Reeds Gap State Park

Geobox Protected Area
name = Reeds Gap State Park
native_name =
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category_local = Pennsylvania State Park
category_iucn = III


image_caption =
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country = United States
state = Pennsylvania
region_type = County
region = Mifflin
district_type = Township
district = Armagh
city =
location =
lat_d = 40
lat_m = 43
lat_s = 18
lat_NS = N
long_d = 77
long_m = 28
long_s = 31
long_EW = W
location_note = cite web | url=Gnis3|1198111 | title=Reeds Gap State Park | date = August 2 1979 | work=Geographic Names Information System | publisher=United States Geological Survey | accessdate=2007-12-20]
elevation_imperial = 820
elevation_round = 1
elevation_note =
area_unit = acre
area_imperial = 220
area_round = 1
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established_type =
established = 1938
established_note =
management_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
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free_type = Nearest city
free = Lewistown, Pennsylvania
free1_type =
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map_caption = Location of Reeds Gap State Park in Pennsylvania
map_locator = Pennsylvania
map_first = yes
website = [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/reedsgap.aspx Reeds Gap State Park]

Reeds Gap State Park is a 220 acre (0.89 km²) Pennsylvania state park in Armagh Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is largely a wilderness area with large white pine and hemlock trees. Honey Creek flows through the park, providing a habitat for trout. Reeds Gap State Park is 7 miles (11 km) from U.S. Route 322 near Milroy in New Lancaster Valley and Bald Eagle State Forest.

History

Reeds Gap is a natural water gap, a geologic formation caused by Honey Creek in a ridge, Hightop. This water gap was a natural gathering location for wild animals and it became a hunting ground for Native Americans and later the European settlers. These settlers named the area New Lancaster Valley. The gap became a gathering area for the homesteaders in the Mifflin County area. They gathered at the gap for bush meetings to listen to traveling evangelists and enjoy community fellowship. These meetings lasted until the 1920s.cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/Parks/reedsgap.aspx
title = Reeds Gap State Park
accessdate = 2006-11-13
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ]

Edward and Nancy Reed built a sawmill along Honey Creek in the mid 1800s. At this time the area was part of the lumber boom that swept through the wooded mountains of Pennsylvania from the mid to late 1800s and early 1900s. The Reeds operated the sawmill on Honey Creek for many years, until it was torn down and moved to Virginia by their son John. [cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/scavengeradvanced/scavad15reedsgap.aspx
title = Reeds Gap State Park Scavenger Hunt
accessdate = 2006-11-13
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ] The trees were soon gone and the land was purchased by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on January 15, 1905. Parts of the land purchased by the state became Reeds Gap State Park and Poe Valley State Park.

Recreation

Hunting and fishing

Hunting is permitted on 96 acres (0.39 km²) of Reeds Gap State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species are ruffed grouse, squirrels, turkey, white-tailed deer, and black bears. Honey Creek is stocked with trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. There is a population of native trout in Honey Creek and its tributaries.

wimming and picnics

The swimming pool was built in 1965 to replace the dam in Honey Creek. It is shallow at both ends, reaching its greatest depth of five feet in the middle. Diving is prohibited. Lifeguards are stationed at the pool from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm. The main lifeguard post is located on the west side of the pool at its deepest point. The pool opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes Labor Day weekend. A much shallower "kiddie" pool is adjacent to the main pool. There are four wooded picnic areas at Reeds Gap State Park with 3 pavilions.

Hiking, cross-country skiing and camping

There are 5 hiking trails at Reeds Gap State Park. Reeds Gap Spur Trail is the longest at convert|18|mi|km. It begins at the park office and crosses over Reeds Gap to Poe Valley State Park. The other trails are all under convert|2|mi|km and pass through the woods and follow the banks of Honey Creek. The trails are open to cross-country skiing during the winter months. Campers are limited to using tents in the rustic camping area.

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within convert|30|mi|km|0 of Reeds Gap State Park: [cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/region_central.aspx
title = Map reference shows Reeds Gap State Park
accessdate = 2006-11-13
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/juniata_mifflin_GHSN.PDF
title= 2007 General Highway Map Juniata County and Mifflin County Pennsylvania
accessdate= 2007-07-28 "Note: shows Reeds Gap 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 = 2008-04-23]
*Bald Eagle State Park (Centre County)
*Greenwood Furnace State Park (Huntingdon County)
*Little Buffalo State Park (Perry County)
*McCalls Dam State Park (Centre County)
*Penn-Roosevelt State Park (Centre County)
*Poe Paddy State Park (Centre County)
*Poe Valley State Park (Centre County)
*Ravensburg State Park (Clinton County)
*R. B. Winter State Park (Union County)
*Sand Bridge State Park (Union County)
*Whipple Dam State Park (Huntingdon County)

References

External links

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