{{Short description|State park in Pennsylvania, United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox park | name = Poe Paddy State Park | image = PoePaddyStateParkwoods.jpg | image_caption = | image_alt = Landscape | image_size = 280 | location = [[Haines Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|40.83379|-77.4176|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref name="ppsp"/> | area = {{convert|22.73|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="forrey"/> | elevation = {{convert|974|ft}} | established = 1935<ref name="forrey"/> | 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 = Poe Paddy State Park | label_position = top | map_caption = Location in Pennsylvania | relief = 1 | module = [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania State Parks]] }} }} '''Poe Paddy State Park''' is a {{convert|23|acre|adj=on}} [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania state park]] in [[Haines Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania|Haines Township]], [[Centre County, Pennsylvania|Centre County]], [[Pennsylvania]] in the United States. The park is surrounded by [[Bald Eagle State Forest]]. [[Poe Valley State Park]] is {{convert|4|mi}} to the east. The park is at the [[confluence]] of [[Big Poe Creek]] and [[Penns Creek]]. Poe Paddy State Park is named for the two mountains that surround it. Poe Mountain lies to the east and Paddy Mountain lies to the west, with Penns Creek in the valley between them.
==History== Poe Paddy State Park is on the site of the former lumber town of Poe Mills.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Town&Gown |first=Lee Stout |date=February 1, 2018 |title=Penn State Diary: Names of places in Centre County have lessons to teach |url=https://www.statecollege.com/articles/spot-8/penn-state-diary-names-of-places-in-centre-county-have-lessons-to-teach/ |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=StateCollege.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Poe Mills was part of the lumber boom that swept through the wooded mountains of Pennsylvania from the mid-to-late 19th and early 20th centuries. At its peak, Poe Mills had a population of over 300. [[Big Poe Creek]] was dammed to provide power for the mills and a railroad was built into the area to transport lumber. This railway became a scenic route connecting the area with [[Milroy, Pennsylvania|Milroy]].<ref name="ppsp">{{cite web |url=https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/poe-paddy-state-park |title=Poe Paddy State Park |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref>
[[Poe Valley State Park]] and Poe Paddy State Park were built by the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] during the [[Great Depression]] of the 1930s. The young men of the CCC also worked to clear the regrowing forests of brush to prevent [[Wildfire|forest fires]]. They constructed roads throughout the forests, built state park facilities, constructed bridges on the state roads, planted trees for [[reforestation]], and cleaned [[stream]]s.<ref name="ppsp"/>
==Recreation== Penns Creek flows by the campground and is a [[trout]] fishery. [[Fly fishing]] is the most popular form of fishing at Poe Paddy State. It is noted for the [[mayfly|Green Drake]] hatch that occurs in late spring. These flies are nearly the size of a small [[hummingbird]] and become the primary food source for the trout living in Penns Creek.<ref name="ppsp"/>
The rustic campground opens with trout season on the 2nd Friday in April and closes at the end of [[White-tailed deer|doe]] season in mid December. There are no showers or flush toilets at the campground. A sanitary dump station is provided at Poe Valley State Park. There are six tables and two [[pavilions]] available for visitors. The [[Pennsylvania Mid State Trail]], a hiking trail {{convert|306|mi}} long, passes through Poe Valley. During the winter the gravel roads are open to [[cross-country skiing]] and recreational [[snowmobile]] use.<ref name="ppsp"/>
==References== {{reflist|refs= <ref name="forrey">{{cite web |url=http://paconservationheritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2015-history-of-state-parks-forrey.pdf |title=History of Pennsylvania’s State Parks 1984 to 2015 |first=William C. |last=Forrey |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |page=63, 73 |date=2017 |access-date=2026-01-15}}</ref> }}
==External links== {{commons category|Poe Paddy State Park}} {{portal|Pennsylvania}} *[https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/poe-paddy-state-park Poe Paddy State Park] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources *[http://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=1753202&DocName=POPA_ParkMap.pdf Poe Paddy State Park Map] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
{{Protected Areas of Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:State parks of Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Centre County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Centre County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1935]] [[Category:1935 establishments in Pennsylvania]]