Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle State Park A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for Bald Eagle EXPLORE PENNSYLVANIA WILDS Pennsylvania Wilds is two million acres of public lands for hiking, biking, fishing, boating, hunting, and exploration in northcentral Pennsylvania. Highlights of the area are elk watching, scenic PA 6, Pine Creek Gorge (PA Grand Canyon), the darkest skies in the east at Cherry Springs State Park, and hundreds of miles of backpacking trails, bike paths, and trout fishing streams. www.pawilds.com Pennsylvania State Parks Mission The primary purpose of Pennsylvania state parks is to provide opportunities for enjoying healthful outdoor recreation and serve as outdoor classrooms for environmental education. In meeting these purposes, the conservation of the natural, scenic, aesthetic, and historical values of parks should be given first consideration. Stewardship responsibilities should be carried out in a way that protects the natural outdoor experience for the enjoyment of current and future generations. visitPAparks pennsylvania WILDS Printed on recycled paper 2018 RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 1/4 0 1/2 MILE 1150 26 0 00 1350 1550 BALD 900 950 To Milton 10 00 950 950 950 JACKSONVILLE 900 1500 E AG L E 1650 1450 M O U N TA I N 0 165 1500 0 700 75 0 10 Park Office and Enviromental Learning Center Blue Symbols Mean ADA Accessible 1550 Public Phone 1450 1400 1350 Rustic Restrooms Picnic Area 0 1000 1100 1000 Picnic Pavilion 1500 Play Area Camping 1550 Unpaved Road 11 00 1250 Boat Launch Hiking Trail Non-motorized Boat Launch 1500 Amphitheater CONTOURS ARE ON 50 FT. INTERVALS 1300 Overlook State Park No Hunting State Park Hunting No Wake Zone 1150 1050 1000 1400 Parking Unpaved 1450 1400 1300 1350 1250 1200 Fishing Pier Gate Parking Paved 1550 Boat Rental Wildlife Watching 950 Hard Surface Road 1400 1450 Sanitary Dump Station Cross-country Skiing Recommended 1200 1300 Beach Marina Paved Trail 1200 1150 1100 1000 1300 1600 Showerhouse/Restrooms 1150 1000 0 1200 Food Concession 100 To Cedar Springs 1500 Modern Restrooms 1200 1050 900 To Hublersburg 1400 95 1450 1550 1300 1550 950 0 95 220 900 1400 1550 1400 1450 1300 1350 1250 0 950 1000 0 1650 1150 1300 1650 1600 0 105 600 Rd. 1250 90 85 50 1600 0 0 10 1550 155 110 0 100 650 10 Gr ov e ncks Sche 850 1600 1150 1050 1100 1100 150 12 1350 1450 1200 00 0 65 00 12 95 1200 1150 1450 0 1350 1250 0 1100 1450 130 1200 60 00 11 800 rtz Schwa 850 Divide 750 850 1300 1250 1150 1100 0 140 1250 1500 1400 950 800 1100 1150 1700 0 1050 1450 1350 1250 1000 1050 1300 1550 135 1500 1400 1300 1/2 1450 00 0 0 105 50 11 00 0 85 650 1450 0 90 00 13 1350 50 10 950 10 KILOMETER 160 1400 145 le 0 80 11 650 750 750 900 700 How ard 00 12 0 95 950 1200 1350 50 1400 1500 1600 850 ON CLINT CO. O. RE C 0 10 0 1/2 900 1000 n Rd. rvisto 650 1050 Cr. 0 70 1100 1650 1 1350 900 950 1100 1250 EAGLEVILLE 850 900 950 1050 0 1150 St. 0 800 1200 Eag le 60 0 0 Bald 65 1250 140 1350 To I-80/US220, Exit 161 130 90 IN 1550 Eag le 650 800 850 900 1150 0 12 d 750 800 Trail 130 50 N TA 1350 0 65 0 Bal 700 1200 0 300 135 1 1450 1400 600 650 00 1250 1200 1400 ch Bea 650 U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (USACE) Foster Joseph Sayers Dam 1000 10 MOU 170 1450 1550 600 Rd. 1600 50 15 00 0 60 1700 14 CENT 0 65 50 LE 750 Fireline 950 1100 To Lock Haven 13 Mi. St. BLANCHARD 750 Rustic 850 10 150 Dr. Crest Ridge Trail 650 700 0 110 0 115 0 700 700 m EAG 0 1500 1600 Rd. 100 105 650 F. J. Sayers Rd. 700 800 26 950 0 Da BALD 1400 900 0 0 k 1500 1500 1450 850 PA GAME COMMISSION WILDLIFE AREA Under Lease from 1350 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 80 70 Cree 1550 Lakeside Park 00 ad 750 1000 1450 1400 0 Mill St. 0 8 5 650 Foster Joseph Sayers Lake Winter Launch Bald Eagle Launch 70 800 950 1050 1100 1150 1200 1250 1300 HOWARD 700 900 1100 1150 1200 1250 St. 700 850 1050 9 Foster Joseph Sayers Medal of Honor Memorial 650 0 n Speari 6,7 650 sh Ro 80 Hunter Run Cove 70 1000 Railroad St. Pa rk Warbler Way Skyline Dr. Tr. Nature Inn . r Butterfly T Tr. lann e Rd. W oa p a Foster Joseph 8 Sayers Monument 750 ch 900 Trail t L aun 650 ch 750 Bea 750 Sa ye rs . Rd ald Eagle 6 n Nittany B 750 800 1,2 50 BOROUGH PARK g Mai 700 15 USACE Eas 700 5 Frog Pond Trail Dr. Skyline Skyline Dr. 650 700 650 1650 650 3,4 Point 650 10 Mar Lower Greens Run 650 O nt / Monume k 650 Upper Greens Run 0 rth 650 Hunter Run East Launch Swamp Oak Tr. 65 Cr. ee Cr 650 0 Hunter Run West Launch650 Skyline Drive ch rsh 0 0 650 Schencks Grove Bee Ma 90 Run 700 No 900 East 65 West700 Launch Rd. 850 0 750 Top Rd. 750 0 Hun 700 Rd. 700 700 700 65 70 Rd. Trail Marina Summer Dry Rd. Storage 85 900 75 0 800 800 0 750 750 0 Mt. 750 75 0 85 800 850 Wes t 750 900 50 8 0 800 ter 750 85 950 N 850 0 80 850 800 0 100 950 nte r n Ru 800 0 75 0 0 85 900 Run ter un 800 th or Run 90 150 650 0 0 Run 85 . Rd 800 95 0 ters Hun 850 n Hu W. . Rd 95 t in Po 850 0 0 900 850 900 0 0 w lo ol 95 90 850 850 800 85 N 00 10 900 el Grav llow Ho 950 850 900 115 0 800 0 Hu Rd . 120 0 1100 1100 1100 0 950 950 1300 1250 105 95 Hunter 900 1000 0 0 0 0 95 80 90 0 1050 0 50 0 00 75 1100 95 10 95 rR un 850 ICE FISHING: About 630 acres of the lake are available during the winter. 90 85 te ICE SKATING: Ice skating is permitted on the lake. 75 00 00 11 13 0 50 50 11 0 120 50 11 12 00 11 900 0 Schenck Cemetery Sandhill Cemetery 1300 1350 Rev. 3/04/19 950 0 700 0 80 1000 95 80 1000 1050 0 H 850 0 0 800 900 0 70 0 80 Rd. 75 0 120 115 65 700 950 To Clearfield, 30 Mi. 00 10 0 tz 11 50 1300 0 BALD EAGLE STATE PARK 50 12 90 750 0 70 0 900 1300 Rd. 90 er nf 0 95 0 00 850 0 1000 Co 90 800 750 900 0 80 50 7 0 800 165 Sc hw ar 00 1350 n Ru 0 75 50 12 120 13 ICE SAFETY: Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, make sure ice is at least 4” thick for a single person and 7” thick for a small group. Always carry safety equipment. Three camping cottages sleep five people and have wooden floors, windows, electric heat, porch, picnic table, fire ring, and electric lights and outlets. Vehicles are to be parked on the hard surface only, not on 650 MOUNT EAGLE 1550 0 950 750 0 12 10 Run d 10 85 00 950 75 650 150 1350 50 0 Bullit Run 155 SWIMMING: The 1,200-foot-long sand and turf beach has a children’s playground, snack bar, changing rooms, public 12 650 Rd. STATE GAME LANDS 323 1050 900 800 0 0 150 Hole Old Route 22 0 0 Run 85 95 900 Nursery Rd. Do wd y 50 0 950 0 PA GAME COMMISSION HOWARD NURSERY 85 800 0 90 800 700 95 850 70 To I-80/US220, Exit 158 & ALT 220 90 0 R oa 850 850 0 95 0 Road 900 00 13 50 0 0 95 1000 90 950 14 125 1050 950 950 800 950 11 850 0 90 0 1200 00 ns Gree 100 0 11 0 900 85 0 100 950 Run 900 Greens Run 0 900 850 1050 n 95 1150 1100 800 850 50 12 SGL 92 115 125 950 00 00 0 13 10 950 1000 abtow Schw Bullit 1000 130 STATE GAME LANDS 92 1050 1150 900 1000 0 110 1000 Bullit 0 115 1100 1050 0 105 115 0 FISHING: The 1,730-acre Sayers Reservoir and its 23 miles of shoreline offer excellent warmwater fishing. Common species are crappie, yellow perch, channel catfish, and largemouth and smallmouth bass. The lake is a panfish enhancement waterway and special regulations apply. An ADA accessible fishing pier is at the Winter Launch in the Main Park Area. MARINA AND BOAT CONCESSION: Three hundred and sixty-nine marina dockage slips can be rented on a seasonal basis. Transient slips are rented on a daily basis. Boat and trailer storage is available for the summer and winter seasons. Contact the park office for additional information. 145 140 0 0 135 0 130 Bullit Run Boat Launch, off Dowdy Hole Road, is a non-powered boat launch. Two yurts (round, canvas and wood walled tents), sleep 6, have electric heat, a cooking stove, refrigerator, beds, and a table and chairs. Located in the center of the campground, the yurts offer convenient accommodations for weekly rentals. Shorter stays are available during the spring and fall seasons. Up to two dogs are permitted in Yurt B. The yurts accommodate people with disabilities. SLEDDING AND TOBOGGANING: About five acres of cleared hillside allows for a 1,320-foot run. The slope faces the modern campground and is accessed from Skyline Drive near Pavilion #5. levil associations. Programs for children to learn about the environment are presented annually through the Pennsylvania State Park’s DiscoverE day camp. This program is open to children ages 4-17 and their parents. Group programs must be scheduled in advance by calling the park office. For more information on park programs, check the activity schedule on park bulletin boards or at the park office. A complete listing is available online. Bald Eagle State Park offers a wide variety of environmental education and interpretive programs year round. Through guided walks, hands-on activities, and campfire programs, visitors gain appreciation and awareness toward the natural and historical resources. Curriculum-based outdoor investigations and hands-on environmental activities are available to local schools, youth and community organizations, and homeschool Bald Eagle Boat Launch has Pavilion 9. Enjoy the Winter Eag ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION Winter Launch Picnic Area has Pavilion 8 and a fishing pier to accommodate people with disabilities. Rustic Campground: This rustic area has 35 walk-in sites for tents and 35 sites that accommodate camping vehicles. The tent camping sites are walk-ins and are about 150 feet from the road. Parking spaces for tent campers are along the road. Drinking water is available along the campground road. Restrooms have vault toilets and a sink with running water. A sanitary dump station is available. 1050 Make reservations at www.reserveamerica.com, or call the Nature Inn at 814-625-2879. Skyline Drive Picnic Area is on a ridge overlooking Frog Pond, the lake, and Bald Eagle Mountain. This area has Pavilion 5. 700 BOATING: unlimited horsepower motors The speed limit on the 1,730-acre lake is 45 mph. Boaters must follow a counterclockwise traffic pattern on the lake. Boats equipped with inboard engines with over-the-transom or straight-stack type exhausts are prohibited. Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launch permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks, available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Beach Picnic Area has pavilions 1, 2, 6, and 7. 0 Spend the Day Point Picnic Area, on the point of the peninsula overlooking the beach and marina, has pavilions 3 and 4 and a volleyball net. CAMPING: Russell P. Letterman Campground: This modern camping area features 119 campsites, some with full-hookups. Electric hookups of 30 amps are available at most sites, and some campsites have 50-amp hookups. The campground has two yurts, three camping cottages, one deluxe camping cottage, hot showers, the park amphitheater, a sanitary dump station, and is less than one mile from the beach, marina, and other park facilities. The campground opens the second Friday of April and closes in mid-December. Each campsite has a paved parking spur, picnic table, and fire ring. Pets are permitted on designated sites. Four campsites accommodate people with disabilities. 750 Nestled within the natural beauty of Bald Eagle State Park, the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle combines the comfortable amenities of an inviting bed and breakfast with sweeping views and door-step access to year-round outdoor activities. Walls of windows, huge decks, private balconies, and patios immerse guests in nature and provide an unequalled natural experience. Two public meeting rooms are available for rent. The inn also hosts special events like weddings and parties. A deluxe camping cottage (Bluegill) has the amenities of a camping cottage, and has a small refrigerator, stove, and microwave. The cottage accommodates people with disabilities. HUNTING AND FIREARMS: About 4,910 acres are open to hunting, trapping, and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are whitetailed deer, turkey, waterfowl, and rabbit. Hunting is also available on nearby state game lands 92 and 252. Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for ADA accessible hunting information. Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment used for hunting may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner’s vehicle or enclosed trailer. Exceptions include: law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms are authorized to carry a firearm concealed on their person while they are within a state park. Schencks Grove Picnic Area, on the ridge on the south side of Marina Cove, has two play fields and a volleyball net. the grass. Up to two dogs are permitted in Cottage 1. Cottages 1 and 3 accommodate people with disabilities. 70 THE NATURE INN AT BALD EAGLE BOAT LAUNCHES: Most boat launches have picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. Hunter Run West Boat Launch, by the Russell P. Letterman Campground, allows 24-hour access. Hunter Run East Boat Launch, off East Launch Road, allows 24-hour access. Winter Boat Launch, located along the lake north of the beach, provides yearround boating, a fishing pier which can accommodate persons with disabilities, and 24-hour access. This launch is usable at reduced water levels, but is closed during high water events. Bald Eagle Boat Launch, in the town of Howard, is lighted and provides 24-hour access. Lower Greens Run Boat Launch, off PA 150, has a fishing pier and provides 24-hour access. Upper Greens Run Boat Launch, off PA 150, provides 24-hour access. 50 Make online reservations at www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. Rd. Reservations Stay the Night restrooms, and parking. The regular hours are 8:00 AM to sunset, Memorial Day to Labor Day, unless otherwise posted. Swim at your own risk. Please follow posted rules for swimming. The swimming area is ADA accessible. Pets are prohibited in the beach area. 800 Bald Eagle State Park, Centre County, is along PA 150 between Milesburg and Lock Haven. From I-80 west, take Exit 158 to PA 150 north for about 10 miles. From I-80 east, take Exit 178 to US 220 north, to PA 150 south for about 13 miles. From I-99 take Exit 61 to Port Matilda, then US 220-ALT, continue onto 150 north to park. PICNICKING: Picnic areas around the lake all have picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. Picnic areas open at sunrise and close at sunset. Picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. Most boat launches have picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. When available, the boating concession, located at the marina, rents boats, sells gasoline, and does repairs. The concession is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and weekends during the months of September and October, weather permitting. Contact the park office for additional information. 800 Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir The 1,730-acre lake is the focal point for water-based recreation in the park. The nearly eight-mile-long lake has 23 miles of shoreline. Because of its role in flood damage reduction and downstream water quality, the operation of the dam is the responsibility of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Lake levels vary throughout the year. Beginning in November, the USACE begins a five-foot lake draw down to prepare for winter waters. Between mid-February and early March, the water level is lowered an additional 15 feet to maximum flood protection pool. Depending on weather conditions, the reservoir usually reaches the summer recreational pool by mid-May. H Directions 900 Corps of Engineers and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks. The 5,900-acre Bald Eagle State Park is in the broad Bald Eagle Valley of northcentral Pennsylvania. The 1,730-acre lake laps the flanks of Bald Eagle Mountain, surrounded by forests, fields, and wetlands. With two campgrounds, boating, fishing, swimming, the Nature Inn, and diverse habitats that are excellent for wildlife watching, Bald Eagle State Park is a great destination in the heart of Pennsylvania. Recreational facilities are a result of a cooperative effort between the U.S. Army Road WELCOME 1100 HISTORY OF BALD EAGLE HIKING: 14.25 miles of trails Hunter Run East Trail: 1.9 miles, more difficult hiking Following the northwest border of the park toward Hunter Run West Boat Launch, Hunter Run East Trail winds beneath a mixed forest and through open shrubby areas providing favorite habitat for chickadees, towhees, and catbirds. Hikers will encounter an intermittent mountain stream, home to various salamanders and aquatic insects. This trail has a scenic view of Hunter Run Cove. Some wet areas do not have bridges or boardwalks. This trail begins at Hunter Run West Trail. Monarch butterfly A network of hiking trails guides hikers through a variety of habitats that offer scenic views and wildlife watching opportunities. Additional unnamed extension trails lead to recreational facilities like boat launches, the marina, the modern campground, and the beach. Some trails wind through areas open to hunting. Hikers should wear fluorescent orange clothing during hunting seasons. Trails are open year round from sunrise to sunset. Tell us about your hike at: www.ExplorePAtrails.com Butterfly Trail: 1.5 miles, easiest hiking This mowed trail, created for the conservation of butterflies, has opportunities for close encounters with butterflies in their natural setting. The trailhead is west of the beach near Pavilion 6. Butterfly Trail loops around Frog Pond and through a mix of grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and young trees that are host and nectar plants for butterflies throughout their lifecycle. An interpretive area provides information and examples of butterfly habitat components. In September, migrating monarchs are often seen drinking nectar on the abundant goldenrod. This trail is a popular family hike. The valley, creek, mountain, and state park are named for the American Indian chief Woapalanne [wopo lonnie], which means “bald eagle.” In the mid-1700s, the Munsee Lenni Lenape chief briefly dwelled at Bald Eagles Nest, near Milesburg. The village was along the Bald Eagle Creek Path, a portion of a warriors path from New York to the Carolinas, which now is PA 150. As one of the few navigable tributaries of the West Branch Susquehanna River, Bald Eagle Creek became a branch of the Pennsylvania Canal in the mid-1800s. When flooding destroyed the short-lived canal system, the newly developed railroads replaced the canal. These transportation systems and abundant local resources led to the building of the nearby Curtin Ironworks. Loggers cut trees from steep-sided Bald Eagle Mountain and colliers made charcoal from the wood to feed the hungry furnace. When the demand for wood products soared in the 1800s, once plentiful pine, chestnut, oak, and hickory were cleared from the valley and plateaus. Farmland replaced the forest and the fertile valley continues are not bridged. The trail crosses beneath the railroad line through tunnels at both ends of its loop. Please use these tunnels while hiking. Skyline Drive Trail: 2 miles, easiest hiking This trail begins on Skyline Drive and meanders through a small forested ridge of mixed hardwoods to Warbler Way. Quiet hikers might catch a glimpse of white-tailed deer hiding in the undergrowth. Most of the trail is forested, but portions contain dense shrubbery reminiscent of earlier ecological succession. This area is favorite habitat for eastern chipmunks, great horned owls, and black-throated green warblers and other woodland warblers. At each end of the trail it is possible to hike on connector trails to Butterfly Trail, for a longer and more diverse hike. Hunter Run West Trail: 2.2 miles, more difficult hiking Hunter Run West Trail weaves around the foothills of the Allegheny Plateau. This mowed pathway slopes through a mix of forested areas and field habitats and guides hikers through natural forest succession. In the summer, songs of common yellowthroats and song sparrows may be heard as hikers pass through the open shrubby areas. Northern pearly-eye and wood nymph butterflies may be spotted hiding in the shaded areas. Signs of old fencerows along the way are evidence of the area’s farming heritage. This trail begins at the PA 150 underpass of West Launch Road. Swamp Oak Trail: 0.5 mile, easiest hiking This trail can be accessed from the amphitheater in the modern campground or from the top of Skyline Ridge, which has a sweeping view of Foster J. Sayers Reservoir. Near the amphitheater by the trail is a swamp white oak that is the largest recorded in the state. “A Champion Tree of PA” according to PA Forestry Association at more than 18 feet in cirumference. This swamp white oak is in photos from before the park. The trail also passes a line of old, large oak trees. A portion of the trail follows the old farm road to what was the Day Farm. Lakeside Trail: 2.9 miles or 4.4 miles, more difficult hiking This very rocky, flat trail runs along the base of Bald Eagle Mountain. The trail begins at Bald Eagle Boat Launch Access Area. After 1.5 miles to the Rustic Campground, the trail branches into a 2.9-mile loop. With the lake below and mature hardwoods such as oaks, maples, and hickories towering above, this trail is a shaded summer hike, providing glimpses of the lake. Look for signs of raccoons, squirrels, and pileated woodpeckers. Signs of the old charcoal hearths where timber was burned in large earth-covered mounds to create charcoal for iron furnaces in the 1800s can also be seen along this rugged trail. Mountain streams INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS to be cultivated. The forests of Bald Eagle Mountain have regenerated. To reduce flood damage downstream, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the 100-foot-high and 1.3-mile-long Foster Joseph Sayers Dam in 1969. Bald Eagle State Park opened to the public July 4, 1971. Foster Joseph Sayers The dam and reservoir were named in honor of Foster Joseph Sayers, a private 1st class in World War II. Nineteen year-old Sayers, a resident of Centre County, lost his life while displaying gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in combat on November 12, 1944, near Thionville, France. During an attack on hostile forces entrenched on a hill, Sayers ran up the steep approach and set up his machine gun 20 yards from the enemy. Realizing it was necessary to attract the full attention of the dug-in Germans while his company crossed an open area and flanked the enemy, he picked up his gun, charged through withering gunfire to the very edge of the German encampment and killed 12 German soldiers with devastating close-range fire. He then engaged the enemy from the flank in a heroic attempt to distract attention from his comrades as they reached the crest of the hill. He was killed by a very heavy concentration of return fire, but his fearless assault enabled his company to sweep the hill with minimum casualties, killing or capturing every enemy solider. Sayers received the Congressional Medal of Honor.  • Please camp only in designated areas and minimize your impact on the campsite. • Firewood Advisory: Firewood may contain non-native insects and plant diseases. Bringing firewood into the park from other areas may accidentally spread pest insects and diseases that threaten park resources and the health of our forests. Use local firewood. Do not take wood home and do not leave firewood. Burn It! • Prevent forest fires by having a fire in proper facilities and properly disposing of hot coals. Do not leave a fire unattended. • Because uncontrolled pets may chase wildlife or frighten visitors, pets must be physically controlled, attended at all times, and on a leash, caged, or crated. Electronic fences and leashes are prohibited. Pets are prohibited in swimming areas. NEAREST HOSPITAL Lock Haven Hospital 24 Cree Drive Lock Haven, PA 17745 570-893-5000 C ONSERVATION V OLUNTEER Please make your visit safe and enjoyable. Obey all posted rules and regulations and respect fellow visitors and the resources of the park. • Be prepared and bring the proper equipment. Natural areas may possess hazards. Your personal safety and that of your family are your responsibility. • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Access to boating on the lake for people with disabilities is available at the Marina. Pavilions 6 and 7 in the Beach Picnic Area are ADA accessible. Call 911 and contact a park employee. Directions to the nearest hospital are posted on bulletin boards and at the park office. out its mission of stewardship in state parks and state forestlands. Contact the park office for more information about volunteer opportunities at Bald Eagle State Park. • Do your part to keep wildlife wild! Enjoy wildlife from a safe distance and do not feed or approach wild animals. From the Main Park Entrance, go north 13 miles on PA 150. Follow hospital signs. Nearby Attractions While at the park, take time to visit the eBird Trail Tracker kiosk at the Nature Inn. Through the cooperative eBird program with Cornell University’s Laboratory of Ornithology, visitors can use these kiosks as electronic gateways to bird sightings at Bald Eagle State Park. Visitors can view which birds are being reported at the park, where the birds were seen, record their own observations, and also view photos, Eastern bluebird Access for People with Disabilities In an Emergency eBIRD TRAIL TRACKER KIOSKS Woapalanne Trail: 1.75 miles, easiest hiking This relatively flat, partially shaded trail is so close to the lake that portions of it flood during high water events! It is a great trail to see waterfowl, eagles, and wildlife that like riparian areas (near water). The trail meanders between a kiosk near Pavilion 6 and the eastern terminus of F.J. Sayers Road. If you look closely you can see old stone wells, tree lines, and other historic remnants from the valley’s past. Protect and Preserve our Parks www.facebook.com/Bald-Eagle-StatePark-411145128992959/ This symbol indicates facilities and activities that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible for people with disabilities. This publication text is available in alternative formats. If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit. CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS The Conservation Volunteer Program encourages individuals, groups, and/or corporations to help the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources carry Make online reservations at www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. Bald Eagle State Park 149 Main Park Road Howard, PA 16841 GPS DD: Lat. 41.03464 Long. -77.65112 814-625-2775 email: baldeaglesp@pa.gov An Equal Opportunity Employer www.visitPAparks.com Information on nearby attractions is available from: Centre County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-358-5466. www.visitpennstate.org audio, video, and life histories of birds. Park observation records become part of eBird, an online checklist program that scientists, birders, and anyone with Internet access can use to review bird observation information from specific locations across North America. For more information on eBird Trail Tracker and the eBird program, go to www.trailtracker.org. Clinton County Visitors Bureau, 888-388-6991. www.clintoncountyinfo.com HABITATS OF BALD EAGLE STATE PARK Introduction Park Office Skyline Drive Bald Eagle State Park’s geographic location and diversity of habitats attract a large variety of birds. The Allegheny Front to the west of the park is a major flyway for migrating birds (along with butterflies and dragonflies). Birds using the flyway stop at Bald Eagle to rest and feed before continuing their migration. The park is in the Ridge and Valley Physiographic Province of Pennsylvania, which is characterized by wide valleys surrounded by mountains. This feature is mirrored at the park which slopes from Bald Eagle Mountain down to the valley bottom. This varied geology leads to many different habitats in the park, which creates more places for birds and animals to find homes and places to eat. The area by the park office is composed of fields slowly reverting to forest, which is called succession. Unmowed grassy areas slowly bristle with shrubs, becoming great habitat for birds that hide and forage hidden in the thick vegetation. In winter, the northern shrike (1) 1 which breeds in northern Canada, winters in the park because of similar habitat. The grassy fields and shrubby areas are just like home and provide habitat for mice, moles, and voles 2)2 , the winter food of the shrike, which sometimes stores spare food on 3 The the thorns of the hawthorn tree (3). northern mockingbird 4) 4 , is a gray bird often confused with the shrike. Dead and dried joe pye weed (5), 5 teasel (6 6 , goldenrod 7)7 , and Queen Anne’s lace )8 , also called wild carrot, are perching spots and seed repositories for year-round birds 9 . like song sparrows 9) An amazing aspect of the Skyline Drive area is that you can park your car, take a few steps and feel like you are in the middle 12 bloom in late of a forest. May apples (2) spring, although the small, tree-covered hill has little undergrowth, giving it an 13 open feel. Mature trees, like white oak (3), blanket the hill, making good habitat for resident and migrating warblers. Walking on the top of the Skyline Drive provides views into the upper layers of trees where these warblers live, making them easier to see than in a flat forest. Skyline Drive is a great place for beginner birders. The red-eyed vireo (4) 14 prefers the tops of trees where it hunts for insects. The scarlet tanager 15 5), one of the most vibrant birds in the forest, prefers the middle of 16 hunts and nests the tree. The ovenbird (6) on the ground. Its teacher, teacher call is commonly heard spring through early summer. Teasel 6 This shrubby area has many tasty plants for cottontail rabbits (1) 10 , which use the 11 thick underbrush to hide from bobcats (1). The trails in this area have a maze-like quality as they pass through tall shrubs and grasses. Walking quietly can create close encounters with birds that think they are hidden, but also can be frustrating because a bird can be heard but not seen. Bald