A Brief Overview
Spanning almost 16,000 acres, Hickory Run State Park is located on the western side of the Pocono Mountains, in north eastern Pennsylvania. Getting there is pretty easy from either I80 or I476, the latter of which actually runs through the park itself. Established in 1945 to preserve its unique natural features and beautiful landscapes, the park gets an estimated 3 million+ visitors per year. However, other than the very height of summer, MrsFaceless and i have generally been able to find quieter areas away from the crowds.
Places We Went
- Visitor Center
- Stametz Dam (Shades Of Death Trail)
- Hawk Falls
- The Boulder Field
There are also a good number of trails within the park, over 40 miles worth! Whilst we didn’t make it this trip the Fireline Trail is definitely on our to-do list. We hope to back sometime in late summer, so maybe an explosion of fall/autumn colours may be in our future!
The Visitor Center
This will be music to MrsFaceless’ ears, but the visitor center at Hickory Run State Park should be high on the list of places to visit. Being relatively new, having been completed in 2020, it has a really good selection of displays and information about the various locations, trails and features within the park. Plus the Park Rangers are super friendly and helpful.
Stametz Dam
Located approximately a third of a mile along the Shades Of Death Trail from the lower car park, Stametz Dam is one of my favourite waterfalls. When there is sufficient water the flow forms a majestic curtain in front of the dam wall. In fall/autumn it is possible to get across the stream to provide an alternate view. When we visited the water in the stream was quite high and fast flowing, together with icy rocks and snow. Not an ideal combination for rock hopping! Behind the dam is a very picturesque pond which often provides gorgeous autumnal colours. However, this trail is extremely popular and hence generally quite busy. It is also rated as difficult, mainly due to the uneven terrain – so appropriate footwear is recommended!
Hawk Falls
The 1.2 mile out and back to Hawk Falls is a pretty gentle hike, with a relatively small 130 ish ft elevation change. MrsFaceless found the bridge a little slippery, as you’ll see in the video, what with the snow and ice on there during our visit! The falls measures in at about 25ft and are pretty. Water from Hawk Run flows almost all year to feed the falls and then enters Mud Run which you will see as you hike to Hawk Falls, There is greenery there all year round in the form of rhododendron bushes. Probaly millions of them. Literally. A point to note here is that there are signs advising visitors to stick to the trail as there is obvious damage to vegetation. Likewise, there were signs stating not to go close to the waterfall. Being such a picturesque and easy hike MrsFaceless and I have generally bypassed this location because it is always busy and we can understand why. This time we timed it right. Although the snow flurries helped, there were still a significant number of people here considering the cold weather.
The Boulder Field
At 16 acres in area, this is the largest of several boulder fields to be found in the Appalachian Mountains. Likely formed thousands of years ago, as retreating glaciers deposited the rocks caught within the ice, this makes for an incredible viewing experience. The drive here can be, shall we say, interesting. The road is mostly unpaved and when there’s been rain or bad weather the surface can be quite rutted and slippery. In summer i would expect any car would make it, but winter….depends upon the conditions. The classic photo here is of the lone tree growing out of the rocks. To get a better perpective on the tree and to separate it from the background, there is a pit in the rocks for photographers to climb into. It’s an interesting walk out there, as the rocks are not all stable. Now add in some ice and snow and….well…..
MrsFaceless
Composition Opportunities at Hickory Run
Patterns in Boulder Field: The arrangement of rocks offers natural lines and textures. Capture close-ups or wide shots to show their randomness.
Textures of Snow and Ice: Focus on frost-covered branches or areas where ice forms intricate patterns. These details make winter scenes come alive.
Long Exposure: Long exposures soften water, creating smooth, mirror-like surfaces. If you’re near falling water, try slow shutter speeds to give a silky effect. For frost and ice close-ups, focus stacking increases detail from front to back.
Leading Lines: Leading Lines such as stone walls, running streams or fractured rocks will help to guide the viewer’s eye into the picture.
Foreground Interest: Be it snow capped rocks in the Boulder Field, a bubble swirl in a pool or a flower right in front of you, foreground interest helps to fill the frame and create more balanced and appealing images.
Always remember to review your photos. Check for correct exposure using ‘blinkies’ or the histogram. Make sure the composition is good with no distractions at the edge of the frame and that the images are sharp.
Respecting the Natural Environment
Follow leave-no-trace principles. Avoid disturbing wildlife or trampling plants. Stay on designated trails to prevent erosion and damage. Pack out everything you take in, including your trash. Leave it better than you found it.
Footnote
Hickory Run State Park offers countless photo opportunities to grab those unique moments of winter wonder. A little planning goes a long way here. Check out this map of the park to help make your plans. There may be crowds, so be flexible on the order you visit locations. So pack your gear, wrap up warm with plenty of layers and watch the weather forecast! This park’s icy, snow-covered scenes are waiting to tell their winter photography story through your lens.