Canoe Creek State Park

Canoe Creek State Park is a 961-acre natural area that features a 155-acre lake, wetlands, open fields, and diverse forest types. The landscape supports varied wildlife across these different habitats and includes recreational trails and historic structures throughout the grounds.

The park developed on the grounds of limestone quarries and kilns that operated in the 1900s to supply raw materials for Pennsylvania's iron and steel industries. Visitors can still see remnants of this industrial past scattered across the property, showing how the land transformed over time.

The Frank Felbaum Bat Sanctuary occupies a former church building within the park and serves as home to thousands of little brown bats. Visitors can observe how the local community supports wildlife protection and understand the role these animals play in the ecosystem.

The park maintains roughly 8 miles of trails suitable for hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and mountain biking with varying difficulty levels. Choosing the right footwear and checking conditions before visiting will help ensure a comfortable experience on the different terrain throughout the grounds.

The lake draws thousands of migratory birds during seasonal passages, including bald eagles and ospreys that can be spotted in trees and along the water's edge. These traveling visitors rely on the water as a crucial stopover point on their long journeys.

Location: Frankstown Township

Inception: 1979

Website: http://dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/canoecreek.aspx

GPS coordinates: 40.48670,-78.26970

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:08