Poconos Camping – Hickory Run State Park
Poconos Camping at the Hickory Run State Park is the best in the Poconos! It’s a 15,990-acre Pennsylvania state park that is located in Kidder and Penn Forest Townships and White Haven in Carbon County, the heart of the Poconos, PA. Tell em’ “Tom the Bike Guy Sent Ya!”
The park is spread across the Pocono Mountains from White Haven to Jim Thorpe, PA. The park is easily accessible from Interstate 476 via Route 903 and Interstate 80 via Route 534. Hickory Run State Park was chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and its Bureau of Parks as one of “25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks”.
The Hickory Run State Park supports many activities, some of which vary seasonally. During the summer months, swimming is available in Sand Spring Lake. Swimming is allowed only at one designated swimming area, which is a sand beach, of Sand Spring Lake. Furthermore, this swimming area is open for swimming only from late May to mid-September. Because there are no lifeguards, swimming is at your own risk.
The park contains 44 miles (71 km) of hiking trails that offer a variety of hiking experiences. For example, the 1.5-mile (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 lakes. The Fireline, Gould, and Pine Hill Trails are suitable for cross-country skiing in winter.
A short 0.7-mile (1.1 km) walk on the Hawk Falls trail leads to a popular Poconos Waterfall. Biking is prohibited on all trails but you can bike on all the gravel roads throughout the park.
The Hickory Run State Park has one of the largest camping areas in the state. From tent sites with or without electricity, Glamping Cabins and RV Sites are available. Their is a cool camp store offering all you need to camp on site. You can make online camping reservations or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), from 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday to Saturday. Tell em’ “Tom the Bike Guy Sent Ya!”
Top 10 Activities at Hickory Run State Park:
- Walk across Boulder Field.
- Witness and photograph the beautiful Hawk Falls.
- Experience the solitude of Stametz Dam and Poconos Waterfalls along Shades of Death Trail.
- Throw a picnic! Play 18 holes of Poconos Disc Golf followed by a picnic in Sand Spring Day Use Area.
- View the Lehigh Gorge along Fireline Trail.
- Pull a wild brook trout from Hickory Run or Mud Run.
- Enjoy swimming in Sand Spring Lake.
- Interact with the exhibits at the Hickory Run State Park visitor center and attend an education program.
- Spend a weekend with the family in a rustic Poconos camping cottage.
- Visit a neighbor — Lehigh Gorge State Park!
Please visit the: DCNR Hickory Run State Park Page, for more information.
Tell em' "Tom the Bike Guy Sent Ya!" Book Camping Sites at: Hickory Run State Park Camping Reservations.
PA State Parks Camping Rates: DCNR.PA.gov.
For historical facts and figures check out the Wikipedia Hickory Run State Park Page.
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(HickoryRunStatePark.com)
