Worlds End State Park
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| World's End State Park, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | Forksville in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | Dushore, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 780 acres (3.16 km²) |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Worlds End State Park is a 780 acre (3.16 km²) Pennsylvania State Park state park near Forksville, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park is located on Pennsylvania Route 154 in the narrow, serpentine valley of the Loyalsock Creek.
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[edit] Name
The name of the park has caused some confusion and controversy over the years. Mr. W.S. Swingler, Assistant District Forester of Wyoming State Forest penned this note about the story of the name:
"There was even a dispute as to the proper name of the area. Some people called it Worlds End others Whirl's Glen and still others Whirls End. The first name arose from the topography of the place. Seven mountain ranges converge on the point and one does receive the sensation of being at the ultimate ends of the earth. The proponents of the second name base their claim upon the whirlpool in the Loyalsock Creek and the third name was probably a contraction of the other two. Since the whirlpool had largely disappeared, it was decided that the name Worlds End would be most appropriate. Hence, the name Worlds End State Park."[1]
This was not the end of the controversy. A letter campaign caused the name of the park to be changed to "Whirls End State Park" in 1936. Opponents of the new name launched another letter writing campaign to revert the name to "Worlds End State Park". This matter was brought before the State Geographic Board, which supervised the official naming of places. The board ruled that the name be changed once again to Worlds End State Park in 1943. This has been the official name ever since, but the names "Whirls End" and "Whirls Glen" are still used, and are synonomous with Worlds End.
[edit] History
[edit] Horse trails
The earliest settlers in the Worlds End area primarily used two horse trails to traverse the rugged mountains between Muncy Creek and the forks of Loyalsock Creek at Forksville. These rugged and rocky trails were used steadily until 1895 when Pensylvania Route 154 was constructed to take their place. The old horse trails are still in use as of 2006 as Pioneer Road Trail and Double Run Road. Worlds End Vista is at the junction of Pioneer Run Road and Worlds End trail. This vista is thought to be an inspiration for the name of the park.
[edit] The lumber era
The demand for lumber reached the Worlds End area at the turn of the 20th century. The virgin forests of white pine and hemlock were soon clear cut. The logs were sent down Loyalsock Creek to the many sawmills that had been established in the Williamsport area. The hill were stripped bare. Nothing was left expect the dried out tree tops. These tree tops became a fire hazard and much of the land was burned and left barren.
[edit] Forest restoration
The history of the park goes back to 1929, when the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, a precursor to the modern Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, began purchasing land devastated by logging and wild fire to create a state forest. In 1933, four Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps were built in Sullivan County; Camp S-95 in Laporte built many of the park facilities, such as the swimming area and dam, the cabins, hiking trails and roads. The camp closed in 1941. The CCC architecture has earned the park a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
[edit] Natural History
[edit] Wildlife
Worlds End State Park provides extensive forest cover of hemlock-filled valleys and tree-covered mountains. This makes it an ideal habitat for "big woods" wildlife. Animals such as white-tailed deer, black bear and wild turkeys are seen fairly regularly. Less common creatures include bobcats, coyote and river otters. Bird watchers have recorded observations of over 200 species of birds, including the northern goshawk, yellow-bellied flycatcher and the white-throated sparrow.
[edit] Geology and fossils
The land on which Worlds End State Park sits has undergone tremendous change over the last 350 million years. It was once part of a pre-historic coastline of a shallow sea that covered a great portion of North America. The high mountains to the east of the sea gradually eroded causing a build up of sediment made up primarily of clay, sand and gravel. The tremendous pressure on the sediment caused the formation of shale, sandstone and conglomerate rocks that are found today in the area.
The shifting of the continents folded and raised the rock into a large and high plateau. Millions of years of erosion have carved ridges and valleys into the plateau, causing the mountainous terrain seen today. The hardest of the ancient rocks are held in the ridges and the softer rocks eroded away forming the valleys. Loyalsock Creek has been a primary force in the creation of the valleys as it maded its way across the landscape to the West Branch Susquehanna River to modern day Montoursville.
Fossils older than the dinosaurs can be found at Worlds End State Park. The area was once a river delta on an acient coastline. Fossils of the ancient ancestor of the lungfish can be found in the red siltstone formations in the park.
[edit] Recreation
[edit] Trails
There are over 20 miles (32 km) of hiking trails at Worlds End State Park. Most of the trails are rocky and steep. Hikers are encouraged to wear proper footgear and to be prepared for icy conditions during the cold winter months.
- Loyalsock Trail is 59.28 mile (95.40 km) rugged hiking trail that stretches from Loyalsockville on Pennsylvania Route 87 to Dushore on U.S. Route 220. This trail follows the ridges and streams of the Loyalsock Creek watershed. The trail is primarily within the boundaries of Loyalsock State Forest and uses old logging roads and abandonded railroad grades as it passes through the park.
- Link Trail is 8.5 miles (13. km) long and marked with red x's on a yellow circle blaze. The trail follows Loyalsock Creek before it branches off and follows Double Run. The trail then ascends to the Canyon Vista and heads out into Loyalsock State Forest where it links up the Loyalsock Trail (hence the name).
- Canyon Vista Trail is 3.5 mile (5.6 km) long and passes through the eastern portion of the park and goes through a stand of ash, sugar maple, and black cherry trees. This trail passes a maze-like jumble of blocky rocks known as the Rock Garden, adjacent to the vista that gives it its name.
- Worlds End Trail is a 3.25 mile (5.23 km) long moderate hiking trail that begins and ends at the park office and is marked with red blazes. The trail ascends to an overlook of the swimming area and then crosses the old Pioneer Road, which was used by some of the first settlers to the area.
- Butternut Trail is a 2.5 mile (4.0 km) trail marked with terra red blazes that loops through a hardwood forest and crosses over Butternut Run. Two side trails connect Butternut Trail with the Loyalsock Trail.
- Double Run Nature Trail is an easy 1.2 mile (1.9 km) trail that loops through woodlands along the west branch of Double Run. Wildflowers like jack-in-the-pulpit, Solomon's seal and wild ginger can be seen on this trail, which also passes by an intermittent waterfall.
- High Rock Trail also passes a waterfall on its 1.0 mile (1.6 km) course. This steep trail is marked with yellow blazes and climbs a hollow filled with lichen-covered rocks.
[edit] Swimming and picnic area
The picnic and swimming areas are adjacent to each other. There are many picnic tables and several pavilions available for day use by visitors to the park. The Civilian Conservation Corps built a small dam on Loyalsock Creek during the Great Depression. This dam is still standing today and provides a small swimming area at Worlds End State Park.
[edit] Hunting and fishing
Hunting is permitted on about half of the lands of Worlds End 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 bears. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited. Loyalsock Creek is stocked each year by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission with trout.
[edit] Whitewater
The best time for whitewater boating at Worlds End State Park is from March to May. The water is too swift for open canoes, so those interested in getting in the water are asked to use kayaks or rafts. The swimming area is closed to whitewater boating during the summer months.
[edit] Staying overnight
Worlds End State Park has two options for visitors interesting in staying overnight. There are 19 rustic cabins, each with a refrigerator, range, fireplace, table with chairs, and beds. There is a 70 site tent and camper campground along Pennsylvania Route 154. Some of the campsites have an electric hook-up. There is a central shower facility, and water and restrooms are located near the campground.
[edit] Nearby state parks
[edit] References
- Pennsylvania State Parks: The CCC Years. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- Worlds End State Park Natural History. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
- Map Reference for Worlds End State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
- Latitude and Longitude from Topozone. Topozone.com.
