Shikellamy State Park
Bridge
Avenue
Sunbury, PA 17801-1005
570-988-5557
Shikellamy State Park is in Union and
Northumberland counties. The 78-acre Shikellamy Overlook section is
on the western shore of the Susquehanna River and overlooks the
confluence of the West and North Branches of the Susquehanna River.
The 54-acre Shikellamy Marina section is in Northumberland County,
between the Borough of Northumberland and the City of Sunbury on the
southern tip of Packer’s Island, at the confluence of the West
Branch and North Branch Susquehanna River.
Directions
Shikellamy
Overlook is reached from the town of Shamokin Dam by going north
on US 11, then turning onto County Line Road.
Recreational Opportunities
Picnicking:
Both areas of the park offer picnic tables, picnic pavilions,
drinking water and restrooms. Shikellamy Overlook has hiking trails
and Shikellamy Marina offers paved walking trails. 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. Call
888-PA-PARKS for reservations.
Fishing:
The 3,060-acre Lake Augusta is a popular bass and walleye area.
Other game fish found in the lake are muskellunge, black crappies,
northern pike and catfish. All Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
laws apply.
Scenic Views:
The
two overlooks on Shikellamy Overlook are 360 feet above the river
confluence. They offer spectacular views of Sunbury, Northumberland
and the surrounding areas. The road to the overlook is closed from
October to April. The cover photo is a view from Shikellamy
Overlook.
In Shikellamy Marina, the Point
Sitting Area provides a scenic view of Lake Augusta.
Hiking: 2 miles of trails
Paved paths encircle Shikellamy Marina. A walk around the one-mile
nature trail on Shikellamy Overlook can reveal the wildlife that
abounds in the park, like deer, songbirds and wildflowers. Different
forest stages can be seen from scrub forest to mature hardwood
forest. Unique geologic formations can be studied in the park and on
the eastern boundary cliff trail extension.
Bicycling:
A one-mile, paved hiking and biking path encircles Shikellamy
Marina.
Boating
This portion of the Susquehanna River
is known as Lake Augusta, a 3,060-acre lake formed by the world’s
largest inflatable dam that is three miles downstream from the park.
The lake averages six feet in depth and is a popular water-skiing
area.
Non-powered boats must display one of
the following: boat registration; launching permit or mooring permit
from Pennsylvania State Parks, available at most state park offices;
launching permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Motorboats must display a current boat registration.
Marina:
The 23 marina slips are available for seasonal leases from mid-May
to the end of September. Permits may be obtained from the park
office. Daily rates are available.
Boat Launching:
The Shikellamy Marina section of the park has a boat launching area
for transient boaters with 90 parking spaces available for
trailer-pulling vehicles and 750 spaces for single vehicles.
Courtesy Docks:
In the Shikellamy Marina section, two sets of courtesy docks are
available for temporary docking of boats. One dock is between the
marina docks and the gas dock. The other dock is immediately
downstream from the public boat launch.
Wildlife Watching
Shikellamy State Park is a wonderful
place to watch wildlife, especially migrating birds and butterflies.
Always view wildlife from a safe distance. Feeding squirrels, ducks
geese or any other wildlife is prohibited. Feeding wildlife lures
too many animals into an area that cannot support them, and improper
food may be unhealthy for the animals.
History
The park was named in honor of the
famous Iroquois Chief Shikellamy. A friend of both the Colonists and
American Indians, Chief Shikellamy played a prominent role in the
development of the Pennsylvania frontier in the early and middle
18th century. Park facilities on Shikellamy Overlook opened in 1960.
Shikellamy Marina was dedicated in 1972.
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