Explore the Area
Nearby Wellsboro is known for its natural gas-lit streetlights as well as the town’s annual re-enactment of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol.” The region is known for the scenic Pine Creek Gorge and associated rail trail, as well as large tracts of forested areas.
The Borough of Mansfield is also nearby. Home to Mansfield University, the community offers places to shop, eat, and relax.
Learn about some of the area businesses and things to do from the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mansfield Chamber of Commerce.
Nearby State Parks and Forests
Hills Creek State Park is close to two state parks and one state forest, where visitors can enjoy recreation, education, and other activities.
Colton Point State Park
The 368-acre Colton Point State Park sits on the west rim of Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. The park resonates with the rustic charm of the Civilian Conservation Corps era of the 1930s.
The rugged overlooks offer great views of the canyon. Popular recreational activities include hiking, picnicking, fishing, hunting, wildlife watching, and camping.
Leonard Harrison State Park
The 585-acre Leonard Harrison State Park is located on the east rim of the canyon across the gorge from Colton Point State Park. Popular recreational activities include hiking, picnicking, fishing, hunting, and camping.
Tioga State Forest
The 161,890-acre Tioga State Forest is host to the Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the “Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania”. Tioga features awe-inspiring views and miles of clean, cool streams, like Cedar Run and Babbs Creek, and is one of eight state forests located in the Pennsylvania Wilds region.
Popular recreational activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, picnicking, kayaking, fishing, hunting, and camping.
Other Nearby Outdoor Spaces and Natural Places
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has recreational facilities around the Tioga and Hammond dams six miles north of the park.
State Game Lands 37 is less than 12 miles to the north and offers additional recreational opportunities.
The Pennsylvania Wilds
Hills Creek State Park is part of the Pennsylvania Wilds, which offers 2 million acres of public lands for hiking, biking, fishing, boating, hunting, and exploration in northcentral Pennsylvania.
Highlights of the area include
- Elk watching at the Elk Country Visitor Center
- Scenic PA Route 6 in Pine Creek Gorge (PA Grand Canyon)
- The darkest skies in the east at Cherry Springs State Park
- Hundreds of miles of backpacking trails, bike paths, and trout fishing streams.
Pennsylvania Heritage Areas
Heritage Areas protect, enhance, and promote Pennsylvania’s historic, natural, cultural, and scenic resources.
In the Lumber Heritage Region, roughly 2 million acres of public lands give both wildlife and humans room to roam. Unsurpassed beauty, natural treasures, rich history, and outdoor adventure can be found here.
In 1807, Pennsylvania State officials mandated a road be cut through the Moosic Mountains to enable easier travel to the western part of the state. What would become the PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor was born. By spanning the entire state, the road ties together a unique collection of special places and communities, capturing the spirit of the state’s diversity.