Blue Knob State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue Knob State Park |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
|
|
Blue Knob Mountain
|
|
 Blue Knob State Park
Location in Pennsylvania
|
|
| Location | Bedford, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 6,128 acres (24.80 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,146 ft (959 m) |
| Established | 1945 |
| Named for | Blue Knob Mountain |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Blue Knob State Park |
Blue Knob State Park is a large state park in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. It covers about 6,128 acres (that's over 9.5 square miles!). The park gets its name from Blue Knob, which is the second highest mountain in Pennsylvania. This mountain is about 3,146 feet tall.
The park is also home to the Blue Knob All Seasons Resort. This resort has the highest ski slopes in Pennsylvania. Blue Knob State Park is easy to find, located just off Interstate 99. It's a great place to visit any time of year!
Contents
Park History: From Forests to Fun
The first people to settle near Blue Knob were from Germany. They started farming the land after the American Revolution. They also built places to make drinks, sawmills for wood, and mills to grind grain.
Logging and Wildfires
Later, a big logging boom happened across Pennsylvania. This changed the Blue Knob area a lot. The old, tall hemlock trees were all cut down. Trains carried the timber away, climbing the steep hills. Some railroads used many switchbacks, like zig-zag paths, to get up the mountain. Today, you can still use these old railroad paths as hiking trails.
After the trees were cut, the land was left with dry tree branches. Sparks from passing trains often started huge wildfires. These fires badly damaged the land. Animals that used to live there also disappeared because of too much hunting and the loss of their forest homes.
Building the Park
The National Park Service helped bring the forests back to Blue Knob. In 1935, they opened the Blue Knob National Recreation Demonstration Area. This park was built by people from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). These groups were created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression. Their goal was to give jobs to people who were out of work.
On September 26, 1945, the park officially became Blue Knob State Park. It was then owned by the state of Pennsylvania.
Recreation: Fun for Everyone!
Blue Knob State Park offers many activities. There's something for every season!
The Resort at Blue Knob
The Blue Knob All Seasons Resort is on Blue Knob mountain. It used to be a military base! The resort has 36 trails for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing in winter. In warmer months, you can enjoy a golf course, mountain biking trails, and cross-country skiing paths. The resort also has a lodge with tennis courts and a swimming pool. It's open all year!
Swimming Pool
The park has its own swimming pool, separate from the resort's. It opens for summer on Memorial Day weekend and closes after Labor Day weekend. Lifeguards are on duty to keep everyone safe.
Picnic Areas
Blue Knob State Park has three picnic areas with over 200 picnic tables. Mowery Hollow and Burnt House picnic areas are open all year. Willow Springs picnic area is open from late May until after Thanksgiving.
Camping Adventures
The park has a campground with 45 sites. Many sites have electricity for your camper or tent. There are also modern restrooms, running water, and a playground for kids.
You can also rent a group of cabins that were built by the CCC. These are great for large groups, with a big dining hall and kitchen.
Hunting and Fishing
You can go Hunting on about 5,000 acres of the park. Common animals to hunt include turkeys, squirrels, and white-tailed deer. However, hunting groundhogs is not allowed. Hunters must follow the rules of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The park is also right next to Pennsylvania State Game Land 26.
For fishing, Bobs Creek is stocked with trout. You can also find native brook trout in the creek.
Hiking Trails
Blue Knob has many hiking trails, totaling about 18 miles. They range from easy walks to challenging day hikes. Most trails are used for hiking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, horseback riding, and snowmobiling.
- Mountain View Trail: This 5-mile trail is one of the harder ones. It loops around the upper part of the mountain. You'll see unique wind-shaped trees and large rocks. It passes two overlooks, Pavia Overlook and Queen Overlook.
- Three Springs Trail: This 2-mile trail follows an old road. It's wide and good for snowmobiles and horseback riding. You'll see many springs along the way that give the trail its name.
- Rock N' Ridge Trail: This 2.8-mile trail is on the west side of the mountain. In June, you can see beautiful mountain laurel flowers, which are Pennsylvania's state flower.
- Sawmill Trail: This 3-mile trail is wide and follows an old road. It's good for snowmobiles and mountain biking. It takes you through beautiful forests and is one of the easier hikes.
- Homestead Trail: This 1.8-mile loop is an easy walk on the lower part of the mountain. It marks the spot of an old settler's house. It's a great place to spot wildlife!
- Chappell's Field Trail: This 2.5-mile loop offers some of the best views in the park. You can see the main summit of Blue Knob and the valley below.
- Crist Ridge Trail: This 1.9-mile trail connects to Chappell's Field Trail. It's good for mountain biking and cross-country skiing. In winter, you can see great views of Blue Knob Mountain through the trees.
- Lost Turkey Trail: This is the longest and hardest trail at 26 miles! It starts at Herman Point and goes through public and private lands, even into a neighboring county. It's a challenging hike with steep areas and stream crossings.
- Connector Trails: Several shorter trails connect the main ones. They vary in length and difficulty.
Nearby State Parks
If you love state parks, here are a few others within 30 miles of Blue Knob State Park:
- Canoe Creek State Park (Blair County)
- Laurel Mountain State Park (Westmoreland County)
- Laurel Ridge State Park (Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties)
- Prince Gallitzin State Park (Cambria County)
- Shawnee State Park (Bedford County)
- Trough Creek State Park (Huntingdon County)
- Warriors Path State Park (Bedford County)
- Yellow Creek State Park (Indiana County)
(1447 KB)
