Poe Valley State Park
c/o Reeds Gap
Milroy, PA 17063-9735
814-349-2460

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.

Directions
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.

Recreational Opportunities

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.

Fishing:
Lake angling is popular especially at the beginning of the trout season in mid-April. Many enjoy the winter ice fishing season. Common game species include brown and rainbow trout, catfish, pickerel, sunfish and perch. For stream fishing, the famous Penns Creek and Big Poe Creek are within a short distance of the park. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission seasons and limits apply.

Swimming:
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.

Picnicking:
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.

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.

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.

History
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.