Sizerville State Park

About Sizerville State Park

Sizerville State Park, which covers 386 hectares, is almost surrounded by Elk State Forest and is one of the largest state parks in New York State. It offers a variety of public places to explore nearby, and many interesting leisure and nature opportunities. There are several hiking trails and paths within the park, as well as a number of picnic areas and picnic tables.

Sizerville itself is named after the Sizer family, who according to local legend were the first settlers in the area. It was created as a result of a boom in logging in the town of the same name, which reached its peak at the turn of the century. It was opened to the public in 1924 and the first installations were built in 1927.

Beautiful white pines and hemlock bushes adorn Sizerville and give visitors a calm and relaxed atmosphere. Several thousand hectares of the park were planted to replace the old wood cut at the turn of the century. The pines were planted at the beginning of the 20th century as a result of logging and the need for new wood.

For more information on the CCC, please visit the online archive of the Civil Protection Corps. The East Branch of Cowley Run, located in the park, has historical significance for game management in Pennsylvania. In 1917, the state of Wisconsin presented a pair of beavers to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, because they were extinct in Pennsylvania. Beavers still exist in the area, and the first pair were released into the eastern branch of Cowley Run in Sizerville State Park.

Moose once lived in affluent communities in Pennsylvania, but these majestic animals have since been reintegrated into the Commonwealth. Today, only herds of elk live in this predominantly forested area of the state, only a handful of elks.

All facilities include toilets, showers, sanitary facilities and the campsite with 23 pitches is closed during the December playing season but opens on the second Friday in April.

The park also has a playground and an outdoor amphitheater, and five hiking and camping sites offer secluded streams and landscapes.

Pets are not allowed in the area overnight, and campers must leave the park within 48 hours before they set up again. The maximum stay at a campsite is two days or two nights for adults and one day for children, with a maximum of three nights.

There is no elevator to the pool, and the maximum depth is five meters, but there are elevators to all pools. Unless otherwise stated, the swimming and paddling pools in Sizerville State Park are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The two picnic areas are located on the west side of the park, between the swimming pool and the parking lot. The area is mainly shaded by hardwood hemlock and white pine, in the shade are a few trees.

The picnic pavilions can be reserved for up to 11 months against advance payment, and there is an unreserved picnic pavilion. Toilets and play facilities are available on the picnic area, which is open from 11 am to 4 pm.

There is a horseshoe pit in the gazebo, and there is free parking and picnic tables all day.

The Sizerville Nature Trail is a 3 km loop that almost everyone can enjoy, and there is no stopping point for education. The network of hiking trails includes five circular trails, but there are also stops and training courses. Bottomlands Campground and North Slope Trails are relatively easy to walk to and take visitors to the top of the mountain, making them a great choice for a day trip or weekend hike.

Nady Hollow Trail is a 1.5-mile loop that climbs the mountain 1,900 feet, and tickets are available at the park office. The trail is more demanding on the slope, but accessible from the campsite below and available in the parking lot.

Solid footwear is essential on the Nady Hollow Trail and is recommended if you are hiking the 1.5 mile loop or one of the other trails in Sizerville State Park. If you are planning a hike, please inform the park staff about your hiking plan and have a map of the State Forest Delta along with a description of the individual hiking trails in the park. SIZerville State Park also has a number of hiking trails, including the 2,000-foot Nadeau Trail and the 3,500-foot Nadine Trail.

The park offers a variety of environmental education and interpretation programs through the Sizerville State Park Environmental Education and Interpretation Center (EAC). During guided hikes, participants receive information about the nature of the State Forest Delta and the natural environment in the park.

Curricula and environmental education programmes are available for school and youth groups, as well as schools and youth groups. Group programmes must be agreed in advance and can be arranged by phone or at the park office. For more information, please contact the parking office at (707) 762-4500 or (607) 772-5555.

The planting in the visitor centre includes information on how homeowners can attract native wildlife into their gardens. The Environmental Education Building offers a wide range of educational activities for children and adults, as well as the opportunity to see and do something during your stay in the region.