Mt. Pisgah State Park

Mt. Pisgah State Park is in the scenic Endless Mountains region of Pennsylvania’s Northern Tier. Midway between Troy and Towanda in Bradford County, the 1,302-acre park is along Mill Creek, at the base of Mt. Pisgah, elevation 2,260 feet. The park is only two miles north of US 6, the major route through the northern tier. Secondary roads passing through the villages of East Troy and West Burlington travel over rolling farmland to the park. A dam on Mill Creek forms Stephen Foster Lake, named after the famous composer and onetime local resident. The 75-acre lake provides fishing, boating and skating. Adjacent to the park are Mt. Pisgah County Park and State Game Land 289.

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

Park Advisories

Directions

Mt. Pisgah is on Wallace Road (SR 3019), two miles north of US 6.

Recreational Opportunities

Hiking  - Picnicking  - Swimming  - Boating  - Fishing  - Hunting  - Snowmobiling  - Ice Fishing  - Ice Skating 

Boating: electric motors only
The 75-acre Stephen Foster Lake has a boat-launching ramp, courtesy dock, restroom and parking on the northern shore. Mooring spaces can be rented on a seasonal basis. Adjacent to the causeway, boat rentals are available during the summer season from a concessionaire.

Please wear your personal flotation devices while boating. 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.

Open in the summer season in the lake below the pool, the boat rental offers canoes, pedal boats, kayaks and rowboats. It is open noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Hiking: 10 miles of trails
A series of hiking trails are suitable for everyone from the casual walker to the experienced hiker. The trails travel around the lake, through wooded areas, old fields, open farmland or rugged terrain. Certain trails are open in winter for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.

Hunting and Firearms: About 1,100 acres are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, turkey, rabbit, grouse, pheasant and squirrel. Hunting is permitted on adjacent State Game Land 289.

Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day to 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.

Swimming: The swimming pool is open:
11 am to 7 pm weekends only from Memorial Day to mid June (closed weekdays)
11am to 7 pm Sat and Sun and Noon to 6 pm Mon through Fri mid June to mid August
11 am to 7 pm weekends only from mid August to Labor Day (closed weekdays)
Labor Day weekend depending on lifeguard availability.

Swimming is not permitted in the lake. The pool depth ranges from eight inches to five feet and includes a ramp for people with disabilities. The pool complex contains dressing rooms, showers, restrooms and a lifeguard and first aid station. A snack bar offers food and beverages.

PARENTS-You are responsible for the safety of your children. Please supervise their activities while enjoying the swimming pool, hiking trails and other facilities. Please observe posted pool rules to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit.

Open in the summer season in the pool complex, the snackbar offers hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza, French fries, soda, slushies, ice cream, candy and other summer fare. It is open noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Picnicking: The main picnic area is adjacent to the pool complex and looks out over the lake. The pleasant wooded area gives a choice of sunny or shaded tables. Please dispose of all charcoal in special barrels in the picnic area. Visitors of all ages can enjoy the sand volleyball court and horseshoe pits. Three picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. Call 888-PA-PARKS for reservations. Make a reservation

Fishing: Stephen Foster Lake provides habitat for perch, bass, bluegill and crappie. On the west shore of the lake is an angler's area that features a parking lot and easy access to the lake for shore fishing. Ice fishing is permitted. For your safety, be sure the ice is at least four inches thick and carry safety equipment. All Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission seasons, rules and regulations apply.

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

Winter Activities

Explore the Winter Report for current snow and ice depths.

Ice Fishing: Stephen Foster Lake provides habitat for perch, bass, bluegill and crappie. On the west shore of the lake is an angler's area that features a parking lot and easy access to the lake for shore fishing. Ice fishing is permitted. For your safety, be sure the ice is at least four inches thick and carry safety equipment. All Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission seasons, rules and regulations apply.

Ice Skating: Ice skating is permitted dependent upon ice conditions. Ice thickness is monitored at the fishing area and at the boat launch.

Snowmobiling: Registered snowmobiles may use the nine miles of designated trails. Snowmobiles may be operated on designated trails and roads from the day following the last deer season in December until April 1, weather permitting.

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)

Environmental Education and Interpretation

The park environmental interpretive center houses artifacts and displays linking us with our past. You can learn about early farm life and the wildlife around us. A walk through the butterfly garden enables the visitor to catch a close glimpse of our area’s “flying flowers.”

The park offers a variety of interpretive programs for the general public. Visitors can enjoy guided nature walks, night hikes and slide programs on various environmental topics, including bears, snakes and owls. During the summer months, youth ages 4 to 13 are invited to participate in day camps, including Touch and Grow, Environmental Discovery and Junior Naturalist.

In the spring and fall, programming shifts from interpretation for the general public to environmental education for school groups. The park serves as an outdoor classroom for area schools. Students participate in hands-on environmental education activities to further their awareness and understanding of the natural world. Reservations must be made in advance.

For additional information on any programs provided by Mt. Pisgah State Park, contact the park office.

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

Explore environmental education and interpretation for more information.

Volunteers

Volunteering your time and skills to enhance the park can be a rewarding experience. Past volunteers have built, erected and monitored bluebird boxes. Thanks to their efforts hundreds of bluebirds have been fledged. Volunteers can present environmental interpretive programs, plant or trim park flowers and shrubs, help with park maintenance or assist in a variety of other areas. If you have skills and talents you would like to offer, please contact the park office.

Explore here for more information on volunteering for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

History

The land that became Mt. Pisgah State Park was first cleared for farmland in the early 1800s. Many of the early settlers came from New England and their descendants still reside in the area. These hearty pioneers cleared the old growth pine and hardwood trees and stacked the stumps in fence rows, which still border the old fields. The environmental interpretive center is dedicated to those early settlers who helped form our country.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania obtained the land in 1969 with funds from Project 70, a state bond issue. Facilities were developed through Project 500, another state bond issue, and a grant from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. Stephen Foster Dam was completed in 1977. Mt Pisgah State Park was dedicated in 1979.

Nearby Attractions

For information on other attractions and accommodations, please contact the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau, 800-769-8999. www.endlessmountains.org

Mt. Pisgah County Park features picnicking, hiking, hunting, rustic camping and scenic vistas.

The Old Methodist Church and cemetery is along Steam Hollow Road two miles from the park. The church was built in the early 1800s and is one of the oldest churches in this area.

This area is rich in American Indian history, and excellent American Indian lore and exhibits can be found at the Bradford County Museum in Towanda, and the Tioga Point Museum in Athens. Both museums feature a wealth of local history.

The Bradford County Farm Museum is in Troy, on PA 14 north. The museum’s numerous and varied exhibits capture and keep alive the traditions of country life in grandfather’s day. Over a thousand artifacts will educate younger visitors and spark recollections for the older guests.

State Game Land 289, 1,126 acres, is open for public hunting, hiking, birding and nature study. Please respect posted rules and regulations.

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:
Troy Community Hospital
100 John Street
Troy, PA 16947
570-297-2121

For More Information Contact

Mt. Pisgah State Park
RR 3 Box 362 A
Troy, PA 16947-9448
570-297-2734
Manager: Ken Gwin

E-mail: mtpisgahsp@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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