Hills Creek State Park
Hills Creek State Park | |
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Location | Charleston, Tioga, Pennsylvania, United States |
Coordinates | 41°48′48″N 77°10′00″W / 41.81333°N 77.16667°W |
Area | 407 acres (165 ha) |
Elevation | 1,614 ft (492 m)[1] |
Established | 1953 |
Named for | Hills Creek |
Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Website | Hills Creek State Park |
Hills Creek State Park is a 407-acre (165 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Charleston Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Hills Creek Lake, a 137-acre (55 ha) 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 Pennsylvania, just north of U.S. Route 6 near the boroughs of Wellsboro and Mansfield.
History
Hills Creek State Park was opened for public use in 1953. The land had previously been used as a pigment mine for the paint industry. The park is named for Hills Creek which runs through it and is dammed to make Hills Creek Lake. Hills Creek gets its name from Captain William Hill, one of the first settlers in the area around 1820.[2] 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.[3]
Hills Creek Lake
Hills Creek Lake is a 137-acre (55 ha) impoundment lake. An earthen dam was built by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania across Hills Creek in the early 1950s. The dam is 34 feet (10 m) high, and 422 feet (129 m) long.[2]
Before the dam was built much of the area that is now under water was flooded by beaver dams. Beavers are still abundant in Hills Creek State Park.[2]
Hills Creek Lake is classified as a warm water fishery. The waters are the home to many species of fish, including walleye, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and muskellunge. Anglers have reeled in some largemouth bass that weighed in at over eight pounds.[2]
Ice fishing takes place on Hills Creek Lake during the winter months. Ice fishermen have brought in mostly yellow perch and bluegill as well as the occasional walleye.[2]
Swim at your own risk in Hills Creek Lake. A sandy beach is open from around
Gas powered motors are prohibited on Hills Creek Lake. Motorized boats must be powered by electric motors only.
Camping
Hills Creek State Park has a 102-site camping area. The campsites feature several different types of scenery, ranging from open grassy areas to forested areas highlighted by immense hemlock trees. All of the campsites are within walking distance of warm showers, restrooms and water fountains.[2]
Three cottages are available to rent by interested parties. The cottages can sleep up to five people in single and double bunks. The cottages have wooden floors, a porch that is heated by electricity, glass windows, picnic tables, and a fire ring. All cottages have electric lights and outlets.[2]
There are ten cabins at Hills Creek State Park. The cabins are furnished and have a kitchen/dining area. The cabins also have a shower and two bedrooms. There are no linens or kitchen utensils. Renters should bring their own.[2]
Yurts are available for rent. Each yurt, built on a wooden deck, sleeps four people in two bunk beds. They also have a cooking stove, refrigerator, countertop, table and chairs, electric heat and outlets, a fire ring and picnic table and are near a water pump.[2]
A campsite for large groups is on a
Wildlife
Hills Creek State Park is home to a variety of wild creatures. There is an active
Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Hills Creek State Park:[4][5][6]
- Colton Point State Park (Tioga County)
- Leonard Harrison State Park (Tioga County)
- Mt. Pisgah State Park (Bradford County)
- Pinnacle State Park and Golf Course (New York)
References
- ^ "Hills Creek State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. April 1, 1989. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Hills Creek State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on October 24, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2006.
- ^ "Manager named at Hills Creek Lake". Wellsboro Gazette. February 2, 2000. p. 6. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2009. Note: the eight parks in the Hills Creek State Park Complex are Cherry Springs, Colton Point, Denton Hill, Hills Creek, Leonard Harrison, Lyman Run, Patterson, and Prouty Place.
- ^ 2007 General Highway Map Tioga County Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). 1:65,000. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. Retrieved July 28, 2007.[permanent dead link] Note: shows Hills Creek State Park
- ^ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
- ^ "Find a Park by Region (interactive map)". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
External links
- "Hills Creek State Park official map" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2010. (277 KB)