Lyman Run State Park

The 595-acre Lyman Run State Park is in scenic Potter County. Maples and cherries dominate a mixed northern hardwood forest that surrounds the 45-acre Lyman Run Lake, making a most scenic setting.

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Directions - Weather  - Recreation  - Winter Activities  - Winter Report  - Environmental Education  - Calendar of Events  - Accessibility  - History  - Nearby Attractions  - Volunteers  - Rules and Regs  - In an Emergency  - Contact Us  - Downloadables and Maps

Park Advisories

Directions

Lyman Run State Park is 15 miles east of Coudersport and seven miles west of Galeton on Lyman Run Road.

Recreational Opportunities

Hiking  - ATV Trail  - Picnicking  - Swimming  - Boating  - Fishing  - Hunting  - Snowmobiling  - Ice Fishing  - Ice Skating  - Camping

Camping: flush toilets and hot showers
Daggett Run and Lower campgrounds offer separate camping areas with a total of 35 RV and tent campsites. Each campsite contains a picnic table, fire ring and lantern hanger. Twenty-nine campsites have electricity. Six campsites are walk-ins. The campgrounds have modern washhouses with hot water, flush toilets and showers. The campgrounds are open from the second weekend in April to the end of deer season in December. A sanitary dump station is in the Lower Campground.

Explore the campground map.

Explore camping for more information.

Explore pets in campgrounds for more information.

Make a reservation

Hiking: 6 miles of hiking trails
The hiking trails link to many miles of trails in Susquehannock State Forest. Unless noted below, all trails are marked with rectangular blue blazes. There are trailhead and intersection signposts.

Spur Line Trail - easy hiking - The bumps on this trail are old railroad ties. Spur Line Trail ascends slowly from Lower Campground up to Rock Run Road. To the right along Rock Run Road is Lyman Run Vista. Hikers can complete a loop by continuing on the road then turning right onto Rock Run Trail.

Rock Run Trail - moderate hiking - Along this aptly named trail are very large boulders. Rock Run Trail descends rapidly from Rock Run Road to intersect Spur Line Trail near Lower Campground.

Beehive Trail - moderate hiking - The massive, old stumps along this trail show signs of ancient wildfires. Beehive Trail connects Dagget Run Campground and Rock Run Road.

Wildcat Trail - moderate hiking - Along this trail is a small upland bog that has northern cotton grass and several majestic old growth hemlock trees. Wildcat Trail connects ATV Trail and Beehive trails.

Lyman Run Trail - moderate hiking - Hike from one end of the park to the other following Lyman Run through many habitats and on a railroad trace. Lyman Run Trail can be accessed in Lower Campground, below the spillway or where it intersects the Susquehannock Trail System.

Susquehannock Trail System: This 85-mile trail loop traverses some of the most rugged, mountainous terrain in northcentral Pennsylvania. This trail system also passes through Denton Hill, Patterson and Ole Bull state parks.

ATV Trail: Lyman Run State Park is an access point for 43 miles of ATV trail in the Susquehannock State Forest. Restrooms and the food concession at Lyman Beach are within walking distance of the specially located “ATV-only” parking lot. ATV trailer parking is limited to five trailers. Additional parking is available at the Bureau of Forestry (Denton Hill) trailhead.

Hunting and Firearms: About 505 acres are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, turkey and bear. Hunting is also permitted in the adjacent Susquehannock State Forest.

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.

Picnicking: The shaded picnic area has picnic tables, charcoal grills, hot charcoal disposal units, modern restrooms, drinking water and a play area. One picnic pavilion may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. When unreserved, the picnic pavilion is free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Boating: electric motors only
Boating facilities include a launching ramp and a courtesy dock. The mooring area holds 60 boats. A permit, available at the park office, is needed for the mooring area.

Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. For complete information on boating rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

Lake Fishing: The 45-acre Lyman Run Lake is noted for its exceptional water quality and provides excellent trout fishing. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks the lake with rainbow and palomino trout throughout the fishing season.

Stream Fishing: Lyman Run from Lyman Lake to West Branch Road is approved trout water and stocked each spring. The upper Lyman Run basin is a wild brook trout enhancement area. From the inflow to Lyman Lake upstream, 5.3-miles of Lyman Run and all its tributaries are excellent for wild brook trout fishing. Anglers should consult the Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws for current restrictions and creel limits.

For complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

Swimming: The 300-foot sand beach is open from late-May to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset. Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules for swimming. A modern bathhouse with flush toilets, changing rooms, snack bar and boat rental is the centerpiece of the beach area.

Winter Activities

Explore the Winter Report for current snow and ice depths.

Snowmobiling: A 43-mile loop trail in Susquehannock State Forest passes through Lyman Run State Park.

Ice Fishing: Lyman Run Lake provides ice fishing for rainbow and palomino trout during the winter months. Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, be sure the ice is at least four inches thick and carry safety equipment.

Ice Skating: Lyman Run Lake provides ice skating at the swimming area. Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, be sure the ice is at least four inches thick and carry safety equipment.

Environmental Education and Interpretation

An environmental interpretor presents resource-oriented programs and interpretive walks April through October. Major topics and seasonal programs include: guided hikes, kayak programs, astronomy, fall color, old fashioned cider squeezing and summer campfire nad wildlife programs. Educational information is available at the visitor center or park office.

Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward.

Explore environmental education and interpretation for more information.

Wildlife Watching

Depending on the season, visitors can see woodland wildlife like bobcat, coyote, white-tailed deer, black bear and wild turkey. In the spring, Lyman Lake is visited by migrating waterfowl like common loon, wood duck, and common merganser.

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

Lyman Run State Park was named for Major Isaac Lyman, an American Revolutionary War soldier believed to be the second permanent settler in Potter County. In 1809, Lyman built his home in nearby Lymansville (now Ladonna), east of present day Coudersport.

In the 1880s, large stands of white pine were harvested and floated down Lyman Run to Pine Creek and on to Williamsport. In the 1890s, the Goodyear Brothers purchased most of the land drained by the West Branch of Pine Creek.

In 1905, Frank and Charles Goodyear constructed a large camp and engine terminal in the area that now is the park day use area. From this base, steam locomotives pulled log trains through the ten miles of main line and 30 miles of spur lines. Many of the spur lines were steep, with grades of up to ten percent.

Each day, up to 100 train cars of logs were hauled out of Lyman Run to the sawmill in Galeton. At night, trains hauled hemlock bark to leather tanneries in Galeton, Westfield and Elkland.

The land changed hands several times until it was purchased by the R. J. Gaffney Company, who cut the remaining hardwoods for a wood chemical plant on the West Branch Pine Creek. Logging ceased in 1913.

For forest fire and watershed protection, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased the land in and around Lyman Run in the 1920s.

In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built Camp S-88 in the area that currently is the park maintenance area. The young men of the camp completed forestry improvements and road construction projects. Toward the end of World War II, the camp housed German prisoners-of-war. After the war, the camp seasonally housed migrant workers who harvested the local potato crop.

For more information on the CCC, visit the Civilian Conservation Corps Online Archive.

Construction of Lyman Run Dam began in 1951. Lyman Run State Park opened to the public in 1955.

Nearby Attractions

For more information on nearby attractions, contact, Potter County Visitors Association, www.visitpottercounty.com.

While at Lyman Run State Park, visit nearby attractions. The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum is on US 6 between Coudersport and Galeton. The museum is operated and administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and is a representation of an early logging camp complete with a sawmill, steam locomotive, blacksmith shop and bunkhouse. The many exhibits will take you back to the turn of the century with the "wood hicks" and "bark peelers." 814-435-2652

Also, 39 miles east on US 6 are Leonard Harrison and Colton Point state parks. These parks overlook the Pine Creek Gorge, known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.

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
US 6 East
Coudersport, PA 16915
814-274-9300

For More Information Contact

Lyman Run State Park
454 Lyman Run Road
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.

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