The park is part of an area acquired in a treaty with native Americans. From 1790 to 1835 the Commonwealth sold warrants, for approximately 400 acres, to persons willing to pay for registration and survey work.

Both Robert Morris, hailed as the "financier of the American Revolution," and signer of both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and Stephen Decatur, naval hero of the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, purchased warrants in the Hickory Run area.

Before the Civil War, the area was known as the "Shades of Death" because the entire area was covered with a dense growth of virgin white pine, hemlock, and secondary species of oak and maple. After 1835, many lumber camps and villages were constructed. Near the junction of Sand Spring Run and Hickory Run the village of Hickory Run was established. The current park office and chapel are buildings remaining from this village.

From the Isaac Gould family, an early lumber operator in Hickory Run, came Jay Gould, famous financier and pioneer in American railroad development.

An inn at Saylorsville, a lumber town and stage stop on the main Bethlehem to Wilkes-Barre stage route, could accommodate 150 guests. Today the stage road is known as Stage Trail. The Saylorsville Dam is all that remains of the once thriving community.

By 1880, the region had been completely cut over. Hemlocks were cut and peeled of the bark, which was used for tanning. White pines were sawed at local mills operated by water power. The remains of several mills are still visible along Hickory Run and Sand Spring Run. On nearly every stream in this vicinity, dams were built to supply the power. Several of these dams exist today.

Colonel Harry C. Trexler, an Allentown businessman, purchased several tracts of land in the area of what is now the park. After his death, trustees of his estate made 12,908 acres available to the National Park Service.

The Hickory Run Recreation Demonstration Area was built by the National Park Service with the help of the Works Progress Administration during the 1930s. In 1945, this outstanding recreation area was given to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and became Hickory Run State Park.