Hickory Run State Park
Encyclopedia
Hickory Run State Park is a 15990 acres (6,471 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Kidder and Penn Forest Townships in Carbon County
, Pennsylvania
in the United States. The park is spread across the Pocono Mountains. The park is easily accessible from Interstate 476
and Interstate 80
.
Hickory Run State Park was chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
(DCNR) and its Bureau of Parks as one of "Twenty Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks".
is permitted in many areas of the park, with white-tailed deer
, black bear
, and squirrel
s among the game that may be hunted legally. Additional hunting opportunities are available in nearby state game lands, some of which directly border the park.
and conglomerates
identical to those capping the ridges that surround the field on three sides (the Mississippian Pocono Formation
). Large amounts of melting waters from the glaciers apparently carried the boulders down from the ridges and into the valley where they now reside. The Boulder Field is truly a stunning sight, seemingly appearing out of nowhere in the park's dense woodland. Many visitors cannot resist hopping from boulder to boulder across the field. This unique geological landscape is a National Natural Landmark
.
experiences. For example, the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long “Shades of Death” Trail follows the course of Sand Spring Run through dense rhododendron bushes that bloom from mid-June through mid-July. The run is dammed at certain points, creating scenic lakes. The Fireline, Gould and Pine Hill Trails are suitable for cross-country skiing in winter. A short 0.7 miles (1.1 km) walk on the Hawk Falls trail leads to a popular waterfall.
Carbon County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 58,802 people, 23,701 households, and 16,424 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were 30,492 housing units at an average density of 80 per square mile...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States. The park is spread across the Pocono Mountains. The park is easily accessible from Interstate 476
Interstate 476
Interstate 476 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania designated between Interstate 95 near Chester and Interstate 81 near Scranton, serving as the primary north–south Interstate corridor through eastern Pennsylvania....
and Interstate 80
Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania
The transcontinental Interstate 80 is designated across northern Pennsylvania as the Keystone Shortway, officially the Z.H. Confair Memorial Highway. This route was built mainly along a completely new alignment, not paralleling any earlier U.S. Routes, as a shortcut to the tolled Pennsylvania...
.
Hickory Run State Park was chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources , established on July 1, 1995, is the agency in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania responsible for maintaining and preserving the state's 117 state parks and 20 state forests; providing information on the state's natural resources; and...
(DCNR) and its Bureau of Parks as one of "Twenty Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks".
Recreation
The park supports many activities, some of which vary seasonally. During the summer months, swimming is available in Sand Spring Lake, which is partially bordered by a sand beach. Beginning in 2008 lifeguards will not be posted at the beach. In winter, the frozen lake can be used for ice skating. Seasonal huntingHunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
is permitted in many areas of the park, with white-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, and squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the eastern provinces of Canada...
s among the game that may be hunted legally. Additional hunting opportunities are available in nearby state game lands, some of which directly border the park.
Geology
The most notable feature of Hickory Run State Park is the huge boulder field located in the northeast corner of the park. The boulder field can be reached by car on Boulder Field Road or by hiking the 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long Boulder Field Trail from the trailhead on SR 534. The field comprises about 720000 square feet (66,890.2 m²) (16.5 acres (6.7 ha) or 0.026 square mile (0.06733969086 km²)) in area (1800 feet (548.6 m) east-west by 400 feet (121.9 m) north-south). The top of the boulder layer is virtually level with the approaching path. The immense weight of the boulders has compressed the underlying soil 12 feet (3.7 m) or more. The boulder field was created about 20,000 years ago during the most recent glacial period. The boulders consist of the sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and conglomerates
Conglomerate (geology)
A conglomerate is a rock consisting of individual clasts within a finer-grained matrix that have become cemented together. Conglomerates are sedimentary rocks consisting of rounded fragments and are thus differentiated from breccias, which consist of angular clasts...
identical to those capping the ridges that surround the field on three sides (the Mississippian Pocono Formation
Pocono Formation
The Mississippian Pocono Formation is a mapped bedrock unit in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia, USA. It is also known as the Pocono Group in Maryland and West Virginia,...
). Large amounts of melting waters from the glaciers apparently carried the boulders down from the ridges and into the valley where they now reside. The Boulder Field is truly a stunning sight, seemingly appearing out of nowhere in the park's dense woodland. Many visitors cannot resist hopping from boulder to boulder across the field. This unique geological landscape is a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
.
Hiking
The park contains more than 40 miles (64.4 km) of trails that offer a variety of hikingHiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
experiences. For example, the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long “Shades of Death” Trail follows the course of Sand Spring Run through dense rhododendron bushes that bloom from mid-June through mid-July. The run is dammed at certain points, creating scenic lakes. The Fireline, Gould and Pine Hill Trails are suitable for cross-country skiing in winter. A short 0.7 miles (1.1 km) walk on the Hawk Falls trail leads to a popular waterfall.
Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48.3 km) of Hickory Run State Park:- Beltzville State ParkBeltzville State ParkBeltzville State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Franklin and Towamensing townships, Carbon County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park was developed around the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project, Beltzville Dam on Pohopoco Creek. Beltzville Lake is a with of...
(Carbon County) - Big Pocono State ParkBig Pocono State ParkBig Pocono State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Jackson and Pocono townships in Monroe County, Pennsylvania in northeastern Pennsylvania in the United States...
(Monroe CountyMonroe County, Pennsylvania-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there are 176,567 people, 49,454 households, and 36,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 people per square mile...
) - Frances Slocum State ParkFrances Slocum State ParkFrances Slocum State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Kingston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Frances Slocum Lake is a man-made, horseshoe-shaped lake that is a popular fishing and boating destination...
(Luzerne CountyLuzerne County, Pennsylvania- Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry...
) - Gouldsboro State ParkGouldsboro State ParkGouldsboro State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County and Lehigh Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park includes the Gouldsboro Lake. Gouldsboro State Park is located very close to Tobyhanna State Park and Pennsylvania State Game...
(Monroe and Wayne CountiesWayne County, PennsylvaniaAs of the census of 2000, there were 47,722 people, 18,350 households, and 12,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 people per square mile . There were 30,593 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
) - Jacobsburg Environmental Education CenterJacobsburg Environmental Education CenterJacobsburg Environmental Education Center is a Pennsylvania state park near Wind Gap, in Bushkill Township, Northampton County in Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Jacobsburg National Historic District is almost entirely surrounded by the park...
(Northampton CountyNorthampton County, PennsylvaniaAs of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
) - Lehigh Gorge State ParkLehigh Gorge State ParkLehigh Gorge State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Luzerne and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park encompasses the Lehigh Gorge, which stretches along the Lehigh River from a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control dam in Luzerne County to Jim Thorpe in Carbon County...
(Carbon and Luzerne Counties) - Locust Lake State ParkLocust Lake State ParkLocust Lake State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Ryan Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Locust Lake State Park is located approximately north of Pottsville, south of Mahanoy City, west of Tamaqua and west of Tuscarora State Park. The lake is...
(Schuylkill CountySchuylkill County, Pennsylvania-Notable people:*Boxing heavyweight great Muhammad Ali had his training camp in Deer Lake.*Charles Justin Bailey, commanding general of the 81st Division in World War I, was born in Tamaqua on June 21, 1859....
) - Nescopeck State ParkNescopeck State ParkNescopeck State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Butler and Dennison Townships, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is one of the newest state parks in Pennsylvania, with the Environmental Education Center there opening in April, 2005. The state began acquiring the...
(Luzerne County) - Tobyhanna State ParkTobyhanna State ParkTobyhanna State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on mostly in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County, with a small portion of the park in Dreher and Lehigh townships in Wayne County, all in Pennsylvania in the United States. The park includes the Tobyhanna Lake and a portion of Tobyhanna Creek...
(Monroe and Wayne Counties) - Tuscarora State ParkTuscarora State ParkTuscarora State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Rush, Ryan, Schuylkill Townships, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The most prominent features of the park are Locust Mountain and Tuscarora Lake...
(Schuylkill County)