Bald Eagle State Park

The 5,900-acre park lies in the broad Bald Eagle Valley of northcentral Pennsylvania. Two geologic provinces create Bald Eagle's scenic beauty. The Allegheny Plateau to the north and west holds smooth, undulating uplands. The Ridge and Valley Province to the south and east contains numerous long, narrow mountain ridges separated by valleys. Bald Eagle is a featured park, October, in the 2009 Pennsylvania State Parks Calendar.

Explore

Directions - Weather  - Recreation  - Stay the Night  - Boating  - Camping  - Trails  - Winter Activities  - Winter Report  - Environmental Education  - Accessibility  - History  - Calendar of Events  - Wildlife Watching  - Birding  - Nearby Attractions  - Volunteers  - Rules and Regs  - In an Emergency  - Contact Us  - Downloadables and Maps

Park Advisories

Directions

Bald Eagle State Park, Centre County, is along PA Route 150 between Milesburg and Lock Haven. From the west, take I-80 to Exit 158 and take PA 150 north for about 10 miles. From the east, take I-80 to Exit 178 and take U.S. 220 north, then take PA 150 south for about 13 miles.

Recreational Opportunities

Hiking  - Picnicking  - Swimming  - Boating  - Fishing  - Hunting  - Wildlife Watching  - Cross-country Skiing  - Sledding  - Ice Fishing  - Ice Skating  - Yurts  - Camping Cottages  - Camping

Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir

A 100-foot high and 1.3 mile long dam forms Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir. Completed in 1969, the reservoir is named in honor of Foster Joseph Sayers, a Private 1st Class in World War II.

The 1,730-acre lake is the focal point for water-based recreation in the park. The lake extends nearly eight miles upstream and has 23 mile of shoreline. Bald Eagle State Park was opened to the public July 4, 1971. Because of its role in flood control, the lake water is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and lake levels vary throughout the year. Beginning in November, the USACE begins a five-foot lake draw down to prepare for winter waters. Between mid-February and early March, the water level is lowered an additional 15 feet to maximum flood protection pool. Depending on weather conditions, the reservoir usually reaches the summer recreational pool by mid-May. For current lake level visit the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers lake level Web site.

Boating: unlimited horsepower motors permitted
Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Boats equipped with inboard engines with over the transom or straight-stack type exhausts are not permitted. The operation of a personal watercraft requires certification from the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

Boaters must follow the counter-clockwise traffic pattern on the lake. The speed limit is 45 mph.

For complete information on boating rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

Marina: Three hundred and sixty-nine marina dockage slips are rented to the public on a seasonal basis. Transient slips are rented on a daily basis. Summer and winter boat and trailer storage is available. Information on the rental of these spaces is available at the park office.

Boat Launches: Three boat launches are located within the Main Park Area. Most boat launches have public restrooms.

Hunter Run West Launch, by the Russell P. Letterman campground, allows 24-hour access.

Hunter Run East Launch is off of Skyline Drive, allows 24-hour access.

Summer/Winter Launch, located along the lake north of the beach, provides year-round boating, a fishing pier, which can accommodate persons with disabilities, and 24-hour access. This launch is accessible at all water levels

Bald Eagle Boat Launch, in the town of Howard is lighted, allows 24-hour access to the lake. Lower Greens Run Boat Launch, off of PA Route 150, allows 24-hour access to the lake and a fishing pier.

Lower Greens Run Boat Launch, off of PA Route 150, allows 24-hour access to the lake and a fishing pier.

Upper Greens Run Boat Launch, off of PA Route 150, allows 24-hour access to the lake.

Boat Concession: Inland Marine and Power Sports (IMPS) Lakeside is the watercraft concessionaire and it is located within the marina. Services provided:

• rent various types and sizes of boats and water-skiing equipment
• sell gas, boats, motors, boating equipment and accessories
• mechanic on duty to service boats, motors and trailers
• towing service
• sell limited grocery items like ice cream, ice, boat and camping supplies

IMPS Lakeside opens each year in Late April or Early May and closes early in November at the park location, and can be reached at 814-625-2344. During the winter they can be reached at 814-355-1533. During the summer season from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, their regular hours are 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily and during the off-season the regular hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday, they are closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Fishing: The 1,730-acre reservoir and its 23 miles of shoreline offer excellent warm water fishing. Common fish are crappie, yellow perch, tiger muskellunge, channel catfish and largemouth and smallmouth bass. Sayers Reservoir is a panfish enhancement waterway and special regulations apply. An ADA accessible fishing pier is located at the Summer/Winter Launch in the Main Park Area. Ice fishing is permitted. Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, be sure the ice is at least four inches thick and carry safety equipment.

For complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

Picnicking: The Main Park Area has four picnic areas that close at sunset. Picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free and shared by all park patrons.

Schencks Grove Picnic Area, located on a point adjacent to the beach and marina area, has picnic tables, pavilions #3 and #4, two public restrooms, two play fields, four volleyball courts and horseshoe pits.

The Beach Picnic Area has pavilions #1, #2, #6 and #7, horseshoe pits, and two volleyball courts.

The Skyline Drive Picnic Area is located northeast of the Schencks Grove Picnic Area. This area has picnic tables, pavilion #5, four restrooms, one volleyball court and horseshoe pits. This area has some shaded picnic tables.

The Summer/Winter Launch Picnic Area has pavilion #8, a volleyball court, horseshoe pits, public restroom and a fishing pier to accommodate people with disabilities.

Make a reservation

Swimming: The 1,200-foot long sand and turf beach has a children's playground, a snack bar, changing rooms, public restrooms, and parking. The beach is open from late-May to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset, unless otherwise posted. Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules for swimming. The swimming area is ADA accessible. Pets are not permitted in the beach area.

Snack Bar: The Snack Bar is in the beach area. They offer vending machine items. The Snack Bar is usually opened daily, weather permitting during the summer. Please check with the park office for current hours of operation

Hunting and Firearms: About 4,910 acres are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are white-tailed deer, turkey, ring-neck pheasants and rabbit. Hunting is also available on nearby State Game Land 92.

Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day to March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for accessible hunting information.

Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms, and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner's car, trailer, or camp.

For complete information on hunting rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission Web site.

Hiking: A network of 11 miles of hiking trails guides hikers through a variety of habitats. Explore trails for detailed descriptions of the trails.

Camping

Russell P. Letterman Campground: This modern camping area features 97 campsites, two yurts, three camping cottages, hot showers, the park amphitheater, two volleyball courts and a sanitary dump station. It is less than one mile to the beach, marina and other park facilities.

Each campsite has a paved parking spur, picnic table and fire ring. Electric hookups of 30 amps are available at 70 sites, and 12 campsites have 50 amp hookups. Two campsites can accommodate people with disabilities.

Vehicles are to be parked on the hard surface only, not on the grass. Second car permits can be purchased if space permits.

Explore the campground map.

Make a reservation

Primitive Camping Area: This rustic area can accommodate both tents and camping vehicles with 35 walk-in sites for tents and 35 sites reserved for camping vehicles. The tent camping sites are the walk-in type and are approximately 150 feet from the road. Parking spaces for tent campers are available along the road. Drinking water is available at intermittent locations along the campground road. Restrooms are rustic with a sink and running water. A sanitary dump station is available.

Explore the campground map.

Explore camping for more information.

Make a reservation

Camping Cottages: These log style cabins sleep five, have electric heat, beds and a small table with two chairs. Located in the center of the campground, the camping cottages offer convenient accommodations. One camping cottage is designed to accommodate people with disabilities.

Make a reservation

Yurts: These round, Mongolian-style tents on wooden decks, sleep 6, have electric heat, a cooking stove, refrigerator, beds and a table and chairs. Located in the center of the campground, the yurts offer convenient accommodations for weekly rentals. Shorter stays are available during the spring and fall seasons. One yurt can accommodate people with disabilities.

Make a reservation

Winter Activities

Ice Fishing: About 630 acres of lake are available during the winter. Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, be sure the ice is at least four inches thick and carry safety equipment.

Sledding and Tobogganing: About five acres of cleared hillside allows for a 1,320-foot run. The slope faces the modern campground and is accessed from Skyline Drive near pavilion #5.

Cross-country Skiing: Some park trails and open areas are suitable for cross-country skiing. About seven miles of ungroomed trails are available with proper snow conditions.

Explore the Winter Report for current snow and ice depths.

Environmental Education and Interpretation

Bald Eagle State Park offers a wide variety of environmental education and interpretive programs on a year-round basis. Through guided walks, hands-on activities, and campfire programs, visitors gain appreciation and awareness toward the natural and historical resources.

Curriculum-based outdoor investigations and hands-on environmental activities are available to local schools, youth and community organizations, and homeschool associations. Programs for children to learn about the environment are presented annually through the Pennsylvania State Parks Youth Environmental Learning Series Day Camp. This program is open to children ages 4-17 and their parents. Group programs must be scheduled in advance by calling the park office. For more information on park programs, check the activity schedule on the park bulletin boards or at the park office and contact station.

Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward.

Explore environmental education and interpretation for more information.

Access for People with Disabilities

Access to boating on the lake for people with disabilities is available at the Marina. Pavilions #6 and #7 in the Beach Picnic Area are accessible.

If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks:
888-PA-PARKS (voice)
888-537-7294 (TTY)
711 (AT&T Relay Services)

Wildlife Watching

The diverse geology in the park provides the backdrop for the lake, forests, fields, wetlands, and streams. Old field habitat throughout the park is undergoing natural succession. Grasses are giving way to goldenrod and asters, and gray dogwood and sumacs are being pushed out by pines and maples. These fields provide homes for bluebird, monarch butterfly, woodchuck, and cottontail rabbit, while squirrel and downy woodpecker inhabit the woodlots. A mature oak and hickory forest covers the Bald Eagle Mountain and provides homes for porcupine and turkey. The edge habitat created when old fields meet woods and wetlands, allows white-tailed deer, woodcock and red-winged blackbird to thrive.

The lake, created by the Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir, holds black crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch and other warm water species. The lake also attracts snapping turtles, osprey, great blue heron and the occasional bald eagle. Several intermittent streams flow into the lake providing habitat for aquatic insects, crayfish, and minnows. Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir draws most of its water from Bald Eagle Creek. The creek flows through limestone making itself and the lake alkaline. These conditions create a good warm water fishery.

Birding

Bald Eagle State Park contains diverse habitat that attracts many bird species. The mountain ridges create excellent flyways for migrating birds. Some birds stop at the park to rest and feed during their migration. Beginner and life-long birders find exploring the park with a pair of binoculars a treat no matter what the season.

Every spring songbirds like warblers, flycatchers, and swallows display courtship rituals and sing enchanting melodies while searching for nesting spots in the park. Boaters and beach goers commonly see herons, gulls, geese and osprey around the lake. In the fall, you can find migrating mergansers, cormorants, and buffleheads on the lake. Year-round residents like sparrows, finches, and cardinals can often be seen during the winter in shrubby areas.

Federal, state, and volunteer organizations actively manage the resources of the park to provide a variety of habitats for all wildlife. Dedicated volunteers have established a bluebird trail. About 100 bluebirds fledge annually from the nesting boxes built and maintained by volunteers.

History

The valley, creek, mountain and state park are named for the American Indian chief Woapalanne that means bald eagle. In the mid-1700s, the Lenni Lenape chief briefly dwelled at Bald Eagle's Nest, near Milesburg. The village was along the Bald Eagle Creek Path, a portion of a warrior's path from New York to the Carolinas which now is State Route 150.

As one of the few navigable tributaries of the West Branch Susquehanna River, Bald Eagle Creek became a branch of the Pennsylvania Canal in the mid-1800s. Flooding destroyed the short-lived canal system and newly developed railroads replaced the canal.

These transportation systems and abundant local resources led to the building of the nearby Curtin Ironworks. Loggers cut trees from steep-sided Bald Eagle Mountain and colliers made charcoal from the wood to feed the hungry furnace. When the demand for wood products soared in the 1800s, once plentiful pine, chestnut, oak and hickory were cleared from the valley and plateaus and the forest was replaced with farmland. The forests of Bald Eagle Mountain have regenerated and the fertile valley continues to be cultivated.

The reservoir is named in honor of Foster Joseph Sayers, a Private 1st Class in World War II. Nineteen year-old Sayers, a resident of Centre County, lost his life while displaying gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in combat on November 12, 1944 near Thionville, France. During an attack on hostile forces entrenched on a hill, he ran up the steep approach and set up his machine gun 20 yards from the enemy. Realizing it was necessary to attract the full attention of the dug-in Germans while his company crossed an open area and flanked the enemy, he picked up his gun, charged through withering gun fire to the very edge of the German encampment and killed 12 German soldiers with devastating close-range fire. He then engaged the enemy from the flank in a heroic attempt to distract attention from his comrades as they reached the crest of the hill. He was killed by a very heavy concentration of return fire, but his fearless assault enabled his company to sweep the hill with minimum casualties, killing or capturing every enemy solider. Sayers received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Conservation Volunteer Program

The Conservation Volunteer Program encourages individuals, groups, and/or corporations to help the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources carry out its mission of stewardship in state parks and state forestlands. Contact the park office for more information about volunteer opportunities at Bald Eagle State Park.

Current volunteer opportunities at Bald Eagle State Park:

• Artist
• Bat Box Monitor
• Gardener
• Naturalist Assistant
• Litter Picker
• Trail Monitor

If you would like more information or are interested in one of these volunteer opportunities at Bald Eagle State Park, please contact the volunteer coordinator at baldeaglesp@state.pa.us or 814-625-2775. Thank you for your interest!

Explore here for more information on volunteering for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Nearby Attractions

For information on nearby attractions, contact:

Central Pennsylvania Convention and Visitors Bureau www.centralpacvb.org

Clinton County Economic Partnership www.centralpacvb.org

In an Emergency

Contact a park employee or dial 911.
For directions to the nearest hospital, look on bulletin boards or at the park office. The closest hospital is in Lock Haven.

Lock Haven Hospital
24 Cree Drive,
Lock Haven, PA 17745
570-893-5000
12 miles North on Route 150 from Main Park Entrance and follow hospital signs.

For More Information Contact

Bald Eagle State Park
149 Main Park Road
Howard, PA 16841
814-625-2775
Manager: John E. Ferrara

E-mail: baldeaglesp@state.pa.us
An equal opportunity employer

Make online reservations or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, for state park information and reservations.

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