Colonel Denning

A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for Colonel Denning State Park Colonel Denning State Park Colonel Denning State Park, in north-central Cumberland County, has 273 acres of woodland and a 3.5-acre lake. The park serves as a gateway to the 96,000-acre Tuscarora State Forest, which surrounds the park. These scenic and historic public lands are located in Doubling Gap, so named by the “S” turn where Blue Mountain doubles back on itself. playground equipment. Two picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee by calling 888-PA-PARKS. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. Directions The park is nine miles north of Newville and eight miles south of Landisburg, along PA 233. CAMPING: The 49-site tent and trailer campground is open from the opening day of trout season to the day after deer season in December. Sites are near a showerhouse with flush toilets and a sanitary dump station. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Recreational Opportunities SWIMMING: The sand beach is open from late May to mid-September, 8:00 AM to sunset. Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules for swimming. A food concession near the beach may be open during the summer season. HIKING: 18 miles of trails The park is the trailhead for the 2.5-mile Flat Rock Trail which leads to the top of Blue Mountain in Tuscarora State Forest. This steep and rocky trail is worth the effort; it culminates at Flat Rock, a natural rock outcrop that provides a beautiful scenic vista of the Cumberland Valley. The one-mile Doubling Gap Nature Trail is self-guided on mostly level ground. Beginning and ending at Doubling Gap Lake, the trail has several interpretive waysides to explain the natural history found around a mountain stream. Rocky in places, the one-mile Rattlesnake Trail winds through a mixed oak forest on the foothills of Blue Mountain. Due to the park’s proximity to the Tuscarora State Forest, hikers will find several miles of additional trails, including access to the 105-mile Tuscarora Trail, which is the northern portion of a 220-mile bypass of the Appalachian Trail. For maps and detailed descriptions, consult the “Hiking and Nature Trail Guide” located at the park office. Tell us about your hike at: www.explorepatrails.com For More Information Contact: Colonel Denning State Park 1599 Doubling Gap Road Newville, PA 17241-9756 717-776-5272 email: coloneldenningsp@pa.gov GPS DD: Lat. 40.280743 Long. -77.418227 An Equal Opportunity Employer Information and Reservations Make online reservations at: www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, for state park information and reservations. www.visitPAparks.com Printed on recycled paper HORSEBACK RIDING: As a gateway to the Tuscarora State Forest, the park provides access to one horseback riding trail and a parking lot for horse trailers. Follow Old Doubling Gap Road to gain access to the state forest from the park. visitPAparks 2017 PICNICKING: Numerous picnic tables and charcoal grills are scattered throughout the park and located near Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment used for hunting 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 shall be kept in the owner’s vehicle or enclosed trailer. Exceptions include: law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms are authorized to carry a firearm concealed on their person while they are within a state park. BOATING: Non-motorized canoes and kayaks may be used on Doubling Gap Lake except for the period of time between the opening day of trout season until the Friday before Memorial Day. Boats must be carried in from the nearby parking lot and launched in the designated area located at the west end of the beach. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launch 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. ORIENTEERING: There are three courses to challenge your map and compass skills. Courses begin near Pavilion #1. Trail maps are available at the park office or the nature center. FISHING: The 3.5-acre Doubling Gap Lake has trout fishing. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulations and laws apply. HUNTING AND FIREARMS: Many acres are open to hunting, trapping, and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, squirrel, and turkey. Hunting is also permitted on the adjacent Tuscarora State Forest. 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 ADA accessible hunting information. ORGANIZED GROUP TENTING: Qualified adult and youth groups may reserve the organized group tenting area for overnight use. This space includes five tent pads, picnic tables, lantern holders, and a large fire ring. The organized group campsite can accommodate a maximum size of 20 people. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: While there is no formal cross-country skiing trail system, skiing is permitted on existing roads and trails and in all areas of the park. Terrain is moderately hilly to mountainous. ICE SKATING: When ice conditions permit, an area of the lake is available for ice skating on Doubling Gap Lake. Skating is permitted from 8:00 AM until sunset. Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, make sure ice is at least 4” thick for a single skater and 7” thick for a small group. Always carry safety equipment. Environmental Education and Interpretation During the summer season, the park naturalist offers natural history walks, youth, and campfire programs. A nature center exhibits plants, animals, and minerals found in the park. History Although never a colonel, William Denning (1737-1830) served as a Revolutionary War sergeant from March 1778 to April 1780 in Nathaniel Irish’s Company of Artillery Artificers in Benjamin Flower’s Regiment. Stationed just outside of Carlisle at Washingtonburg Forge (now Carlisle Barracks), Denning earned his place in history making wrought iron cannons for the Continental Army. Unfortunately, none of Denning’s cannons survive today. After the Revolution, William Denning lived out his life near Newville and is interred with his only son and daughter in the Big Spring Presbyterian Church cemetery in Newville. His monument reads “The patriotic blacksmith and forger of wrought iron cannon during the Revolutionary War.” It is not known when or who added the “Colonel” to Sergeant William Denning’s name. Colonel Denning State Park became a state recreational area around 1930, under the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry. It was developed formally in 1936 through the efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp S-111 in Perry County. Nearby Attractions Information on nearby attractions is available from the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau, 888-513-5130. www.visitcumberlandvalley.com The park is surrounded by 96,000 acres of Tuscarora State Forest. These lands are open to the public and offer many recreational opportunities like hiking, biking, camping, hunting, horseback riding, picnicking, and sightseeing. 717-536-3191 Located between PA Routes 641 and 997, about 10 miles southwest of the park, several thousand acres of State Game Lands 169 are primarily managed for upland game animals and deer. 877-877-9107 Protect and Preserve Our Parks Please make your visit safe and enjoyable. Obey all posted rules and regulations and respect fellow visitors and the resources of the park. • Be prepared and bring the proper equipment. Natural areas may possess hazards. Your personal safety and that of your family are your responsibility. • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. • Please camp only in designated areas and try to minimize your impact on the campsite. • Firewood Advisory: Firewood may contain non-native insects and plant diseases. Bringing firewood into the park from other areas may accidentally spread pest insects and diseases that threaten park resources and the health of our forests. Campers should use local firewood. Do not take wood home and do not leave firewood - Burn It! Access for People with Disabilities This symbol indicates facilities and activities that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible for people with disabilities. This publication text is available in alternative formats. If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.  In an Emergency Call 911 and contact a park employee. Directions to the nearest hospital are posted on bulletin boards and at the park office. NEAREST HOSPITAL Carlisle Regional Medical Center 361 Alexander Spring Road Carlisle, PA 17015 717-249-1212 Indian pipes 1520 Tr ra a il Tpk. 997 PA 76 997 641 533 Newburg H E lk 1240 ill Organized Group Tenting Park Office Blue Symbol Means ADA Accessible 1080 Sanitary Dump Station Public Phone 880 Ice Skating ca r Food Concession Orienteering Picnic Area Paved Trail Picnic Pavilion Hiking Trail Vista Multi-use Trail: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding 1000 State Park Hunting 00 CONTOURS ARE ON 40 FT. INTERVALS 960 960 Doubling Flat Rock Trail Parking d R oa Dou bling ap bling G Douake L G ap Rd. G a zeb o CCC Exhibit Lake Henrietta 800 0 84 880 D ou t a 920 Ra 880 Old Equestrian Trailhead 880 Ra t t l e s Lo o p t 1040 233 1000 ¼ 0 ¼ 1060 ½ KILOMETER 1080 1120 1/4 3/8 STATE 1/2 1/8 1/4 1000 Trail to Flat Rock 1040 1/8 Tr. 960 1000 FOREST 5/8 ¼ 0 116 1200 1240 1280 1320 1360 1400 1440 3/4 MILE ck Ro Trail 3/8 160 0 TUSCARORA 18 10 N NTAI 00 1600 Flat Rock 1200 1240 1280 1320 RI DG FOREST UE E de r Pa th 1520 a Tusc rora MO Ci 1360 1400 1440 1480 0 BL 00 1600 pe S lo 160 00 1480 1520 STATE CK 1160 1200 1400 1600 BU 1120 1000 Nor th Tr. 16 E BLU ½ MILE ¼ N 1/2 MILE MOU 0 00 12 To Flat Rock, 2 Mi. SEE MAP AT RIGHT 920 14 t nake Shade 960 il Fl a 0 G ap d 920 1560 1/8 Doubling 00 18 0 0 16 0 0 Tr a Tr a i l ra 1240 880 r. ra T aro 0 N a ture Gap Run Tr. a ro sc Tu 1/8 G ap 960 TUSCARORA To Appalachian Trail, 18.5 Mi. bling #2 1040 1320 Doubling Playfield ach 1000 1280 880 sc Tu Fl 960 1200 Trail e 920 Roc Private Land 920 1120 1160 Na t u r Be 960 1080 Ga p 840 880 1040 920 920 O ld 840 1000 10 880 Ru n 760 800 40 Parking Equestrian Trailers 80 Ga p ubli ng 10 Gate (Private) Do 0 Pa t h D oubling 0 108 State Park No Hunting #1 233 112 Parking Unpaved 1120 1080 Road Gap er Tuscarora Trail Parking Rev. 7/06/17 Doubling Cid oad l R Hil l Tr a i Amphitheater Non-powered Boat Launch Gap Parking Paved Joint Use Road: Auto/Horseback Riding/ Mountain Biking/Hiking Fishing Pier Camping 840 Cross-country Skiing Recommended One-way Road 0 s Tu 840 Parking ADA Accessible Unpaved Road Swimming Area Rustic Restrooms Self-guiding Trail Snowmobiling Playground Nature Center 920 To Newville, 8 Mi. & I-81 (Exit-37), 12 Mi. 1280 1240 1280 Water 233 1320 1200 960 a To Landisburg, 7 Mi. 1360 Private Land 1240 Modern Restrooms Snowmobile Trailer Parking 1520 1480 1440 81 10 Elk Road 1400 233 1040 or 1600 1560 1320 00 To Fowlers Hollow State Park, 15 Mi. via Tuscarora and Fowlers Hollow Trails Hill Elk MO UNTAIN 1280 1200 11 ad Ro BLUE 1400 1360 641 1360 Newville 1320 1280 CUMBERLAND 1600 164 1600 1560 1520 1480 1440 1600 N 1560 kT r. ca ro COLONEL 1640 DENNING 1560 1520 944 1480 Bloserville 233 1440 76 1400 UE McCrea BL Road 1680 NTY PERRY COU UNTY CO D AN CUMBERL 0 1640 N COLONEL DENNING STATE PARK Ro c sburg FRANKLIN I TA Hill at Tu s M N OU Elk FOREST Fl Fowlers Hollow 1600 233 1600 1640 Lo o p New Germantown 274 Landisburg 1560 Andersonburg STATE l Blain TUSCARORA 1520 Tra i PERRY 17 To Laurel Run Road, 1.7 Mi. 1560 1480 Loysville 274 ak e N Ro a Kistler sn 850 tle Honey Grove k Tr a i l 35 UN TA I 1560 Trai l N Nor th 1600 1640 CUMBERLAN Slope D COUNTY PERRY COU NTY Tra i l 00 16