French Creek State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids French Creek State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Hopewell Lake in autumn
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 French Creek State Park
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 7,526 acres (30.46 km2) |
| Elevation | 781 ft (238 m) |
| Established | 1946 |
| Named for | French Creek |
| Visitors | over 883,000 |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | French Creek State Park |
French Creek State Park is a huge park in Pennsylvania, covering 7,526 acres (3,046 ha). It's located in Chester and Berks Counties, right along French Creek. This park is part of a larger natural area called the Hopewell Big Woods.
The park has two main lakes: Hopewell Lake, which is 68 acres (28 ha) and has warm water, and Scotts Run Lake, a 22 acres (8.9 ha) cold water lake. A state record smallmouth bass was even caught in Scotts Run Lake!
French Creek State Park is known for its many forests and nearly 40 miles (64 km) of trails. These trails are great for hiking, horseback riding, and even mountain bikes. Right next to the park is Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, which is an old iron-making furnace from the 1830s. The park is a popular spot and was even named one of the "25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks."
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Park History
The land that is now French Creek State Park used to be covered in very old, tall American chestnut trees. Starting in 1771, these trees were cut down. Their wood was turned into charcoal, which was used to power the iron furnace at nearby Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site.
The forests would grow back, and then be cut down again about every 25 years. This continued for 112 years until 1883. Cutting down so many trees changed the environment a lot. The hillsides that were once full of different woodland animals became bare. But slowly, the forest began to grow back.
Forest Regrowth and the CCC
Today, the forests at French Creek State Park are mostly made up of oak, maple, and other hardwood trees. This regrowth was helped by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a program started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression. It helped young men find work.
These CCC workers came to Pennsylvania and helped clear the forests and streams. They also built many of the things you can still see and use in the park today. This includes camping areas, two small dams that created the lakes, picnic spots, and many roads and trails. They also started restoring the historic Hopewell Furnace.
Fun Activities at the Park
Hunting and Fishing
You can go hunting in over 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) of French Creek State Park. Hunters need to follow the rules set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Some common animals hunted here include pheasants, squirrels, turkeys, white-tailed deer, and rabbits. However, hunting groundhogs is not allowed.
The park's lakes offer different kinds of fishing. Scotts Run Lake is a cold water lake. It is regularly stocked with trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Hopewell Lake is a warm water lake. Here, you can catch fish like muskellunge, walleye, northern pike, chain picker and largemouth, pan fish, and smallmouth bass. If the weather is cold enough, you can even go ice fishing on both lakes. You can buy bait and fishing gear near the boat launch at Hopewell Lake.
Boating and Swimming
You cannot use gas-powered boats on the lakes at French Creek State Park. All other boats, like those with electric motors or no motor, must be registered with any state or have a special permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
The lakes themselves are not for swimming. But there is a swimming pool near Hopewell Lake. It's open every day from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend.
Disc Golf and Orienteering
The park has a disc golf course that is open all year. The course goes through the woods near Hopewell Lake. It has different spots for the "pins" (the targets), making it fun for everyone. You can get score cards and maps at the park office.
There's also a permanent Orienteering course. It starts and ends near the boat launch area. You can get maps for this at the park office too. Sometimes, the Delaware Valley Orienteering Association holds events here. You can find more information at www.dvoa.org.
Park Trails
French Creek State Park has over 30 miles (48 km) of trails. These trails are open for hiking. Some parts are also open for horseback riding, mountain biking, and even cross-country skiing in winter.
- Boone Trail is a 6-mile (9.7 km) hiking trail. It's considered "moderate" difficulty and is marked with blue signs. This trail forms a loop around the park. Mountain biking is not allowed near Hopewell Lake on this trail.
- Buzzards Trail is a 3-mile (4.8 km) "moderate" hiking trail. It follows along the banks of Baptism Creek.
- Horse-Shoe Trail is a very long trail, 130-mile (210 km) in total, for hiking and horseback riding. About 8 miles (13 km) of this trail goes through French Creek State Park. It starts at Valley Forge National Historic Park and ends near Harrisburg.
- Kalmia Trail is a 1-mile (1.6 km) "moderate" hiking trail. It goes through an old forest where you can see many mountain laurel plants.
- Lenape Trail is named after the Lenape tribe who once lived in this area. It's a 5.5-mile (8.9 km) "moderate" loop trail for hiking.
- Mill Creek Trail is a 6-mile (9.7 km) "difficult" trail. It's a backcountry trail, meaning it doesn't cross any paved roads. The starting point is at Pennsylvania Route 345 and Shed Road.
- Raccoon Trail is a 1.7-mile (2.7 km) "moderate" trail. It connects Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site with French Creek State Park.
- Six Penny Trail is a 3-mile (4.8 km) "moderate" hiking loop trail. It's located in the woods and connects to the campground by a short path.
- Turtle Trail is a 3.6-mile (5.8 km) trail that follows the western parts of French Creek.
Staying Overnight
If you want to stay overnight at French Creek State Park, you have a few choices. There are 201 modern campsites hidden in the woods for tents or campers. These sites have a central building with showers and toilets.
You can also rent one of ten modern cabins. Each cabin can sleep up to six people and has electric heat, a kitchen, and a private bathroom. For larger groups, there are two group camping areas. These areas have dining halls, central washhouses, and cabins for campers and staff. Some of these cabins were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps!
Forest Fires in the Park
On April 9, 2012, a forest fire started on the eastern side of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. It happened because a tree fell onto a power line during a very warm and dry spring. Before this, an unusual ice and snowstorm in October 2011 had damaged many tree limbs. This made the forest very dry and easy to burn.
The fire burned about 750 acres, mostly within the park. Because of the fire, trails east of Route 345 and south of Shed Road were closed. Many people living near the park had to leave their homes, but no homes were damaged by the fire. This was the longest, largest, and most expensive fire operation in the history of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Forestry. The fire was finally put out on April 23, 2012, two weeks after it began.
Another forest fire was seen in the park on April 1, 2016. It was almost four years after the first big fire and in about the same area. This fire was reported to have burned at least nine acres south of Miller's Point.
Nearby State Parks
Here are some other state parks within 30 miles (48 km) of French Creek State Park:
- Evansburg State Park (Montgomery County)
- Fort Washington State Park (Montgomery County)
- Marsh Creek State Park (Chester County)
- Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center (Berks County)
- Norristown Farm Park (Montgomery County)
- Ridley Creek State Park (Delaware County)
