Hickory Run State Park
July 2003
Photos/Our Itinerary or "Trip Report"/My Opinion Of the Park in General
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/hickoryrun.asp
This was definitely one of the easiest parks to get to - it was only a few turns off 80.. and just over an hours drive for us. I'm surprised we haven't made it here sooner! We did thoroughly enjoy our trip ,and plan to return. It was not my favorite campground for actual camping.. the sites were close together, and on the side we were on, the bathrooms were horrible, look liked they hadn't been cleaned in months.. but we loved the park in spite of all that. There is so much to see and do here.. and we ended up with an end site (our originally booked site had no place for a tent. And I mean NO place for a tent), and no one beside us, so we weren't crowded at all. It was noisy - planes over head all the time, must be an airport nearby, they were low... and the sites are all on big loops, there was always LOTS of car traffic with people in and out, this i some of the largest parks we have been too, much like French Creek. Before we left, we picked out better site locations for our next trip - on the side with the nicer bathrooms!
I took just over 300 photos on this trip.. but in my defense, it is a REALLY gorgeous area and we have really cute kids. <G> You can see some of the photos by clicking the links below.. most photos can be seen larger by clicking on them
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| The Camp Site/Park | Vista At Fireline Trail | Hawk Falls Trail | The Beach Area |
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| Boulder Field | LG- Indian Run | LG - Buttermilk Falls | LG - Cave/tunnel (?) |
Friday -
We arrived much earlier than we planned, giving us plenty of time to hike to the Vista on the Fire Line Trail & see the Lehigh Valley Gorge
We also stopped by to see the beach, and met a family of geese
Saturday -
after breakfast we hiked Hawks Falls Trail, taking our time. This is an easy hike, but Dan has a severe shin splint and we were in no hurry, so we really stretched our time here, and spent a good bit of time playing in the water as well. It's a short, easy hike.
Back to the site for lunch, then we spent a few hours on the beach
A short walk down the side of the beach led us to another small set of falls, and a great little place to play in the water.
At 3:00 There was a short lesson on Boulder Field at Boulder Field so we headed over to hear that.. I'm glad we left early, we were unprepared for how far away Boulder Field was! The kids loved it there. I was surprised by all the graffiti, but it is still an awesome sight.
Back to the site for supper, and some card games, before the evening Astronomy Program.
What: Experiencing the Night Sky - Stars and Planets
Park: Hickory Run State Park,
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Description:
Bring your family to the Hickory Run State Park amphitheater and join the
Greater Hazleton Area Astronomical Society for an exciting program under the
night sky. Witness star clusters and the planet Mars, as it is as close to the
Earth as it has been in hundreds of years. A short discussion, slide
presentation and telescope viewing will be included in this exciting program.
At 7:00, before the adult part of the program, there was a story and craft for the kids. Then the slide show, then we had plenty of time to go back to the site for some warmer clothes before it was dark enough to look through the telescopes. This was our first chance to look through 12 and even a 24 inch telescope, & since we all have an interest in astronomy, it was a big treat!
Sunday:
We were up pretty late with the telescopes, and all slept in. After breakfast we drove to the Rockport Access of Lehigh Gorge State Park
First Indian Run Falls (really a "cascade", not falls- but beautiful!), which is literally right beside the parking area, no hiking required. We played there for some time. "Mean" mom that I am, I required the children to all read Tom Sawyer this summer before sinking into their Animorph and sports books.. I even found a condensed version that I had read out loud to Meg and Matt.. so the kids were making miniature rafts like Tom and Huck made, and racing them down Indian Runs. It was a very nice way to spend a morning.
Then a short "hike" to Buttermilk Falls. This is a wide trail, used by lots of bicyclists and snowmobiles.. Meg, who is not quite 7 this year, said "Mom, this is more like a walk than a hike". :-) The falls were full from this springs downpours, so we were not disappointed.. I had heard that in the summer they can slow to just a trickle. It is definitely the easiest trip we have ever taken to see a waterfall.
After playing in that waterfall for quite some time, with the kids rock climbing, and making more boats, we headed back We had passed what looked like a cave opening, I asked Dan to stop, so we explored that, found it to be a small tunnel like cave. Very cool.
Back to Hickory Run for a late lunch, and tear down, we were on the road at exactly 3pm. Not a second before.