Leonard Harrison State Park
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| Leonard Harrison 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: | 585 acres (2.37 km²) |
| Established: | 1922 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Leonard Harrison State Park is a 585 acre (2.37 km²) Pennsylvania State Park located in Tioga County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is on the east rim of the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. The park is a sister park to Colton Point State Park which is on the west rim of the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Leonard Harrison State Park is located ten miles west of Wellsboro on Pennsylvania Highway 660.
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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 Leonard Harrison State Park is 800 feet and it measures nearly 4,000 across.
[edit] History
[edit] The Lookout
Leonard Harrison State Park is named in honor of Leonard Harrison. Mr. Harrison was a Wellsboro businessmen who sought to bring tourists to Tioga County by developing the land that is currently know at Leonard Harrison State Park. He owned 121 acres of land, at the site of the current park. He developed this land known as "The Lookout" and invited to public to enjoy of beauty of the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, also known as Pine Creek Gorge. Harrison donated the picnic grounds to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1922.
[edit] The Civilian Conservation Corps
Much of the amenities of Leonard Harrison State Park were 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. Leonard Harrison 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. A bronze monument to the achievements of the CCC stands at the lookout over the gorge.
[edit] Recreation
[edit] Camping
Camping is a popular pastime at Leonard Harrison 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
Leonard Harrison 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.
- Overlook Trail - Just 0.6 miles, Overlook Trail is a path to Otter View, a vista looking to the south.
- Turkey Path - The Turkey Path is a 2 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 on 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 on about 250 acres of Leonard Harrison 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 Leonard Harrison 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 Leonard Harrison 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.
- Leonard Harrison State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
- 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 Leonard Harrison State Park
- Pine Creek Rail Trail
- Topozone
