| Laurel Hill State Park | |
|---|---|
 View of the lake during the autumn season. | |
 Interactive map of Laurel Hill State Park | |
| Location | Somerset, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°00′48″N79°15′32″W / 40.01333°N 79.25889°W /40.01333; -79.25889 |
| Area | 3,935 acres (15.92 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,316 ft (706 m)[1] |
| Established | October 1945 |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Laurel Hill State Park |
Laurel Hill RDA | |
   | |
| Location | 4 mi. W of New Centerville and PA 281,Somerset, Pennsylvania |
| Area | 1,352 acres (547 ha) |
| Built | 1935-1942 |
| Built by | Civilian Conservation Corps, Camps NP-5-PA and SP-15-PA |
| Architectural style | Rustic style |
| MPS | Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) Architecture in Pennsylvania State Parks: 1933-1942, TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000738[2] |
| Added to NRHP | May 18, 1987 |
Laurel Hill State Park is a 3,935-acre (1,592 ha)Pennsylvania state park inJefferson andMiddlecreek Townships,Somerset County,Pennsylvania in the United States. Laurel Hill Lake is a 63-acre (25 ha) man-made lake with adam that was constructed during theGreat Depression by the young men ofCCC camps NP-5-PA (first called SP-8-PA) and SP-15-PA. Laurel Hill State Park is 8 miles (13 km) from thePennsylvania Turnpike (I-70/I-76) just offPA 31 near Bakersville and onPA 653 near Trent.
The lumber boom that swept through the forests of Pennsylvania did not reach the Laurel Hill Valley until 1886. Due to its steep stream valleys and terrain, the area was among the last in Pennsylvania to be clearcut.[3][4] Logs were hauled bysteam locomotives tosawmills where they were cut intolumber. Smaller logs were used to reinforce themine shafts of the manycoal mines throughout southwestern Pennsylvania andWest Virginia. The bark of thehemlock tree was used as a source oftannin at thetanneries of the area. Logging companies left behind a wasteland of dried treetops and brambles, which would ignite from passing locomotives and cause forest fires.[4][5] From 1886 to 1940, most of Laurel Hill was stripped of itsold-growth forests. One stand of old growth trees, now called the Hemlock Trail Natural Area, remains at Laurel Hill State Park.[3][4]
Beginning in 1935, theFederal Emergency Relief Administration began purchasing poor quality land with recreational potential as part of theRecreational Demonstration Area (RDA) program. The RDA program was transferred to theNational Park Service in 1936. Laurel Hill was one of five RDAs in Pennsylvania targeted for restoration, reforestation, and recreational use.[4][6] Laurel Hill was designated a "vacation area" designed to provide low cost outdoor experiences for families and groups.[6]
The National Park Service, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters (today thePennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources), employed men of theWorks Progress Administration andCivilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to work at Laurel Hill. Men from the first CCC camps arrived on July 1, 1935, and began building their own housing.[3][4][7] These camps were NP-5-PA (first called SP-8-PA)[8][9] and SP-15-PA.[10] Each camp consisted of 200 men who worked year round. They cleared brush from streams, planted trees, and built roads, trails, bridges, and recreational facilities including large group camping facilities, cabins, and picnic areas.[3][4][7] They constructed the dam to create Laurel Hill Lake.[7]
In October 1945, theUnited States Department of the Interior transferred ownership of the area to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Laurel Hill State Park officially opened.[3][4] The park now has a thrivingsecond growth forest that is home to a variety of wildlife.
TheLaurel Hill RDA was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1987, as a nationalhistoric district. The district includes 198 contributing buildings and 4 contributing structures. It is the largest collection of CCC architecture in Pennsylvania's state parks.[2][7] The park received aPennsylvania State Historical Marker in 2021.[11]
Laurel Hill State Park maintains 15 miles of trails with varying levels of hiking difficulty.
Hunting is permitted on about 2,100 acres (850 ha) of Laurel Hill State Park. The most common game species arerabbits,pheasant,raccoon,squirrels,turkey andwhite-tailed deer. The hunting ofgroundhogs is prohibited. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of thePennsylvania Game Commission.[3] Each September Laurel Hill State Park is open forCanada goose hunting. The goose hunt is part of a statewide effort to limit the "resident goose" population. Biologists have attributed high fecal coliform counts at some parks to geese droppings. The fecal matter pollutes the water and beaches of the parks.[14]
Laurel Hill Creek and Jones Mill Run are stocked withtrout and also have a good population of native brook trout. Laurel Hill Lake is a fishery for trout,catfish,sunfish,perch,crappie,bluegill, andbass.[3]
Gasoline powered boats are prohibited on Laurel Hill Lake. Non powered and electric powered boats must have current registration with any state.[3]
The beach at Laurel Hill State Park is open daily from late May until the middle of September. The beach opens at 8:00 am and closes atsunset.[3]
Laurel Hill State Park has threepicnic areas. Picnic area #1 has aplayground, a ballfield and horseshoe pits. Picnic area #3 is near the beach and also has a playground. Picnic area #4 is near the boat launch and mooring area. There is no picnic area #2.[3]
There is a 10 miles (16 km)snowmobile trail system in the park that leads to 60 miles (97 km) of trails inForbes State Forest. Laurel Hill Lake is open forice fishing andice boating. Laurel Hill State Park has 20 miles (32 km) of trails open tocross-country skiing.[3]
Laurel Hill State Park has several options for visitors that are interested in spending the night or several nights at the park.[3]
The campground has 262 sites fortent or trailer camping. 149 of these sites have an electrical connections. The campground has modern washhouses with flush toilets, showers, drinking water, and two sanitary dump stations. There is one walled tent that is available for rent, which sleeps up to six people and has a refrigerator and bunk beds.[3]
There are eightcottages available to rent at Laurel Hill State Park. Each cottage has electric lights, outlets, and electric heater. They sleep up to five people and have wooden floors, glass windows and a screened-in porch. The yard areas have a picnic table and a fire ring.[3]
There is a large area for organized group tenting that is open year-round. Groups are expected to follow the following rules and regulations.[3]
The cabins built and used by the CCC are still used today by large, non-profit groups. The six group cabin areas are open from mid-April until mid-October. These camping facilities each have a centrally located shower house with flush toilets and large dining hall with kitchen.[3]
Laurel Hill Lodge is a modern two-story lodge with a large fireplace and cathedral ceilings. It has a private deck that overlooks the park and Laurel Mountain. The lodge is equipped for winter recreation. It has racks forskis andsnowboards and for drying gloves and boots. There are fivebedrooms that can sleep up to 14 people. There are 3 bathrooms, 1.5 kitchens, a recreation room and laundry facilities.[3]
There are twoBoy Scout camps run byWestmoreland-Fayette Council within the state park:Camp Conestoga andCamp Buck Run.[15]
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Laurel Hill State Park:[16][17][18]
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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