Colton Point State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Colton Point State Park, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | Tioga County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | Wellsboro, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 368 acres (1.49 km²) |
| Established: | 1936 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Colton Point State Park is a 368 acre (1.49 km²) Pennsylvania State Park located in Tioga County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is on the west rim of the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. The park is a sister park to Leonard Harrison State Park which is on the east rim of the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Colton Point State Park is located five miles south of U.S. Highway 6.
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[edit] The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania
The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, also known as, Pine Creek Gorge is a canyon in North Central Pennsylvania. It begins in southwestern Tioga County just south of the small town of Ansonia and continues for approximately 47 miles to the south near Waterville in Lycoming County. The depth of the canyon in Colton Point State Park is 800 feet and it measures nearly 4,000 across.
[edit] History
Colton Point State Park is named for Colton Point. Colton Point got its name from a lumberman, Henry Colton. Colton was a supervisor in charge of getting the lumber off the mountains, into Pine Creek and finally to the sawmills of Williamsport.
Colton Point State Park was constructed during the Great Depression, from 1933-1936, by the Civilian Conservation Corps founded by American President Franklin Roosevelt. The CCC created many jobs for the out of work industrial workers of Williamsport, Jersey Shore and Wellsboro. Colton Point State Park is just one of many examples of the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps throughout North Central Pennsylavania. The park was opened to the public in 1936. The work of the CCC is still visible today. Five stone and timber pavilions built by the CCC were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
[edit] Recreation
[edit] Camping
Camping is a popular pastime at Colton Point State Park. The campsites are rustic. This means that there are no modern amenities like flush toilets are showers. There are outhouses, firerings, a sanitary dump station and picnic tables at the campground.
[edit] Hiking
Colton Point State Park is a destination for avid hikers. They have the chance to hike some very challenging trails in the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. The park has four miles of trails that feature very rugged terrain, pass close to steep cliffs and can be very slick in some areas.
- Rim Trail - This is a relatively flat one mile trail. It follows the perimeter of Colton Point and links all of the canyon viewing areas.
- Turkey Path - The Turkey Path is a 3 mile, down and back, trail that goes down the side of the canyon to the base of Pine Creek Gorge. There is a 70-foot cascading waterfall about 0.5 miles down the trail. Upon reaching the bottom of the trail, hikers need to turn around and climb back up to the top of the canyon. There is no bridge across Pine Creek at this point.
- Pine Creek Rail Trail - One mile of this trail is in Leonard Harrison and Colton Point State Parks. The Pine Creek Rail Trail follows Pine Creek on the former railroad bed for 64 miles (103 km) from Ansonia in Tioga County to Jersey Shore in Lycoming County. The railroad opened in 1883 as the Jersey Shore, Pine Creek and Buffalo Railway, passing into the control of the Fall Brook Coal Company in 1884, and the New York Central Railroad via a lease in 1899, with full integration into the NYC in 1914. Conrail took over the line in 1976 and the last train ran through the gorge on October 7, 1988. In the 1880s and 1890s, the railroad carried timber to the sawmills in Tiadaghton, Cammal and Slate Run. By 1896, this rail line was carrying 7 million tons of freight and three passenger trains on daily runs from Wellsboro to Williamsport. As of 2006, the former rail line has become part of Pennsylvania's extensive network of rail trails. Hikers and bikers have the chance to see waterfalls and rock formations as they travel the trail. There are opportunities to spot bald and golden eagles that have made their homes in the gorge. White tail deer, coyotes, ospreys, heron, river otter, black bear, and turkey can also be spotted within the walls of the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.
[edit] Hunting
Hunting is permitted in 100 acres of Colton Point State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania State Game Commission. The common game species are ruffed grouse, squirrels, turkey, white-tailed deer, and black bears. Many more acres of forested woodlands are available for hunting on the grounds of the adjacent Tioga State Forest.
[edit] Fishing
Fishing is permitted at Colton Point State Park. Anglers must descend the Turkey Path to reach Pine Creek. The species of fish found in Pine Creek are trout, smallmouth bass, and some panfish. There are several small trout streams that are accesible from within the park.
[edit] Fall Foliage
The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania is famous for its brilliant fall foliage and Colton Point State Park is a great place to take in the beauty of the fall colors. The best time to see the leaves in their full color is during the first three weeks of October.
- A Guide to Fall Foliage
- Red - red maple, red oak, and black cherry
- Orange/Yellow - black walnut, sugar maple, aspen, birch, tulip poplar and chestnut oak
- Brown - beech, white oak, and black oak
[edit] Nearby State Parks
[edit] References
- Pennsylvania State Parks: The CCC Years. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- Colton Point State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. "2006 General Highway Map of Tioga County". Retrieved on 2006-10-30.Note: shows Colton Point State Park
- Pine Creek Rail Trail
- Topozone
