Poe Valley State Park

Poe Valley State Park
Pennsylvania State Park
Natural Monument (IUCN III)
Autumn scenery at Poe Valley State Park
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
County	Centre
Township	Penn
Location	^[1]
- coordinates	40°49′20″N 77°28′21″W / 40.82222°N 77.47250°W / 40.82222; -77.47250Coordinates: 40°49′20″N 77°28′21″W / 40.82222°N 77.47250°W / 40.82222; -77.47250
- elevation	1,296 ft (395.0 m) ^[1]
Area	620 acres (251 ha)
Founded	1938
Managed by	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Location of Poe Valley State Park in Pennsylvania
Website : Poe Valley State Park

Poe Valley State Park is a 620-acre (251 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Penn Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is surrounded by Bald Eagle State Forest. Poe Paddy State Park is 4 miles (6.4 km) to the east. The forests of the park surround the 25-acre (10 ha) Poe Lake. Poe Valley State Park is in isolated Poe Valley which lies between Potters Mills on U.S. Route 322 and Millheim on Pennsylvania Route 45. The park was closed during the 2008 and 2009 season while the lake was drained for dam repairs and the park facilities were upgraded.^[2]

History

Poe Valley State Park and nearby Poe Paddy State Park were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The young men of the CCC also worked to clear the regrowing forests of brush to prevent forest fires. They constructed roads throughout the forests, built state park facilities, constructed bridges on the state roads, planted trees for reforestation, and cleaned streams.^[2]

Poe Lake

Poe Lake is a man-made lake covering 25 acres (10 ha), built by the Civilian Conservation Corps on Big Poe Creek during the Great Depression. The lake provides a habitat for perch, pickerel, sunfish, catfish, and trout. Fishing is permitted in the lake, and non-powered boats such as canoes, kayaks, and johnboats are allowed if they are properly registered with any state. Powered boats must have electric motors as gas powered motors are prohibited. The beach is open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend. Ice fishing and ice skating are permitted at the lake during the winter months. Visitors fish and skate at their own risk: the thickness of the ice is not monitored. ^[2]

Hunting

Hunting is permitted on 450 acres (180 ha) of Poe Valley State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species are ruffed grouse, squirrels, turkey, white-tailed deer, and black bears. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited. The shores of Poe Lake are closed to hunting.^[2]

Trails

Reeds Gap Spur Trail is a hiking trail 18 miles (29 km) long, that begins in Reeds Gap State Park and ends in Poe Valley State Park. The other trails in the park all connect with the system of hiking trails in Bald Eagle State Forest. The Pennsylvania Mid State Trail, a hiking trail 306 miles (492 km) long, passes through Poe Valley. Hunters use the trails to access Bald Eagle State Forest. During the winter the trails are open to cross-country skiing and recreational snowmobile use.^[2]

Camping and picnicking

Camping: flush toilets, warm showers, electric hook-ups.
The campground opens the second Friday in April and closes in early December. There are 45 campsites, which accommodate tents, trailers and motor homes. 27 sites have 50 amp electric hookups. The campground has a sanitary dump station, showers, flush toilets and drinking water. Trash and recycling containers are at the campground entrance. Most campsites are shaded and are within walking distance to all other park facilities. Alcoholic beverages and unlicensed motor vehicles are prohibited. Pets are permitted on designated sites. Free Camping for Campground Hosts: 1 host positions The campground host site has amenities that include 50-amp electric service. The host is required to assist park personnel for 40 hours per week with an initial two-week stay. Contact the park office for additional information and availability.

Camping Cottages: There are three camping cottages in the campground that comfortably sleep five people. Each cottage has three single bunks and a full-sized bed, a table with benches, electric lights and receptacles, electric heat and a porch with a table. There is a fire ring and picnic table at each site. The cottages are available during the camping season from the second Friday in April to early December. Up to two dogs are permitted in Cottage 11 for a fee.

Deluxe Camping Cottage: Located in the campground, the deluxe cottage has two rooms. The bedroom sleeps five people in bunk beds (three twin mattresses and one full size mattress). The kitchen/dining area contains a stove, microwave, refrigerator, countertop, table, chairs, and electric heat and outlets. There is no water in the cottage, but water is available at the nearby shower house. Outside there is a picnic table on the porch and a nearby fire ring. The camping season begins the second Friday in April and ends in early December.

Picnicking: The shaded picnic area is by Poe Lake and has drinking water, playground areas, charcoal grills and charcoal disposal containers and accessible picnic tables. One picnic pavilion can be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. If not reserved, the picnic pavilion is free on a first-come, first-served basis. ^[3]

Winter activities

Explore the winter report for the current snow and ice depths.

Access to Poe Valley during the winter months may be limited. Winter maintenance is not performed on park roads or state forest roads that access Poe Valley. Caution must be used when traveling to Poe Valley during the winter season.

Cross-country skiing: While no specific trails are provided, most skiers use local roads since only minimal snow plowing is done in this area. Skiers should be cautious since both snowmobiles and four-wheel drive vehicles also use many of these roads.

Snowmobiling: Registered snowmobiles may use the Big Poe Road in the park and surrounding state forest roads daily after the end of the rifle deer season in December. Most roads are joint-use roads shared by snowmobiles and motor vehicles.

Ice fishing: Ice fishing is popular. Ice thickness is not monitored.

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Poe Valley State Park:^[4]^[5]^[6]

Bald Eagle State Park (Centre County)
Bucktail State Park Natural Area (Cameron and Clinton Counties)
Greenwood Furnace State Park (Huntingdon County)
McCalls Dam State Park (Centre County)
Penn-Roosevelt State Park (Centre County)
Poe Paddy State Park (Centre County)
R. B. Winter State Park (Union County)
Reeds Gap State Park (Mifflin County)
Sand Bridge State Park (Union County)
Whipple Dam State Park (Huntingdon County)

References

1 2 "Poe Valley State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. August 2, 1979. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
1 2 3 4 5 "Poe Valley State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2006-11-14.
↑ http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/poevalley/index.htm
↑ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
↑ "Find a Park by Region (interactive map)". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
↑ 2007 General Highway Map Centre County Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). 1:65,000. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. Retrieved 2007-07-27. Note: shows Poe Valley State Park

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Poe Valley State Park.

"Poe Valley State Park official map" (PDF). (409.1 KB)

Protected areas of Pennsylvania

Federal

NPS National Historical Parks & National Historic Sites	Allegheny Portage Railroad NHS Edgar Allan Poe NHS Eisenhower NHS Friendship Hill NHS Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church NHS Hopewell Furnace NHS Independence NHP Steamtown NHS Valley Forge NHP

National Memorials	Benjamin Franklin Flight 93 Johnstown Flood Thaddeus Kosciuszko

National Battlefields and National Military Parks	Fort Necessity NB Gettysburg NMP

National Trails	Appalachian Trail

Other protected areas	Allegheny National Recreation Area Blue Marsh National Recreation Area Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area Middle Delaware National Scenic River Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River

National Forests	Allegheny

USFS National Historic Sites	Grey Towers

National Wildlife Refuges	Cherry Valley Erie John Heinz Ohio River Islands

State

State Parks	Allegheny Islands Archbald Pothole Bald Eagle Beltzville Bendigo Benjamin Rush Big Pocono Big Spring Black Moshannon Blue Knob Boyd Big Tree Buchanan's Birthplace Bucktail Caledonia Canoe Creek Chapman Cherry Springs Clear Creek Codorus Colonel Denning Colton Point Cook Forest Cowans Gap Delaware Canal Denton Hill Elk Erie Bluffs Evansburg Fort Washington Fowlers Hollow Frances Slocum French Creek Gifford Pinchot Gouldsboro Greenwood Furnace Hickory Run Hillman Hills Creek Hyner Run Hyner View Jacobsburg Jennings Joseph E. Ibberson Kettle Creek Keystone Kings Gap Kinzua Bridge Kooser Lackawanna Laurel Hill Laurel Mountain Laurel Ridge Laurel Summit Lehigh Gorge Leonard Harrison Linn Run Little Buffalo Little Pine Locust Lake Lyman Run Marsh Creek Maurice K. Goddard McCalls Dam McConnells Mill Memorial Lake Milton Mont Alto Moraine Mt. Pisgah Nescopeck Neshaminy Nockamixon Nolde Forest Norristown Farm Ohiopyle Oil Creek Ole Bull Parker Dam Patterson Penn-Roosevelt Pine Grove Furnace Poe Paddy Poe Valley Point Presque Isle Prince Gallitzin Promised Land Prompton Prouty Place Pymatuning R. B. Winter Raccoon Creek Ralph Stover Ravensburg Reeds Gap Ricketts Glen Ridley Creek Ryerson Station S. B. Elliott Salt Springs Samuel S. Lewis Sand Bridge Shawnee Shikellamy Sinnemahoning Sizerville Susquehanna Susquehannock Swatara Tobyhanna Trough Creek Tuscarora Tyler Upper Pine Bottom Varden Warriors Path Washington Crossing Whipple Dam White Clay Creek Worlds End Yellow Creek

State Forests	Bald Eagle Buchanan Clear Creek Cornplanter Delaware Elk Forbes Gallitzin Loyalsock Michaux Moshannon Pinchot Rothrock Sproul Susquehannock Tiadaghton Tioga Tuscarora Weiser William Penn (Wild areas)

Scenic Rivers	Bear Run French Creek Lehigh River LeTort Spring Run Lick Run Lower Brandywine Octoraro Creek Pine Creek Schuylkill River Stony Creek Tucquan Creek Tulpehocken Creek Yellow Breeches Creek

Other

Other	Anders Run Natural Area Forrest H. Duttlinger Natural Area Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hoverter and Sholl Box Huckleberry Natural Area Johnson Run Natural Area Stone Valley Recreation Area Trexler Nature Preserve Wykoff Run Natural Area

Hiking trails	Appalachian Baker Black Forest Central Mountains Shared Use Darlington Eastern Continental Five Star Glacier Ridge Great Eastern Greene River Horse-Shoe Indian Creek Valley Loyalsock Mid State Standing Stone Mason-Dixon North Country Ohio River Old Loggers Path Pinchot Potomac Heritage Quehanna Rachel Carson Sheepskin Susquehannock Thunder Swamp Tuscarora Valley Forge Historical West Rim Wissahickon Youghiogheny River

Rail trails	Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike Beaver River East Coast Greenway Five Star Ghost Town Great Allegheny Passage Great Shamokin Path Greene River Indian Creek Valley Lebanon Valley Lehigh Gorge Liberty Bell Lower Montour Ohio River Palmer Bikeway Panhandle Perkiomen Pine Creek Plainfield Township Schuylkill River Sheepskin Struble Susquehanna Warrior Switchback Three Rivers Heritage York Country Heritage Youghiogheny River

Nature centers	List of nature centers in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/17/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.