Worlds End State Park

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Bird watchers have observed over 200 species of birds in the park, including the Northern Goshawk, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier and White-throated Sparrow. cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/worldsend/worldsend_wildlife.aspx
title = Worlds End State Park Natural History
accessdate = 2008-06-08
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ] The state park and forest are part of the larger Pennsylvania Important Bird Area (IBA) #42, which encompasses convert|214839|acre|ha. The Pennsylvania Audubon Society has designated the IBA as a globally important habitats for the conservation of bird populations. The IBA is home to Swainson's Thrush and Ruffed Grouse, the state bird. Other bird species found in the park and IBA include Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos, Acadian and Least Flycatchers, Northern and Louisiana Waterthrushes, and warblers such as the Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Canada, Magnolia, Mourning, Nashville, and Yellow-rumped.

Worlds End State Park is featured in the Audubon Society's "Susquehanna River Birding and Wildlife Trail Guide". Birds of interest in the park include Common Mergansers along the creek and other riparian species such as Tufted Titmouse, as well as Barred, Great Horned, and Northern Saw-whet Owls. Other avian species seen in the park and forest include Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Common Raven, Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Winter Wren. These bird populations are typical of "mature northern hardwood-hemlock forests and high elevation swamps and conifer swamps". cite book |last= Audubon Pennsylvania |authorlink= National Audubon Society |coauthors= Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |title= Susquehanna River Birding and Wildlife Trail |origdate= 2004 |url= http://web1.audubon.org/trailMaps/trail-guide/site.asp?id=51 |format= Searchable database |accessdate= 2008-06-08|location= Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |pages= p. 26 "Note": This guide is available both as a book (page number given) and website (URL given). It also refers to Wyoming State Forest, which has been reorganized as Loyalsock State Forest.]

Recreation

Trails

There are over convert|20|mi|0 of hiking trails at Worlds End State Park. Most of the trails are rocky and steep, so hikers are encouraged to wear proper footgear and to be prepared for icy conditions during the cold winter months. cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/worldsend_trails.aspx
title = Worlds End State Park Trails
accessdate = 2008-06-08
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ] As John Young writes in "Hike Pennsylvania" "If you want to do some hiking in the Worlds End region, you should know that hiking here means climbing".cite book | title = Hike Pennsylvania: An Atlas of Pennsylvania's Greatest Hiking Adventures |last = Young |first= John |year = 2001 |publisher = The Globe Pequot Press |location = Guilford, Connecticut |id = ISBN 0-7627-0924-3 ] Worlds End State Park is open during the winter months for snow mobiling and cross-country skiing. Most of the trails are too steep or rugged for either activity, but the park roads are open, as are trails on surrounding state forest lands.

* Loyalsock Trail is a convert|59.28|mi|2|adj=on rugged hiking trail that stretches from Loyalsockville, Lycoming County on Pennsylvania Route 87 to Dushore, Sullivan County on U.S. Route 220. This trail follows the ridges and streams of the Loyalsock Creek watershed. The trail is primarily within the boundaries of Loyalsock State Forest and uses some old logging roads and abandoned railroad grades. cite web | url = http://www.lycoming.org/alpine/Index.htm | title = The Alpine Club of Williamsport and the Loyalsock Trail | accessdate = 2008-06-08 | publisher = The Alpine Club of Williamsport ] cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/hiking/loyalsock.aspx | title = Loyalsock Trail | accessdate = 2008-06-08 | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ]

* Link Trail is a convert|8.5|mi|1|adj=on long trail that is marked with red x's on a yellow circle blaze. The trail follows Loyalsock Creek before it branches off and follows Double Run. The trail then ascends to the Canyon Vista and heads out into Loyalsock State Forest where it links up with the Loyalsock Trail.

* Canyon Vista Trail is a convert|3.5|mi|1|adj=on long trail that passes through the eastern portion of the park and a stand of ash, Sugar Maple, and Black Cherry trees. This trail passes a maze-like jumble of blocky Pottsville Formation rocks known as the Rock Garden, adjacent to Canyon Vista.

* Worlds End Trail is a convert|3.25|mi|2|adj=on long moderate hiking trail that begins and ends at the park office and is marked with red blazes. The trail ascends to an overlook of the swimming area and then crosses the old Pioneer Road, which was used by some of the first settlers to the area.

* Butternut Trail is a convert|2.5|mi|1|adj=on trail marked with terra red blazes that loops through a hardwood forest and crosses over Butternut Run. Two side trails connect Butternut Trail with the Loyalsock Trail.

* Double Run Nature Trail is an easy convert|1.2|mi|1|adj=on trail that loops through woodlands along the west branch of Double Run. Wildflowers like Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Solomon's Seal and wild ginger can be seen on this trail, which passes by an intermittent waterfall.

* High Rock Trail is a convert|1.0|mi|1|adj=on trail that also passes a waterfall on its convert|1.0|mi|1|adj=on course. This steep trail is marked with yellow blazes and climbs a hollow filled with lichen-covered rocks.

Fishing, hunting, and whitewater

According to John Young, "As soon as you enter Worlds End State Park, you hear it: the never-ending rush of the waters of Loyalsock Creek". The creek and its tributary Double Run have been designated as approved trout waters within the park by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. This means the waters will be stocked with trout and may be fished during trout season. cite web | author= Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission | url= http://www.fish.state.pa.us/water/county/pfbcmaps/sull.htm | title = 2007 PFBC County Maps - Sullivan County | accessdate= 2008-06-08 ] Hunting is permitted on about half of the lands of Worlds End State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species are Ruffed Grouse, Eastern Gray Squirrels, Turkey, White-tailed Deer and Bears; however, the hunting of Groundhogs is prohibited.

Edward Gertler, author of "Keystone Canoeing", writes that Loyalsock Creek's "... exciting whitewater, above Forksville, has long been a favorite of paddlers who are quick and tolerant enough to endure its fickle water levels and weather". This is the stretch of the creek in and near the park, whose "long, steepening, and complex boulder patch and ledgy rapids demand your attention ... A boater's chute through the middle of the swimming area dam at Worlds End State Park climaxes this run". cite book |last= Gertler |first= Edward |title= Keystone Canoeing: A Guide to Canoeable Waters of Eastern Pennsylvania |year= 1985 |edition= 1st Edition |publisher= Seneca Press |location= Silver Spring, Maryland |id= ISBN 0-9605908-2-X |pages= pp. 295–297 ]

The best time for whitewater boating on Loyalsock Creek at Worlds End State Park is from March to May, and the park hosts a slalom race on Loyalsock Creek each Spring. The whitewater gradient is 41 for the section of the creek in and near the park, and its rating on the International Scale of River Difficulty is II to III+, with sections reaching IV. The water is too swift for open canoes, so visitors are asked to use kayaks. The swimming area is closed to whitewater boating during the summer months.

Cabins, camping, swimming, and picnics

When appointed as manager of the park in 2002, William C. Kocher said "Camping really is king here at Worlds End, and the rustic cabins are especially popular ... We also have plenty of picnics and reunions, many of them drawing generation after generation, year after year". [cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/polycomm/pressrel/kocher0502.htm |title = DCNR Appoints New Manager at Worlds End State Park |publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources | accessdate = 2008-05-21] Worlds End State Park has three options for visitors interested in staying overnight. There are 19 rustic cabins, each with a refrigerator, stove, fireplace, table with chairs, and beds. There is a 70-site tent and camper campground along Pennsylvania Route 154. Some of the campsites have an electric hook-up, and there is a central shower facility with water and restrooms located nearby. Three organized group tenting areas, each capable of accommodating 30 people, are also available north of the cabins. They may also be used for one large group of up to 90 campers. Non-denominational Christian worship services, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, are held in a wooded chapel at the park on Sunday mornings during the summer.cite web | url = http://www.pachurches.org/html/worlds_end_state_park.htm | title = Chapel Services at Worlds End & Ricketts Glen State Parks | accessdate = 2008-05-11 | publisher = Pennsylvania Council of Churches]

The picnic and swimming areas are adjacent to each other, with the building housing the bath house and concession stand between them. There are many picnic tables and several pavilions available for day use by visitors to the park. During the Great Depression the Civilian Conservation Corps built a convert|7|ft|adj=on tall dam on Loyalsock Creek, which provides a convert|1|acre|1 swimming area at Worlds End State Park. [cite web | url= http://www.fish.state.pa.us/rrdam.htm |title = Run of the River Dams |publisher = Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission | accessdate = 2008-05-23] As of 2008, lifeguards are no longer posted at the swimming area beach. [cite web | url = http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=384046 | title = Pa. state parks going without life guards at beaches in 2008 | accessdate = 2008-02-15 | work = The Times Leader]

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within convert|30|mi|0 of Worlds End State Park:cite web
last = Michels
first = Chris
year = 1997
url = http://www2.nau.edu/~cvm/latlongdist.html
title = Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation
publisher = Northern Arizona University
accessdate = 2008-04-20] [cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/region_northeast.aspx
title = Map Reference for Worlds End State Park
accessdate = 2008-06-08
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ]
*Mount Pisgah State Park (Bradford County)
*Ricketts Glen State Park (Columbia, Luzerne, and Sullivan Counties)
*Susquehanna State Park (Lycoming County)

References

External links

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*PDFlink| [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/worldsend/worldsend_camp.pdf Worlds End Campground Map] |190 KB
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