Canoe Creek State Park

Canoe Creek State Park, Pennsylvania, USA
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
Location	Blair County, Pennsylvania, USA
Nearest city	Altoona, Pennsylvania
Area	958 acres (3.88 km2)
Established	1979
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Canoe Creek State Park is a Pennsylvania State Park located on 958 acres (3.88 km²) in Blair County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Altoona is the nearest city. Canoe Lake, at 155 acres (0.63 km²), 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.

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 driving tour of Pennsylvania's industrial heritage stretching for 500 miles (804.67 km).

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.

The endangered Indiana brown bat can be seen at Canoe Creek State Park.

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.

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. Canoe Creek Lake

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.

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Canoe Creek State Park:

• Black Moshannon State Park (Centre County)
• Blue Knob State Park (Bedford County)
• Greenwood Furnace State Park (Huntingdon County)
• Prince Gallitzin State Park (Cambria County)
• Trough Creek State Park (Huntingdon County)
• Warriors Path State Park (Bedford County)
• Whipple Dam State Park (Huntingdon County)

References

• "Canoe Creek State Park". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
• "TopoZone - Canoe Creek State Park, USGS Frankstown (PA) Topo Map" (Topographic Map). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2006-11-11. Note: source of latitude and longitude
• "Map reference". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2006-11-11.