Copyright: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks
Parker Dam State Park
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Description - After years of logging, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) arrived on June 21, 1933 in Penfield and later set up camps on Boone Mountain near Penfield and at the fork of the Tyler and Mud Run roads within the park (Camp S-73). The first dam built in 1934 was washed out in the flood of 1936 and was immediately replaced by the existing dam with its large flood spillway. The 20-acre lake that was created is the focal point for much of the park's recreational activity. The CCC built the stone picnic shelters, visitor and interpretive centers (these buildings were originally a project office and a beach dressing stockade) and in cooperation with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the family cabins. The vast network of roads and trails were blazed and improved and many of the natural open meadows were replanted in pine and spruce.The park was unchanged from the CCC days until the late 1960's when the camping area was improved and then again in 1976, when modern water and sanitary facilities were completed. Today, Parker Dam is a recreation haven during the summer months. There are lovely shady campgrounds, a modern group of cabins, youth and scout organized camping, interpretive programs, picnicking, freshwater lake swimming, fishing in several fast moving creeks and at least fourteen hiking trails. The lake is open for electric-powered and non-powered boaters. The winter season attracts ice skaters, fishermen, sledders and cross-country skiers. The northern portion of the park is open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs.
Attractions
- The Moshannon State Forest, once covered with majestic pines and hemlocks, is now a tract of upland hardwood forest. The state forest with its lonely sentinel stumps of these once majestic pines and hemlocks offers visitors a glimpse of wilderness. White-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, squirrel, coyote, fox and beaver abound and can be readily viewed by aware travelers on the more than 200 miles of dirt roads and more than 90 miles of hiking trails. It was for the unbelievable pine and hemlock forest wealth that lumbermen started moving into this area. In 1875 John A. Otto, owner of a vast tract of land in Huston Township, contracted William Parker to cut timber on the lands along Laurel Run, the main stream through the park. The early methods of getting logs to the sawmills was by skidding them off the mountains on slides to selected areas along the stream edge. "Splash dams" were constructed to "splash" logs downstream by storing up a pool of water, then releasing it, causing a flood of water and logs to move downstream. William Parker's dam was the second of five splash dams on Laurel Run used to move logs down to sawmills on the Bennett's Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek. An authentic, life-size reproduction of this log slide and a logging exhibit interprets these early logging days. This exhibit is located along the road to the campground. After years of logging, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) arrived on June 21, 1933 in Penfield and later set up camps on Boone Mountain near Penfield and at the fork of the Tyler and Mud Run roads within the park (Camp S-73). The first dam built in 1934 was washed out in the flood of 1936 and was immediately replaced by the existing dam with its large flood spillway. The 20 acre lake that was created is the focal point for much of the park's recreational activity. The CCC built the stone picnic shelters, visitor and interpretive centers (these buildings were originally a project office and a beach dressing stockade) and in cooperation with the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the family cabins. The vast network of roads and trails were blazed and improved and many of the natural open meadows were replanted in pine and spruce. The park was unchanged from the CCC days until the late 1960's when the camping area was improved. And then again in 1976, when modern water and sanitary facilities were completed.
Recreation - Parker Dam is a recreation haven during the summer months. There are lovely shady campgrounds, a modern group of cabins, youth and scout organized camping, picnicking, freshwater lake swimming, fishing in several fast moving creeks and at least fourteen hiking trails. The lake is open for electric-powered and non-powered boaters. The winter season attracts ice skaters, fishermen, sledders and cross-country skiers. The northern portion of the park is open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs. An environmental interpretive program is available during the summer months and on selected weekends the rest of the year. This program includes guided walks, evening campfire programs, special programs, and exhibits. A small visitor center is operated from the beach area. An environmental interpreter is available to explain and interpret the natural phenomenon and structures of historic significance to the visiting public. Historic interpretation of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) located at a CCC visitor center in the log cabin located near the breast of the dam. School groups and other special requests can be accommodated by contacting the park office anytime throughout the year. Climate - Pennsylvania generally has a moist climate with cold winters and warm summers. The Parker Dam State Park area generally has very cold winter months with temperatures averaging 22 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius). The region's average summer temperatures average 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius). Precautions should be made when traveling this snowy area in the winter. Location -
Parker Dam State Park is located a little west of the center of the state in Clearfield County. It is 17 miles north of the community of Clearfield and 5 miles south of the village of Penfield 2.5 miles off PA Route 153.
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