Canoe Creek State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Canoe Creek State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Abandoned Blair Limestone Company limekilns at Canoe Creek State Park
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 Canoe Creek State Park
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Frankstown, Blair, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 911.91 acres (369.04 ha) |
| Elevation | 922 ft (281 m) |
| Established | 1979 |
| Named for | Canoe Creek |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Canoe Creek State Park |
Canoe Creek State Park is a fun place to visit in Pennsylvania. It's a state park that covers about 912 acres, which is like 690 football fields! You can find it in Blair County, about 12 miles east of Altoona.
The main attraction at the park is Canoe Lake, which is 155 acres big. It's a great spot for fishing all year round. Canoe Creek State Park opened in 1979 and was part of a plan to make Pennsylvania's state parks even better. It's even been called one of the "Twenty Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks" by the people who manage parks in Pennsylvania.
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Park History: Limestone and Kilns
The area around Canoe Creek State Park has lots of limestone. This rock was dug up and used to make things like iron and steel in Pennsylvania's factories. You can still see old places where they dug for limestone in the park.
There were also two special ovens called limekilns here in the 1900s. These kilns were used to heat limestone. The remains of one kiln, once owned by the Blair Limestone Company, are still standing. It's a cool reminder of the park's industrial past and is part of the "Path of Progress" tour, which shows off Pennsylvania's history.
Amazing Wildlife at the Park
Canoe Creek State Park is home to some amazing animals, especially bats!
Bat Sanctuary
The Frank Felbaum Bat Sanctuary is located here. It's where the largest group of baby little brown bats in Pennsylvania grows up. This place used to be a church, but now it's called the Canoe Creek Bat Refuge. Many visitors come to watch the bats fly out each night to find food.
The park also has a special cave-like place called a hibernaculum where over 30,000 bats from six different types sleep during the winter. This includes the Indiana bat, which is an endangered species.
Birds and Woodland Animals
Canoe Creek State Park is a stop for many birds that travel long distances, like waterfowl, bald eagles, and ospreys. The wet areas in the park are perfect homes for birds such as bluebirds, orioles, red-winged blackbirds, and brown thrashers.
You can also find common woodland animals here, like white-tailed deer, turkey, squirrels, chipmunks, and ruffed grouse. Sometimes, people are allowed to hunt these animals during special hunting seasons set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Fun Activities at Canoe Lake
Canoe Lake is a great spot for outdoor fun!
Fishing and Boating
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission adds fish to Canoe Lake regularly. Fishermen can catch bass, trout, walleye, muskellunge, pickerel, and catfish all year round. You can even go ice fishing in winter, but be careful because the park doesn't check how thick the ice is.
If you want to go boating, only boats with electric motors are allowed on Canoe Lake. They need to be registered. Non-motorized boats like rowboats, canoes, and kayaks also need to have registration stickers.
Swimming and Picnics
The sandy beach at Canoe Lake is open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend. Just remember, there are no lifeguards on duty at the beach.
The park has a big picnic area near the lake with charcoal grills you can use. You can also rent one of three pavilions for your group. If you want to stay overnight, there are eight modern cabins available all year. Each cabin sleeps six people and has heat, two bedrooms, a living room, dining room, bathroom, and kitchen. Outside, you'll find a fire ring and a picnic table.
Trails and Education
There are eight miles of trails in the park that are open all year. You can use them for hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and even snowmobiles. These trails go along Canoe Lake and through woodlands, wetlands, meadows, and past the old limestone kilns. If you're hiking during hunting season, it's a good idea to wear bright orange for safety.
The Terry Wentz Education Center is open all year near the cabins. It has information about the park's programs and the animals that live there.
Nearby State Parks
Here are some other state parks you can find within 30 miles 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)
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