COUDERSPORT — Cherry Springs State Park, located in Potter County along Route 44, is a unique park that is popular with the stargazing community but also has camping, hiking and ATV trails in the area.
“We ask where visitors are coming from at the start of every guided night sky tour,” said Susan Schenck, environmental education specialist with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “It’s common to have many families visiting from the larger areas of Pennsylvania and visitors from Maryland, Buffalo and New York City. We also get one or two families from other countries.”
For those in attendance, light use on the ground can interrupt the experience, so there are rules for those participating. To protect the technical observations or photos captured, guests must use only red light and there is a light-protective gate to keep cars and their headlights from driving in after sunset. Schenck said the Overnight Astronomy Observation field is an overnight accommodation for people who bring telescopes or astrophotography equipment.
“Just imagine the amount of white light headlight beams can throw,” said Schenck. “This area isn’t on our campground reservation system. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Interested astronomers should note that there are no campfires allowed, and no picnic tables are provided.”
Schenck said the Night Sky Public Viewing Area is generally the best fit for most visitors and is set up for short-term stargazing. Check the rules on the website. For example, dogs or other pets are not allowed, but service animals are.
Schenck said camping and hiking are popular in the area, too. Cherry Springs State Park offers a rustic, non-electric campground open from April through the last weekend in October. North of Cherry Springs State
Park is a small rustic campground at Patterson State Park, available on a first-come, first-serve basis when the Cherry Springs Campground is open. Nearby Lyman Run State Park offers modern campsites with electric hookups and showers. ATV riders can camp at the Lower Campground. Both parks are popular, visitors can reserve sites 11 months in advance.
Hiking at Patterson State Park abuts one of Pennsylvania’s top long-distance hiking trails, the 84-mile long Susquehannock Trail System. Connecting trails can also take hikers to Cherry Springs State Park. More information on the trail can be found at: stc-hike.org.
Hikers seeking a shorter walk can take day hikes on the Susquehannock Trail, head to Lyman Run State Park, or take the mile long, gently-graded Working Forest Interpretive Trail right at Cherry Springs State Park.
“ATV riding is popular in the PA Wilds,” said Schenck. “ATV riders can’t ride ATVs to Cherry Springs directly, but they can go through the forests nearby. They can ride right into Lyman Run State Park, provided they have proper permits.”
Information for ATV riders can be found on the Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of Forestry website who manages all the permits, routes, and regulations for ATV riding. Visitors can visit dcnr.pa.gov and look for recreation, then ATV for additional information. They may also contact the Susquehannock State Forest office at 814-274-3600, FD15@pa.gov for more information.
