Evansburg State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Evansburg State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
A wooded area along a hiking trail in Evansburg State Park
Evansburg State Park Location in Pennsylvania
Location	Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States
Area	3,349 acres (13.55 km2)
Elevation	213 ft (65 m)
Established	1979
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Evansburg State Park

Evansburg State Park is a cool place in Pennsylvania that covers about 3,349 acres. It's located in Montgomery County, spread across several townships. This park is special because it has many different natural areas. You can find thick forests, open meadows, old fields, and even some farmland here.

The park is a great spot for outdoor fun! You can enjoy picnics, play golf, use ball fields, go biking, hiking, or even hunting. It's also perfect for horseback riding and fishing. Evansburg State Park is easy to find, located near Collegeville and Norristown, just off Pennsylvania Route 363.

Park History

The land that is now Evansburg State Park has a long and interesting past. It was originally part of a huge area bought from the Lenape people by William Penn in 1684. Penn had a special plan called the "Holy Experiment." He wanted people to have religious freedom in his new colony.

Many early settlers were Mennonites who came here to escape religious persecution in Europe. They cleared the land, which was once covered in old-growth forests. They built farms, stores, and mills that used the power of Skippack Creek. The area grew quickly, and in 1714, the Skippack Pike road was built. This road made it easier to travel to the markets in Philadelphia.

The area around Evansburg State Park stayed mostly rural until after World War II. But then, more suburbs and industries started to grow. This changed the look of the Skippack Valley forever. Evansburg State Park was created in 1979. Its main goal was to protect the natural beauty of the area. It also wanted to give people in southeastern Pennsylvania a place to enjoy the outdoors. There was an idea to build a big dam and lake, but local people didn't like that plan. So, the park was made without the dam.

You can still see some history in the park today. The Indenhofen Farm is run by the Skippack Historical Society. You can visit it and learn about the past. Kuster Mill is another old building located within the park.

Fun Activities

Evansburg State Park offers lots of ways to have fun outdoors!

Fishing and Hunting

Skippack Creek, which runs through the park, is a great place to fish. It's filled with brown trout and rainbow trout. You can also find other fish like smallmouth bass, catfish, sucker, carp, panfish, and freshwater eel. Remember, all fishers need to follow the rules from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

About 1,000 acres of Evansburg State Park are open for hunting. Hunters must follow the rules set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. You might see squirrels, pheasant, rabbits, and white-tailed deer here. However, hunting groundhogs is not allowed in the park.

Golf

If you like golf, Evansburg State Park has its own course called Skippack Golf Club. It has 18 holes and is a par 70 course, about 6,007 yards long. It was designed by Herris & Benahia and opened in 1950. A company called Skippack Golf Club, LLC manages the course.

Trails for Everyone

Evansburg State Park has 26 miles of trails for different activities. You can go hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, or mountain biking.

• Hiking Trails: There are 6 miles of hiking trails. They are all easy to walk and go through different types of natural areas.
• Mountain Biking Trails: A special 5-mile mountain bike trail is located at the south end of the park. Bikers are not allowed on the hiking or horseback riding trails. However, they can ride on the park roads.
• Horseback Riding Trails: The park has 15 miles of trails just for horseback riding. Riders can also use the shoulders of the park roads.