Little Pine State Park is a 2,158 acre park in Lycoming County. It is one of the most beautiful mountain sections of Tiadaghton State Forest in the Appalachian Mountain Region. .
Surrounded by Tiadaghton State Forest in bucolic northwestern Lycoming County, 2,158-acre Little Pine State Park is nestled along the Little Pine Creek—and the Little Pine Lake—affording visitors with plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities. Wintertime in particular is a welcome season. For cross-country skiers, the five-mile Lake Shore Trail follows level terrain and parallels the lake and headwaters and then returns to the starting location. Ample parking is available throughout the park for the high excitement of snowmobiling. There are more than 100 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in the surrounding Tiadaghton State Forest. Snowmobiles may be operated on designated trails and roads from the day following the last deer season in December until April 1, weather permitting. Restrooms are available. Looking for something different? Trout are stocked in the 94-acre Little Pine Lake for ice fishing. The ice thickness is not monitored, so for your safety, be sure the ice is four inches thick and carry safety equipment. Finally, two acres of slopes extends across the lake for sledding, coasting and tobogganing. Ample parking is in the day use area by the bathhouse.
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Keep Little Pine in mind for the warmer months, too. The lake has one launch area and 25 seasonal (April 1 to November 1) mooring spaces. A boat rental concession is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Paddleboats, canoes and rowboats are available, and also limited refreshments. For swimmers, a sand beach with grass turf is open from late-May to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset. The lake also has 3.3 miles of shoreline. There is also 4.2 miles of stream. These warm-water and cold-water fisheries are stocked with native trout (brook, rainbow and brown), smallmouth bass, pickerel, sunfish, catfish and perch. This diversity provides good fly, bank and boat fishing. There is a special regulation, artificial-lure only, fishing area along Little Pine Creek in the northeast section of the park. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.
Keep Little Pine in mind for the warmer months, too. The lake has one launch area and 25 seasonal (April 1 to November 1) mooring spaces. A boat rental concession is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Paddleboats, canoes and rowboats are available, and also limited refreshments. For swimmers, a sand beach with grass turf is open from late-May to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset. The lake also has 3.3 miles of shoreline. There is also 4.2 miles of stream. These warm-water and cold-water fisheries are stocked with native trout (brook, rainbow and brown), smallmouth bass, pickerel, sunfish, catfish and perch. This diversity provides good fly, bank and boat fishing. There is a special regulation, artificial-lure only, fishing area along Little Pine Creek in the northeast section of the park. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.
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Four picnic areas in both shaded and open locations contain four picnic pavilions, many picnic tables, a volleyball court and play equipment. Picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Four picnic areas in both shaded and open locations contain four picnic pavilions, many picnic tables, a volleyball court and play equipment. Picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis.
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The Lower Picnic Area is about one-half mile south of the campground. It is completely separated from the rest of the park. This six-acre area has picnic tables, grills, charcoal disposals, non-flush toilets, parking area, picnic pavilion, foot bridge and a well with a hand pump. River birch, white pine, sugar maple and black locust are common trees in the area.
.The Lower Picnic Area is about one-half mile south of the campground. It is completely separated from the rest of the park. This six-acre area has picnic tables, grills, charcoal disposals, non-flush toilets, parking area, picnic pavilion, foot bridge and a well with a hand pump. River birch, white pine, sugar maple and black locust are common trees in the area.
The park has a rich heritage dating from the time of the American Indians. Both the Iroquoian and Algonkian peoples had used the area as hunting grounds. It is believed that there was a Shawnee village and cemetery near what is now the village of Carsontown, just north of the park.
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The first European settlers in the Little Pine Valley were John and James English, two brothers who came to the area in 1782. These brothers built two sawmills along the Little Pine Creek in 1809, one of which was located at the southern end of the present park boundary. These sawmills were the beginning of the timbering business in the valley. The village of English Mills was established in 1816 and housed the families of the loggers, occupying what is now the campground at the park. The cemetery, located on a small knoll in the middle of the campground, is still maintained.
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In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built Camp 129 and a small picnic area along Little Pine Creek. In 1937, the camp was closed and the property turned over to the Bureau of State Parks.
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When Little Pine State Park opened it used many of the CCC buildings, but the former barracks and mess hall were demolished. In 1950, a dual-purpose flood control / recreation dam was constructed. The park remained a picnic area until the campground was constructed in 1958. A beach and swimming area were also built in 1958.
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The flooding caused by Hurricane Agnes in 1972 destroyed many park facilities. In 1975-76, a major rebuilding effort was undertaken with federal disaster aid. A new beach house, office and maintenance area were built. A new campground with modern restrooms was built. The flood also wiped out all but a few remnants of the former CCC facilities. This flood was the only time since the dam was constructed that water went over the spillway.
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Approximately 1,700 acres of Little Pine State Park are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, squirrel, fox, bear, grouse and turkey. There is a rifle / pistol range and also an archery range available in the northern end of the park. The adjacent state forest land is open to hunting during all established Game Commission seasons.
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Pennsylvania generally has a moist climate with cold winters and warm summers. The Little Pine State Park area has cold winter months with temperatures averaging around 22 to 24 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 to -4 degrees Celsius). The area's average summer temperatures range around 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius). Precautions should be made when traveling this snowy area in the winter.
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Little Pine State Park is located in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the north central region just east of SR 414.
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Address:
HC 63, Box 100
Waterville, PA 17776-9705
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Phone:
570-753-6000
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Phone:
570-753-6000
