Frances Slocum State Park

Spanning over 1,000 acres of Pennsylvanian land, Frances Slocum State Park is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Located in Luzerne County not far from Kingston Township, this state park maintains numerous attractions and landmarks worth planning a weekend getaway with friends or family.

A day spent traversing the various trails and interacting with the breathtaking landscape makes Frances Slocum State Park a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Before planning a trip, it’s important to get acquainted with the many park attractions and features in order to get the most out of what the park has to offer.

Frances Slocum State Park History

Named after the daughter of one of the first Caucasian settlers in the local county, Frances Slocum State Park commemorates the history Frances had with the indigenous Lenape tribe. Frances lived with them for almost 60 years while marrying into the tribe and mothered 4 children.

Frances Slocum Lake, the main park landmark resembling a horseshoe, covers over 165 acres of real estate was constructed in the late 60’s in order to help manage flooding from the North Branch Susquehanna River. Known for the rich autumn landscape and it’s breathtaking winter scenery, Frances Slocum State Park is home to a wide-array of woodland critters and has been a welcoming hunting ground over the last several decades.

Park guests have the option of participating in the park’s nature programs which provide in-depth education on park animals, landmarks and history.This is a great feature to take advantage of when bringing family and children to Frances Slocum State Park as it provides invaluable perspective on what nature has made possible on park grounds.

Things to Do at Frances Slocum State Park

Attractions at Frances Slocum State Park are just as diverse and plentiful as the animals that inhabit the park grounds. From the 100 campsites that are spread across the park to the 5 major hiking trails, there are ample opportunities to appreciate the landscape that Frances Slocum State Park has to offer.

Campsites and picnic grounds provide several accommodations like fire rings for a campfire, electricity hook-ups for trailers, bathhouses and grills to name a few features that are made available for a comfortable extended stay.

Camping

After settling into their campsites, guests are encourage to take on the park hiking trails which range from over a half-mile to almost 4 miles in length. Each trail features different park attractions like the Larch Tree Trail which takes hikers through the larch trees that populate the park or the Lakeshore Trail that leads hikers to the Frances Slocum Lake.

Hunting & Swimming

Two of the main attractions of the park are the hunting grounds and the lake which is home to a diverse selection of warm-water fish. Hunting grounds are open in the fall and winter seasons at Frances Slocum State Park.

Game species include white-tailed deer and rabbits which can be found on the lengthy 4 mile hunting trail that is aptly named the Deer Trail. Fishermen can expect to find warm-water fish like the walleye, bluegill and bass as some of the native fish in the lake.

Fishing

Visitors have access to fishing spots onshore, on the fishing pier or can venture onto the lake by boat. While hunting and fishing are welcome at the park, guests are obligated to know and abide by the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s regulations when hunting and fishing in the park. In order to preserve the natural habitat for all guests to enjoy, hunting of groundhogs and use of gasoline powered boats have been strictly prohibited by state park officials.

Winter Activities: Ice Fishing, Ice Skating & More

Winter seasons at Frances Slocum State Park are an eventful time of year. During seasons when the lake freezes over, guests are able to enjoy ice fishing and can even ice skate on top of the lake’s surface. Other activities that can be enjoyed after snowfall hits the park include: sledding, tobogganing, and snowmobiling.

With winter snowfall changing the environment in a dramatic fashion, guests can expect a completely different park experience which makes Frances Slocum State Park a versatile vacation destination in both summer and winter season.

Visit Frances Slocum State Park

Parks such as Frances Slocum and Ricketts Glenn are a tremendous attraction throughout the year. With park officials and staff working tirelessly throughout the year to manage park grounds, visitors of Frances Slocum State Park will find themselves in a serene environment in which they can enjoy all that nature has to offer in a family-oriented package.

Whether it’s a day fishing on the park lake or taking in the sights on the various park trials, Frances Slocum State Park has plenty to provide guests for their enjoyment. Contact park officials to setup camping arrangements and inquire details for a trip today.

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Frances Slocum State Park

Frances Slocum State Park

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