Laurel Hill

Laurel Hill Laurel Hill State Park A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for Pennsylvania State Parks Mission The primary purpose of Pennsylvania state parks is to provide opportunities for enjoying healthful outdoor recreation and serve as outdoor classrooms for environmental education. In meeting these purposes, the conservation of the natural, scenic, aesthetic, and historical values of parks should be given first consideration. Stewardship responsibilities should be carried out in a way that protects the natural outdoor experience for the enjoyment of current and future generations. visitPAparks Printed on recycled paper LAUREL HILL STATE PARK 2018 Photo by Stokes Clarke ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION 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. The park offers a wide variety of environmental education and recreational programs. Through hands-on activities, guided walks, and evening programs, participants gain appreciation and understanding of the park’s natural and cultural resources, as well as enjoying the recreational opportunities. Curriculum-based environmental education programs are available to schools and youth groups. Teacher workshops are available. Programs are offered February to October. Contact the park office for a schedule of programs. A visitor center, open seasonally, is located within the beige farmhouse at the entrance to the campground. so that it could be converted to better use. In 1936, the National Park Service was given the responsibility of the Recreational Demonstration Areas. Laurel Hill was one of five areas in Pennsylvania that was targeted for restoration and reforestation, organized group camping, and day picnicking. Beginning in 1935, with cooperation of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters, men of the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began building roads, trails, bridges, and recreational facilities. Two CCC camps, NP-5-PA and SP-15 arrived on July 1, 1935, and began building camps for themselves (currently Group Camp 8 and Group Camp 5). The 200 young men in each camp worked year round building park facilities including group camps, picnic areas, waterlines, roads, the beach house, and Laurel Hill Lake. World War II ended the CCC. In October of 1945, the Department of the Interior transferred the project to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and it became Laurel Hill State Park. The Laurel Hill Recreational Demonstration Area Historic District includes all CCC-constructed buildings and structures that retain a significant degree of integrity. The district contains 202 buildings on 1,352 acres of land, which is the largest collection of CCC architecture in Pennsylvania State Parks. Directions Laurel Hill State Park consists of 4,512 acres of mountainous terrain in Somerset County. The 63-acre Laurel Hill Lake is a focal point of the park. Laurel Hill is surrounded by thousands of acres of pristine state park and state forest lands. A trail system invites visitors to explore the park and observe the diversity of plants and wildlife. The Jones Mill Run Dam and the Hemlock Trail Natural Area are two must-see destinations on your visit. From I-76, take Exit 110 (Somerset) and drive west on PA 31 from Somerset for eight miles. Turn left onto Trent Road and follow the directional signs to Laurel Hill State Park. The park may also be reached from Exit 91 (Donegal) of I-76 by turning left on PA 31 east and traveling 14 miles. Turn right onto Trent Road and follow directional signs to the park. RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES Spend the Day PICNICKING: Five picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. Three picnic areas have over 500 picnic tables. Trent Picnic Area has a canoe/kayak launch, large ball field, playground equipment, and two picnic pavilions. Beach Picnic Area has playground equipment, a sand volleyball court, boat rental, food concession, and three picnic pavilions. Old Mill Picnic Area, located at the upper end of the lake by the boat mooring and launching area, provides excellent shoreline fishing. SWIMMING: A 1,200-foot 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. Swimming is only permitted within the designated buoy areas. Maximum depth is five feet. The beach has an ADA accessible ramp to the lake, an ADA accessible beach wheelchair, an ADA canoe/kayak launch, and an ADA accessible restroom. A food concession is available from Memorial Day to Labor Day. HIKING AND MOUNTAIN BIKING: see other side HUNTING AND FIREARMS: Over 2,200 acres are open to hunting, trapping, and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are rabbit, squirrel, grouse, turkey, deer, black bear, Canada goose, and raccoon. Most of Laurel Hill Lake is open to waterfowl and goose hunting. 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. 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: electric motors only Laurel Hill Lake has 45 mooring sites and two boat launches. A boat rental at the beach has paddleboards, rowboats, paddleboats, canoes, kayaks, and hydrobikes available Memorial Day through Labor Day. Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launch permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks, available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. FISHING: Laurel Hill Lake has bass, trout, catfish, sucker, bluegill, perch, crappie, northern pike, and sunfish. Laurel Hill Creek and Jones Mill Run are excellent trout streams. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulations and laws apply. A fishing license, not available at the park office, is required for people ages 16 and older. Stay the Night area is open year round. Limited facilities include Adirondack shelters, vault toilets, potable water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Reservations are required. Youth groups must have one adult leader for each 10 youths. Trailers are prohibited. Fires can only be made in designated locations. Standing timber cannot be cut. Hufman Lodge CAMPING: modern sites, electric, and full-hookup Of the 264 campsites, 149 have electric and some are available with full-hookup. The campground has flush toilets, warm showers, sanitary dumping stations, and drinking water. Pets are permitted in designated sites. Please follow all pet camping rules. The campground opens in mid-April and closes the third Sunday in October. Site occupancy is limited to one family unit (persons living under one household) or one non-family unit limited to five persons, including one responsible individual 18 years of age or older. The maximum camping period is 14 consecutive nights. CAMPING COTTAGES: Eight cottages near the campground sleep five people in either single bunks or double/single bunks, and have wooden floors, windows, screened porch, picnic table, fire ring, and electric heat, lights, and outlets. ORGANIZED GROUP CABIN CAMPS: Large, cabin camps are available for nonprofit organized youth and adult groups from the first Friday in June to September 30. Facilities include flush toilets, central shower house, large dining hall, and kitchen, plus small cabins for campers. Applications are only available at the park office. ORGANIZED GROUP TENTING: Qualified, organized adult and youth groups may use the 100-person capacity area. This Enjoy the Winter SNOWMOBILING: The 10-mile trail system in the park connects with the more than 120-mile trail system in Forbes State Forest. Conditions permitting, the trail system is open daily for registered snowmobiles after the end of deer rifle season in mid-December. Trail maps are available at the park office. ICE FISHING: The 63-acre Laurel Hill Lake is open to ice fishing. Common species are bass, crappie, trout, and perch. Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, make sure ice is at least 4” thick for a single angler and 7” thick for a small group. Always carry safety equipment. SLEDDING AND TOBOGGANING: A sledding hill is in the field loop area of the campground. Lighted on weekends until 9:00 PM as conditions permit, a fire ring and wood are also provided for sledders. SNOWSHOEING: All 15 miles of hiking trails are ideal for showshoeing. HUFMAN LODGE: Tucked away in a secluded area of Laurel Hill State Park, Hufman Lodge is modern yet retains rustic charm. The wood burner, cathedral ceiling, and large, private deck overlooking the park and the Laurel Highlands make the lodge cozy and spectacular. The lodge is well equipped for the winter recreation season, including ski and snowboard racks, and glove and boot dryers. The two-story lodge has five bedrooms, which sleep 14 guests. The lodge has three bathrooms (two full, one ¾), one and one-half kitchens, recreation room, and laundry. Guests must provide their own linens. COPPER KETTLE LODGE: Situated minutes from Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, and Great Allegheny Passage, the Copper Kettle Lodge provides year-round opportunities for recreation and relaxation. The lodge sleeps 8 and provides all the comforts and amenities needed. Three bedrooms, one bathroom, full kitchen, living room, dining room, rec room, and the large great room offer plenty of space. Guests must provide their own linens. HISTORY Far longer than many areas of the state, the Laurel Hill Valley escaped the unbridled logging that swept through Pennsylvania. The steep stream valleys and rugged hills made logging difficult until technology laid the tracks to enable the trees to be hauled to mills. Powerful, slow locomotives climbed the switchback tracks through Laurel Hill and hauled the logs to mills. From 1886 to 1940, logging companies clear-cut the trees of the park, leaving behind a wasteland of brambles prone to forest fires and flooding. Only the Hemlock Trail Natural Area escaped the loggers’ reach. Beginning in 1935, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration began purchasing sub-marginal agricultural and forest land WILDLIFE WATCHING The rich flora and fauna of Laurel Hill State Park make it a great place to watch wildlife year round. The mixed deciduous forest is dominated by oak, maple, cherry, and poplar trees with an understory of witch hazel, serviceberry, rhododendron, and mountain laurel. Although most of the park was timbered in the early 1900s, for unknown reasons the Hemlock Trail Natural Area remains intact. Many of the massive eastern hemlocks within this six-acre old growth stand are over 300 years old. Look and listen for black-throated green warblers and blackburnian warblers who depend on this unique habitat. Wildflowers are common and range from the early blooming trillium and spring beauty that grace the trail edges, to the bee balm that colors the fields and roadsides well into November. Whether by sound or sight, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of bird species, both migrant and resident. Especially popular are the tree swallows and eastern bluebirds that inhabit the park’s man-made nest boxes. The trail winds from below the campground to the meadow across from the visitor center. This relatively open area is also a popular hunting ground for diurnal raptors, such as the redtailed hawk, and nocturnal predators, such as tiny screech owls that nest in the area each year. In the spring and early summer, calls of spring peepers, bullfrogs, and American toads fill the night, intermingled with the haunting calls of great horned and barred owls. Ruffed grouse drum on air making a sound like an engine trying to start. Late in the summer, the chirps, trills, and buzzes of katydids, cicadas, and tree crickets fill the night. Small mammals like woodchucks, chipmunks, and gray, red, and fox squirrels are commonly seen throughout the park during daylight hours. White-tailed deer and eastern cottontail rabbits are most often seen at dawn or dusk in the open meadow areas. The elusive mink, fox, black bear, coyote, bobcat, and fisher have been spotted in the park. Familiar to every camper are the skunk, raccoon, and opossum that search for carelessly stored camp foods. Please observe wildlife only from a distance and do not feed wildlife. Ruffed grouse INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS Laurel Hill State Park 1454 Laurel Hill Park Road Somerset, PA 15501-5629 814-445-7725 email: laurelhillsp@pa.gov GPS DD: Lat. 40.01023 Long. -79.2244 An Equal Opportunity Employer www.visitPAparks.com  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. @laurelhillsp 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. 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 Somerset Hospital 225 South Center Avenue Somerset, PA 15501 814-443-5000 If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit. Nearby Attractions For information on nearby attractions, contact Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, 800-333-5661. www.laurelhighlands.org Kooser State Park’s 250 acres of forest and stream provide a beautiful backdrop for picnicking, fishing, hiking, camping, and cross-country skiing. 814-445-8673 Laurel Ridge State Park is home to the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, and offers snowmobiling, hunting, and crosscountry skiing. 724-455-3744 Ohiopyle State Park has whitewater rafting on the Youghiogheny River and biking on the Great Allegheny Passage. 724-329-8591 Forbes State Forest provides 60,000 acres for hunting, fishing, hiking, and the highest point in Pennsylvania – Mount Davis, 3,213 feet. 724-238-1200 Laurel Mountain State Park offers a family-friendly downhill skiing and snowboarding area, and the lodge offers food and beverages. For more information, contact the Laurel Mountain Ski Resort at 724-238-2801. www.laurelmountainski.com Fallingwater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is open for guided house tours, (724) 329-8501. www.fallingwater.org Hidden Valley and Seven Springs resorts have skiing, dining, and conference hosting. Hidden Valley Resort, 814-443-8000. www.hiddenvalleyresort.com Seven Springs Resort, 814-352-7777. www.7springs.com The Flight 93 National Memorial visitor center and memorial plaza are open to the public, 814-893-6322. www.nps.gov/flni/index.htm TRAILS: 15 miles Park Office GPS Coordinates Decimal Degree Lat. Long. To PA 31 & Hidden Valley e Cris 2050 200 0 T-368 0 200 50 0 210 T-3 64 Ro ad 50 21 205 0 0 225 ad Ro nt 37 Tre R 30 S 2550 250 0 245 2100 2050 2000 2100 SOMERSET COUNTY 2300 10 30 2200 215 0 d 2200 00 20 0 24 00 p Co Willis 0 0 22 4 2150 To PA 281 Enlargement Lakeview tl Ket e Bea ch l Trai 0 194 0 50 21 0 210 Dam 0 26 50 26 0 80 19 60 0 ke 21 50 50 22 22 00 rel 230 0 2020 19 60 194 0 Hi ll 225 0 B To Road le Kett 21 00 u La ke La 2250 e ous Shay pe r il Tra 21 00 20 00 230 0 215 0 SR 3 033 am Rd. 21 215 00 00 Barron 20 50 t en Tr d for ed 2000 50 21 200 FEET l Trai 0 192 0 196 200 2100 C o p p er Ke t t l e Hw y . 2200 S rg To Greensbu 50 22 22 00 21 50 Re rgh bu itts To P 21 50 00 Rd . 21 0 5 20 SR 3033 Church . Rd To New Centerville & PA 281, 4 Mi. arr on B e Lak 029 SR 3 2250 2200 Hill 3 10 194 y. White Oak Hw ad Ro 2140 2120 2100 080 2 0 206 040 0 2 202 0 0 20 1980 220 50 2050 2100 2150 2200 CONTOURS ARE ON 20 FT. INTERVALS 19 235 La 23 00 0 l re 20 Copper Kettle Lodge 4 220 0 Roa 1 er pp Co rch Chu Rd . 5 9 T4 50 20 Lake Tre nt SR 30 Rd. 37 Beach #3 CCC Monument Visitor Center TRENT Sugar Maple 50 20 ry 00 20 rel Lau 7 Trai l Dam Firewood Rd. 11 Cr. Trent Rd. er Hufman Lodge Old Mill #1 2 205 0 See Enlargement 0 ll Hi 039 SR 3 k Cree 220 u La 5 Jones, Scott, Singo Cemetery 2050 0 200 200 Trent le Ball Field l re u La p Tri 00 20 p Cop 50 20 00 20 50 20 0 210 #8 #5 2200 2150 2100 0 215 SR LAUREL HILL STATE PARK 9 0 0 220 8 220 2000 Creek 0 Hill Trail 00 21 0 2150 Jim tow n 21 To PA 31 & Hidden Valley 2150 2100 2050 Camp Conestoga Boy Scouts 0 200 k Tra il 210 51 T-5 n Ru 2150 0 205 He ml oc Hemlock Trail Natural Area Run e Lin Trail 6 l Trai n Ru l Trai 215 23 00 Buck r Wa te 00 21 Road Mill house mp Pu 50 21 Tram Teaching Trail Station e Ridg Line Run 1 KILOMETER In diantow n 1. Visitor Center 39.99204 , -79.24164 2. Amphitheater 39.99490 , -79.24506 3. Boat Launch (Dam) 39.99510 , -79.23929 4. Beach 39.99645 , -79.23967 5. Jones, Scott, Singo Cemetery 40.00260 , -79.24036 6. Jones Mill Run Dam (via Pumphouse Trail) 40.00555 , -79.23230 40.00555 , -79.23230 7. Boat Launch (Old Mill) 23 50 00 21 Camp Buck Run Cub Scouts 50 21 n Ru 00 22 Jones Mill Run Dam 50 21 Crab 2250 Contact Station Blue Symbols Mean ADA Accessible Public Phone Food Concession Modern Restrooms Amphitheater Picnicking Picnic Pavilion Playground Swimming Beach Sledding Fishing Pier Boat Rental Non-motorized Boat Launch Boat Launch 8. ADA fishing access 40.00840 , -79.23259 9. Park Office 40.00979 , -79.22440 10. Scenic View at Laurel Hill Parking 39.97710 , -79.235979 00 22 2400 2250 Tr. 2150 2300 nty Cou Snowmobiling Parking Snowmobile CONTOURS ARE ON 100 FT. INTERVALS 1/2 1/2 MILE 22 00 Boat Mooring Camping Dump Station Organized Group Cabin Camp Organized Group Tenting Area 11. Trent Picnic Area 39.98396 , -79.249098 il Tra 2350 Trail Rd. 2250 CENTER CHURCH 2100 Multi-use Trail: Hiking , Mountain Biking Joint Use Road: Auto/ Snowmobiling Trail Information Hiking Trail 2250 2200 1/4 1/4 50 The hiking trails of Laurel Hill State Park are listed according to difficulty, arranged from the easiest to the most difficult. Most trails are wide, easily followed, and blazed in yellow. Routed signs are posted at intersections of various trails. Shay Trail: 0.5 mile, easiest hiking This trail pays homage to the Shay locomotives that traversed Laurel Hill Creek valley during the logging of the early 1900s. This trail connects Ridge, Tram Road, and Pumphouse trails. Martz Trail: 1 mile, easiest hiking This wide trail passes through several forest ecosystems and provides the widest variety of tree species during fall foliage. Camping Cottage Lodge Parking Paved Buck 0 230 2350 rtz Pu mp h Trail Tram 0 24 0 0 250 2550 00 24 0 0 00 23 Parking Unpaved Road Unpaved Ma 2300 0 260 ad Ro 50 23 1/8 d Roa Ga 1950 State Park No Hunting FORBES S TAT E FOREST 26 00 25 50 Tr ail 2400 50 26 Rd. 39 30 SR ek e Cr 0 230 1/4 1/4 ek Cre k ee Cr 0 210 00 20 0 195 1900 0 2200 Rev. 03/07/19 50 20 State Park Hunting 27 00 2650 Mi ll Run 2300 2350 Road Cou nty Line SR 3029 Triple 50 21 Allen 00 Hemlock Natural Area Archery Only Hunting Re d Oa k Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only To Beck Springs & PA 31 Jo nes J on es ll Mi Trail 2300 2350 2400 2500 0 255 00 26 New Centerville Kett le Hwy. 281 00 653 0 230 00 Copper Kettle Trail: 1.25 miles, easiest hiking This new, family-friendly bike trail meanders along the western shoreline of Laurel Hill Lake. It connects Old Mill Picnic Area to the Beach Picnic Area and the campground. It provides excellent fishing access, and allows visitors to explore the park without using a vehicle. Pumphouse Trail: 1.6 miles, easiest hiking A slow, gradual incline leads from the Pumphouse Trail Parking Lot along a wide path to the Jones Mill Run Dam. Benches and large rocks provide a resting place where visitors can enjoy this scenic historic site built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Water Line Trail: 0.6 mile, more difficult hiking An uphill grade from the Pumphouse Trail Parking Lot, this trail is perfect for viewing geologic features such as the lepidodendron fossils common to the park. ry 50 23 50 To B osw ell 31 p Cop 2300 Trent New er Somerset Exit 110 00 25 601 601 70 76 Rd . Ba 281 rro Lexington n Ch ur ch Rd . 2150 22 0 22 0 50 23 Trai l ltz 2450 2000 le Trip 20 Be 2450 2200 0 235 Rd. 2250 2300 235 0 2150 2200 2250 2300 2350 22 00 50 20 R3 03 3 To PA 653, Scullton & New Lexington S 0 240 m bc at 2450 2500 ry lle sti Di Rea Ru n uce 2000 e ttl Ke 1900 Lyo ns Spr 2050 2500 653 s 00 Hemlock Trail: 1.2 miles, more difficult hiking Narrow at times and running along steep banks in places, this trail loops through the six-acre natural area. Hemlock Trail Natural Area is comprised of old growth Eastern hemlock trees along a portion of Laurel Hill Creek, which contains a native trout population. er Ch 26 2600 985 To Jennerstown Laurel Mountain Rd. Laurel Summit Line Bakersville Kooser . Rd Rd. e e Driv Scullton Laurel Ridge Line SR 3029 LAUREL HILL Hidden Valley Indian Head alvill To Norm 19 50 1950 Ridge Trail: 1.5 miles, more difficult hiking This wide, grassy trail is often used as a wildlife corridor. It offers the best opportunity for chance encounters with wildlife and viewing animal tracks and signs. 0 270 Linn Run County Laurel 2700 Ridge Laurel Ridge To Oh i o pyle 0 Tram Road Trail: 1.7 miles, more difficult hiking This trail follows the general course of the logging railroad that traversed Laurel Hill State Park and Jones Mill Run in the early 1900s. 381 2600 381 381 711 2700 20 20 50 00 21 21 50 00 2000 Beltz Trail: 2.75 miles, more difficult hiking Beltz Trail follows an old road grade and provides access to many of the park’s trails as well as several on Forbes State Forest. Bobcat Trail: 1 mile, most difficult hiking This rugged and remote trail offers thick mountain laurel and opportunities for wildlife viewing. The trail crosses Buck Run in numerous places that do not have foot bridges. Lake Trail: 1.75 miles, most difficult hiking This scenic trail winds along Laurel Hill Creek and follows the eastern shore of Laurel Hill Lake. This steep, narrow, sloping path is slippery in places. 711 2500 2400 70 76 Stahlstown 130 711 31 711 Exit 91 Donegal 2650 00 0 20 220 Road SR 3035 225 s ne Jo 22 2200 tt Pri 21 To PA 711, 381& Champion R3 0 29 2600 0 260 2450 0 e 0 Rd . Lyons 19 00 50 20 00 SEVEN SPRINGS 2650 2550 0 255 g Villa 195 50 N 50 19 25 Bo wood To Ro ck 50 50 250 2750 23 00 For a Safe Hike: • Wear sturdy shoes to protect your feet. • Carry the proper safety equipment, like a first aid kit and a poncho. • Stay on the trail. If you hike off of the trail, you could become lost or damage the fragile habitat. • Carry drinking water. DO NOT drink from streams, springs, or lakes without properly treating the water first. • Tell someone where you are going and when you will return. Tell us about your hike at: Mountain Biking: Ridge, Beltz, Martz, Pumphouse, Waterline, and Copper Kettle trails are all open to mountain biking. Beltz Trail connects to several trails in Forbes State Forest that are also open to mountain biking. 2800 Rd . Hill Park N L l re au Rd. ille ersv W. Edie Bak S Sp even rin gs 24 Ki ng wo od To Ream 035 SR 3 d Roa Ream nt y Co u 00 24 00 S3 0 24 00 nier To Ligo 27 25 28 To U 26 2250