Sinnemahoning State Park

Sinnemahoning State Park
Pennsylvania State Park
Natural Monument (IUCN III)
A view of Sinnemahoning State Park
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
Counties Cameron, Potter
Townships Grove, Wharton
Location [1]
 - coordinates 41°26′54″N 78°02′57″W / 41.44833°N 78.04917°WCoordinates: 41°26′54″N 78°02′57″W / 41.44833°N 78.04917°W
 - elevation 961 ft (293 m) [1]
Area 1,910 acres (773 ha)
Founded 1962
Managed by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Location of Sinnemahoning State Park in Pennsylvania
Website : Sinnemahoning State Park

Sinnemahoning State Park is a 1,910-acre (773 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Grove Township, Cameron County and Wharton Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is surrounded by Elk State Forest and is mountainous with deep valleys. The park is home to the rarely seen elk and bald eagle. Sinnemahoning State Park is on Pennsylvania Route 872, eight miles (13 km) north of the village of Sinnamahoning. In 1958, the park opened under the direction of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry: it became a Pennsylvania State Park in 1962.

History

Native Americans

Native Americans began living in the Sinnemahoning State Park area 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. They followed the receding glaciers and found that the area supported a bountiful supply of fish, wildlife, berries and nuts. Archaeologists have found evidence of their presence in the bottomlands of the creeks. The word Sinnemahoning is derived from an American Indian word that means "Rocky Lick". A natural salt lick is said to have been near the mouth of Grove Run.[2]

Lumber era

The native population of Pennsylvania was forced out by disease and the American Revolutionary War . The Sinnemahoning area was left largely unsettled and wild until the late 19th century when the logging boom that spread throughout the mountains of Pennsylvania arrived. Lumberman cleared vast stands of old-growth forest. The logs were floated down Sinnemahoning Creek and its tributaries to the West Branch Susquehanna River and to the Susquehanna Boom at Williamsport.[2] The only thing the lumbermen left behind was the treetops. These tree tops were left to dry. The passing steam locomotives on the railroads would ignite this dry brush causing massive wildfires that swept through the mountains and valleys. The Sinnemahoning Creek area was left to waste. The forests struggled to regrow in the wake of the wildfire. The hills began to erode. The streams were dying and wildlife was scarcely found.[2]

George B. Stevenson Reservoir

George B. Stevenson Reservoir is a 142-acre (57 ha) man made lake that was constructed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1955 as part of the flood control project on the West Branch Susquehanna River. It is one of four such dams in the river basin. The other reservoirs are at Kettle Creek State Park, Curwensville and Bald Eagle State Park. These four reservoirs and dams control a total of 1,163 square miles (3,010 km2) of drainage area and provides flood prevention for the cities and towns downstream.[3]

Recreation

The reservoir is open to some recreational boating, fishing and ice fishing. Gas powered motors are prohibited on George B. Stevenson Reservoir. Motorized boats must be powered by electric motors only. Sailboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats are permitted on the waters of the lake. All boats must be properly registered with any state. Common game fish at the park, in the lake and streams, are brook, rainbow and brown trout, catfish, crappie, tiger muskellunge, smallmouth and largemouth bass, sunfish, bluegill, perch and pickerel. There is a native population of brook trout in some of the small streams of Sinnemahoning State Park. The reservoir is open to ice fishing during the winter months when the lake is frozen.[3]

Hunting

There are 1,400 acres (567 ha) of woods open to hunting. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species are black bears, eastern gray squirrels, ruffed grouse, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, and turkeys. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited. Hunters also use the park to gain access to Elk State Forest.[3]

Trails

The trails of Sinnemahoning State Park are open to hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.[3]

Camping and picnicking

The modern campground has 35 sites with a washhouse that is equipped with showers and flush toilets. The camp sites can accommodate tents, campers and RVs. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. The Brooks Run Ranger cabin is a two story house available for rent. It sleeps up to twelve people with four bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and a fireplace. Sinnemahoning State Park has three picnic area.[3]

Wildlife Center

The park's visitor center and office opened in 2011 in the northern section of the park. Known as the Wildlife Center at Sinnemahoning, the building features interpretive exhibits and opportunities to view wildlife.

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Sinnemahoning State Park:[4][5][6][7]


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sinnemahoning State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. August 30, 1990. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Sinnemahoning State Park: History of the Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Sinnemahoning State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2006-11-26.
  4. ↑ "Find a Park by Region (interactive map)". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  5. ↑ 2007 General Highway Map Cameron County Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). 1:65,000. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. Retrieved 2007-07-27. Note: shows Sinnemahoning State Park
  6. ↑ 2007 General Highway Map Potter County Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). 1:65,000. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. Retrieved 2007-07-27. Note: shows Sinnemahoning State Park
  7. ↑ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved 2008-04-23.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sinnemahoning State Park.