Sizerville State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sizerville State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Picnic and other recreational facilities at the park
Sizerville State Park Location in Pennsylvania
Location	Pennsylvania, United States
Area	386 acres (156 ha)
Elevation	1,627 ft (496 m)
Established	1924
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Sizerville State Park

Sizerville State Park is a fun place to visit in Pennsylvania, USA. It covers about 386 acres (that's like 290 football fields!). The park is mostly in Cameron County and Potter County.

This park is special because it's almost completely surrounded by Elk State Forest. This means it's part of one of the biggest areas of state-owned land in Pennsylvania. You can find Sizerville State Park on Pennsylvania Route 155, about six miles (10 km) north of the town of Emporium.

Park History

Sizerville State Park gets its name from a nearby place called Sizerville, Pennsylvania. This was once a small town, but it's now a ghost town because people gradually moved away. The town was named after the Sizer family, who were some of the first people to settle in this area.

The park first opened its doors in 1924. The very first visitor facilities were ready in 1927.

During the 1930s, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped replant trees around Sizerville State Park. This was during a tough time called the Great Depression. Many old trees had been cut down around the year 1900. The CCC planted thousands of new white pine and hemlock trees. Today, these trees are fully grown and make up most of the beautiful forests you see in Sizerville State Park.

Fun Things to Do

Sizerville State Park is a great place for outdoor adventures!

Hiking Trails

The park has five different trails that loop around for hiking.

• The Bottomlands, North Slope, and Campground trails are mostly flat and easy to walk.
• The Sizerville Nature Trail is a three-mile (5 km) loop. It has special spots where you can learn about nature. This trail also connects to the longer Bucktail Path Trail.
• The Nady Hollow Trail is a bit more challenging, as it climbs up a mountain that is about 1,900 feet (579 m) high.

Swimming Pool

You can cool off in the park's swimming pool! It's open from Memorial Day (late May) until Labor Day (early September).

Camping

If you love sleeping under the stars, Sizerville State Park has a campground with 23 sites.

• Eighteen of these sites have electricity for your camper or RV.
• The campground also has clean flush toilets, showers, and a place to dump waste.
• For those who prefer tents, there are five special sites right next to a creek that you can hike into.

Picnic Areas

The park has six picnic pavilions and more than 200 picnic tables. These areas are nicely shaded by the tall white pine and hemlock trees. Many picnic spots are close to restrooms and playgrounds, which is perfect for families.

Fishing

Sizerville State Park is a fantastic spot for fishing. There are six creeks within the park.

• The east and west branches of Cowley Run are home to brook and brown trout.
• Cowley Run is known for some of the best fishing in the park. It has its own population of native brown trout. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission also adds more fish (this is called stocking) each spring.
• Portage Creek and Driftwood Creek, which are branches of Sinnemahoning Creek, also have trout and smallmouth bass.
• Sinnemahoning Creek itself is another great place to fish for bass and trout.

Hunting

Hunting is allowed in about 200 acres of Sizerville State Park. Hunters must follow the rules set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Some common animals hunted here include ruffed grouse, squirrels, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, and American black bears.

Winter Fun

When winter arrives, Sizerville State Park becomes a snowy playground!

• The park gets an average of 60 to 70 inches (152 to 178 cm) of snow every winter.
• You can go snowmobiling and Cross-country skiing here.
• The park offers access to many miles of trails in the nearby state forests that are specially prepared for snowmobiles and cross-country skiers.

Learning About Nature

A beautiful great spangled fritillary butterfly at the park's butterfly garden

Sizerville State Park is a great place to learn about nature.

• The Environmental Education Building has exhibits and information about the plants and animals that live in the park.
• They teach people how to plant things around their homes to attract creatures like butterflies and squirrels.
• The park also offers special learning programs for youth groups, schools, and teachers.
• Park rangers lead guided tours, giving everyone a chance to learn hands-on about the park's environment.

Nearby Parks

Here are some other state parks that are within 30 miles (48 km) of Sizerville State Park:

• Bendigo State Park (Elk County)
• Bucktail State Park Natural Area (Cameron and Clinton Counties)
• Cherry Springs State Park (Potter County)
• Denton Hill State Park (Potter County)
• Elk State Park (Elk County)
• Kettle Creek State Park (Clinton County)
• Kinzua Bridge State Park (McKean County)
• Lyman Run State Park (Potter County)
• Ole Bull State Park (Potter County)
• Patterson State Park (Potter County)
• Prouty Place State Park (Potter County)
• Sinnemahoning State Park (Cameron and Potter Counties)