Susquehannock State Park

For the Pennsylvania state forest, see Susquehannock State Forest.

This article is about the Pennsylvania State Park. For other uses, see Susquehanna State Park (disambiguation).

Susquehannock State Park
Pennsylvania State Park
Natural Monument (IUCN III)
The view of the Susquehanna River from Susquehannock State Park
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Lancaster
Township	Drumore
Location	^[1]
- coordinates	39°48′42″N 76°17′29″W / 39.81167°N 76.29139°W / 39.81167; -76.29139Coordinates: 39°48′42″N 76°17′29″W / 39.81167°N 76.29139°W / 39.81167; -76.29139
- elevation	463 ft (141 m) ^[1]
Area	224 acres (91 ha)
Founded	1965
Managed by	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Location of Susquehannock State Park in Pennsylvania
Website : Susquehannock State Park

Susquehannock State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on 224 acres (91 ha) in Drumore Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is on a scenic plateau overlooking the Susquehanna River and Conowingo Reservoir. The park is named for the Susquehannock people, who lived in the area. Susquehannock State Park is located on small roads a few miles south of Pennsylvania Route 372 and west of Pennsylvania Route 272. The nearest city is Quarryville, Pennsylvania, about 12 miles (19 km) East.

Recreation

In addition to its many fine views of the river and Wissler Run, the park is used for picnics, hiking, horseback riding, and has organized group tenting facilities for overnight use by qualified groups.^[2]

Hiking trails

There are 5 miles (8.0 km) of hiking trails at Susquehannock State Park. The trails wind through a variety of habitats. Native holly, rhododendron and a wide variety of wildflowers can be seen at the park. Woodland creatures like the white-tailed deer, songbirds and some lizards can be seen. Osprey, vultures, hawks and bald eagles can be seen soaring over the river and park from the scenic overlooks. All trails, except Rhododendron Trail, are open to horseback riding.^[2]

Overlook Trail is 0.55 miles (890 m) and leads to the two scenic overlooks at Hawk Point and Wissler's Run.
Rhododendron Trail is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) and is the steepest and longest trail in the park. The trail passes rhododendrons and the remains of the homestead of Thomas Neel, an American Revolutionary War veteran.
Pine Tree Trail is a short and steep access trail to Wissler's Run.
Five Point Trail is 0.7 miles (1.1 km) and features views of creek valleys and many rhododendrons.
Holly Trail is 0.5 miles (800 m) and passes by native holly bushes and Christmas ferns.
Fire Trail is a short logging road through a stand of poplar trees.
Spring Trail is 0.4 miles (640 m) and features pawpaw trees.
Nature Trail passes through a mature hardwood forest for 0.3 miles (480 m).
Phites Eddy Trail is a short trail that runs along the river in the vicinity of a former inn.
Landis Trail is 0.6 miles (970 m) and is named for Lester Landis the original owner of the historical Landis House which is across from the park office. A stand of Virginia bluebells bloom along this trail in late April and early May.
Pipeline Trail is 0.24 miles (390 m) and follows the right of way of an abandoned pipeline.

Scenic overlooks

Susquehannock State Park features two scenic overlooks. They offer a view of the Susquehanna River and the Conowingo Reservoir on the Susquehanna River. Hawk Point overlooks the reservoir, a hydroelectric impoundment created by Conowingo Dam in northern Maryland. The waters of the reservoir provide hydroelectric power and cooling water for the Peach Bottom nuclear reactor. The reservoir is also a recreational center for boating and fishing. The waters also provide a habitat for a wide variety of fish. These fish are preyed upon by bald eagles and osprey. Hawks, turkey vultures and black vultures can also be seen soaring over the park from Hawk Point. Down the hill from Hawk Point overlook is Wissler's Run overlook. This vista gives a view of the original rocky nature of the Susquehanna's riverbed.^[2]

Susquehannock Indians

The Susquehannocks, an Iroquoian speaking tribe, had their first encounter with Europeans in 1608 when Captain John Smith was exploring the Chesapeake Bay for the English Crown. What the Susquehannock called themselves is unknown, the modern name comes from the name, Sasquesahanough or "roily water people", bestowed upon them by Cpt. Smith and his Algonquian interpreter. They made their home by the river and had only one small village (Conestoga), but they were a strong tribe, that controlled trade routes along the river and the upper reaches of the bay. The Susquehannock lived along the river until 1675 when they suffered a major defeat at the hands of the Iroquois. Following this loss they began a period of migration and eventual decline. Five chiefs were murdered in Maryland when they went to a meeting to negotiate a treaty. They migrated to New York in 1677 and intermingled with the Iroquois. They returned to Conestoga in 1697 but left again in the early 18th century when the migrated, again, to Ohio. Some remained behind and became known as Conestogas. They were able to live in Pennsylvania until 1763 when a group of six were slaughtered by the anti-Indian Paxton Boys. The remaining Indians sought protection from the colonial governor and were taken to a workhouse in Lancaster. The Paxton Boys gained entry to the workhouse and murdered fourteen more Indians. Only two Susquehannocks remained in Pennsylvania. They worked the rest of their lives as servants on a farm where they died and were buried bringing about the end of the Susquehannock people in Pennsylvania.^[2]

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Susquehannock State Park:^[3]^[4]^[5]

Elk Neck State Park (Maryland)
Gunpowder Falls State Park (Maryland)
Rocks State Park (Maryland)
Samuel S. Lewis State Park (York County)
Susquehanna State Park (Maryland)
White Clay Creek Preserve (Chester County)
White Clay Creek State Park (Delaware)

References

1 2 "Susquehannock State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. August 30, 1990. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
1 2 3 4 "Susquehannock State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2006-09-16.
↑ 2007 General Highway Map Lancaster County Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). 1:65,000. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. Retrieved 2007-07-28. Note: shows Susquehannock State Park
↑ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
↑ "Find a Park by Region (interactive map)". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2011-11-18.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Susquehannock State Park.

Susquehannock State Park official map PDF (448.2 KB)

Protected areas of Pennsylvania

Federal

NPS National Historical Parks & National Historic Sites	Allegheny Portage Railroad NHS Edgar Allan Poe NHS Eisenhower NHS Friendship Hill NHS Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church NHS Hopewell Furnace NHS Independence NHP Steamtown NHS Valley Forge NHP

National Memorials	Benjamin Franklin Flight 93 Johnstown Flood Thaddeus Kosciuszko

National Battlefields and National Military Parks	Fort Necessity NB Gettysburg NMP

National Trails	Appalachian Trail

Other protected areas	Allegheny National Recreation Area Blue Marsh National Recreation Area Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area Middle Delaware National Scenic River Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River

National Forests	Allegheny

USFS National Historic Sites	Grey Towers

National Wildlife Refuges	Cherry Valley Erie John Heinz Ohio River Islands

State

State Parks	Allegheny Islands Archbald Pothole Bald Eagle Beltzville Bendigo Benjamin Rush Big Pocono Big Spring Black Moshannon Blue Knob Boyd Big Tree Buchanan's Birthplace Bucktail Caledonia Canoe Creek Chapman Cherry Springs Clear Creek Codorus Colonel Denning Colton Point Cook Forest Cowans Gap Delaware Canal Denton Hill Elk Erie Bluffs Evansburg Fort Washington Fowlers Hollow Frances Slocum French Creek Gifford Pinchot Gouldsboro Greenwood Furnace Hickory Run Hillman Hills Creek Hyner Run Hyner View Jacobsburg Jennings Joseph E. Ibberson Kettle Creek Keystone Kings Gap Kinzua Bridge Kooser Lackawanna Laurel Hill Laurel Mountain Laurel Ridge Laurel Summit Lehigh Gorge Leonard Harrison Linn Run Little Buffalo Little Pine Locust Lake Lyman Run Marsh Creek Maurice K. Goddard McCalls Dam McConnells Mill Memorial Lake Milton Mont Alto Moraine Mt. Pisgah Nescopeck Neshaminy Nockamixon Nolde Forest Norristown Farm Ohiopyle Oil Creek Ole Bull Parker Dam Patterson Penn-Roosevelt Pine Grove Furnace Poe Paddy Poe Valley Point Presque Isle Prince Gallitzin Promised Land Prompton Prouty Place Pymatuning R. B. Winter Raccoon Creek Ralph Stover Ravensburg Reeds Gap Ricketts Glen Ridley Creek Ryerson Station S. B. Elliott Salt Springs Samuel S. Lewis Sand Bridge Shawnee Shikellamy Sinnemahoning Sizerville Susquehanna Susquehannock Swatara Tobyhanna Trough Creek Tuscarora Tyler Upper Pine Bottom Varden Warriors Path Washington Crossing Whipple Dam White Clay Creek Worlds End Yellow Creek

State Forests	Bald Eagle Buchanan Clear Creek Cornplanter Delaware Elk Forbes Gallitzin Lackawanna Loyalsock Michaux Moshannon Rothrock Sproul Susquehannock Tiadaghton Tioga Tuscarora Weiser William Penn (Wild areas)

Scenic Rivers	Bear Run French Creek Lehigh River LeTort Spring Run Lick Run Lower Brandywine Octoraro Creek Pine Creek Schuylkill River Stony Creek Tucquan Creek Tulpehocken Creek Yellow Breeches Creek

Other

Other	Anders Run Natural Area Forrest H. Duttlinger Natural Area Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area Johnson Run Natural Area Stone Valley Recreation Area Trexler Nature Preserve Wykoff Run Natural Area

Hiking trails	Appalachian Baker Black Forest Central Mountains Shared Use Darlington Eastern Continental Five Star Glacier Ridge Great Eastern Greene River Horse-Shoe Indian Creek Valley Loyalsock Mid State Standing Stone Mason-Dixon North Country Ohio River Old Loggers Path Pinchot Potomac Heritage Quehanna Rachel Carson Sheepskin Susquehannock Thunder Swamp Tuscarora Valley Forge Historical West Rim Wissahickon Youghiogheny River

Rail trails	Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike Beaver River East Coast Greenway Five Star Ghost Town Great Allegheny Passage Great Shamokin Path Greene River Indian Creek Valley Lebanon Valley Lehigh Gorge Liberty Bell Lower Montour Ohio River Palmer Bikeway Panhandle Perkiomen Pine Creek Plainfield Township Schuylkill River Sheepskin Struble Susquehanna Warrior Switchback Three Rivers Heritage York Country Heritage Youghiogheny River

Nature centers	List of nature centers in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

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