French Creek State Park
Once an industrial complex for the fledgling United State of America, today French Creek State Park is an oasis for people and wildlife. Straddling the Schuylkill Highlands, the 7,730-acre park is the largest block of contiguous forest between Washington D.C. and New York City. The forests, lakes, wetlands and fields are a destination for the people of southeast Pennsylvania to hike, fish, camp and bike.
Those same habitats are homes to many animals and plants that are rare in this corner of the commonwealth. French Creek State Park is an Important Bird Area and Important Mammal Area as designated by the National Audubon Society and also has Pine Swamp, a State Park Natural Area.
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Trails - Mountain Biking - Horseback Riding - Picnicking - Swimming - Boating - Fishing - Hunting - Disc Golfing - Orienteering - Education - Cross-country Skiing - Sledding - Ice Skating - Ice Fishing - Organized Group Cabin Camps - Organized Group Tenting - Yurts - Cabins - Camping Cottages - Camping
All children nine years of age or less must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible person. One such person shall supervise no more than five children. Swimming is prohibited in either lake. Boating: electric motors permitted Boat rentals are available daily at the Hopewell Lake pool complex from Memorial Day to Labor Day and on weekends during May and September. Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Inflatable watercraft devices used on Pennsylvania State Park waters must meet the following requirements: the craft must be made of a tough material, have more than one buoyancy chamber, and be a minimum of seven feet long. Air propeller driven boats, sea planes, air mattresses and surf boards are prohibited. Motorboats must display a current boat registration. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks, available at most state park offices; launching permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Complete information on boating rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site. Fishing:
Special Note: All Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission rules and regulations apply to all boating and fishing on state park waters. A fishing license is required for people age 16 and over. Complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.
Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for ADA accessible hunting information. Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment used for hunting may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner's car, trailer or leased campsite. The only exception is that law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms may carry said firearm concealed on their person while they are within the park. Approximately three miles southeast of the park is State Game Land 43, administered by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. These game lands consist of more than 1,800 acres of land and add considerably to the public land available to the hunters of the area. A public firing range is located at the end of Laurel Road. Hunting is prohibited in Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. Complete information on hunting rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Game Commission Web site. Hiking: 35 miles of trails Boone Trail: 6 miles - blue blaze - more difficult hiking Buzzards Trail: 3 miles - yellow blaze with red stripe - modre difficult hiking Horse-shoe Trail: 8 miles - yellow blaze - more difficult hiking Kalmia Trail: 1 mile - purple blaze - more difficult hiking Lenape Trail: 5.5 miles - green blaze - more difficult hiking Mill Creek Trail: 6 miles - white blaze with a red stripe - most difficult hiking Raccoon Trail: 1.7 miles - red blaze - more difficult hiking Six Penny Trail: 3 miles - orange blaze - more difficult hiking Turtle Trail: 3.6 miles - white blaze - more difficult hiking PLEASE STAY ON THE BLAZED TRAILS.
Mountain Biking: 20 miles of trails Horseback Riding: 8 miles of trails Disc Golfing: The course winds through the woods by Hopewell Lake. This activity attracts visitors of all ages, year-round. Sometimes referred to as Frisbee golf, disc golf is a favorite sport for individuals and families. The challenge of tossing a flying disc through the woods is unmatched by any other sport. Friendly, local enthusiasts are always willing to give advice to first-time golfers. Score cards and maps are available at the course. Orienteering: The art of map and compass reading has made French Creek State Park a favorite stop for novices and experts. Considered by some as the “Orienteering Capital of North America,” French Creek has developed a permanent self-guiding course for use by visitors of all ages. The objective is to locate markers in the park with the aid of a map, and if you like, a compass. Traveling in groups or alone, running or walking, orienteering is a healthy, fun way to exercise both mind and body. Maps are available at the park office. Stay the Night
Explore the campground map. Explore camping for more information.
Make a reservation. Free Camping for Campground Hosts: 2 host positions
Make a reservation.
Make a reservation.
Explore cabins for more information.
Make a reservation. Organized Group Tenting: Qualified organized groups can camp in the primitive group tenting area. One site holds 60 people and 16 other sites each hold 30 people. A portion of this area is open year-round. Reservations are required. Explore organized group tenting for more information. Organized Group Cabin Camps: Group camps are open to organized youth and adult groups from mid-April to mid-October. These facilities include dining halls, central washhouses, camper cabins and staff quarters. Camp One holds 135 people. Camp Two holds 68 people. Applications are accepted after January and reservations awarded after March 1. Explore organized group cabin camps for more information. Winter ActivitiesExplore the Winter Report for the current snow and ice depths. Cross-country Skiing: All hiking areas an open areas of the park can skied with proper snow cover. Sledding: The backside of the dam at Scotts Run Lake is popular for sledding. Ice Fishing: Both lakes can be ice-fished when the ice is at least four inches thick. Ice Skating: The natural ice of the lakes can be skated when conditions permit. Environmental Education and InterpretationThe park naturalist leads walks and hikes and gives evening talks and demonstrations, during the spring, summer and fall seasons. Check the park activity schedule, bulletin boards, or at the park office for program times and locations. Organized groups such as scouts and schools may schedule activities by calling the park office. Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward. Explore environmental education and interpretation for more information. Access for People with Disabilities
In an EmergencyContact a park employee or dial 911. Nearest Hospital
The heavily forested, scenic hills of French Creek State Park provide habitat for plants and animals in the ever-expanding urban environment of southeastern Pennsylvania. Large oak, poplar, hickory, maple and beech trees cover much of the park, with a sparse understory of mountain laurel, rhododendron and other brushy plants. Wetlands and pristine streams flowing through rich, damp creek valleys offer additional habitats for plants and animals. This large, diverse environment supports many animals that take advantage of the high quality of the resources found at French Creek. Observant visitors might see deer, squirrels, raccoons, songbirds and numerous other small animals and birds. The park sustains good populations of resident birds and animals, but also serves as an important stop for migratory species using the woodlands, streams, lakes, and wetlands for food and cover. The park is an Important Bird Area and an Important Mammal Area as designated by the National Audubon Society. The forest covering the park has changed since Hopewell Furnace began operation, producing iron for a young America from 1771 to 1883. It required tremendous amounts of charcoal to fuel the large blast furnace. Woodcutters chopped wood from the forest and colliers burned it in “hearths” throughout the wooded hills surrounding the furnace to produce charcoal. To sustain the furnace operations, the entire area now contained in French Creek State Park was timbered repeatedly to make charcoal. The original forest of predominately American chestnut was cleared and eventually mixed oak forests developed after the furnace closed in 1883. It is hard to imagine that the thickly wooded hillsides enjoyed by today’s visitors were once barren and treeless. The forest of French Creek State Park played a vital role in America’s industrial infancy.
Two Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps were built at French Creek and operated until the early 1940s. The camps built two dams, two group camps, several tent camping areas, beaches, roads, picnic areas, and started the restoration process for the historic core of Hopewell Furnace. For more information on the CCC, explore the Civilian Conservation Corps Online Archive. In 1946, most of the property and recreation facilities were transferred to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and French Creek State Park was created. The historic core of the furnace operations and some of the surrounding fields and woodlands were retained and are administered by the National Park Service as Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. Hopewell Furnace National Historic SiteLocated adjacent to the park, the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site features a cold-blast furnace restored to its 1830s appearance. Hopewell Furnace serves as an example of an early American ironmaking community. Ore for the furnace was obtained from the local area. The iron produced was used to make many items including arms used by American patriots during the Revolutionary War period. The air needed to keep the furnace burning was provided by bellows powered by a huge water wheel that gathered its strength from the waters of French Creek. During summer months, costumed historical interpreters demonstrate, describe and tell the story of Hopewell’s iron-making years (1771-1883). Hopewell Furnace is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the year, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. There is an admission fee. For more information contact: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA 19520, 610-582-8773. www.nps.gov/hofu/ Keep in TouchAdd yourself to the DCNR's online community to receive info on this park, or parks in general. Volunteering
Becoming a Conservation Volunteer is easy.
Scouts and organized groups can earn free camping by completing service projects. Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Make a DonationTo a park - find this park's address below To a park or the Bureau of State Parks - Pennsylvania Parks and Forestry Foundation www.paparksandforests.org Through a purchase at a park gift shop Thank you for your support! Education ProgramsWe love when young people ask us how to get involved!
In Watershed Education, teachers and students assess water quality of a local stream on a quarterly basis and develop strategies to solve local water quality problems. ECO Camp - Exploring Careers Outdoors - is a week-long residential camp for a cross-section of high school youth from across Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Participate in action-packed, hands on activities and recreational adventures in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests that expose youth to conservation, recreation and careers in natural resources. Learn how people make a living working in the outdoors. Explore education for more information on these and other programs. Explore the Calendar of Events to find a program near you. iConservePA
Come Work with UsPennsylvania State Parks and the Department of Conservation and Natrual Resources offer a wide range of civil service and non-civil service jobs, from foresters, to rangers, to engineers, to educators, to botanists and so much more. Learn what is currently available. Tell us What You ThinkContact this park with compliments, concerns and issues about the park. French Creek State Park Nearby AttractionsInformation on nearby attractions is available from the Reading and Berks County Visitors Bureau. www.readingberkspa.com Located adjacent to the park, the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site features a cold-blast furnace restored to its 1830s appearance. Hopewell Furnace serves as an example of an early American ironmaking community. Ore for the furnace was obtained from the local area. The iron produced was used to make many items including arms used by American patriots during the Revolutionary War period. The air needed to keep the furnace burning was provided by bellows powered by a huge water wheel that gathered its strength from the waters of French Creek. During summer months, costumed historical interpreters demonstrate, describe and tell the story of Hopewell’s iron-making years (1771-1883). Hopewell Furnace is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the year, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. For more information contact: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA 19520, 610-582-8773. www.nps.gov/hofu/ Maps and Downloadables
You must have the free Adobe Reader to view the maps and brochures that are in pdf format (.pdf). Alternate versions of the text of the brochures are in rich text and text formats. Click on the files to view them. To download (.rtf) files: Recreational GuideFrench Creek State Park Map (.pdf) (4,373 kb, 4/13) Interactive GIS MapThe Interactive GIS Map uses Geographic Information Systems to create a map that does not need to be downloaded and features driving directions, searchable park amenities and customizable maps. Please note that the background maps are maintained by a variety of public sources and driving directions usually go to the nearest large road. Campground MapFrench Creek State Park Campground Map (.pdf) (1,317 kb, 2/13) Directions MapFrench Creek State Park Directions Map(.pdf) (267 kb, 3/11) Common Birds BrochureCommon Birds of French Creek State Park (.pdf) (387 kb, 3/11)  French Creek State Park is in Berks and Chester counties. You may reach the park from PA 345 south of Birdsboro, north of PA 23, and from the Morgantown exits (1A and 1 B) of the PA Turnpike. DD: 40.19824 N 75.79285 W Driving Directions: The Interactive GIS Map has turn-by-turn driving directions to the park office from the Park Information Window. Please note that the background maps are maintained by a variety of public sources and driving directions usually go to the nearest large road. French Creek State Park
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Scotts Run Lake: This 22-acre cold-water lake offers excellent trout and other coldwater species fishing. Hatchery-raised trout are stocked pre-season, during the season and in the winter.
More than 35 miles of well-marked trails cover a large portion of the park’s 7,730 acres. Hikers at French Creek have a wide variety of opportunities for quiet reflection, nature study and physical challenge. Trailhead parking is located in many convenient areas.
During the Great Depression in the 1930s, the Federal government purchased much of the land used for charcoal production as part of a national project to reclaim marginal lands. This project provided jobs and improved local economies by developing recreation sites called recreation demonstration areas.
Like to spend time in the outdoors, meet friendly people and help make Pennsylvania State Parks great? Volunteering at a park might be for you.
Believing that each generation is responsible for leaving behind a better legacy of good conservation, the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) was created in 1999 to give supporters and users of Pennsylvania's parks and forests a positive way to contribute to the conservation of our publicly-owned properties. The Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation welcomes the support of individuals and businesses who share a commitment to conserving, protecting, and enhancing the natural, scenic, and recreational areas of this commonwealth. 
Do you take conservation personally? iConservePA is a Web site managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources whose vision is to inspire citizens to value their natural resources, engage in conservation practices and experience the outdoors. 
Below are many of the maps and publications for this park. You can read them or download them and might need special software (all free) to view the publications.