{{Short description|State park in Pennsylvania, United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = Lyman Run State Park | image = Fall Preview (1).jpg | image_caption = | image_alt = Lake | image_size = 280 | location = [[Potter County, Pennsylvania]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|41.72511|-77.76004|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref name="lrsp"/> | area = {{convert|595|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="lrsp"/> | elevation = {{convert|1690|ft}} | established = 1951 | administrator = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] | free_label = Named for | free_data = Major Isaac Lyman | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | website = {{Official website}} | module = {{Infobox protected area | map = USA Pennsylvania#USA | label = Lyman Run State Park | label_position = | map_caption = Location in Pennsylvania | relief = 1 | module = [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania State Parks]] }} }} '''Lyman Run State Park''' is a {{convert|595|acre|adj=on}} [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania state park]] in [[Ulysses Township, Pennsylvania|Ulysses]] and [[West Branch Township, Pennsylvania|West Branch]] Townships in [[Potter County, Pennsylvania|Potter County]], [[Pennsylvania]] in the United States. Lyman Run Lake is a {{convert|45|acre|adj=on}} man-made lake within the park, surrounded by a northern [[hardwood]] forest of mainly [[maple]] and [[cherry]] trees. Lyman Run State Park is {{convert|7|mi}} west of [[Galeton, Pennsylvania|Galeton]] and {{convert|15|mi}} east of [[Coudersport, Pennsylvania|Coudersport]], and is nearly completely surrounded by the [[Susquehannock State Forest]].
==History==
===Major Isaac Lyman=== Lyman Run State Park is named for the creek that runs through it, which is dammed to form Lyman Run Lake. Major Isaac Lyman, an [[American Revolutionary War]] veteran was one of the first permanent settlers in Potter County. Major Lyman is recognized as the founder of Potter County. He was paid ten dollars for each settler that he convinced to move to Potter County. He built his home in 1809 in nearby Lymansville, now known as [[Ladonna]]. Major Lyman also built the first road to cross Potter County and the county's first [[sawmill]] and [[gristmill]].<ref name="majorlyman">{{cite web |url=http://www.libraries.psu.edu/do/digitalbookshelf/26464947/26464947_part_02.pdf |title=Major Isaac Lyman |access-date=October 30, 2006 |publisher=[[Pennsylvania State University]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704214229/http://www.libraries.psu.edu/do/digitalbookshelf/26464947/26464947_part_02.pdf |archive-date=July 4, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eg.bucknell.edu/~hyde/potter/lookups.html |title=Potter County, PA Lookups |access-date=October 30, 2006 |publisher=Potter County Historical Society}}</ref>
Lyman had a colorful personal history. Isaac was married three times and had 17 children. His first wife (Sally Edgecomb Lyman) died in 1791. He divorced his second wife (Laura Pierce Lyman) and started a third family in Potter County with his third wife (Patience Mann Spafford Lyman). The second Mrs. Lyman was determined not to suffer on her own. She sought out the Major, traveled to Potter County, with the help of her son, Burrell who was 18 at the time, and settled. Major Lyman lived with his two families in Potter County. Historical accounts of the living situation vary. Some say that Lyman kept both wives under one roof. Others state that there were two log homes for the families on the same piece of property. The descendants of Major Isaac Lyman still live and work in Potter County.<ref name="majorlyman"/>
===The lumber era=== The Lyman Run area was part of the massive lumbering operation that occurred in most of north central Pennsylvania in the 1880s and 1890s. The land near Lyman Run was purchased by Frank and Charles Goodyear. The Goodyear brothers owned a [[railroad]] and [[lumber]] company that harvested the [[Old-growth forest|old-growth]] [[Eastern white pine|white pine]] and [[tsuga|hemlock]]. These logs were floated down Lyman Run to the [[log boom]] at [[Williamsport, Pennsylvania|Williamsport]] by way of the West Branch of [[Pine Creek (Pennsylvania)|Pine Creek]], then Pine Creek itself, and finally the [[West Branch Susquehanna River]].<ref name="lrsp">{{cite web |url=https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/lyman-run-state-park |title=Lyman Run State Park |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=2026-01-09}}</ref>
===Modern era=== In the 1930s, a [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] camp was built at what later became Lyman Run State Park. The grounds of the former CCC camp became a [[prisoner of war]] camp toward the end of [[World War II]], with [[Germany|German]] prisoners of war detained by the U.S. Military there. In 1951, construction began on the state park facilities.<ref name="lrsp"/> In 2000 the park became part of the [[Hills Creek State Park]] complex, an administrative grouping of eight state parks in Potter and [[Tioga County, Pennsylvania|Tioga]] counties.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://greenfreelibrary.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewer.aspx?img=12106011&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=4¤tPage=0 |title=Manager named at Hills Creek Lake |work=Wellsboro Gazette |date=February 2, 2000 |page=6 |access-date=April 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714174750/http://greenfreelibrary.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewer.aspx?img=12106011&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=4¤tPage=0 |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |url-status=dead}} ''Note'': the eight parks in the Hills Creek State Park Complex are [[Cherry Springs State Park|Cherry Springs]], [[Colton Point State Park|Colton Point]], [[Denton Hill State Park|Denton Hill]], [[Hills Creek State Park|Hills Creek]], [[Leonard Harrison State Park|Leonard Harrison]], Lyman Run, [[Patterson State Park|Patterson]], and [[Prouty Place State Park|Prouty Place]].</ref>
==Recreation==
===Camping, picnics, and hiking=== Camping at both modern and rustic campsites is available at Lyman Run State Park. There are twenty-nine campsites equipped with [[electricity]] for [[recreational vehicle|RV's]]. Each site has a fire ring, [[picnic table]] and [[lantern]] hanger. There is a sanitary dump station at the campground. Those interested in camping out in [[tent]]s may use one of six walk-in rustic camping areas. These locations have [[outhouse]]s and hand-operated water pumps.<ref name="lrsp"/> [[Image:Lyman Run State Park Entrance Sign.jpg|left|thumb|180px| The entrance sign for Lyman Run State Park]]
In addition to the picnic tables at the campsites, Lyman Run State Park has a central, shaded picnic area. There are [[charcoal]] grills, outhouses, and a play area. Drinking water is available at hand-operated pumps. There is one picnic pavilion on the grounds.<ref name="lrsp"/>
Lyman Run State Park has {{convert|6|mi}} of [[hiking trail]]s, which connect with the much larger system of trails in the adjoining [[Susquehannock State Forest]].<ref name="lrsp"/> It is a northern access point for the [[Susquehannock Trail System]] (STS), an {{convert|85|mi|adj=on}} loop trail almost entirely on state forest land. The STS runs {{convert|1.5|mi}} west of the park, and is reached via an access trail from the southwest end of the lake.<ref name = "kta">{{cite web |url=http://www.kta-hike.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=146&Itemid=65 |title=Susquehannock Trail |publisher=[[Keystone Trails Association]] |access-date=April 28, 2009}}</ref>
===Hunting=== Hunting is permitted on about {{convert|505|acre}} of Lyman Run State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the [[Pennsylvania Game Commission]]. The common game species are [[ruffed grouse]], [[eastern gray squirrel|squirrels]], [[wild turkey]], [[white-tailed deer]], and [[American black bear|black bear]]s. The hunting of [[groundhog]]s is not permitted at the park. Many more acres of forested woodlands are available for hunting on the grounds of the adjacent [[Susquehannock State Forest]].<ref name="lrsp"/>
===Lyman Run Lake=== [[File:Lymandam.jpg|thumb|left|Spillway, lake, and bathhouse.]] Boating with gas powered motors is prohibited on Lyman Run Lake. Motorized boats must be powered by electric motors only. [[Rowboat]]s, [[canoe]]s and [[kayak]]s are permitted on the waters of the lake. All boats must be properly registered with the state.<ref name="lrsp"/>
Lyman Run Lake is a popular fishing lake, with exceptional water quality. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat commission [[fish stocking|stocks]] the lake with [[rainbow trout|rainbow]] and palomino [[trout]] during the fishing season.<ref name="lrsp"/>
In winter, ice fishing for trout is permitted. The thickness of the ice is not monitored, but should be at least {{convert|4|in|cm}} thick before venturing out on it. Ice skating is allowed when the ice is thick enough, but limited to the beach area.<ref name="lrsp"/>
Swimming is permitted in Lyman Run Lake. The swimming season opens on [[Memorial Day]] weekend and concludes on [[Labor Day]] weekend.<ref name="lrsp"/> Beginning in 2008 lifeguards will not be posted at the beach.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=384046 |title=Pa. state parks going without life guards at beaches in 2008 |access-date=February 19, 2008 |publisher=[[Times Leader]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007235840/http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=384046 |archive-date=October 7, 2008}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Lyman Run State Park}} {{portal|Pennsylvania}} *[https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/lyman-run-state-park Lyman Run State Park] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources * {{cite web |url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/lymanrun/lymanrun_mini.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609213039/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/lymanrun/lymanrun_mini.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 9, 2011 |title=Lyman Run State Park Official map}} {{small|(556 KB)}} {{Protected Areas of Pennsylvania}}
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[[Category:State parks of Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1951]] [[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Potter County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Campgrounds in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Potter County, Pennsylvania]]