ELK STATE PARK
The 3,192-acre Elk State Park is in the rugged mountains of northern Pennsylvania. The 1,160-acre East Branch Lake is large enough for unlimited horsepower boating and is great for water-skiing. The lake and nearby streams are stocked with warm-water and cold-water fish.
Just south of Elk State Park, the Belgian Count De Hamm founded a settlement of glass blowers. The settlers could not survive on just glass making and soon B.F. Hazelton built a large sawmill in the town and the town was renamed Glen Hazel. The logging town thrived while the timber lasted, but now is mostly summer cottages and hunting camps.
Chartered in 1887, the Johnsonburg and Clermont Railroad linked the towns and mills of the area to haul the timber to the market. When the timber was exhausted, the railroad, sawmills and towns like Glen Hazel, slowly disappeared.
In 1961, the state legislature authorized the development of Elk State Park. Initial development, completed in 1963, included road improvement, parking lots, restroom, water well, launching ramp and access dock at the Instanter Launch Area.
Swimming is not permitted in the lake. A swimming pool is available at Bendigo State Park, about 13 miles away on PA 1004.
Boating: unlimited horsepower motors permitted
The 1,160-acre East Branch Lake has one boat launch on Instanter Drive. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also provides a boat launch by the dam.
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.
Elk State Park is located near Saint Marys
Twelve picnic tables are available at the Instanter Drive Boat Launch. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a picnic area by the dam.
For information on nearby attractions, please contact the Northwest Pennsylvania Great Outdoors, 800-348-9393.
Bendigo State Park: Located 13 miles away on SR 1004, Bendigo State Park provides swimming, picnicking, fishing and playfields.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Recreation Area: The East Branch Dam of the Clarion River was finished in 1952 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The dam provides flood protection and recreational opportunities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates a recreation area by the East Branch Dam that has camping, food concession, sanitary dump station and boat launch. 814-965-2065
State Game Land 25: This 24,523-acre wooded area consists of long narrow valleys and flat mountaintops. Visitors are welcome to hunt, fish, hike and birdwatch on state game lands.
A large stone marker at the entrance to State Game Land 25 in Glen Hazel commemorates the first purchase of land by the Pennsylvania Game Commission from the proceeds of hunting license fees. The purchase took place in 1920. Sportsman friends of John MacFarlane Phillips erected the marker in 1948 in recognition of this member of the Game Commission?s (1905-1924) untiring efforts to develop a statewide system of public hunting grounds and game refuges.
For information, contact the PA Game Commission, Northcentral Division Headquarters, 877-877-7674.
Elk State Forest: The western section of this 195,911-acre forest is adjacent to Elk State Park. Hiking, birding, fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation is permitted on state forest land. 814-486-3353
ACL Flyfishing
145 Siecker Rd
St Marys, PA
(814) 781-7131
Elk State Park is about eight miles east of Wilcox on SR 1006 and about nine miles south of Clermont on SR 1001.
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