Tuscarora State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tuscarora State Park | |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State Park | |
| Natural Monument (IUCN III) | |
  Location of Tuscarora State Park in Pennsylvania
|
|
| Named for: the Tuscarora | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Schuylkill |
| Township | Rush, Ryan, Schuylkill |
| Location | [1] |
| - coordinates | Coordinates: |
| - elevation | 1,079 ft (328.9 m) [1] |
| Area | 1,618 acres (654.8 ha) |
| Founded | June 26, 1971 |
| Managed by | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Nearest city | Coaldale, Pennsylvania |
| Website : Tuscarora State Park | |
Tuscarora State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on 1,618 acres (6.55 km²) in Rush, Ryan, Schuylkill Townships, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The most prominent features of the park are Locust Mountain and Tuscarora Lake. The park is named for the Tuscarora Indians, who lived in the area, following the Tuscarora War in North Carolina, until they were forced out by the consequences of colonial settlement in Pennsylvania. Tuscarora State Park is 2 miles (3 km) west of Tamaqua just off of Pennsylvania Route 309.
Contents |
[edit] Recreation
[edit] Trails
The park has seven hiking trails that wander through deciduous forests, meadows and fields. The trails are all reclaimed logging roads, making them quite wide, and are not marked with identifying blazes.[2]
- Log Trail is an "easy" 0.3 mile (0.48 km) hiking trail. This former logging road connects Laurel and Edge trails as it makes its way through a second growth forest.[2]
- Locust Mountain Trail is a "moderate" 0.4 mile (0.64 km) hiking trail. This trail ascends Locust Mountain from Crow Trail and passes through a second growth forest.[2]
- Laurel Trail is an "easy" 0.4 mile (0.64 km) grassy road that was built to gain access to the trees that died from severe gypsy moth caterpillar damage during the 1980s.[2]
- Lake View Trail is an "easy" 0.6 mile (0.96 km) trail that parallels Tuscarora Lake. This trail is sometimes used as a service road by park employees and park concessionaires.[2]
- Hill Trail is a "moderate" 0.3 mile (0.48 km) short, but steep trail that parallels a power line and provides easy and direct access to the picnic area and beach from the park office.[2]
- Edge Trail is an "easy" 0.4 mile (0.64 km) grassy trail. It forms a boundary between the forest and farmer's fields.[2]
- Crow Trail is an "easy" 1.4 mile (2.25 km) old dirt road. It passes through second growth forests, pine and larch plantations, grassy fields and an overgrown meadow.[2]
[edit] Tuscarora Lake
Tuscarora Lake is a warm water fishery and it contains bass, muskellunge, pickerel, catfish, yellow perch, trout and sunfish. Night fishing and ice fishing are permitted. The rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission apply. All boats must be either row boats or powerboats with electric motors. They must have a launch permit from the fish commission or valid registration from any state. Rowboats, canoes and pedal boats are available to rent.[3]
The lake is open for swimming beginning on Memorial Day weekend and ending Labor Day weekend. Beginning in 2008 lifeguards will not be posted at the beach.[4] The maximum depth of the lake in the swimming area is 5.5 feet (1.67 m).[3]
[edit] Hunting
Hunting is permitted on about 1,100 acres (4.45 km²) of Tuscarora State Park. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The primary game species are squirrels, white-tailed deer, rabbits, pheasant, woodcocks, doves, turkey, and ruffed grouse.[2]
[edit] Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Tuscarora State Park:[5][6][7]
- Beltzville State Park (Carbon County)
- Hickory Run State Park (Carbon County)
- Lehigh Gorge State Park (Carbon and Luzerne Counties)
- Locust Lake State Park (Schuylkill County)
- Nescopeck State Park ( Luzerne County)
- Swatara State Park (Lebanon and Schuylkill Counties)
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Tuscarora State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (August 30, 1990). Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Tuscarora State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2007-01-06.
- ^ a b >Tuscarora-Locust Lake State Parks. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
- ^ Pa. state parks going without life guards at beaches in 2008. The Times Leader. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
- ^ Map reference shows Tuscarora State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2007-01-06.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. 2007 General Highway Map Schuylkill County Pennsylvania [map], 1:65,000. Retrieved on 2007-07-27. (Note: shows Tuscarora State Park)
- ^ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
