Lyman Run State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lyman Run State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Lyman Lake at Lyman Run State Park
Lyman Run State Park Location in Pennsylvania
Location	Potter, Pennsylvania, United States
Area	595 acres (241 ha)
Elevation	1,690 ft (520 m)
Established	1951
Named for	Major Isaac Lyman
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Lyman Run State Park

Lyman Run State Park is a fun Pennsylvania state park in Potter County. It covers about 595 acres of land. The park is home to Lyman Run Lake, a 45-acre man-made lake. This lake is surrounded by a beautiful forest of maple and cherry trees.

The park is located about 7 miles west of Galeton. It is also 15 miles east of Coudersport. Lyman Run State Park is almost completely surrounded by the large Susquehannock State Forest.

Park History

Major Isaac Lyman: A County Founder

Lyman Run State Park gets its name from the creek that flows through it. This creek was later dammed to create Lyman Run Lake. Major Isaac Lyman was an important figure in the area's history. He was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War.

Major Lyman was one of the first people to settle permanently in Potter County. Many people consider him the founder of the county. He even received money for each new settler he convinced to move there. In 1809, he built his home in a nearby place called Lymansville, which is now known as Ladonna. Major Lyman also built the first road to cross Potter County. He also created the county's first sawmill and gristmill.

Major Lyman had a large family with 17 children. His descendants still live and work in Potter County today.

The Lumber Era: Forests and Rivers

In the late 1800s, the Lyman Run area was part of a huge lumbering operation. This happened across much of north central Pennsylvania. Brothers Frank and Charles Goodyear bought the land near Lyman Run. They owned a railroad and a lumber company.

They harvested huge old-growth white pine and hemlock trees. These logs were floated down Lyman Run. They traveled to a log boom in Williamsport. This journey involved the West Branch of Pine Creek, then Pine Creek itself, and finally the West Branch Susquehanna River.

Modern Park Development

In the 1930s, a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp was built at this location. The CCC was a program that helped young men find work during the Great Depression. They built many parks and trails across the country.

Towards the end of World War II, the former CCC camp became a prisoner of war camp. German prisoners were held there by the U.S. Military. In 1951, construction began to turn the area into a state park. In 2000, Lyman Run State Park became part of the Hills Creek State Park complex. This means it is managed with seven other state parks in Potter and Tioga counties.

Things to Do at the Park

Camping, Picnics, and Hiking Trails

Lyman Run State Park offers different ways to camp. You can find modern campsites with electricity for RVs. There are 29 such sites, each with a fire ring, picnic table, and lantern hanger. The campground also has a place to empty RV waste.

If you prefer tent camping, there are six rustic walk-in areas. These spots have outhouses and hand-operated water pumps.

The park also has a central, shaded picnic area. It includes charcoal grills, outhouses, and a play area for kids. Drinking water is available from hand pumps. There is also one picnic pavilion you can use.

The entrance sign for Lyman Run State Park

Lyman Run State Park has about 6 miles of hiking trails. These trails connect to a much larger system in the nearby Susquehannock State Forest. The park is a northern entry point for the Susquehannock Trail System (STS). This is an 85-mile loop trail mostly on state forest land. The STS runs about 1.5 miles west of the park. You can reach it from an access trail at the southwest end of the lake.

Hunting Opportunities

Hunting is allowed on about 505 acres of Lyman Run State Park. Hunters must follow the rules set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Common animals hunted here include ruffed grouse, squirrels, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and black bears. However, hunting groundhogs is not allowed in the park. Many more acres are available for hunting in the nearby Susquehannock State Forest.

Fun on Lyman Run Lake

You cannot use gas-powered motors on Lyman Run Lake. Only electric motors are allowed for boats. Rowboats, canoes, and kayaks are welcome on the lake. All boats must be properly registered with the state.

Lyman Run Lake is a great place for fishing. The water is very clean. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks the lake with rainbow and palomino trout during fishing season.

In winter, you can go ice fishing for trout. It is important to know that the ice thickness is not checked by the park. You should make sure the ice is at least 4 inches thick before walking on it. Ice skating is also allowed when the ice is thick enough, but only near the beach area.

Swimming is permitted in Lyman Run Lake. The swimming season starts on Memorial Day weekend and ends on Labor Day weekend. Since 2008, lifeguards are no longer stationed at the beach.

Nearby State Parks

A trail marker for the Spur Line Trail

Here are some other state parks within 30 miles of Lyman Run State Park:

• Bucktail State Park Natural Area (Cameron and Clinton Counties)
• Cherry Springs State Park (Potter County)
• Colton Point State Park (Tioga County)
• Denton Hill State Park (Potter County)
• Hyner Run State Park (Clinton County)
• Hyner View State Park (Clinton County)
• Kettle Creek State Park (Clinton County)
• Leonard Harrison State Park (Tioga County)
• Patterson State Park (Potter County)
• Prouty Place State Park (Potter County)
• Sinnemahoning State Park (Cameron and Potter Counties)
• Sizerville State Park (Cameron and Potter Counties)

Images for kids

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  Spillway, lake, and bathhouse.