Poe Valley State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Poe Valley State Park | |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State Park | |
| Natural Monument (IUCN III) | |
 Autumn scenery at Poe Valley State Park
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| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Centre |
| Township | Penn |
| Location | [1] |
| - coordinates | Coordinates: |
| - elevation | 1,296 ft (395 m) [1] |
| Area | 620 acres (250.9 ha) |
| Founded | 1938 |
| Managed by | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Nearest city | State College, Pennsylvania |
  Location of Poe Valley State Park in Pennsylvania
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| Website : Poe Valley State Park | |
Poe Valley State Park is a 620-acre (2.51 km²) 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 km) to the west. The forests of the park surround the 25-acre (0.10 km²) 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.
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[edit] 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]
[edit] Poe Lake
Poe Lake is a man-made lake covering 25 acres (0.10 km²), 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]
[edit] Hunting
Hunting is permitted on 450 acres (1.82 km²) 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]
[edit] 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 snow mobile use.[2]
[edit] Camping and picnicking
The rustic campground opens with trout season on the second Friday in April and closes at the end of doe season in mid December. There are no showers or flush toilets at the campground. A sanitary dump station is provided. Campers are permitted to moor their boats near the dam on Poe Lake. The campground is just below the dam on Big Poe Creek. The picnic area is on the shore of the lake and provides tables, pavilions and charcoal grills.[2]
[edit] Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Poe Valley State Park:[3][4][5]
- 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)
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Poe Valley State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (August 2, 1979). Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
- ^ a b c d e Poe Valley State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-14.
- ^ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
- ^ Map reference shows Poe Valley State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-14.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. 2007 General Highway Map Centre County Pennsylvania [map], 1:65,000. Retrieved on 2007-07-27. Note: shows Poe Valley State Park
