Pennsylvania - Clear Creek State Park

Clear Creek State Park is a beautiful state park located in the Clear Creek Valley of western Pennsylvania, near the town of Sigel in Jefferson County.

Many recreational activities can be enjoyed all year-round at Clear Creek State Park. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy such activities as camping, hiking, picnicking, and hunting. In addition, other summer activities include swimming, canoeing, and fishing. For those who don’t mind the cold winter weather, outdoor activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding.

Hikers will enjoy the 25 miles of hiking trails that Clear Creek State Park has to offer. The trails run along the Clarion River and weave throughout the surrounding hillside of mountain laurel and rhododendron. Along the trails, the area provides many scenic overlooks in addition to the variety of wildlife and plants that make up the park. The Clarion River is archaeologically significant to the area and offers visitors a chance to see glimpses of the great blue heron and the bald eagle.

Everybody loves to picnic and Clear Creek offers ample picnic areas, with picnic tables and charcoal grills. For larger gatherings, there are also 5 pavilions available for use. Reservations, for a fee, are recommended but are not necessary. Without reservations, pavilions are available for free on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Fishermen will enjoy spending their fishing time in the Clarion River and in Clear Creek. While Clear Creek is stocked seasonally with trout, the waters also provide panfish and warm-water fish.

Swimmers will enjoy the opportunity for swimming and sunbathing on the man-made lake which features a 180-foot sand beach. The swimming season runs from May until September with a “swim at your own risk” policy from 8 am until sunset. While there is no concession stand available, there are soda machines in the nearby vicinity.

The adventurist will love the canoeing opportunities along the Clarion River. Rated a Class C, the river is widely popular for canoeing and kayaking. Canoe rentals can be found at sources located outside the park, as well as 2 popular canoe trips, a 4 mile and a 10 mile. Clear Creek State Park does have a public canoe launch area.

Hunting, along with trapping and dog training, is permitted within 1000 acres of the park and only during the regulated seasons. Popular species to hunt include deer, turkey, squirrel, and bear. All hunting regulations according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission and DCNR must be followed.

Clear Creek State Park also offers ample camping opportunities. There are 22 cabins, 2 yurts, and a campground.

The rustic cabins are located near the Clarion River. They contain beds, a refrigerator, table with chairs, and a fireplace or heater. Additional items, such as bedding, cookware, and table ware, must be provided by the camper. Cabins can sleep 4, 6, or 8 people. A shower house and water faucet is located nearby.

The yurts are round structures consisting of wooden decks and bunk beds, with each sleeping 4 people. They come with a stove, refrigerator, countertop, table and chairs, heat, fire ring, and a picnic table. A water pump is located in the near vicinity.

The campsite has 53 sites available and each includes a picnic table and fire ring. Showers and flush toilets are conveniently located nearby. Entertainment activities near the campground include a nine-hole disc golf course and a concrete basketball court.

Clear Creek also offers a canoe/kayak tent camping area to be used by individuals while traveling on the Clarion River. Camping is limited to a one night stay and requires payment.

Winter activities within the park include sledding, tobogganing, showshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Sledding and tobogganing can be done on a 2-acre slope near Pavilion 3. Showshoeing is permitted on all trails while cross-country skiing is only recommended on certain trails.

Educational programs are available to school and youth groups while workshops are available to teachers. The park also offers evening programs and guided walks as well as hands-on activities. A visitor center provides logging and nature exhibits while the Ox Shoe Self-guiding Historical Trail reveals the logging history associated with the Black Forest of Pennsylvania.

Clear Creek State Park offices are located at:
38 Clear Creek Park Road, Sigel, Pennsylvania 15860
814-752-2368