{{Short description|State park in Jefferson Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = Kooser State Park | image = KooserAutumn.jpg | image_caption = | image_alt = Lake | image_size = 280 | location = [[Jefferson Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|40.05983|-79.22842|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref name="ksp"/> | area = {{convert|250|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="ksp"/> | elevation = {{convert|2313|ft}} | established = 1922 | administrator = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] | free_label = | free_data = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | website = {{Official website}} | module = {{Infobox protected area | map = USA Pennsylvania#USA | label = Kooser State Park | label_position = top | map_caption = Location in Pennsylvania | relief = 1 | module = [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania State Parks]] }} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Kooser State Park Family Cabin District | embed = yes | nrhp_type = hd | nocat = yes | image = Two cabins at Kooser State Park.jpg | caption = Two of the cabins | nearest_city = [[Jefferson Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania|Jefferson, Pennsylvania]] | built = 1933 | architect = Civilian Conservation Corps | architecture = Log Cabin style | added = February 12, 1987 | area = {{convert|9.2|acre}} | mpsub = {{NRHP url|id=64000724|title=Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) Architecture in Pennsylvania State Parks: 1933-1942, TR}} | refnum = 87000111 }} }} [[File:Cross-Country Skiing at Kooser State Park.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Cross country skiing during the winter season at the park.]]
'''Kooser State Park''' is a {{convert|250|acre|adj=on}} [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania state park]] in [[Jefferson Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania|Jefferson Township]], [[Somerset County, Pennsylvania|Somerset County]], [[Pennsylvania]], in the United States. The park, which borders [[Forbes State Forest]], was built in the 1930s by the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]], who also built the {{convert|4|acre|adj=on}} Kooser Lake by damming Kooser Run. Kooser State Park is on [[Pennsylvania Route 31]] a one-hour drive from [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]]. The park is surrounded by [[Forbes State Forest]].
==History== The earliest settlers to the Kooser Run area told of an [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]] battle that took place near Kooser Run. A large number of war arrows and spearheads have since been found in the area. The area was also crossed by participants in the [[Whiskey Rebellion]]. The park is named for John Kooser. He settled near Kooser Spring in what is now the western edge of Kooser State Park.<ref name="ksp">{{cite web |url=https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/kings-gap-environmental-education-center |title=Kooser State Park |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=2026-01-06}}</ref>
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased the land for Kooser State Park in 1922. The land had been stripped of its [[old-growth forest]] during the lumber era that swept through Pennsylvania during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The forests slowly grew back with the help of the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]]. The CCC established by President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] during the [[Great Depression]] built a camp on the western edge of Kooser State Park. The young men of the CCC built the dam on Kooser Run creating Kooser Lake. They also built roads, [[outdoor fireplace]]s and cabins. Much of their work can still be seen today at Kooser State Park. They used the materials at hand to create the buildings and facilities of the park. The cabins are made from logs plucked from the nearby forests. They used native stone to create the fireplaces. All repairs made to the park facilities today are made with the rustic nature of the park in mind.<ref name="ccc">{{cite web |url=https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/history/ccc-years |title=Pennsylvania State Parks: The Civilian Conservation Corps |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=2026-01-06}}</ref> The '''Kooser State Park Family Cabin District''' was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1987, as a national [[Historic district (United States)|historic district]]. The district includes 13 contributing buildings.<ref name=nrhpdoc>{{cite report|type=none|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71993879 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: Pennsylvania MPS Kooser State Park Family Cabin District|publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |author= John Milner Assoc.|date= October 1986| access-date=January 9, 2026 }} ({{NationalArchivesNote}})</ref>
==Recreation==
===Cabins and camping=== There are nine cabins built by the CCC available for rent year-round. The cabins are primarily used by [[ski]]ers after deer season until late March. The cabins are rustic. A modern showerhouse is nearby. All of the cabins are furnished with mattresses, chairs, table, stove, microwave, refrigerator, hot and cold running water, and electric lights.<ref name="ksp"/>
The campground at Kooser State Park is open the second Friday in April and closes in mid-October. There are 47 sites that are open to tents or campers. 14 of the campsites have electric hook ups.<ref name="ksp"/>
===Trails=== The trails of Kooser State Park are used for [[hiking]] and [[cross-country skiing]]. Kooser Trail is {{convert|1.5|mi}}. It is very popular with cross country skiers because of the heavy amounts of yearly snowfall. Kincora Trail is {{convert|1|mi}} and is used by hikers and is named in honor of Father Kincora, a [[Roman Catholic]] [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|priest]] from [[Ireland]]. [[Hunting]] is not permitted at Kooser State Park, but the trails are used by hunters who rent cabins at the park to reach the woods of [[Forbes State Forest]].<ref name="ksp"/>
===Kooser Lake=== Kooser Lake is a {{convert|4|acre|adj=on}} man-made lake built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The [[human swimming|swimming]] [[beach]] is open from [[Memorial Day]] weekend until the middle of September. There are no [[lifeguard]]s. There is no swimming currently permitted in Kooser Lake. Boating is not permitted on Kooser Lake. It is open to [[fishing]] for [[trout]], [[bass (fish)|bass]] and [[bluegill]].<ref name="ksp"/> Swimming has not been permitted at the lake since mid-2012 due to an unhealthful algae problem. The lake remains open for fishing.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Kooser State Park}} {{portal|Pennsylvania}} *[https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/kings-gap-environmental-education-center Kooser State Park] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources * {{cite web|url= http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/kooser/kooser_mini.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090824001158/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/kooser/kooser_mini.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 24, 2009 |title=Kooser State Park Official map }} {{small|(377 KB)}}
{{Protected areas of Pennsylvania}} {{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:State parks of Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Somerset County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Laurel Highlands]] [[Category:Historic districts in Somerset County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1922]] [[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Somerset County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Somerset County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:1922 establishments in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]]