Hickory Run State Park is consists of 15,990 acres. Located in Carbon County in White Haven in Pennsylvania, the park is in the western foothills of the Pocono Mountains. The park has been chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) as one of the "Twenty Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks.'' The park is able to be easily accessed from Interstate 80 and Interstate 476.
The park offers visitors several different activities, which can sometimes vary based on the season. Sand Spring Lake is partially bordered by a sandy beach and enables visitors to swim during the warmer months. Sand Spring Lake is open for swimming from 8:00am to sunset, from late May to mid-September. During the winter, if the lake freezes over, visitors are welcome to use it for ice skating.
Hunting is permitted during certain times of the year. Black bear, squirrels, and white-tailed deer are some of the animals that can be hunted legally. The hunting of woodchucks, which are also called groundhogs, is prohibited. Trapping and dog training is also permitted during established seasons.
With multiple streams and lakes, the park provides anglers with opportunities to fish. Some of the streams are stocked with brown and brook trout. There is also an artificial lure only stream called Mud Run. In addition, the area from Saylorsville Dam to Lehigh River is a catch and release fishing area. The Lehigh River is on the western border of Hickory Run State Park, and it contains warm-water fish, panfish, and trout.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature of Hickory Run State Park is its boulder field, which is located in the park's northeast corner. Visitors can reach the boulder field by car if they use Boulder Field Road. In addition, the field can be accessed by hiking the Boulder Field Trail. The Boulder Field Trail can be accessed from the trailhead on SR 534, and the trail is roughly 3.5 miles long. The boulder field itself is approximately 720,000 square feet and consists of sandstone and conglomerates. The field was created by the melting of glacial waters thousands of years ago. The glacial waters carried the boulders into the valley in which they now reside. The boulder field is a National Natural Landmark.
Hickory Run State Park provides guests with access to approximately 43 miles of trails, so hiking is a popular activity. Yellow trails permit hiking only. Blue trails allow hiking and cross-country skiing. Orange trails also allow snowmobiling. Mountain biking is not permitted on any of the trails in the park. There are 23 trails total, varying in length from five-tenths of a mile to 5 miles. Trails also vary in difficulty and include easy trails, moderate trails, and difficult trails.
Other activities at Hickory Run State Park include picnicking, disc golf, and camping. The picnic area includes more than 400 picnic tables, playground equipment, and restrooms. Drinking water and garbage receptacles are available in the picnic area. For a fee, picnic pavilions can be reserved. Any unreserved pavilions are available for free on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a disc golf course available in the day use area.
Camping is available onsite. There are areas for large tents and trailers that include modern restrooms and hot showers. There is a dump station, and a camp store offers campers the ability to purchase camping supplies, ice, food, and firewood. Camping is only available during certain times of the year (typically from mid-April until mid-December). Group cabins are also available.
For additional information on Hickory Run State Park's hours of operation, fees, or activities, interested parties can call 570-443-0400.
Review, comment, or add new information about this topic: