Leonard Harrison State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Leonard Harrison State Park | |
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| Pennsylvania State Park | |
| Natural Monument (IUCN III) | |
 View north of Pine Creek Gorge, Pine Creek, and the Pine Creek Rail Trail from the main lookout area in Leonard Harrison State Park
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| Named for: Leonard Harrison | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Tioga |
| Township | Shippen |
| Location | [1] |
| - coordinates | Coordinates: |
| - elevation | 1,821 ft (555 m) [1] |
| Area | 585 acres (236.7 ha) |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Managed by | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Nearest city | Wellsboro, Pennsylvania |
  Location of Leonard Harrison State Park in Pennsylvania
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| Website : Leonard Harrison State Park | |
Leonard Harrison State Park is a Pennsylvania State Park 585 acres (2.37 km²) in Shippen Township in Tioga County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is on the east rim of the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. The park is a sister park to Colton Point State Park which is on the west rim of the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Leonard Harrison State Park is located ten miles west of Wellsboro on Pennsylvania Route 660.
Leonard Harrison State Park is one of twenty-one chosen by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Parks for its "Twenty Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks" list.[2]
Contents |
[edit] The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania
The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, also known as, Pine Creek Gorge is a canyon in North Central Pennsylvania. It begins in southwestern Tioga County just south of the small town of Ansonia and continues for approximately 47 miles (76 km) to the south near Waterville in Lycoming County. The depth of the canyon in Leonard Harrison State Park is 800 feet (244 m) and it measures nearly 4,000 feet (1,219 m) across.
[edit] History
[edit] The Lookout
Leonard Harrison State Park is named in honor of Leonard Harrison, a Wellsboro businessmen who sought to bring tourists to Tioga County by developing the land that is currently known at Leonard Harrison State Park. He owned 121 acres (0.49 km²) of land, at the site of the current park. He developed this land, known as "The Lookout", and invited to public to enjoy of beauty of the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, also known as Pine Creek Gorge. Harrison donated the picnic grounds to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1922.[3]
[edit] The Civilian Conservation Corps
Much of the amenities of Leonard Harrison State Park were constructed during the Great Depression, from 1933-1936, by the Civilian Conservation Corps founded by American President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The CCC created many jobs for the out of work industrial workers of Williamsport, Jersey Shore and Wellsboro. Leonard Harrison State Park is just one of many examples of the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps throughout North Central Pennsylvania. The park was opened to the public in 1936. The work of the CCC is still visible today. A bronze monument to the achievements of the CCC stands at the lookout over the gorge.[4]
[edit] Recreation
[edit] Camping
Camping is a popular pastime at Leonard Harrison State Park. The campsites are rustic. This means that there are no modern amenities like flush toilets are showers. There are outhouses, firerings, a sanitary dump station and picnic tables at the campground.[3]
[edit] Hiking
Leonard Harrison State Park is a destination for avid hikers. They have the chance to hike some very challenging trails in the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. The park has 4 miles (6 km) of trails that feature very rugged terrain, pass close to steep cliffs and can be very slick in some areas.[3]
- Overlook Trail - Just 0.6 miles (1.0 km), Overlook Trail is a path to Otter View, a vista looking to the south.[3]
- Turkey Path - The Turkey Path is a 2 miles (3.2 km), down and back, trail that goes down the side of the canyon to the base of Pine Creek Gorge. There is a 70 feet (21 m) cascading waterfall on the trail. Upon reaching the bottom of the trail, hikers need to turn around and climb back up to the top of the canyon. There is no bridge across Pine Creek at this point.[3]
- Pine Creek Rail Trail - 1 mile (1.6 km) of this trail is in Leonard Harrison and Colton Point State Parks. The trail begins just north of Wellsboro, runs south through the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania (also known as Pine Creek Gorge), and ends in Jersey Shore. A 2001 article in USA Today named the 65-mile (105 km) long trail one of "10 great places to take a bike tour" in the world.[5][6]
[edit] Hunting
Hunting is permitted on about 250 acres (1.01 km²) of Leonard Harrison State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania State Game Commission. The common game species are ruffed grouse, squirrels, turkey, white-tailed deer, and black bears. Many more acres of forested woodlands are available for hunting on the grounds of the adjacent Tioga State Forest.[3]
[edit] Fishing
Fishing is permitted at Leonard Harrison State Park. Anglers must descend the Turkey Path to reach Pine Creek. The species of fish found in Pine Creek are trout, smallmouth bass, and some panfish. There are several small trout streams that are accessible from within the park.[3]
[edit] Fall Foliage
The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania is famous for its brilliant fall foliage and Leonard Harrison State Park is a great place to take in the beauty of the fall colors. The best time to see the leaves in their full color is during the first three weeks of October.
- A Guide to Fall Foliage
- Red - red maple, red oak, and black cherry
- Orange/Yellow - black walnut, sugar maple, aspen, birch, tulip poplar and chestnut oak
- Brown - beech, white oak, and black oak
[edit] Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Leonard Harrison State Park:[7][8]
- Bucktail State Park Natural Area (Cameron and Clinton Counties)
- Cherry Springs State Park (Potter County)
- Colton Point State Park (Tioga County)
- Denton Hill State Park (Potter County)
- Hyner Run State Park (Clinton County)
- Hyner View State Park (Clinton County)
- Hills Creek State Park (Tioga County)
- Little Pine State Park (Lycoming County)
- Lyman Run State Park (Potter County)
- Ole Bull State Park (Potter County)
- Patterson State Park (Potter County)
- Pinnacle State Park and Golf Course (New York)
- Prouty Place State Park (Potter County)
- Upper Pine Bottom State Park (Lycoming County)
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Leonard Harrison State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (August 30, 1990). Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
- ^ Twenty Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks. PA DCNR. Retrieved on 2007-08-08. Note: Despite the title, there are twenty-one parks in the list, with Colton Point and Leonard Harrison State Parks treated as one.
- ^ a b c d e f g Leonard Harrison State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
- ^ Pennsylvania State Parks: The CCC Years. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
- ^ Bly, Laura. "10 great places to take a bike tour", USA Today, July 27, 2001, p. 3D.
- ^ The Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce: Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved on 2008-02-12.
- ^ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. 2007 General Highway Map Tioga County Pennsylvania [map], 1:65,000. Retrieved on 2007-07-28. Note: shows Leonard Harrison State Park
