Shikellamy State Park - Where cultures and currents converge

High above the meeting point of two mighty rivers, where the Susquehanna splits into its North and West Branches, stands Shikellamy State Park. Perched on a forested bluff in central Pennsylvania, this park offers more than just scenic overlooks. It’s a gateway to the natural beauty, cultural history and outdoor adventure of the Susquehanna River Valley. 

Shikellamy State Park is a place where geography and heritage intersect. The story of the park and the story of the Native American tribes that called it home are forever intertwined. In the 1700s, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy took control of the surrounding area.  

Nearby Shamokin – whose name means “the Place of Eels” - was one of the most important Indigenous cities in Pennsylvania during that time. The resident Haudenosaunee welcomed tribes including the Conestoga, Conoy, Nanticoke, Tuscarora, Lenape and the Shawnee displaced by settlers.

The French and Indian War, the American Revolution and the purchase of the land by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania forced many of the Indigenous people in Pennsylvania to move west or north.

The park – which is made of up two separate sections – held numerous purposes over the years. It was an air strip, homestead, farm, “pleasure ground,” amusement center and hotel before becoming a state park in 1962. 

Shikellamy State Park’s two distinct areas is the marina along the river in Sunbury, and the scenic overlook high on the bluff in Northumberland. Each area offers a different experience—from peaceful boating and fishing on the Susquehanna to breathtaking vistas of the valley below. It's a rare park that invites you both to explore water-level wilderness and to rise above it all for a bird’s-eye view.

Shikellamy’s unique location has made it a hub for both recreation and reflection—a place where families come to picnic, hikers go to find solitude, and birders gather to catch sight of bald eagles soaring over the river.

But Shikellamy isn't just about quiet beauty—it’s about connection. The park sits at the crossroads of culture, drawing in people from nearby towns and beyond. Whether it’s for community events, wildlife watching at the overlook, or simply taking a moment to breathe in the valley air, visitors come here to feel grounded.

There’s a rhythm to this park—seasonal, historical, natural. Spring floods give way to summer sun, and autumn paints the hills in brilliant reds and golds. And in every season, Shikellamy offers a chance to see the world from a new perspective—both literally and figuratively.

On this episode, I speak with Ben Bender. Ben is the park manager of the Shikellamy State Park complex. 

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Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
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