Recreation
Chapman State Park is open for year round recreation. Chapman Lake is open for swimming, boating, and fishing. A large picnic area is near the beach and overlooks the lake. A rustic, wooded campground is open spring through fall. Twelve miles (19 km) of trails are open to hiking. Chapman State Park is also open to hunting and fishing in the streams as well as the lake. The park stays open in the winter for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing.
The sand beach on Chapman Lake is open from 8:00 am until sunset. Beginning in 2008 lifeguards will not be posted at the beach. The beach opens for the summer on Memorial Day and closes Labor Day weekend. A concession is open in the beach area. It offers fire wood, ice, beach supplies, snacks, beverages and ice cream treats.
Gas powered boats are prohibited on Chapman Lake. Electric powered and non powered boats must have a current registration with any state or a launch permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. A concession is open on the shores of the lake for renting canoes, kayaks and paddle boats.
Chapman lake provides a habitat for warm water and cold water fish. Fishermen may catch brook and brown trout, bluegill, sunfish, yellow perch, largemouth bass, and sucker. West Branch Tionesta Creek and Farnsworth Run have trout in the park and in the surrounding Allegheny National Forest.
Visitors to Chapman State Park have several choices for over accommodations. The rustic campground in a wooded area has 83 campsites, with outhouses and water hydrants. Three cottages are available to rent. The cottages sleep up to five people in single and double bunks. Each cottage has wooden floors, a porch, electric heat, lights, and outlets. The cottages also have a picnic table and fire ring in the yard area. In addition to the more traditional cottages two Mongolian style yurts are available to rent. These round structures are mounted on a wooden platform and have a cooking stove, refrigerator, tables, chairs, countertop, electric lights, heat and outlets. Picnic tables and fire rings are in the yard area.
Chapman State Park is a trailhead for an extensive network of trails in the 517,000 acres (209,000 ha) Allegheny National Forest. All backpackers are asked to register at the park office and leave word about where they plan to hike and when they plan to return. Hikers are also encouraged to take a map and compass.
Over 400 acres (160 ha) of Chapman State Park are open to hunting. Hunters may park at the park to gain access to the surrounding state game lands and Allegheny National Forest. Common game species are White-tailed deer, American Black Bear, Wild Turkey, Eastern Gray Squirrel, and Ruffed Grouse. All hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
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