VISITORS’ GUIDE

• Hunters Ridge Trail — 2.75 miles, most difficult hiking, yellow blazes. Much of this trail is rugged and hilly. Be conscientious of your ability and health. One end of the trail is on Forest Road 437 near the park office and the other end is near the parking lot at the end of the Game Land Road. A loop can be made by following Game Land Road and Warming Hut Trail. There are many wet areas, especially in the spring, which may persist throughout the summer. At times, the trail follows the boundary between the park and the state game lands. (This boundary is blazed in white. Do not mistake it for the trail.) The trail also crosses many oil lease roads. Be careful to find the blazes on the other side of the road. Do not follow these roads! They are many miles long and have numerous, confusing turn-offs. This trail is for hiking only.

• Lowlands Trail — .3 miles, easiest hiking, blue blazes. One end of the trail is on the Game Land Road and the other is between sites #23 and #25 of the campground. It is an easy trail along an old railroad grade, across the Swinging Bridge over the West Branch of Tionesta Creek, and through a wetland area above the lake. The Old Railroad Grade may be followed past the Swinging Bridge through State Game Lands 29 where it connects with the Game Land Road. This trail is for hiking,

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH

600 Pennsylvania Ave. Warren, PA.

Join us for one of our weekend Masses: Saturdays at 5:30pm, Sunday at 10:00am

May 1 through Labor Day.

Mass time September through April is 10:45am

ST. LUKE CHURCH

420 N. Main St. Youngsville, PA Sunday at 8:00AM bicycling, and cross-country skiing. Bicyclers and skiers should be very careful crossing the Swinging Bridge and its steps.

Facilities also available for banquets, weddings, showers, and parties. Call 814-723-2090 for more information.

• Lumber Trail — seven-tenths of a mile, easiest hiking, orange and yellow blazes. This trail is suitable for hikers of all ages. The first portion of the trail is shared with the Allegheny National Forest Snowmobile Trail, blazed with orange diamonds, and is easy with little grade. The trailhead is along the Main Park Road between the beach and the campground. The trail uses an abandoned logging road as its base, and evidence of the lumbering activity can still be seen along the length of the trail. This trail is for hiking. Bicycling and snowmobiling is permitted only on the portion shared with the snowmobile trail.

• Nature Trail — 1.2 miles, easiest hiking, yellow blazes. Suitable for hikers of all ages, the trail is mostly level along the lakeshore, but has some short, steep hills around the Upper Loop of the campground. One end of the trail is along the service road near the amphitheater and the other is located partway up Lumber Trail. A short loop can be made where the trail splits behind the Upper Loop of the campground. This short section starts along the road near the campground host site and RV dump station. This trail is for hiking only. The section of the Nature Trail from the amphitheater to Old Railroad Grade/Lowlands trail is a self-guiding trail with interpretive signs at ten designated points of interest. The order of the signs is intended to start at the amphitheater, but can be followed in either direction.

• Orchard Trail — .13 mile, easiest hiking, yellow blazes. A short connector trail between the Warming Hut Trail and Hunters Ridge Trail, this trail is moderately steep and travels through an old apple orchard. This trail is for hiking only.

• Penny Run Trail — 1.4 miles, more difficult hiking, blue blazes. Hiking difficulty is moderate with steady uphill grades. One end of the trail is across the Main Park Road from the Spillway Parking Lot and the other is across the Main Park Road from the Pavilion #2 Parking Lot. The trail travels through diverse hardwood and hemlock forest in the park and in the neighboring Allegheny National Forest. This trail is usually wet, with some spots persisting throughout the year. This trail is for hiking and experienced cross-country skiing.

• Warming Hut Trail — seven-tenths of a mile, easiest hiking, orange diamond blazes. This moderately easy trail follows the lakeshore and climbs a gradual hill above the dam. One end of the trail is across Forest Road 437 from the office and the other is at the warming hut. This trail is for hiking, snowmobiling, bicycling, and cross-country skiing.

Backpacking

In addition to the trails at the park, Chapman State Park serves as a trailhead for backpacking trails on adjoining public lands. Map and trail information is available in continued on page 21 the park office. Free parking is available at the park for those who would rather not leave their vehicles along public roadways. Those backpacking must sign in at the park office.

Biking

Although most hiking trails are not open to bicycles, all roads in the park, in the adjacent state game lands, and in Allegheny National Forest are open to bicycles.

Picnicking

The main picnic area is by the beach and overlooks the lake.

Five picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pavilions #1 - 4 are ADA accessible.

Swimming

A sand beach is open from late-May to mid-September, from 8 a.m. until sunset.

Swim at one’s own risk. Please read and follow posted rules.

Smoking is prohibited on the beach and in the swimming area. For visitors who smoke and still want to use the beach, designated areas adjacent to the beach are provided. The restriction includes: cigarettes, pipes, cigars, e-cigarettes, other handheld, lighted smoking devices.

A concession stand is located at the beach area. The concession offers beverages, snacks, ice cream treats, and ice.

Boating

The 68-acre Chapman Lake has a boat launch and 41 seasonal mooring spaces on the western side, and mooring for registered campers on the eastern shoreline.

Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following:

• Boat registration from any state

• Launch permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania state parks that are available at most state park offices

• Launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulations and laws apply.

Fishing At Chapman State Park

The 68-acre Chapman Lake has fishing for coldwater and warmwater fish, including brook and brown trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, yellow perch and sucker.

Within the park and the surrounding Allegheny National Forest, trout fishing exists in the West Branch of Tionesta Creek and Farnsworth Run.