Austin Dam Park

Biking is allowed in the park. Hybrid and mountain bicycles are highly recommended to better tolerate a wide range of riding conditions within the park.

Fishing is allowed in the park. Freeman Run runs through the park. For Fishing License purchase, fishing rules, and fishing regulations please visit Pennsylvania Fish & Wildlife. Located just 2 miles north on State Route 872 of the Austin Dam Memorial Park entrance is the Little Fella Hatchery. Little Fella Hatchery is located at 4472 State Route 872, Coudersport, PA 16915. This trout hatchery is run by the Potter County Anglers Club which is a volunteer and donation-based club that raises over 30,000 trout on an annual basis. The intent of the hatchery is to resupplying native wild populations of trout in natural environments. Visitors are always welcomed! Fishing is NOT permitted at the hatchery. Persons age 16 and over need a licenses to fish in PA streams. For license information, call the local sporting goods store, Perry's Country Store, Austin, PA 16720 at (814) 647-8856. You can search "Rainbow Paradise Trout Farm Coudersport PA" which allows fishing plans without a fishing license for a fee. They are located about 15 miles from our park.

There are nature trails. Many along the stream and through the park. Some trailing leads to the Austin Dam ruins and some trailing up the forested hills and vista areas. Search "Austin Dam Memorial Park MyHikes" to see Hiking Trails listings and descriptions. An additional free activity: Caches are hidden in the park. Visit the Allegheny GeoTrail to learn more about Geocaching. Another free feature in the park is an Artesian Aquifer Trail (blue blazed) near the Campground at the Northern Entrance. This groundwater spring flows under positive pressure and was once used as a water source to fill the ice pond (embankments still there today). The ice pond was used to harvest ice blocks in the winter. The ice blocks were stored in an ice house (foundation remains are still there today) for use in homes and stores in the Town of Austin for cold storage refrigeration year-around.

Horseback riding is allowed in the park. Summit Trail Rides hosts trail rides by appointment (additional fee apply) near by the park. Summit Trail Rides is located in Coudersport PA. They start on Memorial Day and offer weekly trail rides. Trail groups would be 4-8 people and last approximately 1 hour.

Our Park's swimming holes are suitable for innertubes. Our Park's stream Freeman Run is not deep enough for kayaks or canoes, especially in the summer months. However, there is Sinnemahoning State Park close by that has a big lake where campers can use thier kayaks and canoes. Sinnemahoning State Park is only a 30 minutes drive, and there is an jpeg map on Hipcamp that show the directions to get there. It would make an easy and fun day trip for your group. You might even see some elk there too.

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing is allowed in the park. Our park is located on the snowmobile trails maintained by the Southern Potter Snowmobile Club, for anyone with a snowmobile and ability to winter primitive camp. The Gift-shop, Welcome Center, water spigots, and toilets facilities are closed in the winter from November through mid-April. No winter maintenance on park access roads in the winter (ice and snow covered).

Swimming and wading in the stream is allowed. "Stone stacking" is one of the most ancient art forms. And a fun activity to do in the Freeman Run.

This is one of the most scenic and remote regions of Penn’s Woods. It offers a great opportunity to view Pennsylvania’s white-tailed deer, wild turkey and other wildlife. The park supports a rare population of the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly. This butterfly's larval uses the Turtlehead Wildflower as its host plant. A popular activity is Stargazing in our region. The Milky Way shines so bright in the Park, it literally casts your shadow! In most places, people can only see a couple of hundred stars, but here, campers can see thousands! The best site for stargazing is site 1. You can set up in the opening near the old ice pond/icehouse location to view the dark skies.

The Coudersport Ice Mine is located near-by (a short drive within 30 minutes). The Coudersport Ice Mine is an ice cave located in Sweden Township, Pennsylvania, that forms icicles in the spring and summer but not in the winter. Ice formations appear in the shaft during the spring of the year, continue through the hot weather, and disappear in winter.

Susquehannock State Forest is one of eight state forests located in the Pennsylvania Wilds region. Our region is mainly covered by hardwood forest. The forest is named for the Susquehannocks, a Native American tribe who once lived in the Susquehanna River basin.

The park is on the Allegheny Plateau, western section of the Appalachian Mountains. The high plateau has been worn away by streams to form the sloping valleys, hillsides and hilly ridges. Our Susquehanna river headwaters drain into the Chesapeake Bay.

The Stargazing at Cherry Springs State Park is located near-by (a short drive within 30 minutes). Cherry Springs presents dark skies for studying, gazing, or gaining a better understanding of our place in the universe. Of course, on a clear night in the Austin Dam Memorial Park, the stars are great for viewing too (sounds boring but it's not). The best site for stargazing is site 1. You can set up in the opening near the old ice pond/ icehouse location to view our dark skies.

East Branch of Freeman Run flows through the park. Freeman Run is a stream in Potter County, in the state of Pennsylvania. Freeman Run is classified as a Wild Trout Fishery. Wetlands associated with Freeman Run are classified as Exceptional Value Wetlands. Make it a point to visit Artesian Aquifer Trail located near the Campground at North Entrance. Find the Artesian Spring, and the old ice block pond.

Several swimming and wading holes are in the park. The deepest swimming hole in the park is located at the Coffer Dam. Another deep hole is at the Dirt Dam.

Wetlands associated with Freeman Run are classified as Exceptional Value Wetlands. These wetlands support species such as woodfrogs and spring peepers. Vernal pools exist in the park. Vernal pool is a seasonal body of standing water that typically forms in the spring from melting snow and other runoff, dries out completely in the summer, often refills in the autumn, and provides an important breeding habitat for many terrestrial or semiaquatic species, such as frogs and salamanders.