Colton Point State Park

Colton Point State Park presents Pine Creek Gorge from the west rim, facing Leonard Harrison State Park across the canyon. Its identity combines rugged overlooks with the built legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park was developed between 1933 and 1936 and opened to the public in 1936; five stone-and-timber pavilions preserve visible evidence of that work.

The Rim Trail offers a one-mile loop linking several viewpoints. The state rates it as the park's easiest hiking option, which makes it a more measured choice than descending to the creek. That rating does not remove the need to consider footing, weather and the proximity of steep terrain.

Turkey Path follows a much more demanding route. The trail descends 1.5 miles to the canyon floor, with waterfalls along the way, and requires the climb back for a three-mile round trip. There is no bridge across Pine Creek at the bottom. The path should therefore not be planned as a simple connection to the park on the opposite rim.

Colton Point also helps explain how a heavily logged landscape became protected public land. Its historical account links the gorge with timber transport, the former railway and later conservation. The park's day-use period runs from sunrise to sunset, while trail access can change with seasonal snow and ice. Contact is handled through the Leonard Harrison State Park office, whose phone and email serve both locations.

Verified: 2026-09-26 · Official website · Address: 927 Colton Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901 · Phone: 570-724-3061 · Email: leonardharrisonsp@pa.gov · Telephone and email: Leonard Harrison State Park office, which serves Colton Point

Sources: Colton Point State Park | Department of Conservation and Natural Resources| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania · Hiking at Colton Point State Park | Department of Conservation and Natural Resources| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania · History of Colton Point State Park | Department of Conservation and Natural Resources| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania · Accessibility | Department of Conservation and Natural Resources| Commonwealth of Pennsylvania