Hickory Run State Park Information and Review 

 

Day Trips	Mack Truck	Camelbeach Waterpark	Martin Guitar Museum
Jim Thorpe	Crystal Cave	Lost River Canyons	Houdini Museum
Crayola Factory	Bushkill Falls	Snow Tubing	Peddler's Village
New Hope	Lancaster	Herr's Factory Tour	Ringing Rocks Park
Pocono Raceway		Hickory Run State Park	PA Renaissance Faire

Hickory Run State Park is located in Northeast Pennsylvania in western foothills of the Pocono Mountains.  It is about 15 miles from Hazelton, in Carbon County, Pennsylvania near the intersection of I-81 and I-80.  It is a two or three-hour drive from Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and New York City and approximately an hour from Allentown, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre

Hickory Run State Park was chosen by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Parks as one of "Twenty Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks".  You will find that Hickory Run, with it 16,000 acres,  has a wonderful variety of recreational activities that the entire family will enjoy.  Opportunities include swimming, fishing, hiking, picnicking, family camping, group camping, hunting, sightseeing, birdwatching and  hiking.   In the winter, this park is great for snowmobiling, ice skating, and cross country skiing.  In addition, since the Lehigh River borders the park, boat enthusiast will find they can rent rafts, canoes and kayaks from rafting companies. However, most people come to visit Hickory Run State Park to see Hawk Falls, a terrific waterfall surrounded by mountain laurel and rhododendron and the incredible Boulder Field, a National Natural Landmark.

Hiking Trails

This large park has 43 miles of trails and every one can be hiked.  These trails are colored coded: hiking-only trails are yellow; blue-blazed trails allow cross-country skiing; orange trails are designated for  snowmobiling.  The hiking trails range from easy to difficult, so make sure you know you are at a level comfortable for your family.  There are a total of 23 trails with 11 rated easy, 7 moderate, and 5 difficult.  The trails lead through beautiful scenic areas especially in June and July when the mountain laurel and rhododendron are in bloom and in October when the leaves are changing.  It is important that you wear the proper clothing and footwear when hiking and don't forget your camera.

Winter Activities

Cross-country Skiing, snowmobiling and ice skating are the winter activities that can be enjoyed in this park.  There are 13 miles of designated  cross country trails and 21 miles of snowmobiling trails.  Ice skating is available at Sand Spring Lake, when conditions permit.

Easy Trails

Moderate Trails

Difficult Trails

Picnic Areas and Swimming

There is a large picnic area near Sand Spring Lake with over 400 picnic tables, a playground,  and restrooms.  It also has a sand beach for swimming that is open May thru September.

Boulder Field

Boulder field is a a must see to believe kind of place.  It is one of the most popular things to do in this park.  It can be reached by car on Boulder Field Road or by hiking the 3.5-mile Boulder Field Trail.  Note that Boulder Field Trail is a dirt road that is marked from the main street.  This unique National Natural Landmark, seems to appear out of nowhere in the park's dense woods.  It is about five football fields long and two wide, and it is filled with boulders ranging from small pebbles to some measuring about 26 feet long.  No matter how someone tries to describe it, you must see it for yourself to truly understand why it is so unique.  The kids will absolutely love exploring the boulder fields. 

Fishing and Hunting

The streams and lakes within the park, and the Lehigh river which flows along the parks border allow for great fishing.   In fact, some streams are stocked with brook and brown trout.

Seasonal hunting, for white-tailed deer, gray squirrel, black bear and turkey, is permitted in many areas of the park. 

Camping

Hickory Run allows for large tent and trailer camping.  There are two camping settings: primitive area with non-flush toilets and not showers; modern campsite with showers, electric and sanitary dump station.     It can be very busy on summer weekends so try and plan your trip off season.  The modern area is open from April to October and the rustic camping continues until mid-December.

Things to Remember

• Wear appropriate hiking shoes

• Travel with a buddy

• Be sure to have a cell phone

• Carry  water

• Take a backpack so that you can keep your hands free

• Be very careful of slippery rocks and trails

• Pack a picnic lunch

• Bring a camera

• Consider taking bug spray and sunscreen