Salt Springs PA State Park
Quick Bits
Main Activities - Hike, Bike, Camp
Distance - 15 miles of trails
Quiet - very quiet.
Surface - rock steps, dirt, well maintained.
Elevation - Some very steep sections, otherwise moderately steep.
Pets - dogs allowed.
Address - 2305 Salt Springs Rd, Montrose, PA
Facilities - restrooms are available at the Visitor Center and port-a-poties when not open.
Click image above for Salt Springs Map & Brochure.
In a Nutshell
Offering a small mineral spring, gorges, three waterfalls, history, and old growth hemlock trees, Salt Springs is a great place to hike and explore.
Location and Parking
As you enter the park, you'll pass a drive to the left that goes to the campground. Continue and then turn right, after the Wheaton House and Visitor Center. You'll see the parking lot on the right between the Visitor Center and a barn. If that lot is filled, go to the back of it and a drive to another, larger, parking area.
If you want to avoid the more difficult trails, you can park in one of three small lots in the "Friends Land", the Buckley Road West Trailhead, the Bunny Trail Parking, or the Friends Land Parking. Both are on the dirt road Buckley Road accessible from Route 29, or the Salt Springs Road (also dirt).
More details
The backbone of the Pennsylvania Salt Springs State Park, in my opinion, is the non-profit group Friends of Salt Springs Park. Their stewardship of the over 400 acres, makes this park a welcoming place. The word "quirky" comes to mind, but in a good way, with it's unique features. The mineral springs gives the park its name. The spring is relatively small near the entrance. Originally, in the early 1900s, it was used for the methane found for lighting and cooking gas in the nearby homestead.
There are a large number of trails at the park which provide a good variety on routes. Many people start with the Gorge Trail. With it's steep start, it can be intimidating, but if you get past that first quarter of a mile, you'll be fine. This trail gives you upclose views of the falls. For a view from higher up, you can return via the Fall Brook and Hemlock trails. The brochure includes a nice description of each trail with distance, difficulty, and other information listed.
You'll also notice on the map that the area is divided between the actual State Park and the "Friends Land" adjacent to the park. Again, this again, speaks to the involvement of the Friends organization. The Friends of Salt Springs also runs various programs and events, so it is worth checking their website for activities.
While hunting is not permitted in the gorge portion, please check the hunting seasons and regulations, as portions of both the state land and the Friends Land allows hunting. Hikers and bikers are responsible for clothing with visibility requirements regardless of whether they are hunting when in those areas during the season.