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Nearby Attractions to Ole Bull State Park

Information about Ole Bull State Park’s nearby attractions is available from the Potter County Visitors Association.

Explore the Area

The town of Cross Fork is seven miles south along PA 144, and is known for the trout fishing on Kettle Creek and Cross Fork Creek -- including an annual kids’ fishing derby in May. Here, you will find the nearest gas station, store, and a variety of other services closest to Ole Bull State Park.

Service garages, shopping areas, laundry facilities, and restaurants also are along PA 144 north or south in Germania, Galeton, Tamarack, and Renovo.

Learn about some of the area businesses and things to do from the Galeton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Nearby State Parks and Forests

Ole Bull State Park is close to several state parks and one state forest, where visitors can enjoy recreation, education, and other activities.

Cherry Springs State Park

Just 15 miles north on PA 44, night sky enthusiasts flock to the 82-acre Cherry Springs State Park for its dark skies, which are famous for great views of the Milky Way, planets, and hard-to-see astronomical objects and phenomena.

Kettle Creek State Park

The 1,793-acre Kettle Creek State Park is located in western Clinton County. The park is in a valley surrounded by mountainous terrain and wilderness.

Recreational activities include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, picnicking, boating, fishing, hunting, and camping.

Susquehannock State Forest

The 265,000-acre Susquehannock State Forest is located in Potter, Clinton, and McKean Counties. The forest grows some of the most productive strands of black cherry trees in the world, and is one of eight state forests located in the Pennsylvania Wilds region.

Popular recreational activities include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, ATV riding, picnicking, fishing, and camping.

Hyner Run State Park

Hyner Run State Park carves a small valley from the surrounding steep mountains, creating a cozy, quiet place for outdoor adventures. Recreational activities include hiking, picnicking, swimming, fishing, hunting, and camping.

Lyman Run State Park

The 595-acre Lyman Run State Park is in scenic Potter County. Maples and cherries dominate a mixed northern hardwood forest that surrounds the 45-acre Lyman Run Lake, making a most scenic setting.

Recreational activities include hiking, ATV riding, picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, and camping.

Other Nearby Outdoor Spaces and Natural Places

There are several other nearby outdoor spaces and natural places near Ole Bull State Park:

  • The Hammersly Wild Area is nearby and offers additional recreation and wildlife viewing opportunities.
  • The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon is off of US 6 at Ansonia, 20 miles east of Galeton, located in Leonard Harrison State Park and Colton Point State Park.
  • The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum is along US 6, 10 miles west of Galeton.

The Pennsylvania Wilds

Ole Bull State Park is part of the Pennsylvania Wilds, which offers two million acres of public lands for hiking, biking, fishing, boating, hunting, and exploration in northcentral Pennsylvania.

Highlights of the area include:

  • Elk watching at the Elk Country Visitor Center
  • Scenic PA Route 6 in Pine Creek Gorge (PA Grand Canyon)
  • Natural and hidden wonders of forested state parks and storied towns off the I-80 Frontier
  • Hundreds of miles of backpacking trails, bike paths, and trout fishing streams.

Pennsylvania Heritage Areas

Heritage Areas protect, enhance, and promote Pennsylvania’s historic, natural, cultural, and scenic resources.

In the Lumber Heritage Region, roughly 2 million acres of public lands give both wildlife and humans room to roam. Unsurpassed beauty, natural treasures, rich history, and outdoor adventure can be found here.

In 1807, Pennsylvania State officials mandated a road be cut through the Moosic Mountains to enable easier travel to the western part of the state. What would become the Route 6 Heritage Corridor was born. By spanning the entire state, the road ties together a unique collection of special places and communities, capturing the spirit of the state’s diversity.