- Blue Knob State Park
Geobox Protected Area
name = Blue Knob State Park
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category_local = Pennsylvania State Park
category_iucn = III
image_caption = Blue Knob Mountain
etymology_type = Named for
etymology = Blue Knob Mountain
country = United States
state = Pennsylvania
region_type = County
region = Bedford
district_type = Townships
district = Kimmel
district1 = Lincoln
district2 = Pavia
city =
location =
lat_d = 40
lat_m = 16
lat_s = 43
lat_NS = N
long_d = 78
long_m = 34
long_s = 53
long_EW = W
location_note = cite web
url=Gnis3|1169884
title=Blue Knob State Park
date =August 2 1979
work=Geographic Names Information System
publisher=United States Geological Survey
accessdate=2008-04-03]
elevation_imperial = 3146
elevation_round = 1
elevation_note =
area_unit = acre
area_imperial = 5874
area_round = 1
area1_imperial =
area1_type =
length_imperial =
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highest =
highest location =
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highest_long_s =
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lowest =
lowest_location =
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biome =
biome_share =
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geology =
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plant =
plant1 =
animal =
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established_type =
established = 1945
management_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
management_location =
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visitation =
visitation_year =
free_type = Nearest city
free =Everett, Pennsylvania
free1_type =
free1 =
map_caption = Location of Blue Knob State Park in Pennsylvania
map_locator = Pennsylvania
map_first =
website = [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/blueknob.aspx Blue Knob State Park]Blue Knob State Park is a convert|5874|acre|km2|2|adj=on Pennsylvania State Park in Kimmel, Lincoln, and Pavia townships in Bedford County,
Pennsylvania , in the United States. The average annual snowfall at the park is about convert|12|ft|2. The park is named for Blue Knob, the second highest mountain in Pennsylvania at convert|3146|ft|1. It is the location of Blue Knob All Seasons Resort, the ski slope in Pennsylvania with the highest elevation. Blue Knob State Park is just offInterstate 99 onPennsylvania Route 869 west of Pavia.History
The earliest settlers to the Blue Knob area were of German descent. They cleared and farmed the land soon after the
American Revolution . They also built several distilleries, alumber mill andgristmill . cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/blueknob.aspx
title = Blue Knob State Park
accessdate = 2006-12-18
publisher =Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ]The logging boom that swept over most of the mountains and forests of Pennsylvania drastically altered the landscape surrounding Blue Knob State Park. The
virgin forest s of hemlock wereclear cut . The timber was hauled away ontrain s that climbed the steep hillsides. Arailroad that followedBobs Creek used six switchbacks to ascend the mountain. Another railroad used five switchbacks to climb the hills nearWallacks Branch . These railroad grades are still used today to gain access to State Gamelands.The lumber industry abandoned the lands once all the salable timber had been harvested. They left behind a wasteland of dried out tree tops that were ignited by passing
steam locomotive s. The land was scarred by immense wild fires. The wildlife that had once thrived in the area was also gone due to over-hunting and deforestation.The efforts of the
National Park Service are largely responsible for the reforestation of Blue Knob State Park. Blue Knob National Recreation Demonstration Area was opened by the park service in 1935. The park was built by the men of theWorks Projects Administration and the young men of theCivilian Conservation Corps . The WPA and CCC were established by PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt during theGreat Depression to provide work for the unemployed. Ownership of the park was transferred to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on September 26, 1945 and Blue Knob State Park was officially opened.Geology
The bedrock in the valleys of the park consists of the Upper
Devonian Catskill Formation, consisting of sequences of sandstone, siltstone, and shale. The mountains in the park are capped by theMississippian Burgoon Sandstone, which is underlain by the transitionalDevonian -Mississippian Rockwell Formation, consisting of crossbedded argillacious sandstone with some shale beds.Recreation
The resort
Blue Knob All Seasons Resort is on
Blue Knob the second highest mountain in Pennsylvania. The resort includes 36 trails on slopes forskiing ,snow board ing and tubing, agolf course , trails formountain biking andcross-country skiing . It is open year round. The lodge provides year round accommodations withtennis court s and aswimming pool .wimming
There is a swimming pool at the park that is separate from the pool at the resort. It opens
Memorial Day weekend and closesLabor Day weekend. The hours of operation are 11:00 am until 7:00 pm.Lifeguard s are provided.Picnics
There are three
picnic areas at Blue Knob State Park with over 200picnic table s. Mowery Hollow and Burnt House picnic areas are open year round. Willow Springs picnic area opens the weekend before Memorial Day and closes the day afterThanksgiving .Camping
Blue Knob State Park has a
campground with 45 sites, 25 of which have a connections to an electrical supply. 43 sites will accommodate tents or campers. Two are the sites are walk-in only. The campground has running water, a sanitary dump station, modern restrooms and aplayground .A group of cabins, built and used by the CCC, is available for rent by large groups. The cabin area has a large dining hall and kitchen area and a showerhouse.
Hunting and fishing
Hunting is permitted on about convert|5000|acre|km2|2 of Blue Knob State Park. The most common game species are turkey, squirrels andwhite-tailed deer . The hunting ofgroundhog s is prohibited. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of thePennsylvania Game Commission . The park is next to Pennsylvania State Game Land 26. There are parking lots and trails at Blue Knob State Park for those interested parking at the state park and hiking into the gamelands.Bobs Creek is stocked with
trout by thePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission in co-operation with the Pavia Sportmen Club Inc. There is also a population of nativebrook trout in Bobs Creek and its tributaries.Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within convert|30|mi|0 of Blue Knob State Park: [cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/region_central.aspx
title = Map reference for Blue Knob State Park
accessdate = 2006-12-18
publisher =Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ] [cite map |scale = 1:65,000| publisher= Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division
url= ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/bedford_GHSN.PDF
title= 2007 General Highway Map Bedford County Pennsylvania
accessdate= 2007-07-27 "Note: shows Blue Knob State Park"] cite web
last = Michels
first = Chris
year = 1997
url = http://www2.nau.edu/~cvm/latlongdist.html
title = Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation
publisher =Northern Arizona University
accessdate = 2008-04-20]
*Canoe Creek State Park (Blair County)
*Laurel Mountain State Park (Westmoreland County)
*Laurel Ridge State Park (Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties)
*Prince Gallitzin State Park (Cambria County)
*Shawnee State Park (Bedford County)
*Trough Creek State Park (Huntingdon County)
*Warriors Path State Park (Bedford County)
*Yellow Creek State Park (Indiana County)References
External links
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