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Nearby Parks:
S B Elliott State Park
Wykoff Run State Forest Natural Area
Elk State Forest
State Fish Lands
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| State Park Overview: |
 | This rustic, remote park in the heart of Moshannon State Forest is almost entirely wooded and offers picturesque areas of forest and swamp meadows, pine plantations and mixed hardwoods. The CCC Interpretive Center interprets the Civilian Conservation Corps. Parker Dam is a good base to explore the surrounding state forest.
The 968-acre Parker Dam State Park offers old-fashioned charm and character. A scenic lake, rustic cabins, quaint campground and unbounded forest make Parker Dam an ideal spot for a relaxing vacation. For wilderness explorers, Parker Dam provides a gateway to the vast expanses of the Moshannon State Forest. You can walk through a tornado ravaged woods, backpack into the 50,000-acre Quehanna Wilderness, mountain bike to your heart's content or enjoy quiet solitude searching for elusive Pennsylvania elk. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| Parker Lake: The eastern shoreline of this 20-acre lake has a mix of maples, cherries, oaks and eastern hemlocks which makes the fall foliage gorgeous. A pathway from the campground to the swimming area travels over the breast of the earthen dam.
Windstorm Preserve: The tornado of 1985 blew a swath of destruction across Parker Dam State Park. The forest to the west of Mud Run Road has been left in a natural state. Note the large, bare tree trunks still standing in testimony to the power of the storm. The Trail of New Giants runs through this area. On the east side of Mud Run Road fallen trees have been salvaged and removed. Explore the two areas to see if the forest regrows differently in the two areas.
Viewing Wildlife: Parker Dam State Park and the surrounding Moshannon State Forest harbor deep forests where wildlife thrives in unbroken wilderness. Look for black-throated green and blackburnian warblers and ravens in conifer forests. The shy ovenbird and American redstart make the deciduous forest their home. Look for turkey in Abbot Hollow, along Laurel Ridge and Mud Run roads. Evenings are great for wildlife watching. White-tailed deer feed by the park office, ball field or near picnic pavilion seven. A drive on Tyler Road might yield a coyote or fox. Look for the elusive bobcat, free-ranging elk or porcupine in the tornado blowdown area in the evening. Watch for beaver on Mud Run, Abbot Run or on the campground side of the lake. Please do not feed wildlife and observe from a safe distance.
Pennsylvania Elk Herd: Elk (Wapiti) are about four times larger than white-tailed deer. Elk may weigh from 400 to 1,000 pounds and vary from 6 to 8 ? feet in length. Adult males carry very large antlers that can be six feet long and weigh 30 pounds. September and October is the best time to see elk. Big bulls bugle a high pitched whistle to attract cow elk. Never approach elk, but especially during the autumn rutting season.
The heart of the elk range is only a 40-minute drive from Parker Dam State Park. An elk-viewing platform is in State Game Lands 311 between Benezette and Grant PA. A second population of elk lies to the east in Sproul State Forest. Parker Dam is in the elk range and wild elk may be observed in the woodlands and fields. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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An adventure in the making
Peace, tranquility, and nature fills your surroundings.....and your heart with the wonder of it all.
Written by Dsl1717
1-May-2008
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| Camping: |
| The camping area is above the eastern edge of the lake. Open from the second Friday in April through mid-December, it offers partially shaded campsites with open grassy areas and some entirely forested sites. The campground has modern restrooms with showers and a sanitary dump station. Electric hookups are available at 80 of 110 campsites. The maximum stay is 14 days during the summer season and 21 days during the off-season. Campers must vacate the park for 48 hours between stays.
Organized Group Tenting: The combined capacity of the three organized group tenting areas is 80 people. Two areas hold 20 people each and one area holds 40 people. These open, grassy areas are in the northern end of the park at the intersection of Mud Run and Tyler roads.
These reservable, organized group tenting areas contain non-flush toilets, water hydrants, picnic tables and fire rings. For a fee organized groups can use the campground showers. |
| Camping Accessories: |
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| Trails: |
| Hiking: Many hiking trails begin or pass through Parker Dam State Park and continue into the surrounding Moshannon State Forest. Go to Trails for complete trail descriptions.
Backpacking: The park is the western trailhead of the Quehanna Trail System. Through a series of loops and connecting trails, this system offers over 73 miles of hiking opportunities of one to five nights in duration. This trail connects with the Susquehannock Trail System near Sinnamahoning PA. There is no backpack camping in the park. Trail maps are available at the park office. |
| Trail Accessories: |
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| Picnicking: |
| About 430 picnic tables, with charcoal grills, restrooms and drinking fountains, are scattered through a mostly wooded area. Of the seven picnic pavilions, five have lights and electric outlets. Choose from modern, open pavilions or cozy, stone, CCC-built pavilions. Each picnic pavilion holds about 75 people. 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. |
| Boating: |
| Electric powered and non-powered boats are permitted on 20-acre Parker Lake. 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.
Courtesy mooring spaces are available for overnight guests. A seasonal boat concession rents paddleboats, canoes and rowboats from Memorial Day to Labor Day. |
| Swimming: |
| The swimming area in Parker Lake features a beautiful sand beach and is open from Memorial Day until September 30 unless otherwise posted. Open swim hours are 8 a.m. to dusk daily. The maximum water depth is five feet at the far buoy line. Another buoy line marks the two feet depth line for younger swimmers. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Fishing:
Fishing is popular throughout the year. Brook trout are stocked in the spring, fall and winter. Anglers also can catch largemouth bass, sunfish and brown bullhead.
Ice Fishing:
Trout are stocked through the ice for winter anglers. Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, be sure the ice is four inches thick and carry safety equipment.
Hunting and Firearms:
Approximately 526 acres of the park are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, turkey, grouse, bear, rabbit and squirrel. 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. Hunting is also available on over 185,000 acres of surrounding Moshannon State Forest. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Call 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. |
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| Related Links: |
| Pennsylvania State Parks - Addresses - PA DCNR - This is an official Web site of the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks. This is the address, phone number and e-mail list for all 116 Pennsylvania State Parks. | | Parker Dam State Park Mountain Biking : Fall in P.A. - The park trails give parking and trail access to 9 miles of mountain biking trails in the adjacent Moshannon State Forest land. Learn More/Add to My Travel Planner. Lyman Run State Park. Parker... |
| Nature Programs: |
| Parker Dam State Park offers a wide variety of year-round environmental education and interpretive programs. 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.
A small-scale, interpretive maple sugaring operation runs throughout March. Apple-cidering is demonstrated each October. A visitor center attached to the park office offers interpretive displays, games and resource and childrens' books. It is open during park office hours. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Interpretive Center near the breast of the dam educates visitors about the live and times of the corpsmembers which were the CCC. It is open Sunday afternoons during the summer season or upon request. Wayside exhibits interpreting the tornado are located outside of the Cabin Classroom. |
| Area Campgrounds | | Woodland Campground
314 Egypt Rd
Woodland, PA
(814) 857-5388
| Wagoner's Camping Park
249 Mcdivitt Rd
Curwensville, PA
(814) 236-3313
| Recreation Land Corporation: RV Park Pavillion
1055 Treasure LK
Du Bois, PA
(814) 371-9961
| Clearview Camp Grounds
RR 2 Box 508A
Du Bois, PA
(814) 371-9947
| Clearview Camp Grounds
69 Giles Rd
Du Bois, PA
(814) 371-9947
| Treasure Lake Propert Owners
Du Bois, PA
(814) 371-0711
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| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Hoover's Bait & Tackle Shop
149 W Long Ave
Du Bois, PA
(814) 372-4649
| Red Mill Bait & Tackle
Perrin Dr
Falls Creek, PA
(814) 375-4477
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| Directions: |
| Parker Dam State Park is in northern Clearfield County. From Interstate 80, take Exit 111 onto Route 153 North for 5.5 miles. Turn right onto Mud Run Road, and then drive 2.5 miles to the park. |
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