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One of Pennsylvania's largest parks, 15,500-acre Hickory Run has 37 miles of hiking trails, numerous streams and lakes for fishing and canoeing, abundant wildlife for watching and hunting, and several areas of natural and historic interest.
The Boulder Field, a National Natural Landmark, is said to have changed little in 20,000 years. Covering a flat 16-acre area, this "lake of boulders," left by a glacier, supports little vegetation. Visitors like to scramble over the jumble of rocks, some stretching 26 feet in length.
Several of the park's hiking trails lead to Boulder Field. Another trail leads to Mud Swamp, a 152-acre wetlands area which contains many rare plant species. Mud Run, a remote mountain stream, is lined with rhododendrons and eastern hemlocks.
Hiking is especially pleasant in early summer, when the mountain laurels and rhododendrons are in bloom. The oak and maple foliage is colorful come fall. Explorers may be rewarded with glimpses of black bears, wild turkeys or snowshoe hares
A campground offers 381 sites, and is open from April into late December.
The parks' many streams are stocked with brook and brown trout. Mud Run is restricted to fly fishing. Trout and panfish also are taken from the Lehigh River, which forms one border of the park. A large, life-guarded sand beach is found at Sand Springs.
From fall through March, a large portion of the park is open for hunting.
Winter sports include snowmobiling on over 20 miles of trails, cross-country skiing on 13 miles of trails, ice-skating, sledding and tobogganing.
Outdoor Activities |
A close up view of Hickory Run's huge "lake of boulders."
The Boulder Field, covering 16 acres, is a main attraction at Hickory Run.
A scenic view of the Hickory Run State Park sand beach.
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