POE VALLEY STATE PARK
Cozy Poe Valley State Park is nestled in a rugged mountain valley in Centre County. Seemingly endless forests surround the 25-acre Poe Lake. The 620-acre state park is surrounded by the 198,000-acre Bald Eagle State Forest. Poe Paddy State Park is nearby.
The park was named for Big Poe Creek, which flows through the valley.
In the mid-1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) created the park and built many of the roads. They completed the dam in 1937. Several miles upstream from the park, a stone memorial marks the site of the camp, whose remaining structures are now used as a private hunting camp.
Camping: rustic campsites
The wooded campground is just below the breast of the dam and has drinking water, rustic toilets and a sanitary dump station. The camping season begins the 2nd Friday in April and ends in mid-December after antlerless deer season. Access is not guaranteed in the winter months. Campers may moor their boats by the dam.
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. Pets are not permitted in the campground.
The swimming beach at Poe Lake is open from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day unless posted otherwise. Swim at your own risk. The maximum water depth of the swimming area is 5 feet.
Boating: electric motors only
There are two launching areas and fifteen seasonal (April 1 to November 15) mooring spaces on the 25-acre lake. Campers can moor their boats by the dam during their stay. Rental boats are normally available during the summer.
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.
Poe Valley State Park is located near Bellefonte, Lewistown
The shaded picnic area is by Poe Lake and has drinking water, playground areas, charcoal grills and charcoal disposal containers and accessible picnic tables. Two picnic pavilions, with a capacity of 100 people each, may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hiking: 3 miles of trails
Poe Valley?s hiking trail system connects to the extensive trail network of Bald Eagle State Forest. The hiking trails vary from easy hiking to very rugged, steep trails. The 189-mile Mid State Trail passes through Poe Valley and is popular with backpackers and day hikers.
Cross-country Skiing:
While no specific trails are provided, most skiers use local roads since only minimal snow plowing is done in this area. Skiers should be cautious since both snowmobiles and four-wheel drive vehicles also use many of these roads.
Snowmobiling:
Registered snowmobiles may use the Big Poe Road in the park and state forest roads daily after the end of antlerless deer season. Drinking water, parking and rustic toilets are available in the park. Most roads are joint-use roads shared by snowmobiles and motor vehicles. Please snowmobile safely.
Schafer's Country Cottages
364 W Aaron sq
Aaronsburg, PA
(814) 349-8316
Woodward Crossings Inc
133 Jackson Hill Rd
Woodward, PA
(814) 349-4404
From Potters Mills, go east on U S 322 for 1.5 miles to near the top of the Seven Mountains Scenic Area, then follow marked state forest roads for ten miles to Poe Valley.
From Millheim, go west on PA 45 for 1.5 miles, then follow signs south for 12 miles to the park.
Gravel roads turn to paved roads near the park. No entirely paved road leads to the park.
My parents sister, brother aunt, uncle cousins loved the summers of Poe Valley. We first camped at Poe Paddy in 1948. Made so many great friends from all over PA and NY. Most of us are gone or just old now. 
the campground is awsome for fishing and relaxing every thing is easy to get to or throught if you have a large rv or camper. The trails and wild life are varey well seen and layed out. The showers are great and clean it a blast for the family and your 4 legged furry family members to and every one is friendly. 
Have owned a cabin within 2 miles of Poe Valley State Park for 40 years. Love it for the fishing, picnicking, solitude in the winter, wildlife, especially the ducks and geese. You never know what will be on the lake.
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