Canoe Creek State Park
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| Canoe Creek State Park, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | Blair County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | Altoona, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 958 acres (3.88 km²) |
| Established: | 1979 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Canoe Creek State Park is a 658 acre (3.88 km²) Pennsylvania State Park in Blair County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Altoona is the nearest city. Canoe Lake is a 155 acre (0.63 km²) that is the focus of recreation at the park. Canoe Creek State Park is a half mile off U.S. Route 22 near the small town of Canoe Creek. The park was opened to the public in 1979. It was part of an expansion effort in the 1970s to improve the state park system in Pennsylvania.
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[edit] Industrial History
The area in and surrounding Canoe Creek State Park is rich in limestone. The limestone was quarried and used for many purposes like providing needed raw materials for the iron and steel industries of Pennsylvania. There are several abandoned quarries on the park lands. Two limekilns also operated within the boundaries of the park during the 1900s. The remnants of a kiln once owned by the Blair Limestone Company stand today as a reminder of the industrial past. The Blair Limestone Company Kiln is a stop on the Path of Progress tour, a 500 mile (805 km) driving tour of Pennsylvania's industrial heritage.
[edit] Wildlife
An abandoned church is the home of the largest nursery colony of little brown bats in Pennsylvania. This church known as the Canoe Creek Bat Refuge attracts visitors interested in observing the bats as the emerge each night for feeding. The park is also the site of a hibernaculum for more than 20,000 bats including the endangered Indiana bat.
Canoe Creek State park is on the path followed by many species of migratory birds including waterfowl, bald eagles and ospreys. The wetlands provide habitat for birds like the bluebird, oriole, red-winged blackbird and the brown thrasher.
The park also provided a habitat for the woodland creatures most common in Pennsylvania, white-tailed deer, turkey, squirrels, chipmunks, and ruffed grouse. The hunting of these animals is permitted during the hunting seasons designated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
[edit] Recreation
Canoe Lake is stocked with game fish by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Fisherman can catch bass, trout, walleye, muskellunge, pickerel and catfish during the summer and winter months at Canoe Lake. Ice fishing is permitted, but the thickness of the ice is not monitored.
The sand beach at Canoe Lake is opened starting Memorial Day weekend and ending Labor Day weekend. Lifeguards are on duty from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm.
The only motorized boats permitted on Canoe Lake are electrically powered. They must be properly registered with any state. Non-powered boats such as rowboats, canoes and kayaks must also display registration stickers from any state.
There are eight miles of trails that are opened year-round to hiking, cross country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking and snow mobiles. These trails follow the shores of Canoe Lake and pass through woodlands, wetlands, meadows and the historic limestone kilns.
Canoe Creek State Park has a large picnic area near the lake. Charcoal grills are available for use. There are three pavilions for rent. Eight modern cabins are available to rent year round.
[edit] Nearby state parks
[edit] References
- Canoe Creek State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-11.
- TopoZone - Canoe Creek State Park, USGS Frankstown (PA) Topo Map (Topographic Map). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved on 2006-11-11. Note: source of latitude and longitude
- Map reference. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-11.
