 Surrounded
by Elk State Forest, Sinnemahoning is on the First Fork of the
Sinnemahoning Creek and has picturesque views of the surrounding
mountains and deep valleys. There is an abundance of wildlife, including
nesting bald eagles, elk, and many birds and butterflies. |
Directions
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The 1,910-acre Sinnemahoning State Park is in Cameron and Potter
counties, eight miles north on PA 872 from its junction with PA 120 in
Sinnemahoning, or 35 miles south from the junction of PA 872 with US 6
in Coudersport. |
Lake Recreational Opportunities
Boating: electric motors only
The 142-acre George B. Stevenson Reservoir has a boat launch and mooring
space for 45 boats. A mooring permit is required and may be obtained at
the park office.
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 rafts
are permitted provided that they have two or more buoyant chambers and
are at least seven feet in length. |
Fishing: The 142-acre George B. Stevenson
Reservoir has fishing for cold-water and warm-water species, including brook,
rainbow and brown trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, sunfish, bluegill,
pickerel, perch, crappie, catfish and tiger muskellunge. Nearby creeks and runs
also provide good angling. Some feeder streams in the park contain native brook
trout. There is a delayed harvest-artificial lures only special regulation area
from mouth of Baily Run south 2.1 miles on First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek.
Ice Fishing: Conditions permitting, all areas of
the lake are open for ice fishing except within 50 feet of the trash boom by the
dam.
Warning: EXTREME CAUTION must be taken during ice related activities.
Dangerous ice conditions like unsafe or weak ice or air pockets may exist due to
rapidly rising or falling lake levels.
Reservations
To reserve a campsite or a picnic pavilion, call 888-PA-PARKS, 7 a.m. to 5
p.m. Mon. - Sat. Campsites can be reserved from 11 months up to noon of the day
of arrival. Picnic pavilions can be reserved from 11 months to two days in
advance.
Recreational Opportunities
Hiking: 5 miles of trails
Several trails offer a chance to observe some of the more remote areas of the
park. The Red Spruce Trail is about one mile long and runs from the campground
to the Forty Maples Picnic Area. For one-third of its length it passes through a
mixed hardwood forest, then traverses an old field converted to a spruce
plantation. Venomous snakes (rattlesnakes) may be encountered in this area. Low
Lands Trail was originally part of the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad. It is an
easy hike through thick spruce, grassy openings, vernal ponds, streamside
bottoms and ends at the Wildlife Viewing Area at the north end of the park.
There are lots of opportunities along this trail to spot grassland birds,
osprey, elk and butterflies.
Camping: modern sites, some with electric
The 35-site campground is 3.5 miles north of the park office and is open from
the second weekend in April to late December. The campground has a modern
washhouse with hot water, flush toilets and showers, a sanitary dump station
with potable water, and playground equipment. Each site has a picnic table and
fire ring and can accommodate a variety of camping equipment from tents to the
larger recreational vehicles and motor homes.
Modern Cabin: The Brooks Run Ranger Cabin is a
two-story house with four bedrooms, living room with a fireplace, sunporch and
play equipment. The house sleeps 12 people.
Hunting and Firearms: About 1,400 acres are open
to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common
game species are deer, grouse, squirrel, bear, turkey and waterfowl.
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 accessible hunting information.
Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. The park is used by
other visitors during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment 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 must be kept in the owner's car, trailer or camp.
Picnicking: There are three picnic areas. Two
picnic pavilions are available in the Forty Maples Picnic Area and may be
reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are
free on a first-come, first-served basis. Feeding wild animals such as bears,
raccoons and skunks is strongly discouraged. When wildlife looses its fear of
people, these animals become pests and dangerous situations can result.
Snowmobiling: The park trail consists of 1.1-mile
of joint-use road and 3.1 miles of trail for a total of 4.2 miles. The trail is
clearly delineated by signs and orange blaze markers. The park trail joins the
trails of the Elk State Forest at the Brooks Run Road, making a 25-mile trail
system (park and forestry). All state forest trails are groomed weekly.
Snowmobiles may be operated on designated trails and roads from the day
following the last deer season in December until April 1, weather permitting.
Snowmobiles are prohibited from operating on frozen water surfaces and
shorelines. All snowmobiles must be registered.
Environmental Interpretative Program
Environmental interpretive pontoon boat rides are offered from
Memorial Day to Labor Day. Please contact the park office for a current
schedule of pontoon boat programs. Other programs are also occasionally
offered on topics like wildlife viewing and elk. |
Access for People with Disabilities
If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a
disability, please contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks:
888-PA-PARKS (voice)
888-537-7294 (TTY)
711 (AT&T Relay Services)
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George B. Stevenson Dam
In 1955, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania constructed the George B. Stevenson
Dam on the First Fork Sinnemahoning Creek as a unit of the general comprehensive
plan for flood control along the West Branch Susquehanna River Basin. This plan
consists of four reservoirs: George B. Stevenson, Alvin R. Bush (Kettle Creek
State Park), Curwensville and Foster Joseph Sayers (Bald Eagle State Park).
Coordinated operation of the four reservoirs controls a total of 1,163 square
miles of drainage area. By controlling the runoff from these areas, these
reservoirs provide significant flood prevention to the towns downstream.
In order to achieve best results from the system, all four dams are regulated
during floods in accordance with instructions issued by the Baltimore District,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Statistics of George B. Stevenson Dam
- Rolled, earth-fill structure 1,918 feet long
- Maximum height of 166 feet
- Top width of 30 feet and a maximum width of 940 feet at the base
- A 16-foot diameter reinforced concrete tunnel carries the flow of the
creek through the right (west) abutment of the dam
- The 211-foot high reinforced concrete control tower houses the two,
37-ton sluice gates and operating equipment
- The conservation pool is maintained at elevation 921 feet above mean sea
level (m.s.l.)
- The reservoir has a flood control storage capacity of 75,800 acre-feet
(24.7 billion gallons), a surface area of 1,470 acres, and a length of 8
miles.
- The flood control storage of the reservoir is equal to 5.85 inches of
runoff from the 243-square mile drainage area above the dam.
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