Cowans GapState Park - Pennsylvania |
Cowans Gap State Park is located in Todd Township, Fulton County and Metal Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The park is largely surrounded by Buchanan State Forest in Allens Valley just off Pennsylvania Route 75 near Fort Loudon.
Cowans Gap State Park is open for year-round recreation. It has extensive picnic facilities that surround much of Cowans Gap Lake. The park is also open to hiking, cross country skiing, hunting, fishing, ice fishing, ice skating, and boating.
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Visitor Map of Cowans Gap State Park (SP) in Pennsylvania. Published by Pennsylvania State Parks.
Water Depth Map of Cowans Gap Lake at Cowans Gap State Park (SP) in Pennsylvania. Published by Pennsylvania State Parks.
Official Tourism and Transportation Map of Pennsylvania. Published by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
brochures
Brochure of Cowans Gap State Park (SP) in Pennsylvania. Published by Pennsylvania State Parks.
Camping Brochure and Map of Cowans Gap State Park (SP) in Pennsylvania. Published by Pennsylvania State Parks.
Loding Brochure for Cowans Gap State Park (SP) in Pennsylvania. Published by Pennsylvania State Parks.
Cowans Gap SP
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/CowansGapStatePark/Pages/default.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowans_Gap_State_Park
Cowans Gap State Park is located in Todd Township, Fulton County and Metal Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The park is largely surrounded by Buchanan State Forest in Allens Valley just off Pennsylvania Route 75 near Fort Loudon.
Cowans Gap State Park is open for year-round recreation. It has extensive picnic facilities that surround much of Cowans Gap Lake. The park is also open to hiking, cross country skiing, hunting, fishing, ice fishing, ice skating, and boating.
Cowans Gap
Cowans Gap
State Park
A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for
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
Printed on recycled paper
LEARN, EXPERIENCE, CONNECT
COWANS GAP STATE PARK
Cowans Gap State Park is a 1,085-acre park
in the beautiful Allens Valley of Fulton
County. A 42-acre lake, two campgrounds,
rustic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
cabins, and many trails are prime attractions.
State forest land surrounds the park, providing
additional options for recreation and natural
beauty in all seasons.
GPS DD: Lat. 39.99478 Long. -77.9249
FROM US 30: At Fort Loudon take PA 75
north to Richmond Furnace, and follow signs
to the park.
The park is north of US 30 and Fort Loudon.
Reservations
Directions
FROM I-76 WEST: Take Exit 180, Fort
Littleton, turn right onto US 522 north to
Burnt Cabins, and follow signs to the park.
FROM I-76 EAST: Take Exit 189, Willow
Hill, then PA 75 south to Richmond Furnace,
and follow signs to the park.
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.
Spend the Day
SWIMMING: The 500-foot sand beach is
open from late May through September,
8:00 AM to sunset. Please read and follow
posted rules for swimming. Swim at your
own risk.
FOOD AND REFRESHMENT
CONCESSION: The concession in the day
use area serves many snacks and hot foods.
It also has ice, charcoal, firewood, and other
camping supplies. The concession is open
Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
HORSEBACK RIDING: 3 miles
Lot 7 on the west side of the lake has parking
for horse trailers. Horse Trail begins there and
leads to Knobsville Road Trail, which leads to
additional trails in Buchanan State Forest.
HUNTING AND FIREARMS: About 630
acres are open to hunting, trapping, and the
training of dogs during established seasons.
Common game species are deer, turkeys, and
squirrels. The park borders Buchanan State
Forest, which is open to hunting, trapping,
and dog training.
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.
HIKING: See reverse side.
FISHING: Cowans Gap Lake offers
excellent fishing for trouts, basses, perches,
catfishes, and panfishes. There are two ADA
accessible fishing piers. South Branch Little
Aughwick Creek offers good trout fishing.
The stream and lake are stocked periodically
throughout the year. Pennsylvania Fish and
Boat Commission regulations and laws apply.
BOATING: electric motors only
There are two boat launches with reservable
mooring areas on Cowans Gap Lake. A
concession in the day use area rents rowboats,
canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and paddle
boats and is open daily in 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; 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.
BIKING: 1.5 miles
Lakeside Trail is flat and excellent for
casual bikers.
MOUNTAIN BIKING: 2 miles
North and South Logging Road trails are the
primary mountain biking trails in the park.
Knobsville Trail provides access to many
miles of mountain biking trails in Buchanan
State Forest.
Stay the Night
CABINS: Ten rustic cabins are open
mid-April through mid-December. The
three-room cabins have a four-person
overnight capacity and contain a refrigerator,
stove, microwave, fireplace, ceiling fan,
and two single bunk beds. Up to two dogs
are permitted in designated cabins for an
additional fee.
There is no indoor plumbing in the ca
Cowans Gap State Park
The large camping area has modern campsites (electric,
non-electric, walk-to, pull-thru, and pet-friendly), organized
group tenting, and rustic cabins. The campground has a
sanitary dump station and modern restrooms with warm
showers. An overnight boat mooring area is provided for
registered campers during their stay at the park.
Rustic cabins have three rooms and sleep four people in two
bunk beds. Cabins have a refrigerator, microwave, stove,
fireplace, and water faucet outside. Centrally located restroom
facilities have showers.
CAMPING SEASON: Campground Area A and cabins open
the second Friday of April and close after deer season in
December. Sites 75–177 close after the third weekend in
October. Area B opens the second Friday of April and closes
after the third weekend in October.
RESERVATIONS: Most campsites in Pennsylvania state
parks can be reserved 11 months in advance to noon of the
day of arrival. Campers without a reservation arriving after
noon should check at the contact station or near the
campground entrance for instructions.
Reservations can be made using MasterCard, VISA,
American Express, and Discover credit cards; personal,
traveler’s, and cashier’s checks; or a Pennsylvania State Parks
Gift Card. To receive a confirmed reservation, full payment
must be received within ten days of making the reservation.
For reservations, call the Pennsylvania State Parks
Reservation Center at 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757),
Monday to Saturday,7:00 AM to 5:00 PM or visit
http://pennsylvaniastateparks.reserveamerica.com.
CAMPSITE ISSUING: Advance reservations are available
for almost all campsites. Unreserved sites are available on a
first-come, first-served basis. If an employee is not available,
read posted instructions and check the site availability listing.
The appropriate fee must be paid to a park employee or
deposited in a supplied honor system envelope at the park
office before setting up on a campsite.
CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations,
changes, or transfers to reservations will be assessed a fee and
can be made prior to arrival by the Pennsylvania State Parks
Reservation Center.
Any cancellation, change, or transfer made upon arrival
must be processed through the state park. For complete
information on fees, cancellations, changes, transfers, and
discount policies, view the Reservation Cancellation/Change
Policy at the website above in the "Reservations" section.
Campground Rules
Protect and Preserve Our Parks
CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT TIME: heck-in time is 3:00 PM.
Campsites must be vacated by 3:00 PM. Cabins must be
vacated by 10:00 AM.
Please make your visit safe and enjoyable. Obey all posted
rules and regulations and respect fellow visitors and the
resources of the park.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: Alcoholic beverages are
prohibited in all Pennsylvania state parks.
• Be prepared and bring the proper equipment. Natural areas
may possess hazards. Your personal safety and that of your
family are your responsibility. Cellular service is limited
throughout the park; emergency phones are available at the
park office and beach area.
PETS: Up to two are permitted at designated campsites and
cabins in this campground. Please contact the park office or
contact station for guidelines for pets.
Pets are prohibited in swimming areas, buildings, and all
overnight facilities not participating in the pet program. Guide
dogs and service dogs are not considered pets.
QUIET HOURS: Campers must not disturb the sleep of
others between 9:00 PM and 8:00 AM.
NOISE: Operation of electric generators that create excessive
noise is prohibited.
OCCUPANCY: Site occupancy is limited to one family unit
(persons living under one household) or five unrelated people
per site. Occupants must include at least one person 18 years
of age or older at all times.
MOTOR VEHICLES: Park only in designated areas. Only
one vehicle is permitted at a campsite in addition to a camping
unit. If permitted, additional vehicles can park on the camping
spur for a fee or in the second car parking area at no charge.
For the organized group tenting area, there is a maximum of
10 vehicles including any camping units.
VISITORS: Visitors are welcome on campsites from
8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
MINIMUM/MAXIMUM CAMPING PERIOD: Campers
may stay in a state park campground up to 14 consecutive
nights from Memorial Day to Labor Day. If reserving a
Saturday during the summer season, a two-night minimum
stay is required. Campers may camp up to 21 consecutive
nights during the remainder of the year.
HUNTING: 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 individu
Pricing and Reservations
PRICING: Lodging prices vary due to
type of facility; number of guests the
facility accommodates; Pennsylvania
residency status; length of stay; day of
the week; and season.
For base pricing information, scan
the code or visit the Pennsylvania state parks website at
http://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/StateParkPrices
Please note, base pricing information does not include
fees or taxes.
RESERVATIONS: Lodging in Pennsylvania state parks
can be reserved 11 months to three days before the day of
arrival. If it is two days or less before the arrival date, call
the state park to inquire about availability.
For reservations, call the Pennsylvania State Parks
Reservation Center at 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757),
Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or visit
http://pennsylvaniastateparks.reserveamerica.com.
Reservations can be made using MasterCard, VISA,
American Express, and Discover credit cards; personal,
traveler’s, and cashier’s checks; or a Pennsylvania State
Parks Gift Card. To receive a confirmed reservation, full
payment must be received within ten days of making the
reservation.
FEES: A non-refundable transaction fee is charged for each
reservation.
Cabin, lodge, unique house, and inn prices incur
additional state and/or county local tax(es). The county local
hotel occupancy tax rate varies depending on the location in
the Commonwealth.
Designated dog-friendly facilities charge an additional fee
per night.
CANCELLATIONS AND CHANGES: Cancellations,
changes, or transfers to reservations will be assessed a fee
and can be made prior to arrival by the Pennsylvania State
Parks Reservation Center.
Any cancellation, change, or transfer made upon arrival
must be processed through the state park. For complete
information on fees, cancellations, changes, transfers, and
discount policies, view the Reservation Cancellation/Change
Policy at the website in the "Reservations" section above.
Cabin Colony History
Designed to boost the economy out
of the Great Depression while
addressing environmental issues
facing the nation, Franklin D.
Roosevelt developed the Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC).
Lodging
Cowans Gap
State Park
At what is now Cowans Gap State Park, CCC Camp S-54
operated from 1933 to 1941 and housed 250 men. Young
men stayed in tents until cabins were built to house them.
The barracks cabins by the beach have been removed;
however, the cabin colony along Little Aughwick Creek
remains today. These buildings were built with wood and
stone construction including hemlock siding and shingle
roofs.
All ten rustic cabins in the cabin colony are the original
structures that were built by the CCC in the late 1930s.
The cabins were placed on the National Registry of
Historic Places on February 11, 1987, which ensures that
they will be preserved for future generations.
In addition to building the barracks, the young men
planted thousands of acres of new trees, built 4 bridges, 30
miles of state roads, 32 miles of fire trails, and 11 miles of
telephone lines. The CCC boys also cleared the forests and
streams of brush, built pavilions, and constructed the dam
that created Cowans Gap Lake.
Cowans Gap State Park opened to the public in 1937.
Improvements have continued at Cowans Gap, with
additions like the campground and modern restrooms.
Access 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.
9/20 Printed on Recycled Paper
6235 Aughwick Road
Fort Loudon, PA 17224-9801
Cabin GPS DD: Lat. 39.9941 Long. -77.9258
Park Office: 717-485-3948
CowansGapSP@pa.gov
Reservations:
888-PA-PARKS
www.visitPAparks.com
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Lodging Rules
CHECK-IN: Check-in time is 5:00 PM. Upon arrival,
pick up the cabin key at the park office.
Bedroom
Bedroom
Kitchen
"Great" Room
Cathedral-type
Ceiling
2-bedroom Rustic Cabin
Floor Plan
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