Salt Springs is the treasure of the Endless Mountains. Eight hundred forty-two of the most beautiful acres in Susquehanna County make up Salt Springs Park. Just under half of this land is a state park the nonprofit Friends of Salt Springs manage for the Commonwealth, and the rest is our own land we encourage the public to enjoy. Taking its name from a historic artesian well of naturally salty water, this unpretentious destination offers the peace and beauty of streams and woodlands combined with the convenience of trails, historic farm buildings, cottages, camping, picnic grounds, and open spaces.

A portion of the park has been set aside as a state-protected Natural Area. Here visitors can experience what Pennsylvania's forests were like 350 years ago. Towering 100 feet and more above a gorge is one of the last old-growth hemlock forest tracts remaining in the state. At the base of the post-glacial gorge Fall Brook flows over a series of three waterfalls. Visitors can view the gorge from an overlook above or in some seasons climb up the waterfalls and experience the gorge from below.

The day-use area includes picnic spaces both open and wooded, rustic campsites and cottages rented for a reasonable fee, two pavilions for weddings, family gatherings, and celebrations, two pristine trout streams for fishing, and buildings offering facilities for historical and environmental displays and programs, offices, and meeting facilities. The remainder of the park is undeveloped woodland accessible by 15 miles of well-marked trails of varying lengths and difficulty. A recent improvement is a handicap-accessible trail from a parking lot to the boardwalk at the rim of Fall Brook Gorge, making the highlight of the park available to those who find the hiking trails too challenging.

Salt Springs is the only state park in Pennsylvania managed and operated by a volunteer organization, the Friends of Salt Springs Park. The mission of the Friends complements that of the Bureau of State Parks, but is quite different; the emphasis is on natural beauty and spiritual retreat. The Friends strive to "preserve, improve, and educate" in a rural and lightly traveled corner of Pennsylvania. Visitors can expect a warm and friendly welcome and encouragement to share the joy of this special place.

The Friends sponsor public recreational, environmental, and historical programs throughout the year, including bird walks, plant identification, guided hikes, and historical reenactments. Call the park, visit the website, check us out on Facebook, or stop in for program information. You don't want to miss a thing.

Local

See and Do

• Salt Springs Park Montrose (0.0 miles) - Salt Springs is the treasure of the Endless Mountains. Eight hundred forty-two of the most beautiful...
• Animal Adventure Park Harpursville (20.5 miles) - Animal Adventure is an interactive educational animal park; designed to promote up close and hands-o...