Poe Valley State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Poe Valley State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Autumn scenery at Poe Valley State Park
Poe Valley State Park Location in Pennsylvania
Location	Penn, Centre, Pennsylvania, United States
Area	620 acres (250 ha)
Elevation	1,296 ft (395 m)
Established	1938
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Poe Valley State Park

Poe Valley State Park is a beautiful 620-acre (251 ha) park in Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in Penn Township, Centre County. The park is surrounded by the huge Bald Eagle State Forest. Another park, Poe Paddy State Park, is just 4 miles (6.4 km) to the east.

At the heart of Poe Valley State Park is the 25-acre (10 ha) Poe Lake. The park is found in a quiet area called Poe Valley. This valley is between Potters Mills and Millheim. The park was closed in 2008 and 2009 for important repairs to the lake's dam and to improve its facilities.

Park History

Poe Valley State Park and nearby Poe Paddy State Park were built a long time ago, in the 1930s. This was during a tough time called the Great Depression. Young men from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build these parks.

The CCC workers did many important jobs. They cleared away brush to help stop forest fires. They also built roads, park buildings, and bridges. They even planted new trees and cleaned up streams.

Poe Lake Activities

Poe Lake is a 25 acres (10 ha) lake that was made by people. The Civilian Conservation Corps built it on Big Poe Creek during the Great Depression. It's a great spot for fishing! You can find fish like perch, pickerel, sunfish, catfish, largemouth bass, and trout here.

You are allowed to fish in the lake. For boating, you can use non-powered boats like canoes, kayaks, and johnboats. Make sure they are registered! If you have a motor, it must be an electric one, as gas motors are not allowed. The sandy beach is open from late May (Memorial Day) until early September (Labor Day).

In winter, you can go ice fishing and ice skating on the lake. But remember, the park does not check how thick the ice is. So, if you go out on the ice, you do so at your own risk. Always be careful!

Hunting in the Park

About 450 acres (180 ha) of Poe Valley State Park is open for hunting. Hunters must follow the rules set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Some common animals hunted here include ruffed grouse, squirrels, turkey, white-tailed deer, and black bears.

It is important to know that hunting groundhogs is not allowed. Also, you cannot hunt along the shores of Poe Lake.

Exploring the Trails

Poe Valley State Park has some great trails for exploring! The Reeds Gap Spur Trail is 18 miles (29 km) long. It starts in Reeds Gap State Park and finishes right here in Poe Valley State Park.

Other trails in the park connect to the bigger system of hiking trails in Bald Eagle State Forest. The very long Pennsylvania Mid State Trail, which is 306 miles (492 km) long, also goes through Poe Valley. These trails are used by hunters to get into the state forest. In the winter, you can use the trails for cross-country skiing and riding snowmobiles.

Camping and Picnicking Fun

Poe Valley State Park is a fantastic place to camp and have picnics!

Camping Options

The campground is open from the second Friday in April until early December. There are 45 campsites where you can set up tents, trailers, or motor homes. Many sites have electric hook-ups. The campground also has clean showers, flush toilets, and drinking water. Most campsites are shady and close to all the park's facilities.

The park also offers special camping cottages. There are three cottages that can sleep five people comfortably. Each has bunk beds, a table, electric lights, heat, and a porch. They also have a fire ring and picnic table outside. One cottage allows up to two dogs for a small fee.

There's also a deluxe camping cottage with two rooms. It has a bedroom that sleeps five and a kitchen/dining area with a stove, microwave, and refrigerator. Water is available nearby at the shower house.

Picnic Areas

The park has a nice, shaded picnic area right by Poe Lake. It has drinking water, fun playground areas for kids, and grills for cooking. There are also accessible picnic tables. You can reserve one large picnic pavilion up to 11 months ahead of time for a fee. If it's not reserved, you can use it for free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Winter Adventures

Poe Valley State Park is also a fun place to visit in the winter, but you need to be careful. Roads leading to the park might not be plowed, so access can be limited.

Cross-country Skiing

While there are no specific trails just for skiing, many people use the local roads. Just be aware that snowmobiles and four-wheel drive vehicles might also use these roads.

Snowmobiling

If you have a registered snowmobile, you can use Poe Valley Road and other state forest roads. This is allowed daily after the rifle deer hunting season ends in December. Snowmobiles are not allowed on smaller park roads or on Poe Lake.

Ice Fishing

Ice fishing is very popular on Poe Lake during the winter. However, the park does not check how thick the ice is. Always be very careful and check ice conditions yourself before going out.

Nearby State Parks

Here are some other state parks close to Poe Valley State Park (within 30 miles (48 km)):

• Bald Eagle State Park (Centre County)
• Bucktail State Park Natural Area (Cameron and Clinton Counties)
• Greenwood Furnace State Park (Huntingdon County)
• McCalls Dam State Park (Centre County)
• Penn-Roosevelt State Park (Centre County)
• Poe Paddy State Park (Centre County)
• R. B. Winter State Park (Union County)
• Reeds Gap State Park (Mifflin County)
• Sand Bridge State Park (Union County)
• Whipple Dam State Park (Huntingdon County)