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Canoe Creek State Park
The 958-acre Canoe Creek State Park is in scenic Sinking Valley, 12 miles east of Altoona. This beautiful, modern park features a 155-acre lake, wetlands, old fields and mature forests, which provide critical habitat for migrating birds and for one of the largest bat colonies in the Commonwealth. The lake is popular for fishing year-round. Hikers enjoy the trails that wind through the many habitats. Picnicking, swimming at the beach, enjoying educational programs, and staying the night in a modern cabin are also popular activities. Canoe Creek is a featured park, September, in the 2009 Pennsylvania State Parks Calendar. |
Explore
Directions - Weather - Recreation - Winter Activities - Winter Report - Environmental Education - Accessibility - History - Calendar of Events - Wildlife - Nearby Attractions - Volunteers - Rules and Regs - In an Emergency - Contact Us - Downloadables and Maps
Park Advisories
| 10/15/2008 1:14:00 PM | Canoe Creek State Park lake has been drawn down 5 feet to allow for improvements to the swimming area. The work should be completed by 10-24-08. Rainfall and stream flow will refill the lake. Fall trout stocking by PA Fish and Boat Commission has been delayed. Launch ramps are not usable at the 5 foot draw down point. Call park office for updates. |
| 8/5/2008 9:16:00 AM | Firewood Advisory: Invasive Beetles found in Firewood Threaten Forests! Before bringing firewood to a Pennsylvania State Park, please read the information in the linked page about a very real threat to forests in Pennsylvania and all of North America. Firewood Advisory |
Directions
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To reach Canoe Creek State Park, travel on US 22 to the small village of Canoe Creek (seven miles east of Hollidaysburg), turn north on the Turkey Valley Road for one half mile to Canoe Creek State Park, on the right. |
Recreational Opportunities
Hiking - Biking - Horseback Riding - Picnicking - Swimming - Boating - Fishing - Hunting - Wildlife Watching - Cross-country Skiing - Ice Fishing - Ice Skating - Iceboating - Cabins
Modern Cabins: Eight modern cabins overlook the lake and sleep six people. Cabins offer electric heat, two bedrooms, living room/dining room, bathroom, kitchen and modern conveniences throughout. A fire ring and picnic table are by each cabin.
The cabins are within walking distance of the swimming area and are available for year-round rental. The rental period in the summer is one week. During the remainder of the year, they may be rented for a minimum of two days.
Explore the cabin map.
Explore cabins for more information.
Make a reservation
Fishing The beautiful 155-acre Canoe Lake is stocked with walleye, muskellunge, bass, trout, chain pickerel, catfish, crappies and other panfish. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply. Ice fishing is a popular winter activity during the extended trout season. The ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, be sure the ice is 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.
Swimming: The sand beach is open from May to September, 8 a.m. to sunset. Please read and follow posted rules for swimming. Swim at your own risk.
The sand beach is 350 feet long and has a grass sunning area and sand play areas. The bathhouse has showers and dressing booths.
A snackbar by the swimming beach carries a variety of fast food and drink items.
Picnicking: Scenic, shaded areas on the east and west sides of the park provide many options for picnics and gatherings. There are picnic tables, charcoal grills and charcoal disposal units.
Three picnic pavilions are available for rental. Picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Make a reservation
Biking: The one-mile Bike Trail is between US 22 and Mattern Road. The trail passes through the day use area and the historic site. The trail explores many habitats in the park, like forests, riparian areas, wetlands and fields. Bikes are prohibited on hiking and equestrian trails.
Horseback Riding: Equestrian trails loop through the north side of the park. Mattern, Hartman, and parts of Moore’s Hill trails can be reached from the parking lot off of Mattern Road. Horse rentals are not available in the area.
Hiking: 8 miles of trails
The trails explore forests, fields, wetlands, shrubby areas, historic areas and the lakeshore. Brochures on wildlife and geocaching opportunities can be obtained at the education center or the park office.
Hikers should be prepared for trail conditions and dress for the terrain and weather. Please wear fluorescent orange when hiking during hunting seasons.
Hunting and Firearms: About 550 acres are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, pheasant and rabbit.
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. The park is used by other visitors 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 must 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.
Boating: electric motors only
The 155-acre Canoe Lake has boat launching areas on both sides of the lake. Boat mooring is available along the eastern shoreline. The boat rental, adjacent to the swimming area, rents rowboats, paddleboats, kayaks and canoes.
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.
For complete information on boating rules and regulations in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.
Winter Activities
Explore the Winter Report for current snow and ice depths.
Cross-country Skiing: All hiking, equestrian and biking trails are available for skiing.
Ice Fishing: This is a popular winter activity during the extended trout season. The ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, be sure the ice is four inches thick and carry safety equipment.
Ice Skating: There are two ponds just north of the Beaver Dam Road Boat Launch.
Iceboating: Iceboats must have a launch permit.
Environmental Education and Interpretation
Canoe Creek State Park offers many popular environmental education and interpretive programs for families, private groups and school groups. Through hands-on activities, guided walks and evening programs, participants gain appreciation, understanding and develop a sense of stewardship toward natural and cultural resources.
Curriculum-based environmental education programs are available to schools and youth groups. Teacher workshops are available. Group programs must be arranged in advance and may be scheduled by calling the park office.
Programs are offered year-round. For more detailed information contact the park office.
Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward.
An education center highlights the historical and natural resources of the park. Near the modern cabins, the center is open year-round and provides brochures on the education program and the wildlife of the park.
Explore environmental education and interpretation for more information.
Access for People with Disabilities
All facilities are ADA accessible. With prior approval, service roads can be used for loading and unloading.
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
Canoe Creek State Park maintains a variety of habitats for wildlife. Old fields, wetlands, a lake and a limestone deep mine are interspersed with deciduous woodlots, which provide excellent habitat for over 200 species of birds and mammals.
Birding: The park is a stopover place during bird migrations and serves as a summer nesting site for others. Canoe Lake is great for seeing migrating waterfowl. Bluebird, indigo bunting, cedar waxwing, oriole, red-winged blackbird and brown thrasher frequent the wetlands along Mary Ann’s Creek. Osprey and bald eagle are noteworthy spring and fall migrants.
Because of Canoe Creek State Park’s excellent biodiversity and habitats, the park has been designated an Important Bird Area and an Important Mammal Area by the National Audubon Society.
Checklists and geocaching brochures can be obtained at the education center or the park office.
Bat Viewing: The Frank Felbaum Bat Sanctuary is one of the largest nursery colonies of little brown bats in Pennsylvania. On warm summer evenings, visitors attend bat programs and watch the exit of the bats. A deep limestone mine is a hibernaculum (where animals hibernate) for almost 30,000 bats of six species, including the federally endangered Indiana bat.
History
Geologic formations in and around the park are rich in limestone. This limestone was extracted and used for many purposes, including supplying a raw material for the once thriving iron and steel industry of Pennsylvania. The park has several old quarry operations. Two calcining plants (limekilns), the Hartman kilns site and the Blair Limestone Company kilns site, operated in the park during the early 1900s. The Blair Limestone Company Kiln remnants are the focus of historical and interpretive programs and displays. This company was a subsidiary of Jones and Laughlin Steel Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. Canoe Creek State Park is a modern day use facility developed during the Project 70 expansion era of state parks and was dedicated in 1979.
Nearby Attractions
For information on nearby attractions, contact: Allegheny Mountains Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-842-5866, www.alleghenymountains.com.
Within an hour’s drive of the park are the world famous Horseshoe Curve, Blue Knob Ski Area, The Pennsylvania State University, State Game Land 166, and Rothrock and Gallitzin state forests.
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.
Nearest Hospital:
Bon Secours Hospital Campus
2500 7th Avenue
Altoona, PA 16602
814-889-2011
For More Information Contact
Canoe Creek State Park
RR 2 Box 560
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648-9752
814-695-6807
Manager: Steve Volgstadt
E-mail: canoecreeksp@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.
