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Ole Bull State Park
Nearby Parks:
Cherry Springs State Park
Lyman Run State Park
Hyner Run State Park
Prouty Place State Park
Patterson State Park
Denton Hill State Park
Kettle Creek State Park
Leonard Harrison State Park
Tioga State Forest
Upper Pine Bottom State Park
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| State Park Contact Information: |
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Ole Bull State Park
31 Valhalla Lane
Cross Fork, Pennsylvania 17729
Phone: 814-435-5000
Toll Free: 888-727-2757
Reservations: 888-727-2757
Email: olebullsp@state.pa.us
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Photography: add your photos
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| State Park Reservations: |
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Reservations: 
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| State Park Overview: |
| Ole Bull State Park consists of 132 acres along the Kettle Creek Valley in Potter County. This area is called the Black Forest because of its once dense tree cover, mountainous terrain and wilderness habitat. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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our favoriteand loving place
Great place, guite and nice and everyone there is great and a great place to get marride.....
Written by Patti
16-Mar-2009
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| Camping: |
| Camping: modern sites, some with electricity
Camping is permitted year-round. Two camping areas along Kettle Creek provide sunny and shaded sites. All sites include a picnic table, fire ring and level gravel pad. There are 24 sites with electric hookups in Area 2. Area 1 has 21 sites with electricity. Water hydrants, modern restrooms and a sanitary dump station are available. Pets are not permitted in the campground. |
| Trails: |
| Hiking: 2 miles of trails
The Daugherty Loop Trail combines old logging and railroad grades to form a one hour walk through the Black Forest of Pennsylvania. Ole Bull Trail leads to the historic foundation remains of Ole Bull?s ?home site? and a panoramic view of the park area. The Beaver Dam Nature Trail provides an introduction to the habitats along Kettle Creek. This 0.75-mile trail starts at the concrete fordway and has a flat trail surface.
The 85-mile Susquehannock Trail System passes through Ole Bull State Park. A picnic area parking lot serves as a trailhead for overnight hikers. A trail register is located at the park office for hikers who leave their vehicles overnight. Please read posted regulations. |
| Picnicking: |
| The picnic area lies along Kettle Creek and has four picnic pavilions, picnic tables, fireplaces, drinking water, restrooms and playground equipment. 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. The Stone Pavilion has electricity available when reserved. |
| Swimming: |
| The beach is in Camping Area 1 across from the picnic area. The 150-foot sandy beach along Kettle Creek is open from late-May to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset. Swim at your own risk. Parking for the beach area is provided at the picnic area parking lot. Pets are not permitted in the beach area. All children ten years of age or younger must be accompanied by a person at least 14 years of age. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Fishing:
The excellent water quality along Kettle Creek provides good fishing. Both Kettle Creek and Ole Bull Run offer fishing for brook, brown and rainbow trout. A special regulation area for children and people with disabilities is located below the dam breast to the fordway. Fishing is prohibited between the wires at the dam basin and swimming area. Fishing licenses are required and are available nearby at several issuing agents. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.
Hunting and Firearms:
About 25 acres are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, turkey, grouse, bear and squirrel. Hunting is permitted in the surrounding Susquehannock State Forest.
Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for accessible hunting information.
Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. The park is used by other visitors during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner's car, trailer or camp. |
| History of the Area: |
| Ole Bull State Park is named for Ole Bornemann Bull, the famous Norwegian violinist who toured the United States in the 1850s. In 1852, Ole Bull purchased a large tract of land in Potter County and attempted to develop a series of Norwegian settlements.
He began construction of a ?home? at what now is now called Ole Bull Vista. He never finished this large, wooden cabin. After a year of severe hardships, the majority of the colony disbanded and moved west into Michigan and Wisconsin. A complete history of Ole Bull is available at the park office.
The lumbering industry followed Ole Bull into this area. By the turn of the 20th century, two railroads, one on each side of Kettle Creek, were hauling logs to sawmills in the Cross Fork area. By 1920, the Commonwealth purchased vast tracts of land no longer useful to the lumber companies. In 1925, Ole Bull State Park was opened as a picnic area on a one-half acre tract of cleared land.
Formed in the 1930s to alleviate the severity of the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the original dam for the swimming area and constructed facilities like latrines, pavilions and camping areas.
For more information on the CCC, visit the Civilian Conservation Corps Online Archive.
In 2002, the 150th anniversary of the founding of Ole Bull?s colony, a monument was erected to honor Ole Bull. The monument was a gift from the citizens of Norway in recognition of Ole Bull?s talent, foresight and patriotism. |
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| Related Links: |
| Pennsylvania State Parks - Bicycling - PA DCNR - This is an official Web site of the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks. Begin your adventure here. - The bike trails found in state parks feature a variety of sizes, terrain and scenic views. An... | | Pennsylvania on Hiker Central - Backpacking, hiking and camping tips and links for Pennsylvania | | Potter County Links - This Links Page is for Potter County Links Only We are trying to get the biggest list of Potter County Sites on the Web, to help you find what you are looking for. Click on the Links Below or... |
| Area Attractions: |
| For information on nearby attractions, contact: Potter County Visitors Association, 888-POTTER2.
Susquehannock State Forest: This 262,415-acre state forest surrounds Ole Bull State Park and offers hiking on a variety of trails including the Susquehannock and Black Forest trail systems, miles of snowmobile trails, and an ATV area located close to Denton Hill and Lyman Run state parks. 814-274-3600
Denton Hill Ski Area: Along US 6, ten miles west of Galeton. 814-435-2115
Kettle Creek State Park: 20 miles southwest and offers a 160-acre lake, fishing, swimming, camping, picnicking, and hiking. 570-923-6004
Lyman Run State Park: 25 miles northeast and offers fishing, camping facilities ATV and hiking trailheads. 814-435-5010
Pennsylvania Grand Canyon: Off of US 6 at Ansonia, 20 miles east of Galeton, located in Leonard Harrison and Colton Point state parks. 570-724-3061
Pennsylvania Lumber Museum: Along US 6, ten miles west of Galeton. 814-435-2652 |
| Area Campgrounds | | | | Area Resorts and Lodging | | Creek Side Canyon Lodge
Cedar Run, PA
(570) 353-2035
| Mountainside Lodge
Renovo, PA
(570) 923-2443
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