Little Pine State Park

Copyright: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks Little Pine State Park

Little Pine State 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.

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.

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.

The park is a haven for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. The 94-acre lake offers fishing, boating and lake swimming. There is a family campground and a group campground. Picnicking is offered at four different areas in the park while hiking trails may be found throughout the park. Winter activities include: cross-country skiing, sledding and tobogganing, ice fishing and snowmobiling. Guided nature hikes, night walks and campfire programs are offered from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Programs are available for school and civic groups upon request.

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.

Attractions - 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.

Little Pine State Park has a rich heritage dating from the time of the American Indians. The area had been used as hunting grounds by both the Iroquoian and Algonkian peoples. It is believed that there was a Shawnee village and cemetery near what is now the village of Carsontown, just north of the park.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Recreation - Little Pine State Park is a beautiful area within the Tiadaghton State Forest. The park is a haven for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. The 94 acre lake offers fishing, boating and lake swimming. There is a family campground and a group campground. Picnicking is offered at four different areas in the park while hiking trails may be found throughout the park. Winter activities include: cross-country skiing, sledding and tobogganing, ice fishing and snowmobiling.

Guided nature hikes, night walks and campfire programs are offered from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Programs are available for school and civic groups upon request.

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. Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day to March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply.

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.

Climate - 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.

Location - Little Pine State Park is located in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the north central region just east of SR 414.