{{short description|State park in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = Swatara State Park | image = Waterville Bridge in Swatara State Park HAER 462-14.jpg | image_caption = The [[Appalachian Trail]] crosses Swatara Creek on the historic Waterville Bridge in the park | image_alt = Waterville Bridge | image_size = 280 | location = [[Lebanon County, Pennsylvania|Lebanon]] and [[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania|Schuylkill]] counties, [[Pennsylvania]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|40.48305|-76.54564|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref name="swatarasp"/> | area = {{convert|3520|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="swatarasp"/> | elevation = {{convert|502|ft}} | established = 1987 | administrator = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] | free_label = | free_data = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | website = {{Official website}} | module = {{Infobox protected area | map = USA Pennsylvania#USA | label = Swatara State Park | label_position = top | map_caption = Location in Pennsylvania | relief = 1 | module = [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania State Parks]] }} }} '''Swatara State Park''' is a {{convert|3520|acre|adj=on}} [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania state park]] in [[Bethel Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania|Bethel]], [[Swatara Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania|Swatara]] and [[Union Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania|Union]] townships, [[Lebanon County, Pennsylvania|Lebanon County]] and [[Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania|Pine Grove Township]], [[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania|Schuylkill]] County in [[Pennsylvania]] in the United States. {{convert|8|mi}} of [[Swatara Creek]] lie within the park's boundaries, which are roughly formed by [[Pennsylvania Route 443]] to the north and [[Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania|Interstate 81]] to the south. The park is in a valley in the [[Ridge-and-valley Appalachians|ridge and valley]] region of Pennsylvania between [[Second Mountain]] (north) and [[Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania)|Blue Mountain]] (south). Swatara State Park is a fairly new park for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was opened in 1987 and is still largely undeveloped. The [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] is working on plans to further develop the lands of Swatara State Park. The original plans called for the building of a dam and reservoir for recreational fishing and boating as well as to provide drinking water for the [[Lebanon, Pennsylvania|City of Lebanon]]. The PADCNR explored plans for developing the park without the recreational lake/reservoir,<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/swatara/index.aspx | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20040215000221/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/swatara/index.aspx | url-status =dead | archive-date =February 15, 2004 | title = Swatara State Park Planning Underway | access-date = October 20, 2006 | publisher = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]]}}</ref> and in 2012 started developing the park with infrastructure improvements to increase access to biking, hiking, canoeing, fishing and picnicking opportunities in the park. Improvements include installing 10 miles of crushed stone along the rail-trail and work on abandoned Old State Road.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd1/groups/public/documents/news/DCNR_009829.pdf | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150831232658/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd1/groups/public/documents/news/DCNR_009829.pdf | url-status =dead | archive-date =August 31, 2015 | title = Swatara State Park Targeted for Trail Installation, Other Improvements | access-date = August 27, 2012 | publisher = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]]}}</ref>
==History== ===Susquehannock Indians=== The early history of Swatara State Park is tied to the [[Susquehannock]] people, [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] that once inhabited the ridge and valley region of Pennsylvania. This region of Pennsylvania is very mountainous, with the mountains located in close proximity to each other with narrow valleys between. [[Swatara Creek]] is in one of these valleys. The Susquehannock used it as a transportation route.<ref name="swatarasp">{{cite web |url=https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/swatara-state-park |title=Swatara State Park |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=2026-01-20}}</ref>
===Coal and canals=== This region of Pennsylvania was first settled by [[European ethnic groups|European]]s in the 1750s. [[Anthracite coal]] was soon discovered in the area of [[Tremont, Pennsylvania|Tremont]]. [[Coal mines]] were opened and by the 1820s the demand for coal was such that a [[canal]] was built to connect the [[Susquehanna River]] with the [[Schuylkill River]]. This canal was known as the [[Union Canal (Pennsylvania)|Union Canal]]. It stretched from [[Middletown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Middletown]] on the Susquehanna through [[Lebanon, Pennsylvania|Lebanon]] and to [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]] on the Schuylkill River. A {{convert|672|acre|adj=on}} [[reservoir]] was built on the land that is now Swatara State Park. A branch canal was built from Lebanon through [[Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania|Pine Grove]] and on to the reservoir. This canal provided water for the main branch of the Union Canal. [[Barges]] filled with anthracite coal traveled down the canal to the industrial centers of central Pennsylvania. The [[dam]] holding the reservoir was washed away in the Flood of 1862. The dam was never rebuilt and the branch canal was never reopened. The Union Canal was closed in 1885, as did most canals during this era as they simply could not compete with the efficiency of the [[Rail transport|railroads]]. Remains of the dam and five canal locks can still be seen on the grounds of Swatara State Park, providing an example of how nature has taken back some of the land that was used during central Pennsylvania's industrial past.<ref name="swatarasp"/>
===Railroads to Bike Trails=== Swatara State Park's [[Rail Trail]], a bike trail, follows the old railroad bed of the [[Lebanon and Tremont Branch (Reading Railroad)|Lebanon & Tremont Branch]] of the [[Reading Company|Reading Railroad]]. This branch connected the West End coalfields of Schuylkill County with the town of [[Lebanon, Pennsylvania|Lebanon]], paralleling the derelict branch canal below Pine Grove. The railroad was dominant in transportation until the 1960s when [[Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania|Interstate 81]] was completed. The branch was abandoned east of Suedberg in 1965, and the remainder between 1978 and 1981. [[Conrail]] abandoned the line, with the former roadbed being transferred to the state.<ref name="swatarasp"/>
==Recreation== ===Fishing=== The waters of Swatara Creek were heavily polluted by runoff from the coal mines and sewage from the nearby municipalities. Over the years the water quality has gradually improved and there are now some fish living in the waters of Swatara Creek. [[Smallmouth bass]] and [[panfish]] can be caught in Swatara Creek. Irving's Pond is the home to [[largemouth bass]] and some panfish. Cold water species of fish such as [[rainbow trout]] and [[brown trout]] can be caught in Trout Run and other tributaries of Swatara Creek.<ref name="swatarasp"/>
===Hunting=== Hunting is permitted in most of Swatara State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania State Game Commission. The most common game species are [[ruffed grouse]], [[eastern gray squirrel|squirrels]], [[wild turkey|turkey]], [[white-tailed deer]], [[waterfowl]] and [[Common pheasant|pheasant]]. There are also some [[American black bear|black bear]]s, [[opossum]], [[muskrat]]s and [[raccoon]]s.<ref name="swatarasp"/>
===Boating=== Boating in Swatara State Park is limited to [[canoes]] and [[kayaks]]. This type of boating is popular at the park and there are several easily accessible launch points along the banks of Swatara Creek.<ref name="swatarasp"/>
===Hiking=== [[File:Waterville Bridge, Swatara Gap, PA - Appalachian Trail crossing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Appalachian Trail crossing [[Swatara Creek]] on the [[Waterville Bridge]]]] The [[Appalachian Trail]] passes through Swatara State Park for {{convert|2|mi}} at the southern end of the park. The trail crosses Swatara Creek at the historic [[Waterville Bridge]]. This unique bridge was moved from [[Waterville, Pennsylvania|Waterville]] in [[Lycoming County, Pennsylvania|Lycoming County]] (where it crossed [[Little Pine Creek]]) to Swatara State Park in the 1980s. The bridge is too narrow for modern use, so instead of being destroyed, it was moved to be used on the Appalachian Trail. The bridge is a [[parabola|parabolic]] structure known as a [[lenticular truss]]. The Swatara Rail Trail and Old State Route 443 combine to make a {{convert|10|mi}} loop to provide less strenuous hiking at the park.<ref name="swatarasp"/>
===Natural history=== Forests are overtaking the land formerly used by farmers, miners, canalmen and railroadmen. Woodlands are plentiful at Swatara State Park. Visitors can observe the slow process in which nature reclaims the land previously used by man. [[Fossil]] hunters can find ancient marine fossils at a site along Old State Route 443.<ref name="swatarasp"/>
===Bordner Cabin=== A log cabin, built in 1939 by local industrial-arts teacher Armar Bordner (1904-1994) and members of his class using materials found on-site next to the picturesque Acrigg's Falls, is preserved within the park. Bordner opposed the taking of his home by [[eminent domain]] by the old DER during creation of the park and was allowed to remain at the cabin for the remainder of his life, paying a token rent to DCNR each year. The cabin was then leased to the [[Boy Scouts of America]] for several years, and then was returned to DCNR control. After a proposal to raze the historic building, Swatara Watershed Association, led by [[Jo Ellen Litz]], a Lebanon County commissioner, took over control of the building, which has been preserved by them including the installation of new roofing materials, but the cabin no longer has utilities or windows.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Swatara State Park}} {{portal|Pennsylvania}} *[https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/swatara-state-park Swatara State Park] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources * {{cite web|url=http://www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003057.pdf |title=Swatara State Park official map }} {{small|(1.2 MB)}}
{{Protected Areas of Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:State parks of Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1987]] [[Category:1987 establishments in Pennsylvania]]