I’ve mentioned Salt Springs in a number of previous posts, but I feel that to really do it justice, it deserves a post all its own. Salt Springs is a modest little park, tucked into the hills just south of the PA/NY border. It doesn’t seem to receive a lot of notice, and if you only look at the Pennsylvania DCNR website, you might be tempted to bypass it altogether.

Salt Springs is my favorite park out of all the ones I’ve visited, in any state. What is has to offer in terms of landscape and opportunities is completely unique. And because it stays under the radar, it is a quiet park, where solitude is easy to find. It is the Cinderella of the PA State Park system; doesn’t look like much from the outside, but get to know it, and it’s a real gem.

Driving in the main entrance, the road turns to dirt and crosses a bridge over Silver Creek. A branch road just before the bridge goes off into the woods to the left, past a pavilion barn and down to a small cluster of cabins and camp sites along the bank of Silver Creek. The cabins are fairly new, and while rustic, appear to be very pleasant to stay in.

Across the bridge there is a house on each side of the road; on the left is a private residence, on the right is the Wheaton House, home to the park office. The road continues around back of the Wheaton House, where there is an entrance to the parking lot. Of particular interest is the barn and fenced areas next to the parking lot, which house a half-dozen llamas. The llamas are great fun to interact with, and they will usually come to the fence to investigate you – especially if you offer handfuls of grass!

RESIDENT LLAMAS AT SALT SPRINGS STATE PARK

This parking lot is also the staging ground for the first series of hikes. Cross the road and Fall Brook via a footbridge, and you will find the first in a series of 5 parallel trails that along the creek. The Fall Brook trail follows the edge of Fall Brook, working upstream through a series of three waterfalls. The trail actually involves climbing the sides of these waterfalls; none are much over 15′, but the rocks are slippery, and in winter ice makes this trail nearly impossible.

WATERFALL ON FALL BROOK TRAIL

The next trail begins near the actual salt spring, from which the park takes its name. This is the Hemlock Trail, which climbs the hillside to an observation platform overlooking the waterfalls and gorge, amid a tall hemlock forest. The trail is steep at first, but overall is not a hard hike. The observation platform is a nice place to stop and admire the forest, but views down into the gorge are somewhat limited. The three other trails all form enlarged looks, connecting to the Hemlock Trails start and finish.

From the llama barn, continue up Salt Springs Road; you will crest the hill at a large field, which is regularly mowed for hay. The field is part of the park, and is a superb place from which to view the sunrise. Pull off onto the grass to park (be careful of soggy areas!); tripods can be setup right next to the road for great views of the hills to the east, or of the farm to the north. Across the road is private property, part of the farm that is visible. There are sometimes cattle in the field, and if you hike the Silver Creek Trail, which starts by the llamas, you will pass through cattle gates when crossing the cow path leading up to this field.

SUNRISE FROM THE FIELD AT SALT SPRINGS

COWS AT SALT SPRINGS

Follow Salt Springs Road farther and you arrive at a four-way intersection; the only option is to turn left, as the other directions are no longer open to traffic. Park in front of the signboard there, and the western road (Buckley Road) heads up the hill. When you reach the gate at the top, you will find the Meadow Trail, which leads through several grass fields situated at the top of the hill. These fields are also occasionally mowed for hay, but in between sport tall grasses and wildflowers. The trail ducks into the woods as it passes around and between fields, and there is ample evidence of the farm that once occupied this area, in the form of cellar holes and stone walls. This trail is fairly long and takes at least an hour to complete – longer if you stop to make photos. This is especially recommended in summer and autumn, when the fields and/or foliage is at its fullest.

FENCE POST IN THE HIGH FIELDS

The high fields are also reached via the Silver Creek Trail; trails at Salt Springs form a rough loop around the park, so for the intrepid hiker, it is possible to start in the main parking area and circumnavigate the entire park, returning to the parking lot at the end.

It is important to note that nearly all of the park is open to hunting. Be sure to check and see if a hunting season is open during your visit, and wear highly-visible clothing. It must also be noted that while the State of PA owns much of the park, a large portion of it actually belongs to the Friends of Salt Springs State Park, a private association dedicated to preservation and upkeep of the park.

After several years, I’ve still not hiked the woodland trails in the far southern section of the park, but my understanding is that they travel through a scenic forest, and offer overlook views from the backside of the hill.

No matter what you’re coming to the part to photograph, several items are essential. A tripod will be useful whether you’re shooting Fall Brook or the high fields; a polarizing filter and neutral density filter will also useful. The range of subjects here is almost limitless; macro, wide-angle, and telephoto lenses would all have application.

Finally, as always, do your utmost to respect the park, its visitors, and its rules. The folks who maintain Salt Springs do an excellent job.

LLAMA BARN AT SUNSET