Cherry Springs and the West Branch

The Pine Creek is known state wide for its many recreational opportunities with its origins beginning in Potter County, located in the north central area of the state known as the PA Wilds Region.

Activities include kayaking and tubing, world class trout fishing and of course hiking and biking on the Pine Creek Rail Trail. This well known artery covers roughly 68 miles beginning in Ansonia, Tioga County and travels south thru the scenic mountains and valleys of Pa ending in Jersey Shore, Lycoming County

Here at Pine Creek Life we have the privilege of living in the Upper Pine Region where several branches of this 90 mile waterway spring out the ground to eventually flow into the Susquehanna River which empties into the famous Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

Upper Pine Creek looking West towards Galeton

Today I want to talk about the West Branch of the Pine Creek which gets its start just a few miles north of the Cherry Springs State Park which is part of the Susquehannock State Forest system. Cherry Springs Dark Skies located along Pa Route 44 has become known as the "Highway to the Stars". Every year close to 100,000 visitors come to view the night skies at this location which is billed as the darkest spot East of the Mississippi for night viewing.

The area offers lots of motorized recreational opportunities as well.

The professional astronomer viewing area has undergone considerable expansion in 2025. A public viewing area is available as well as overnight parking, a new amphitheater and a public campground.

Get more info about the Cherry Springs Dark Skies by clicking the link below: https://cherryspringsstatepark.com/

Back to the West Branch, which begins as just a humble trickle deep in the mountains behind the Cherry Springs Country Store. This tributary gains momentum quickly and feeds beaver dams and some of the best Trout fishing that Potter County has to offer. It slowly makes its way towards the small tourist town of Galeton where it merges with the Upper Pine and the South Branch and forms Berger Lake in center town before meandering east towards Ansonia and the Darling Run trail head of the above mentioned Pine Creek Rail Trail.

Berger Lake in Galeton where two branches merge above the dam with the South Branch flowing in below.

Obviously I could go on and on about the origins of this wonder of creation that helps represent the great outdoor opportunities that our great state has to offer. I will save that however for our next insertion on Pine Creek Life.

We thank you for reading and encourage you to follow along as we attempt to bring you all the region has to offer in the coming months and years. We ask you also to please share our blogs around but more importantly to visit our area and enjoy the nature and beauty of it all.

Thanks for reading - Jim Bull

Blog Sponsor - Pine Creek Real Estate

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