Patterson State Park
Encyclopedia
Patterson State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on 10 acres (4 ha) in Summit Township
, Potter County
, Pennsylvania
in the United States. The park is on Pennsylvania Route 44
near Sweden Valley. The park has two rustic roadside pavilions
.
, the Civilian Conservation Corps
built two pavilions in the current picnic area from 1935 to 1941. Patterson State Park officially became part of the Pennsylvania State Parks system in 1950. The name is thought to come from people who lived in the area named Patterson, but there are no records of anyone named Patterson owning the land that is now part of the state park. In 2000 the park became part of the Hills Creek State Park
complex, an administrative grouping of eight state parks in Potter
and Tioga counties.
. Visitors use the park as a trail head for hiking
, cross-country skiing
, mountain biking
, and snowmobiling
. The Susquehannock Trail System
, an 85 miles (136.8 km) loop almost entirely on state forest land, passes through the park. A mountain bike trail begins at Denton Hill State Park
and runs 15 miles (24.1 km) as it passes through Patterson State Park on its way to Cherry Springs State Park
. Overnight camping in tents is permitted at the park.
Summit Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania
Summit Township is a township in Potter County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 112 at the 2000 census. Two of the smallest Pennsylvania state parks, Prouty Place State Park and Patterson State Park are in Summit Township.-Geography:...
, Potter County
Potter County, Pennsylvania
Potter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is in the Allegheny Plateau region. As of 2010, the population was 17,457. Its county seat is Coudersport. Potter County was named after James Potter, who was a general from Pennsylvania in the Continental Army during the...
, 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 on Pennsylvania Route 44
Pennsylvania Route 44
Pennsylvania Route 44 is a -long state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route is designated from Interstate 80 and Pennsylvania Route 42 in Buckhorn to the New York state line near New York State Route 417 in Ceres Township....
near Sweden Valley. The park has two rustic roadside pavilions
Pavilion (structure)
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
.
History
The Pennsylvania Department of Forestry created "Patterson Picnic Area" from 1922 to 1925. During the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
built two pavilions in the current picnic area from 1935 to 1941. Patterson State Park officially became part of the Pennsylvania State Parks system in 1950. The name is thought to come from people who lived in the area named Patterson, but there are no records of anyone named Patterson owning the land that is now part of the state park. In 2000 the park became part of the Hills Creek State Park
Hills Creek State Park
Hills Creek State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Charleston Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Hills Creek Lake, a man-made lake, is the focal point of the park. It is open for year-round recreation. Hills Creek State Park is in the Allegheny Plateau region of...
complex, an administrative grouping of eight state parks in Potter
Potter County, Pennsylvania
Potter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is in the Allegheny Plateau region. As of 2010, the population was 17,457. Its county seat is Coudersport. Potter County was named after James Potter, who was a general from Pennsylvania in the Continental Army during the...
and Tioga counties.
Recreation
Patterson State Park is surrounded by Susquehannock State ForestSusquehannock State Forest
Susquehannock State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #15. The main office is located in Coudersport in Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States....
. Visitors use the park as a trail head for hiking
Hiking
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...
, cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
, mountain biking
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
, and snowmobiling
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
. The Susquehannock Trail System
Susquehannock Trail System
The Susquehannock Trail System is an loop hiking trail in the Susquehannock State Forest in Potter and Clinton counties in northcentral Pennsylvania in the United States. The trail goes through three state parks and passes within of three more state parks...
, an 85 miles (136.8 km) loop almost entirely on state forest land, passes through the park. A mountain bike trail begins at Denton Hill State Park
Denton Hill State Park
Denton Hill State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Ulysses Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park is a downhill skiing resort. Denton Hill State Park is on U.S. Route 6 between Coudersport and Galeton...
and runs 15 miles (24.1 km) as it passes through Patterson State Park on its way to Cherry Springs State Park
Cherry Springs State Park
Cherry Springs State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Potter County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park was created from land within the Susquehannock State Forest, and is on Pennsylvania Route 44 in West Branch Township. Cherry Springs, named for a large stand of Black Cherry trees...
. Overnight camping in tents is permitted at the park.
Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48.3 km) of Patterson State Park:
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Leonard Harrison State Park Leonard Harrison State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is on the east rim of the Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, which is deep and nearly across here. It also serves as headquarters for the adjoining... (Tioga County) Lyman Run State Park Lyman Run State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Ulysses and West Branch Townships in Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Lyman Run Lake is a man-made lake within the park surrounded by a northern hardwood forest of mainly maple and cherry trees... (Potter County) Ole Bull State Park Ole Bull State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Stewardson Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is located on Pennsylvania Route 144, north of Renovo and south of Galeton. Ole Bull State Park is in the Kettle Creek Valley, and is surrounded by Susquehannock... (Potter County) Prouty Place State Park Prouty Place State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Summit Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is southwest of Pennsylvania Route 44, along Long Tree Road, near Sweden Valley. The park provides access points for hiking, hunting and fishing in the... (Potter County) Sinnemahoning State Park Sinnemahoning State Park is a 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... (Cameron and Potter Counties) Sizerville State Park Sizerville State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Portage Township, Cameron County and Portage Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is nearly surrounded by Elk State Forest making it part of one of the largest blocks of state-owned land in Pennsylvania... (Cameron and Potter Counties) |