake which has a swimming beach, disc golf and orienteering. There are over 400 picnic tables, restrooms, playground equipment, drinking water and garbage containers. A picnic pavilion may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. If unreserved it is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Make a reservation
Swimming: A sand beach is open from late May to mid- September, 8 a.m. to sunset. Please read and follow posted rules for swimming. Swim at your own risk. A snack bar has sandwiches, drinks, ice cream and snacks.
Hunting and Firearms: Most of the park is open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are white-tailed deer, turkey, black bear and gray squirrel. The adjoining State Game Lands 40, 129 and 141 have additional areas open to hunting.
Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for accessible hunting information.
Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. The park is used by other visitors during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner's car, trailer or camp.
For complete information on hunting rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission Web site.
Fishing: Anglers find excellent sport in many of the streams and lakes within the park boundaries. Some streams are stocked with brook and brown trout. Mud Run is a delayed harvest, artificial lure only stream. The lower 2.9 miles of Hickory Run, from near the Saylorsville Dam to the Lehigh River, is a catch and release fishing only area.
The Lehigh River, which flows along the western boundary of the park, has warm-water game fish, trout and panfish. Francis E. Walter Dam, about 20 minutes from the park, provides boating and angling for trout and warm-water game fish. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.
For complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.
Disc Golf: There is a course in the day use area.
Stay the Night
Camping: modern sites, some with electric
The large tent and trailer camping area has modern restrooms with hot showers, a sanitary dump station, a forested section and a grassy, more open section. A camp store has general camping supplies, ice, firewood and food. The modern area is open from the second Friday in April until the third Sunday in October. Rustic camping continues until mid-December. Pets are permitted on designated sites.
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Explore the campground map.
Explore camping for more information.
Pets are allowed in designated campsites. Explore pets in campgrounds for more information.
Make a reservation
Attention All Campers: Because of an active bear population, overnight guests are required to store all food and any scented items such as toothpaste, deodorant, and dish soap in their vehicle while away from their site. This includes when leaving the site for even a short period of time, day or night. Park staff will enforce these rules and failure to comply may result in a citation.
For more information on black bear and their behavior, see the following information from the Pennsylvania Game Commission: www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/lib/pgc/blackbear/pdf/living_with_bears.pdf
Free Camping for Campground Hosts: two host positionsThe campground host site amenities include 50-amp electric service and an allowance of one pet site. Hosts are required to assist park personnel for 40 hours per week, which includes weekends. A three-week minimum stay is required. Contact the park office for additional information and availability.
Organized Group Tenting: Nonprofit adult and youth groups can rent one or more of the 14 group sites. This rustic area is open year-round and has picnic tables, fire rings, non-flush toilets and a hand water pump.
Explore organized group tenting for more information.
Organized Group Cabin Camps: Camp Daddy Allen holds 124 people and Camp Shehaqua holds 149 people. The camps are open from the second Friday in April through the third Sunday in October. Located in a wooded setting with adjacent play fields, the camps share a swimming pool that is open from about June 1 to Labor Day. Groups must supply their own certified lifeguards. Camp Daddy Allen has paved walkways and railings but does not meet the new ADA accessibility standards. Explore organized group cabin camps for more information. |
Trails
43 miles of trails
Every trail in the park can be hiked. Hiking-only trails have yellow blazes. Blue-blazed trails allow cross-country skiing and orange-blazed trails allow snowmobiling.
The trails lead through areas rich in historic and scenic interest. This is especially true from mid-June until mid-July when the mountain laurel and rhododendron are in bloom and again in mid-October at the height of the fall foliage.
Be aware of hunting seasons and hunting areas within the park and wear bright clothing in hunting seasons.
Wear proper attire and footwear when hiking.
Mountain biking is prohibited on all trails at Hickory Run State Park, but is permitted at nearby Lehigh Gorge State Park.
| Letter | Trail | Length | Difficulty | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A |
Beach Trail |
0.5-mile | easy | |
| B | Bear Trail | 1-mile | easy | |
| C | Blue Trail | 1-mile | easy | cross-ski |
| D | Boulder Field Trail | 3.5 miles | difficult | |
| E | Deer Trail | 0.6-mile | easy | |
| F | Fireline Trail | 2.3-mile | difficult | cross-ski |
| G | Fourth Run Trail | 5 miles | difficult | snowmobile |
| H | Gamewire Trail | 2.8 miles | moderate | snowmobile |
| I | Gould Trail | 1.5-mile | moderate | cross-ski |
| J | Hawk Falls Trail | 0.7-mile | moderate | |
| K | Hickory Run Trail | 1.5-mile | easy | cross-ski |
| L | Lake Trail | 0.6-mile | easy | snowmobile |
| M | Leonardsville Trail | 0.3-mile | easy | |
| N | Manor House Trail | 2.3 miles | moderate | snowmobile |
| O | Orchard Trail | 1.6-mile | easy | |
| P | Nature Loop Trail | 0.5-mile | easy | |
| Q | Pine Hill Trail | 3.8 miles | moderate | cross-ski |
| R | Sand Spring Trail | 2.5 miles | easy | cross-ski |
| S | Shades of Death Trail | 1.5-mile | difficult | |
| T | Ridge Trail | 1.5-mile | difficult | |
| U | Skyline Trail | 3.4 miles | moderate | cross-ski |
| V | Stage Trail | 4.5 miles | moderate | |
| W | Stone Trail | 1-mile | easy | snowmobile |
Winter Activities
Explore the Winter Report for the current snow and ice depths.Cross-country Skiing: The 13 miles of designated trails are marked with blue blazes.
Snowmobiling: The 21 miles of designated trails are marked with orange blazes.
Ice Skating: When conditions permit, Sand Spring Lake is available for ice skating. Ice thickness is not monitored.
Environmental Education and Interpretation
Diverse habitats and forest types, extensive wild areas and unique geological formations make Hickory Run an excellent outdoor classroom. From March to November, an environmental education specialist conducts hand-on activities, guided walks and presentations on the natural and historical resources for school groups, scouts, civic organizations and the general public. Curriculum-based environmental education programs are available to schools and youth groups. Group programs must be arranged in advance by calling the park office. Teacher workshops are available. Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward. Explore environmental education and interpretation for more information. |
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)
Nearby Attractions
For information on nearby attractions, contact the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau. www.800poconos.com
Lehigh Gorge State Park
Lehigh Gorge State Park: Lehigh Gorge State Park contains 4,548 acres of land and about 30 miles of the Lehigh River. Recreational opportunities include: hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and whitewater boating. About 20 miles of abandoned railroad grade follow the river and are available to hiking and biking and provide access for hunting and fishing. Whitewater boating is a major attraction of the park. This section of the Lehigh River is Class III whitewater and is popular for rafting, kayaking and canoeing. Specific boating regulations apply. Inexperienced boaters should not attempt the Lehigh River without qualified guides. Outfitted trips are available from concessionaires who provide transportation to and from the river, rafts, guides, and all safety equipment. For more information, including a Lehigh Gorge State Park map, contact the Hickory Run State Park office at 570-443-0400.
Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
Lehigh Gorge and Hickory Run state parks are in the Audubon’s Lehigh Reach of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. The Corridor stretches more than 150 miles from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, in eastern Pennsylvania, and follows the historic routes of the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad, the Lehigh Navigation, and the Delaware Canal. The Corridor showcases the extraordinary natural, cultural and recreational resources and works to conserve the heritage of the area. Corridor landings (visitor centers) are available throughout the region to direct visitors to many opportunities that tell the stories that make the region so nationally significant.
Exploring Audubon's Lehigh Autotour
Lehigh Gorge State Park and Hickory Run State Park are featured in a unique "Auto Tour" entitled Exploring Audubon’s Lehigh. The tour focuses on famed naturalist John James Audubon’s 1829 visit to the Rockport area of the Lehigh River Valley and looks at the valley's natural and historical landscapes. Brochures and cassette tapes are available at several locations along the 53-mile route. Signs mark the route and identify tour stops. The tour begins at Jim Thorpe at the Old Mauch Chunk Landing or at White Haven at the Lehigh Canal Depot. The tour is located in the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. www.audubonslehigh.org
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:
Hazleton General Hospital
700 East Broad Street
Hazleton, PA 18201
570-501-4000
For More Information Contact
Hickory Run State Park
RR 1 Box 81
White Haven, PA 18661-9712
570-443-0400
Manager: Dave Madl
E-mail: hickoryrunsp@state.pa.us
An equal opportunity employer
For general state park information or to reserve a campsite, cabin, picnic pavilion or an organized group tenting area, call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS, Mon. to Sat. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
