Prouty Place State Park
One of Pennsylvania’s Smallest State Parks — 5-Acre Rustic Rest Area in the Susquehannock State Forest, Gateway to the 85-Mile Susquehannock Trail System, Primitive Camping in Remote Potter County Forest, CCC-Built Infrastructure From the 1930s, Backcountry Hiking and Hunting Access, Near Sweden Valley Summit Township Potter County North-Central Pennsylvania
Prouty Place State Park is a 5-acre state park in Summit Township, Potter County, north-central Pennsylvania, managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) as part of the Hills Creek State Park complex. The park features primitive camping opportunities in a remote forest setting, a short link trail connecting to the 85-mile Susquehannock Trail System — one of Pennsylvania’s premier long-distance backpacking routes, CCC-built infrastructure from the Civilian Conservation Corps era of the 1930s, access to the vast Susquehannock State Forest for hiking, hunting, and fishing, and a quiet, rustic atmosphere that makes it one of the smallest and most remote state parks in the Pennsylvania system.
Prouty Place is a tiny, obscure park — at just 5 acres, it’s one of the smallest state parks in Pennsylvania. But its value lies in its connection to the Susquehannock Trail System, an 85-mile loop through some of the wildest forest in the eastern United States.
The site was first used as a campground by the Department of Forestry in the 1920s, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built much of the existing infrastructure between 1935 and 1938. It officially became a state park in 1957.
Note: Since the 2010s, the park has no developed or maintained facilities — it’s purely primitive and best suited as a trailhead for the Susquehannock Trail or a base for hunting and backpacking.
Things to Do
- Backpacking — Susquehannock Trail System (85 mi)
- Primitive camping — no facilities
- Hunting — vast Susquehannock SF
- Hiking — link trail to STS
- History — CCC-built structures (1935–38)
Park Information
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Summit Twp, Potter County, N-Central PA |
| Size | 5 acres (one of PA’s smallest SPs) |
| Trail | Susquehannock Trail System — 85 mi |
| Facilities | ⚠️ None maintained — primitive only |
| History | CCC-built 1935–38, SP since 1957 |
| Managed By | PA DCNR (Hills Creek complex) |
| Coordinates | 41.7167° N, 77.8500° W |
Frequently Asked Questions
Wildlife & Nature
Prouty Place SP — a rustic mountain park in the Potter County wilderness — provides primitive camping in the PA Wilds. Elk roam the surrounding forest. Black bears and white-tailed deer are abundant. Brook trout fill the mountain streams.
Nearby Attractions
Coudersport — 15 miles south. Sinnemahoning SP — 20 miles southeast. Elk Country Visitor Center — 30 miles southeast. PA Grand Canyon — 40 miles east.
How big is Prouty Place State Park?
Prouty Place State Park is just 5 acres — one of the smallest state parks in Pennsylvania. Located in Summit Township, Potter County, it serves as a primitive trailhead connecting to the 85-mile Susquehannock Trail System through the Susquehannock State Forest. CCC-built infrastructure from the 1930s. No maintained facilities — primitive camping only. Managed by PA DCNR as part of the Hills Creek State Park complex.
Last updated: May 2026
