Trough Creek State Park, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

stream.

Trough Creek State Park is a small state park in a gorge in Terrace Mountain in James Creek, Huntingdon County, Central Pennsylvania. It has hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, horseshoes, and volleyball. It is surrounded by Rothrock State Forest and Raystown Lake.

Area: 541 Acres

Fees:

Park Activities:

Yes, there is backpacking.

Backpacking is allowed on the Nicholas Crum Trail.

Yes, there is biking.

There are 3.5 miles of biking trails in the park. Old Forge Road is a dirt road that takes bikers to Raystown Lake.

Yes, there is boating.

Non-motorized canoes and kayaks only may access Great Trough Creek and reach Raystown Lake.

Yes, there is camping.

The restrooms have pit toilets and no showers. There are 29 sites and each has electric hookups. Pets are allowed at designated spots.

Yes, there is canoeing or kayaking.

Non-motorized canoes and kayaks only may access Great Trough Creek and reach Raystown Lake.

Yes, there is fishing.

Fishing is available either in Great Trough Creek or in Raystown Lake. Both warm and cold water species live here, including trout, smallmouth bass, rock bass, suckers, and panfish.

Yes, there is hiking.

There are 12 miles of hiking trails, and most of them are difficult.

Yes, there is horseback riding.

The Nicholas Crum Trail allows horseback riding. Part of the trail is in Trough Creek State Park, and part is in Rothrock State Forest. The trail is 1.5 miles, total.

Yes, there is horseshoes.
Yes, there is hunting.

About 100 acres of the park are open to hunting. Common species include deer, squirrel, grouse, and turkey.

Yes, there is picnicking.

There are five picnic areas. One large pavilion is available to rent, and a smaller pavilion is first-come, first-served.

Yes, there is cross country skiing.

Cross country skiing is allowed on all trails.

Yes, there is snow mobiling.

Snowmobiling is allowed on designated trails.

Yes, there is snowshoeing.

All trails are open to snowshoeing.

Yes, there is volleyball.
There is no information on geocaching available.
There is no available information about junior ranger programs.
There is no available information on ranger programs.
No, there is no ATVing.
No, there is no bacci ball.
No, there is no baseball or softball.
No, there is no basketball.
No, there is no collecting.
No, there is no disc golf.
No, there are no DRONEs allowed.
No, there is no football.
No, there is no gold panning.
No, there is no golfing.
No, there is no group camping.
No, there are no guided tours.
No, there is no hang gliding.
No, there is no ice boating.
No, there is no ice fishing.
No, there is no ice skating.
No, there is no jet skiing.
No, there is no kite surfing.
No, there is no mini golf.
No, there is no pickleball.
No, there is no power boating.
No, there is no rock climbing.
No, there is no row boating.
No, there is no sailboarding.
No, there is no sailing.
No, there is no SCUBA diving.
No, there is no shuffleboard.
No, there is no skateboarding.
No, there is no downhill skiing.
No, there is no sledding.
No, there is no snorkeling.
No, there is no snow tubing.
No, there is no soccer.
No, there is no stand up paddleboarding.
No, there is no surfing.
No, there is no swimming.
No, there is no tennis.
No, there is no trap shooting.
No, there is no water skiing.
No, there is no whitewater rafting.
No, there is no wind surfing.
No, there is no zipline.

Park Amenities:

Yes, there are benches.
Yes, there are cabins or cottages.

There is a two story house available for rent.

Yes, there is a dump station.
Yes, there are electricity hookups.
Yes, there are grills.
Yes, there is handicap accessibility.
Yes, there is a parking lot.
Yes, there is a pavilion.

There is one large pavilion that is available for rent and a small on that is first-come, first-served.

Yes, there are picnic tables.
Yes, there are toilets.

Yes, there are vault (pit) toilets.

Yes, there is a water fountain or water pump.

There are water pumps.

There is no information available about an amphitheater.
There is no available information about a bike rack.
There is no information about a gift shop available.
There is no information about a park office available.
There is no information available about trash cans.
There is no information about a visitor center, museum, or environmental education center available.
No, there is no archery range.
No, there is no auditorium.
No, there are no batting cages.
No, there are no beach showers.
No, there are no bleachers.
No, there is no boardwalk.
No, there is no boat ramp.
No, there is no camp store.
No, there are no classrooms.
No, there is no dog park.
No, there is no driving range.
No, there is no food concession.
No, there is no gazebo.
No, there is no green space.
No, there is no inn or lodge.
No, there is no laundry.
No, there is no marina.
No, there are no meeting facilities.
No, there is no observation deck or tower.
No, there is no observatory.
No, there is no pier.
No, there is no playground.
No, there are no recreational buildings.
No, there are no recycling cans.
No, there is no restaurant.
No, there are no sewer hookups.
No, there is no shooting range.
No, there are no showers.
No, there is no skate park.
No, there is no splash pad.
No, there is no swimming pool.

No, there are no flush toilets.

No, there is no port-a-potty.

No, there are no vending machines.
No, there are no water hookups.
No, there are no wellness stations.
No, there is no WiFi.
No, there are no yurts.

Park Features:

Yes, there is a cave.

There is an ice cave.

Yes, there is forest.
Yes, there is a furnace.
Yes, there are geologic features.

The ice cave.

Yes, there is historical significance.

The park history demonstrates a typical boom and bust cycle and what happens when you destroy natural resources too fast.

Yes, there is a lake.

There is access to Raystown Lake, even though it is not in the park itself.

Yes, there is a stream or river.

Great Trough Creek runs through the park.

Yes, there are waterfalls.

There are some small waterfalls.

There is no information on wetlands available.
No, there is no bog.
No, there is no canal.
No, there is no canyon.
No, there is no coral reef.
No, there is not a covered bridge.
No, there is no cultural significance.
No, there is no dam.
No, there is no desert.
No, there is no fort.
No, there is no fountain.
No, there is no historical monument.
No, there is no lake beach.
No, there is no lighthouse.
No, there is no mill.
No, there are no mountains.
No, there is no pond.
No, there is no prairie.
No, there are no sand dunes.
No, there is no shore beach.
No, there is no veterans memorial.
No, there is no volcano.
No, there is no windmill.

History

The gorge contained bountiful natural resources like iron ore, limestone, trees, and water power, so it attracted various industries from 1785 until the resources were depleted in the early 1900’s. First there was a gristmill; then various forms of iron smelting. When the iron was depleted and the trees gone, the iron industry left.

In 1933 the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) moved in, planting trees and developing Trough Creek State Park. Today their legacy lives on in the park.

Geology

Trough Creek State Park Ice Mine 2

Trough Creek State Park has an ice cave. You can go down a narrow set of stairs to go inside. I was feeling a little claustrophobic looking down at it, so I did not venture inside.

Watershed Address: Great Trough Creek - Raystown Lake - Raystown Branch Juniata River - Juniata River - Susquehanna River - Chesapeake Bay - Atlantic Ocean

Trough Creek State Park Stream 2

Pictures

Trough Creek State Park Pictures

sign.
volleyball net.
the stream flows beneath a hill covered with trees.
Trough Creek State Park sign.
hand pump for water.
restrooms.
picnic tables and pavilion.
stream.
pavilion with picnic tables and grills.
stream.
staircase to ice mine.
picnic tables in a wooded area beside the stream.
Geologic rock wall outcrop.
Two picnic tables and a grill beside the stream.
Horseshoes court.
Picnic tables beside the stream and rock wall.
ice mine.
remnants of a historic furnace.
looking down at the ice mine chasm.
trailhead.
A stream runs past the rock wall.
the historic furnace.
sign about the CCC at Trough Creek.
sign. volleyball net. the stream flows beneath a hill covered with trees. Trough Creek State Park sign. hand pump for water. restrooms. picnic tables and pavilion. stream. pavilion with picnic tables and grills. stream. staircase to ice mine. picnic tables in a wooded area beside the stream. Geologic rock wall outcrop. Two picnic tables and a grill beside the stream. Horseshoes court. Picnic tables beside the stream and rock wall. ice mine. remnants of a historic furnace. looking down at the ice mine chasm. trailhead. A stream runs past the rock wall. the historic furnace. sign about the CCC at Trough Creek.

Latitude: 40.31192

Longitude: -78.12984

Official Website: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/trough-creek-state-park#accordion-3f53ad6ffb-item-2b1913a012

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