Chapman State Park

The 805-acre Chapman State Park includes the 68-acre Chapman Lake on the West Branch of Tionesta Creek. Adjacent to state game lands and Allegheny National Forest, Chapman is an oasis of recreational facilities in a vast area of wilderness.

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Directions - Weather  - Recreation  - Stay the Night  - Winter Activities  - Winter Report  - Environmental Education  - Calendar of Events  - Accessibility  - History  - Nearby Attractions  - Volunteers  - Rules and Regs  - In an Emergency  - Contact Us  - Downloadables and Maps

Park Advisories

Directions

The park is off US 6, in Warren County, near the town of Clarendon, and is adjacent to Allegheny National Forest and State Game Land 29.

Recreational Opportunities

Hiking  - Biking  - Picnicking  - Swimming  - Boating  - Fishing  - Hunting  - Cross-country Skiing  - Sledding  - Snowmobiling  - Ice Fishing  - Ice Skating  - Organized Group Tenting  - Yurts  - Camping Cottages  - Camping

Swimming: A sand beach is open from late-May to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset. Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules.

A concession stand, operated by Bollinger Enterprises, Inc., is in the beach area. The concession offers beverages, snacks, ice cream treats, fire wood, ice, and an assortment of beach supplies. It also rents canoes and bikes. Visit their Web site: www.bollingerenterprises.com/chapman/

Picnicking: The main picnic area is by the beach and overlooks the lake. Four picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Make a reservation

Hiking and Backpacking: 12 miles of trails
In addition to the trails at the park, Chapman is the trailhead for backpacking trails on adjoining public lands. Map and trail information is available in the park office. Free parking is available at the park for those who would rather not leave their vehicles along public roadways. PLEASE SIGN IN AT THE PARK OFFICE.

Chapman State Park is in the midst of about 517,000 acres of Allegheny National Forest and state game land. When going on a hike, always take a map and compass and KNOW HOW TO USE THEM. Leave word with a family member, friend, or the park office concerning the trails you will take, destination and expected return time. Have a safe hike.

Fishing: The 68-acre Chapman Lake has fishing for cold-water and warm-water fish, including brook and brown trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, yellow perch and sucker. ADA accessible fishing piers are on the eastern and western shorelines of Chapman Lake. Within the park and the surrounding Allegheny National Forest there is good trout fishing in the West Branch of Tionesta Creek and Farnsworth Run.

For complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

Bicycling: Although most hiking trails are not open to bicycles, all roads in the park and in the adjacent state game land and Allegheny National Forest are open to bicycles.

Boating: electric motors only
The 68-acre Chapman Lake has a boat launch and 41 seasonal mooring spaces on the western side, and mooring for registered campers on the eastern shoreline. A boat rental concession is in the beach area.

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.

For complete information on boating rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

Hunting and Firearms: Over 400 acres are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, turkey, bear and small game. Allegheny National Forest and State Game Land 29 adjacent to the park are open to hunting.

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.

For complete information on hunting rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission Web site.

Stay the Night

Camping: modern sites, many with electricity This beautiful woodland campground has 82 campsites, modern restrooms with hot water, flush toilets and showers, water at convenient hydrants, an outdoor amphitheater, and a sanitary dump station. Pets are permitted at designated campsites. The campground is open from mid-April to mid-December. Winter access cannot be guaranteed and can be checked by contacting the park office.

Explore the campground map.

Explore camping for more information.

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Camping Cottages: Three cottages sleep five people in single bunks and double/single bunks, and have wooden floors, windows, electric heat, porch, picnic table, fire ring and electric lights and outlets.

Make a reservation

Yurts: These Mongolian-style tents are round, on a wooden deck and sleep six people in bunk beds. Yurts have a cooking stove, refrigerator, countertop, table, chairs, electric heat and outlets, fire ring, picnic table and are adjacent to a water pump.

Make a reservation

Organized Group Tenting: Year-round, this rustic area is available for rent to adult and youth groups. The area has restrooms, fire rings, picnic tables and water. Advance reservations are required.

Explore organized group tenting for more information.

Winter Activities

Explore the Winter Report for current snow and ice depths.

Warming Hut: On the western side of the park is a warming hut with a wood burning stove and benches.

Snowmobiling: Chapman is a trailhead to over 300 miles of trails in Allegheny National Forest. The trails are open after the end of deer season in late December. Chapman provides parking, restrooms and a warming hut.

Ice Fishing: The 68-acre Chapman Lake is stocked during the winter.

Ice Skating: Many people enjoy ice-skating on Chapman Lake in the maintained area near the boat launch on the western shore.

Cross-country Skiing: At least 4.4 miles of groomed ski trails connect with numerous trails in the adjoining national forest and state game land.

Sledding and Tobogganing: A seven-acre groomed slope on the western side of the park is lighted until 10 p.m., daily.

Interpretive Programs

An environmental interpretor is on staff for the summer season and offers movies, slide programs, guided walks, stream studies, children’s programs and other educational programs.

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

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

Volunteers Needed

Many volunteer opportunities are available from simple to complex and from easy to more difficult work. There are many jobs that can be done on almost any day like mowing, weed eating, and litter pickup. Bigger jobs that require a little more commitment are also available.

Campground Hosts are always needed, especially in the fall. There are a number of hosts that come year after year in the summer, but new hosts can be rotated into the summer months when openings occur.

We are currently looking for someone to maintain and monitor our purple martin houses. There are no purple martins using the park now, but they have inhabited the houses in the past. This position requires some experience and a lot of independent work.

Another current opportunity is organizing and cataloging the Park’s historical files and pictures. This position requires very independent work, and the ability to do research in the public library and county courthouse.

A number of small construction projects including installing water bars, and rebuilding trail bridges and steps are available for more ambitious laborers. These projects require some skills and use of hand tools and possibly power tools.

Please call or visit the Park office for more information.

Explore here for more information on volunteering for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

History

The park name honors Dr. Leroy E. Chapman (1881-1967) of Warren. Dr. Chapman was a State Senator from 1929 to 1963 and was very active in civic affairs.

Many community groups were instrumental in creating this popular state park. The first land for the park was acquired in 1949. A dam was constructed near the old earthen dam of the Bucher Mill Log Pond, which dates back to Bucher’s Mill that was built about 1849. Chapman State Park opened in 1951.

Nearby Attractions

For more information on nearby attractions and accommodations, please contact: Warren County Visitors Bureau, 800-624-7802, www.wcvb.net/.

Allegheny National Forest: Recreational opportunities are numerous in the adjacent 513,000-acre forest. 814-723-5150

State Game Land 29: This 9,363-acre area is open to hunting, hiking, birding and nature study.

In an Emergency

Contact a park employee or dial 911.
For directions to the nearest hospital, look on bulletin boards or at the park office.

Nearest Hospital:
Warren General Hospital
2 Crescent Park West
Warren, PA 16365
814-723-3300

For More Information Contact

Chapman State Park
4790 Chapman Dam Road
Clarendon, PA 16313
814-723-0250
Manager: James McCorkle

E-mail: chapmansp@state.pa.us
An equal opportunity employer

Make online reservations or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, for state park information and reservations.