This week’s getaway is only minutes from downtown State College and offers a quiet haven that a lot of people may not know about. The area features a scenic, 4.4-mile trail where visitors can bike, run or just take their dog for a walk.
Bird watchers can spot a variety of species including bald eagles, waterfowl and a range of warblers. More than 1,200 acres of land is available for hunting. It also has such great fishing spots that one part is even called “Fisherman’s Paradise.”
We’re talking about Spring Creek Canyon. This is a hidden outdoor gem that families will appreciate.
“It’s nice in that it’s close to an urban center like State College, but at the same time you can get away from the hustle and bustle of a mid-size community,” says John Arway, executive director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. “You can get away and really get into an area that’s isolated and you can do that within five minutes.”
Arway, an avid fisherman who worked in Pleasant Gap for 30 years, was extremely excited when the 1,829 acres of Spring Creek Canyon was opened to the public in 2011 after being off limits for decades. Originally, Rockview Penitentiary owned the land and, to keep the public safe, no one was allowed on the property. But organizations and public interest helped push through legislation that would not only open the area to the public, but also ensure protection of the beautiful natural resources.
When the land was dedicated on Sept. 30, 2011, Arway remembers a shared feeling of excitement among those at the ceremony.
“It was like something you always wished for but never thought was going to happen,” he says. “To open up a piece of water like that in the middle of one of probably the top two or three best trout streams in the state – we’ll never get to see that accomplished again in our lifetime.”
Arway says that this time of year there are great fishing opportunities at the creek, which is a popular spot to catch wild brown trout. An event known as the sulfur mayfly hatch makes fishing in Spring Creek in the late spring and early summer a big deal for anglers. The yellow mayfly hatch near the water, and the fish go on a “feeding frenzy,” Arway says.
“They get up into the trees throughout the day and right before dark there’s an event called a ‘spinner fall’ where these mayflies dip down and touch the water and lay their eggs,” he says. “While they’re doing that, the fish come up and eat them. And anglers imitate the mayfly spinner to catch the fish.”
Arway knows the area so well that on June 29, he will be at Spring Creek Canyon to talk about the land and stream. He will also be leading a guided tour of the area to educate the public on the scenic getaway.
“There’s not many places around where you can enjoy other events connected with cities like football games and concerts, but at the same time get away at an isolated canyon to kind of clear your mind and enjoy nature,” he says.
If you go: You can reach Spring Creek Canyon by driving to the northern end of Shiloh Road. You’ll follow a gravel road for about a mile with several parking areas along the way. Parking is also available along Rock Road and Barns Lane. Click HERE to see a map, trail guide, photos and additional information about Spring Creek Canyon.
