Salt Springs State Park

Hiking   -  Picnicking   -  Fishing   -  Hunting   -  Cross-country Skiing   -  Sledding   -  Camping Cottages   -  Camping

Picnicking: A small picnic grove with tables and grills is between Fall Brook and Silver Creek, the two streams that traverse the park. A restroom is centrally located in the picnic area and near the parking area. At the southeast end of the picnic area is Salt Spring, the park’s namesake. A large timber frame pavilion, with electric outlets, is across Silver Creek from the picnic area. It may be reserved in advance for a fee from the Friends, or used on a first-come, first-served basis.

---

Fishing: Sections of Silver Creek and Fall Brook traverse the park for almost two miles and provide ample fishing opportunities for both novice and experienced anglers. A favorite area is where Fall Brook flows into Silver Creek near the east end of the picnic area. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks both streams with trout in early spring.

Complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

---

Hunting and Firearms: About 800 acres, including adjoining lands owned by the Friends of Salt Springs Park, are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, turkey, squirrel and grouse. Hunting is prohibited in the Fall Brook Natural Area.

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 Friends 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.

Complete information on hunting rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Game Commission Web site.

---

Hiking: 12.75 miles of trails
The trails pass through old growth forest, overlook the gorge and meander through various habitats.

Fall Brook Trail: 1-mile, most difficult hiking, red blazes - Access this trail across the bridge from the Wheaton House. It follows Fall Brook and climbs steeply along the three waterfalls. Use extreme caution on slippery rocks and near the edge of the falls. After the third waterfall, the trail flattens out and follows the brook past Buckley Road until it ends at the intersection with Bunny Trail.

Hemlock Trail: 0.4-mile, more difficult hiking, white blazes - Access this trail at the northeast end of the picnic area, past Salt Spring. Follow right and climb steeply up the hill into the old growth hemlock forest. Just past the intersection with Woodland Trail, Hemlock Trail becomes a raised boardwalk. It follows the east rim of the gorge past Penny Rock to where a right spur leads to an observation platform overlooking the falls. Use extreme caution near cliffs and steep drop-offs. The trail continues to where it eventually intersects Fall Brook Trail.

Woodland Trail: 0.25-mile, easiest hiking, blue blazes - Reached from Hemlock Trail, this trail circles around the east side of the old growth stand. Explore a hemlock almost 300 years old that has fallen across the path.

Hardwood Trail: 0.5-mile, more difficult hiking, yellow blazes - Access this trail at the northeast end of the picnic area, past Salt Spring. Follow left up the moderate slope along the edge of the hill. The trail swings south and climbs gently through mixed hardwoods before leveling out and turning west to where it intersects Woodland Trail.

Upland Trail: 0.5-mile, more difficult hiking, red blazes - This trail extends the loop of Hardwood Trail, climbing steadily up the mountain through mixed hardwoods, before circling back to rejoin it.

Silver Creek Trail: 1.2-mile, easiest hiking, red blazes - This trail is accessed from behind the barn and follows Silver Creek through hemlocks and carpets of ferns. It follows the creek, climbing gradually through mixed hardwoods, and then up a steep climb to where it connects with Meadow Trail. An old stone wall can be an interesting rest stop.

Meadow Trail: 0.8-mile, easiest hiking, yellow blazes - Accessed from either Buckley Road or Silver Creek Trail, this largely flat trail loops through meadows and by old foundations, stone walls and an interesting shale outcropping.

Bunny Trail: 1.5-mile, more difficult hiking, orange blazes - This loop is best accessed from a small parking lot on Buckley Road, east of where Fall Brook crosses the road. The trail ascends gently along Fall Brook to a small clearing which was once a log landing. It then climbs steeply for a short distance through hardwood forest before intersecting and paralleling Cliff Trail through forest and old fields with some excellent views. It leaves Cliff Trail, passes a delightful spring and then descends through a forest to the parking lot.

Cliff Trail: 1.5-mile, more difficult hiking, blue blazes - This trail can be reached from either Bunny Trail or from the main parking lot by walking up the old logging road. Watch on the right for a sign pointing to the blue-blazed Cliff Trail. After a short climb on Bunny Trail, Cliff Trail then follows the contours of the land, gently climbing to the southwest corner of the property where there is an interesting spring area and Frog Pond. All along this section are boulders and cliffs worth exploring for ferns and wildflowers. From the pond, the trail follows old logging roads then descends to where it intersects Bunny Trail and then back to the main parking lot.

Summit Trail: 1-mile, more difficult hiking, red blazes - This trail consists of a short climb of about 0.3-mile from Frog Pond to the highest point on the Friends’ property, returning to Frog Pond via old logging roads. The summit is a relatively flat area, with large, widely spaced trees.

Connector Trail: 1.7 miles, easiest hiking, white blazes - This trail links Silver Creek and Meadow trails in the park to Wetland and Fall Brook trails on the Friend’s property at Buckley Road. The trail follows an easy grade through a ravine and across Wetland Trail bridge.

Wetland Trail: 0.6 mile, easiest hiking, blue blazes - This trail starts at the Buckley Road bridge and traverses the wetlands north of Fall Brook. It then crosses the creek and follows the south side of the creek. Signs of beaver activity and wetland plants and shrubs can be seen along this trail.

Overlook Trail: 0.2 mile, easiest hiking, blue blazes - Designed specifically for accessibility, this short, wide trail begins at the new parking lot on the north side of Buckley Road. The trail winds through light and dense forest on level land and connects to Fall Brook Trail near the overlook to the falls.

Friends Trail: 1.9 miles, more difficult hiking, white blazes - This trail can be accessed from the parking lot on Buckley Road. From Hardwood Trail, the new trail meanders south, crosses Buckley Road and continues through a meadow into hardwoods, along an old logging trail and through forest before connecting to Summit Trail.

---

Stay the Night

---

Camping: composting toilets
Rustic tenting sites are privately situated along the banks of Silver Creek. All sites include a fire ring and picnic table. The campground has a restroom with composting toilets. Water is available from an outdoor faucet at the Wheaton House. Group camping is available in a large mowed field adjacent to the main campground. The maximum camping period is 14 consecutive days. Reservations may be made in advance by calling the Friends and are confirmed when full payment is received.

---

Camping Cottages: The cottages have wooden walls and floors, electric lights and outlets, and a porch. A cottage sleeps five or seven people in a single bunk and a single/double bunk. Rustic restrooms are nearby.

---

Organized Group Tenting: Group camping is available in a large mowed field adjacent to the main campground. There are composting toilets and handpumps for water. The maximum camping period is 14 consecutive days. Reservations may be made in advance by calling the Friends and are confirmed when full payment is received.

---

Winter Activities

---

Cross-country Skiing: Most of the trails in the park are well suited for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

---

Sledding: Pastures and hay fields provide wide open areas for sledding and tobogganing.

---

Environmental Education and Interpretation

---

The Friends of Salt Springs Park offer a variety of environmental, historical and interpretive programs year-round. Through hands-on activities, guided walks, interactive workshops and programs, participants gain an appreciation and understanding of park natural and historic resources. A listing of programs is available from the Friends.

Environmental education programs and historical programs can, upon request, be designed to fit individual group needs. Programs can be arranged in advance by calling the Friends’ office.

Earth Ecology and the Environment (E3), a comprehensive, fourth grade environmental learning program, helps public school teachers meet the majority of the Pennsylvania Academic Standards in Environment and Ecology. Through a combination of classroom programs and outdoor experiences at the park, students learn about biodiversity, ecosystems, environmental problem solving and basic principles of ecology. The Friends also conduct teacher workshops and summer camp programs on a periodic basis.

Wheaton House: The renovated Wheaton family homestead houses the Friends’ offices, gift shop, and historical and environmental interpretive information. Displays feature nineteenth-century rural life and regional wildlife. The Wheaton House is open on weekends from May through September.

Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward.

---

Access for People with Disabilities

---

If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.

 

Geology

The park lies in a glacially altered, hilly terrain referred to since the 1750s as “the Endless Mountains.” The varying layers of Devonian age sandstone and shale of the Catskill Formation are exposed in the 80-foot deep gorge of Fall Brook.

The crystal waters of Fall Brook tumble over three picturesque waterfalls, each about ten feet in height, before joining the waters of Silver Creek near the eastern border of the park. Thriving in the cool, moist conditions of the gorge are mosses, liverworts and ferns.

About 300 feet from the mouth of the gorge on the south side of Fall Brook, and easily reached from the picnic area, is the bubbling Salt Spring which is the park’s namesake. The water from the spring is very high in chloride, sodium and dissolved solids, revealing the marine origin of the sediments. The spring bubbles, due to methane gas created by the breakdown of organic matter in the ancient sedimentary rock. The commercial extraction of both salt and oil was attempted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but did not prove profitable and so was discontinued.

Fall Brook Natural Area

Encompassing the gorge and the old growth hemlock forest on both the east and west rims, the Fall Brook Natural Area was established “to provide locations for scientific observation of natural systems, to protect examples of typical and unique plant and animal communities, and to protect outstanding examples of natural interest and beauty.”

Visitors can experience what Pennsylvania’s forests were like 300 years ago. Towering one hundred feet and more above the gorge is one of the last old growth hemlock forest tracts remaining in the commonwealth. Old growth forests exhibit complex ecosystems not found in other regional forests, and involve a delicate balance between nutrients, plants and animals. At one time, Pennsylvania was largely covered by this type of forest, but most have fallen prey to the pressures of commercial and industrial activities. The trees in the park now face the threat of infestation from hemlock woolly adelgid, a non-native insect infecting many of Pennsylvania’s hemlock trees.

This unique habitat and the rich diversity of natural habitats found elsewhere in the park, including mixed hardwood forests, grasslands, overgrown meadows, streams and wetlands, attract a wide variety of birds and wildlife.

Over 150 species of birds have been recorded at the park. The combination of Susquehanna County’s cool climate and the park’s deep gorge and coniferous habitat provide ideal conditions for some species of birds that are more commonly associated with the north, such as; common raven, hermit thrush, magnolia warbler, Blackburnian warbler, winter wren and white-throated sparrow. A “Birds of Salt Springs State Park” checklist is available at the office. Wildlife at the park includes white-tailed deer, black bear, bobcat, eastern coyote, red fox, porcupine, beaver, striped skunk, raccoon, red squirrel and flying squirrel. A wide diversity of plants can also be found, with spring providing the best time for wildflower viewing.

History

In the 1790s, when the first American settlers arrived at what would become Salt Springs State Park, the area was an unbroken forest of old growth trees, dominated by eastern hemlock. The immediate concern was to clear the land. For decades the trees were cut, piled up and burned. The better logs were used to build the first homes. Sawmills were soon built along Silver Creek and other nearby streams, and local tanneries began consuming hemlock bark at increasing rates. The hemlocks lining Fall Brook Gorge were probably spared because even by the early 1800s this area was a popular recreational destination.

In 1858, a mill and woolen manufactory were built below the first waterfall on Fall Brook, the remains of which can still be seen behind the Wheaton House. A flume channeled water from the first waterfall down the west side of the gorge and over a 16-foot overshot wheel. The building also had a lath machine, likely producing much of the lath used in the area’s first farmhouses.

Salt Spring on the south side of Fall Brook is one of the salt springs for which the park is named. The first people to extract salt from the spring water were American Indians who traveled through the area during hunting expeditions. They attempted to keep the location of the spring secret from the settlers, but eventually and with a large enough sum of money, it was revealed.

Numerous attempts were made by different entrepreneurs to develop the spring for commercial gain between 1795 and 1870. The brine obtained produced a high quality salt, but not enough could be coaxed out of the ground to yield a profit. The water was noted to be more sulphureous than salty. Bubbles would rise to the surface and when touched with fire would flash like black powder.

Efforts to strike oil at or near Salt Springs were also pursued, but with no success. In 1902, the North Penn Oil and Gas Company sunk a new test well just behind the Wheaton House, but plugged it after several months and left without explanation. When methane gas continued to seep up through the plug, a simple container was built at the top of the well to gather the escaping gas, which was then piped into the Wheaton home where it was used for cooking and lighting. These pipes still run through the house.

Historic Wheaton Farm

On November 9, 1813, a circuit rider wrote in his diary that he had “dined with four gentlemen from Philadelphia on a visit… . They had stayed the night before at the Salt Springs where they had been for amusement, they dealt in extraordinaries about it, as though they had been on a voyage around the world.” This is the earliest recorded documentation of the impact of the area’s natural beauty on human visitors. From this time to the present, the 400-plus acres locally known as “Salt Springs” have been continuously visited by people searching for, and finding, not just amusement but also “extraordinaries.”

The Salt Springs area was a dairy farm privately owned and operated by succeeding generations of one family, the Wheatons, from their settlement around 1840 until 1973, when it was acquired by the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks. During their stewardship, the Wheatons welcomed hundreds of visitors and travelers on visits to the legendary land of waterfalls and other natural wonders.

At the northeast entrance of the park is the historic homestead of the Wheaton family. Four buildings of the original homestead remain, as well as the foundation of the mill and woolen manufactory. The original home, built in the early 1840s by Nathan Philip Wheaton, is now the Wheaton House. This post and beam structure is timber framed with eastern hemlock. The hand-hewn beams are 40 feet long and the posts are two stories high. These timbers originated from trees similar to the impressive stand of old growth hemlock that line both sides of Fall Brook Gorge.

The sister home, built around 1870 by Nathan’s eldest son James, is of balloon frame construction and features a Georgian style roof. This home is a private residence, generating rental income for park maintenance.

Adjacent to the Wheaton House, the carriage barn, circa 1865, is also made entirely of hemlock. The building is timber framed with hand-hewn beams and sawed posts. The foundation is of native stone laid without mortar.

Inside the dairy barn is an old 30 by 40-foot timber framed structure that may have originally been a threshing barn. Moved and altered over the years, this barn reflects the changes in agriculture and building from the past 160 years. When renovated, the barn will provide space for classrooms, meeting areas and programs.
 

Keep in Touch

Add yourself to the DCNR's online community to receive info on this park, or parks in general.

Volunteering

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.

Becoming a Conservation Volunteer is easy.

• Sign up to be a Conservation Volunteer
  OR
• Contact your local state park directly and ask for the Conservation Volunteer coordinator - you'll be hooked up with an interesting and appropriate project in Pennsylvania's natural resources.
   

Scouts and organized groups can earn free camping by completing service projects.

Join the Friends of Salt Spring Park

The Friends of Salt Springs Park, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization, formed in 1994 and managed by local volunteers. Operating at the park through a cooperative agreement with the DCNR, Bureau of State Parks, the Friends’ mission is to preserve and improve the facilities of Salt Springs State Park and to develop its potential for recreation, environmental and historical education purposes.

Support from numerous grants, the Bureau of State Parks and the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps program allows the Friends to renovate the historic structures and upgrade the facilities and recreation areas at the park. In 2000, the Friends purchased 300 acres of land adjacent to the park’s southern border. Easily reached by way of Buckley Road or on several connecting trails, this property offers a variety of natural habitats not found in the park and expands the recreational opportunities available to visitors. In 2004, a conservation easement was placed on this land, ensuring its permanent protection as open and natural habitat.

The Friends publish a seasonal newsletter, The Salt Springs Messenger and an annual listing of events. All programs are open to the public and free of charge, unless otherwise indicated. On Labor Day weekend, the Friends host the annual “Salt Springs Celebration,” a one day festival featuring exhibits, programs, activities, entertainment and family fun.

Support for the Friends’ work is through memberships, public and private agency grants, business donations, in-kind donations of materials and services, special fundraising events and program fees for educational services.

Friends of Salt Springs Park
P.O. Box 541
Montrose, PA 18801
570-967-PARK (7275)
e-mail: info@friendsofsaltspringspark.org
www.friendsofsaltspringspark.org

Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation

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. www.paparksandforests.org

Make a Donation

To a park - find this park's address below

To a park's friends group - see above

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 Programs

We love when young people ask us how to get involved!

DiscoverE has programs for young people ages 4 to 17, provided by Pennsylvania State Park educators. By combining recreation and education, we hope to motivate children to learn more and return often, leading to a lifetime of outdoor enjoyment and conservation leadership. 

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

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. Take conservation personally.

Come Work with Us

Pennsylvania 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 Think

Contact this park with compliments, concerns and issues about the park.

Salt Springs State Park

Nearby Attractions

Information on nearby attractions is available from:

the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau www.800poconos.com

the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau. www.endlessmountains.org

Maps and Downloadables

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.

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:
For Windows users, right click on the link then left click on "Save target as" to download the file to your computer. For Mac users, hold down the "Options" button and click on the link, then select "Save" to download the file to your computer.

Recreational Guide

Salt Springs State Park Map (.pdf) (782 kb, 3/11) 
Salt Springs State Park Recreational Guide (.pdf) (448 kb, 3/11)
    large print version of the guide text (.rtf)

Interactive GIS Map

The 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.