Susquehanna County: Nature, Trails and History

From nature experiences and historic sites to winter activities, Susquehanna County offers a variety of reasons to visit. For your planning, it helps to decide on your main focus first: Would you like to explore landscapes, take on a longer route, learn about local history, or go skiing and snowboarding? Visiting conditions also vary—from a state park that is open year-round to tours that can be arranged by phone.

Gorges, waterfalls and wetlands

Ancient hemlock trees, the rocky gorge of Fall Brook and three waterfalls define Salt Springs State Park. Forest, rock and water offer different facets of a nature visit here. The park is open daily year-round from sunrise to sunset; day-use areas close at dusk. Plan your visit around these hours, and keep in mind that day-use areas close earlier.

The Florence Shelly Preserve presents a different kind of landscape: its fields, woodlands and streams include a glacial pond surrounded by a floating bog. This combination of open water and wetland offers a different focus from the gorge and waterfalls at Salt Springs State Park. These two landscapes thus offer different points of interest for travelers who enjoy nature.

A route for hiking and cycling

For those looking to cover a longer distance on foot or by bike, the D&H Rail-Trail offers a specific route to explore. It runs 38 miles from Simpson to the New York border near Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. Its total length gives you a clear sense of the route’s scope, and its endpoints also make it easy to understand its course. This makes the trail a distinct option for covering distance, unlike a visit centered on a single natural feature.

History and guided tours

The Forest City Area Historical Society preserves artifacts and documents about the history and heritage of Forest City and the surrounding areas. Topics include timber harvesting, railroads, coal and garment manufacturing. The range of topics spans raw materials and transportation to production and labor. The Historical Society building was dedicated as a Methodist church on November 17, 1886, and closed in May 2013.

Historic Dennis Farm is an educational and cultural site for students, scholars, researchers, teachers and groups. It remained in the same family’s ownership for more than two centuries. Tours can be arranged by phone through Keystone College at 570-945-8150. The combination of educational and cultural offerings, family history and a clear way to arrange a tour gives this site a distinct focus in trip planning.

The Priesthood Restoration Site includes two reconstructed houses. Tours of the Isaac and Elizabeth Hale Home begin at the visitor center. Trails also lead to a nearby sugar maple grove. Both a guided tour and trails in the surrounding area are among the ways to explore this site.

Fairs and winter sports

The Harford Fair is a long-running agricultural country fair held during the third week of August. The exact dates vary from year to year, so check the specific event dates if the fair is to be a fixed part of your trip. Elk Mountain offers a different kind of activity: skiing and snowboarding for all skill levels. A ski school affiliated with the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) offers ski lessons with more than 75 trained instructors. Staff and current lesson offerings may change, so it is a good idea to check the current program before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Montrose, Union Dale, Blair, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Somerset County, Berks, Delaware

For the broader travel overview: Pennsylvania.