Hillman State Park

The calendar has turned to August, which means fall (my personal favorite time of year) is just weeks away. Instead of waiting until the ‘Ber months to make your plans exploring Pennsylvania’s state parks, take advantage of the rainy days of August and make plans for hikes and leaf-peeping now.

If you’re centered around the Pittsburgh area, there are many state parks around that offer plenty of opportunities to soak in fall’s changing canopy. You have the big named state parks, like Raccoon Creek, Ohiopyle, Moraine, McConnell’s Mill, and Keystone, which all provide their own scenic views. Regardless of where you plan on heading this fall, you can use the Explore Fall website to get an estimate of peak fall color change.

One state park on my radar for fall, which typically isn’t for others, is Hillman State Park. The 3,000-acre state park located near Burgettstown, PA and became a state park in 1969 when James F. Hillman, president of Harmon Creek Coal Corporation, donated the land for outdoor recreation. Ponds scattered throughout the park provide ample opportunity to observe the changing landscapes.

There is one hike that’s a favorite of mine. The Wetland Trail is a 2.1-mile loop trail, ranking as one of the easiest in the park, leads you by four of the main ponds within Hillman State Park. You can access the trail at the Five Points Extension parking lot. Plus, you can either hike the trail, ride it on your bike, or take your horse out. Make sure you bring your binoculars to spot songbirds or your camera to photograph the abundant wildlife that call Hillman home.

While exploring Hillman State Park in the fall is one of my favorite things to do, check the regulations before heading out. The park is managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) for hunting, commonly white-tailed deer, pheasant, and turkey. During these seasons, ensure you follow the regulations by wearing the required amount of fluorescent orange, a minimum of 250 square inches. To find more information on those requirements, check out the PGC website for those guidelines here.

 

One last spot to check out at Hillman State Park is the Lyle Covered Bridge. The bridge was constructed in 1887 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is currently open to both vehicles and pedestrians. Plus, it serves as a great subject for some fall photography.

The sweltering heat of August is here now, but it will soon give way to cooler mornings and falling leaves. Make those plans now for when the peak of fall is here! Happy leaf peeping this year!

Blogger Bio

Zac Shopene is an outdoorsman, photographer, and conservationist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has spent many fall seasons in Hillman State Park hiking, hunting, and photographing wildlife and landscapes. His goal is to inspire others to get outside and explore through his photography.