Salt Springs State Park, State park in Franklin Township, Pennsylvania, US
Salt Springs State Park is a 405-acre nature reserve in Pennsylvania featuring a rocky gorge with three waterfalls cascading along Fall Brook and surrounded by ancient hemlock trees. The landscape combines dramatic rock formations with dense old-growth forest throughout the terrain.
The land was owned by the Wheaton family from 1840 until Pennsylvania purchased it in 1973 to establish the state park. This transition from private ownership to protected public land marked the beginning of its role as a conservation area.
Native American communities relied on the natural salt springs along Fall Brook as an important source of salt for daily use. This historical connection remains part of the place's identity today.
The park offers 15 miles of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing that wind through old-growth forests and along the scenic gorge. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear since paths cross rocky terrain and follow streambanks.
This park is the only Pennsylvania state park managed by a nonprofit organization, the Friends of Salt Springs Park. This partnership allows the group to own and steward additional adjacent land for conservation purposes.
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