Milton State Park

Milton State Park is an 82-acre island on the West Branch Susquehanna River, between the Boroughs of Milton and West Milton. The northern half of the park has day use facilities with a seasonal restroom and the southern half remains in a wooded state for hiking and nature study.

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Directions - Weather  - Recreation  - Winter Report  - Accessibility  - History  - Natural Resources  - Nearby Attractions  - Volunteers  - Rules and Regs  - In an Emergency  - Contact Us  - Downloadables and Maps

Park Advisories

Directions

Access the park via PA 642 off of PA 147 on the east, and from US 15 at West Milton.

Recreational Opportunities

Hiking  - Picnicking  - Recreation Fields  - Boating  - Fishing  - Wildlife Watching 

Boating: unlimited hp motors permitted
A boat launch is on the east side of the island. River elevations vary with the seasons and generally are not deep enough for large watercraft.

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.

Fishing: The Susquehanna River has warm water and cold water fishing. Common species are smallmouth bass, panfish and catfish.

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

Picnicking: There are picnic tables, drinking water, and charcoal grills. A seasonal restroom is open from late spring to late fall. Please dispose of charcoal in the proper facilities.

Recreation Fields: Soccer fields are popular attractions for local clubs and the public.

Hiking: 1 mile of trails
A trail explores the riverine habitats of the south side of the river island. There is a 0.5 mile stone walking path in the middle of the island.

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.

History

In 1762, Marcus Huling Jr. claimed the big island, which eventually came to be called Montgomery Island. Within a decade, he planted an apple orchard. At this time, this part of the state was claimed by Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

Eventually the land came to be controlled by the Straub Brothers, who in 1824 built a dam across part of the river and erected a sawmill and gristmill. The brothers won the contract to build a bridge across the river between the three islands.

The mills eventually became unprofitable and the island was only used as farmland. Floods continually washed away parts of the bridge, which were rebuilt. By the early 1900s, farming ceased and there were now two islands, one of the smaller islands having joined the big island, making it even larger. The island was subdivided to many owners and part became athletic fields. The Milton Rotary Club worked to consolidate the deeds to one title for the Borough of Milton, who then transferred the title to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1966.

The floodwaters of Hurricane Agnes completely covered the island in 1972. Federal relief money helped rebuild the facilities. In 1987, PA 624 was relocated across the island, providing a new boat launch and transferring the final piece of property to state park control.

Natural Resources

The rich soil of the floodplain supports a diversity of vegetation. The southern part of the island is undeveloped and covered in a forest of predominantly silver maple, river birch and sycamore. The island is a rest area for migrating songbirds and waterfowl.

Nearby Attractions

For information on local attractions including private campgrounds, please contact: Susquehanna Valley Visitors Bureau, 800-525-7320. www.visitcentralpa.org

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:
Evangelical Community Hospital
1 Hospital Drive
Lewisburg, PA 17837
570-522-2000

For More Information Contact

Milton State Park
c/o Shikellamy
Sunbury, PA 17801-1005
570-988-5557
Manager: Frank Nanna

E-mail: shikellamysp@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.