{{Short description|State park in Bucks County, Pennsylvania}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = Ralph Stover State Park | image = RalphStover.jpg | image_caption = | image_alt = Landscape | image_size = 280 | location = [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|40.43451|-75.09793|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref name="rssp"/> | area = {{convert|45|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="rssp"/> | elevation = {{convert|256|ft}} | established = 1931<ref name="rssp"/> | 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 = Ralph Stover State Park | label_position = | map_caption = Location in Pennsylvania | relief = 1 | module = [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania State Parks]] }} }} '''Ralph Stover State Park''' is a [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania state park]] on {{convert|45|acre}} in [[Plumstead Township, Pennsylvania|Plumstead]] and [[Tinicum Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Tinicum Township]]s, [[Bucks County, Pennsylvania|Bucks County]], [[Pennsylvania]] in the United States. It is a very popular destination for [[whitewater kayaking]] on [[Tohickon Creek]] and [[rock climbing]] on High Rocks ([[Triassic]] [[sandstone]] of the [[Newark Supergroup|Newark Group]]<ref>Geology and mineral resources of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Bradford Willard, Jacob Freedman, D. B. McLaughlin, and others. 1959. 243 p., 24 pls., geol. map.</ref>). Ralph Stover State Park is two miles (3.2 km) north of [[Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania|Point Pleasant]] near [[Pennsylvania Route 32]].
==History== Tohickon Creek was named by the [[Lenape]], some of the first inhabitants of the area. "To-Hick-Hanne" means "Deer-Bone-Creek". Ralph Stover State Park was the site of an 18th-century [[gristmill]] that was built on Tohickon Creek by the park's namesake, [[Ralph Stover]]. Remnants of the mill and [[mill race]] can still be seen near Tohickon Creek.
The Stover family gave their land to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1931. The recreational facilities were built during the [[Great Depression]] by the Federal [[Works Progress Administration]] created by U.S. President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] to provide work for the unemployed. Author [[James A. Michener]] donated the High Rocks area to the park in 1956. Although "High Rocks State Park" is listed in the [[United States Geological Survey]] [[Geographic Names Information System]] and the coordinates given in USGS GNIS are located here, it was never an official name according to the [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] or a separate park.
==Recreation== High Rocks is a {{convert|200|ft|adj=on|-1}} sheer rock face, composed of smooth red Lockatong Formation [[argillite]] interspersed with friable Brunswick Formation [[shale]]. Since slippery and crumbly rock makes [[Rock climbing|climbing]] somewhat difficult here, High Rocks is notable mostly to local climbers. Over sixty routes have been put up here over seventeen walls, with difficulties up to [[Yosemite Decimal System#YDS class|5.12c/d]] and [[Grade (bouldering)#The Hueco scale|V7]]. Most are used for [[trad climbing]] and [[top roping]], with some [[bouldering]] and sport routes present as well.<ref name="rc">{{cite web|url=http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/North_America/United_States/Pennsylvania/Southeastern_Region/Ralph_Stover_State_Park__High_Rocks/ |title=Rock Climbing Routes at Ralph Stover State Park; High Rocks |work=Rockclimbing.com |access-date=2009-02-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230231628/http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/North_America/United_States/Pennsylvania/Southeastern_Region/Ralph_Stover_State_Park__High_Rocks/ |archive-date=December 30, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="mp">{{cite web | url = https://www.mountainproject.com/v/pennsylvania/ralph_stover_high_rocks_state_park/106133953 | title = Climbing Ralph Stover (High Rocks) State Park | work = Mountain Project | access-date = 2009-02-12 }}</ref>
Tohickon Creek offers whitewater conditions for kayaking in the spring with the winter snow melt and several times a year when water is released from [[Lake Nockamixon]]. The creek is also a warm water fishery with [[smallmouth bass]], [[pumpkinseed|sunfish]], [[carp]] and [[catfish]]. The [[Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission]] also [[fish stocking|stocks]] the creek with [[trout]].<ref name="rssp">{{cite web |url=https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ralph-stover-state-park |title=Ralph Stover State Park |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=2026-01-17}}</ref>
A hiking trail of {{convert|1|mi}} passes the millrace. There is a shaded picnic area along Tohickon Creek and a scenic vista at the top of High Rocks.<ref name="rssp"/>
==Climate==
According to the [[Trewartha climate classification]] system, Ralph Stover State Park has a Temperate [[Continental climate]] (''Dc'') with hot summers (''a''), cold winters (''o'') and year-around precipitation. ''Dcao'' climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ {{convert|32.0|°F|0}}, four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ {{convert|50.0|°F|0}}, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ {{convert|72.0|°F|0}} and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although most summer days are slightly humid at Ralph Stover State Park, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with [[heat index]] values > {{convert|105|°F|0}}. Since 1981, the highest air temperature was {{convert|102.0|°F|0}} on 07/22/2011, and the highest daily average mean [[dew point]] was {{convert|74.3|°F|0}} on 08/13/2016. The average wettest month is July which corresponds with the annual peak in [[thunderstorm]] activity. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.91 inches (176 mm) on 08/27/2011. During the winter months, the [[plant hardiness zone]] is 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of {{convert|-1.7|°F|0}}.<ref name="USDA">{{cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/|publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]]|access-date=August 30, 2019|title=USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map}}</ref> Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was {{convert|-14.2|°F|0}} on 01/22/1984. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with [[wind chill]] values < {{convert|-13|°F|0}}. The average annual snowfall (Nov-Apr) is between 30 and 36 inches (76 and 91 cm), and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the peak in [[nor'easter]] activity.
{{Weather box | width = auto | single line = Y | collapsed = y | location = Ralph Stover State Park (Ranger Station), 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2018 | Jan record high F = 70.2 | Feb record high F = 77.9 | Mar record high F = 86.7 | Apr record high F = 93.5 | May record high F = 94.5 | Jun record high F = 95.0 | Jul record high F = 102.0 | Aug record high F = 98.9 | Sep record high F = 97.0 | Oct record high F = 89.0 | Nov record high F = 80.1 | Dec record high F = 74.4 | year record high F = 102.0 | Jan high F = 38.4 | Feb high F = 41.8 | Mar high F = 50.2 | Apr high F = 62.5 | May high F = 72.5 | Jun high F = 81.0 | Jul high F = 85.2 | Aug high F = 83.4 | Sep high F = 76.6 | Oct high F = 65.2 | Nov high F = 54.1 | Dec high F = 42.7 | year high F = 62.9 | Jan mean F = 29.6 | Feb mean F = 32.4 | Mar mean F = 40.0 | Apr mean F = 51.0 | May mean F = 60.7 | Jun mean F = 69.8 | Jul mean F = 74.3 | Aug mean F = 72.7 | Sep mean F = 65.4 | Oct mean F = 53.8 | Nov mean F = 44.1 | Dec mean F = 34.2 | year mean F = 52.4 | Jan low F = 20.8 | Feb low F = 23.0 | Mar low F = 29.8 | Apr low F = 39.4 | May low F = 48.9 | Jun low F = 58.5 | Jul low F = 63.4 | Aug low F = 61.9 | Sep low F = 54.1 | Oct low F = 42.3 | Nov low F = 34.1 | Dec low F = 25.7 | year low F = 41.9 | Jan record low F = -14.2 | Feb record low F = -5.7 | Mar record low F = 0.5 | Apr record low F = 16.3 | May record low F = 31.7 | Jun record low F = 39.5 | Jul record low F = 46.0 | Aug record low F = 40.4 | Sep record low F = 33.5 | Oct record low F = 22.6 | Nov record low F = 10.0 | Dec record low F = -3.0 | year record low F = -14.2 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 3.45 | Feb precipitation inch = 2.79 | Mar precipitation inch = 3.86 | Apr precipitation inch = 4.10 | May precipitation inch = 4.29 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.35 | Jul precipitation inch = 5.01 | Aug precipitation inch = 4.04 | Sep precipitation inch = 4.46 | Oct precipitation inch = 4.29 | Nov precipitation inch = 3.73 | Dec precipitation inch = 4.05 | year precipitation inch = 48.42 | humidity colour = green | Jan humidity = 67.3 | Feb humidity = 63.8 | Mar humidity = 59.4 | Apr humidity = 58.1 | May humidity = 62.7 | Jun humidity = 68.3 | Jul humidity = 68.3 | Aug humidity = 70.9 | Sep humidity = 72.2 | Oct humidity = 70.1 | Nov humidity = 69.3 | Dec humidity = 69.3 | year humidity = 66.7 | Jan dew point F = 20.1 | Feb dew point F = 21.5 | Mar dew point F = 27.0 | Apr dew point F = 36.8 | May dew point F = 47.9 | Jun dew point F = 58.9 | Jul dew point F = 63.2 | Aug dew point F = 62.7 | Sep dew point F = 56.2 | Oct dew point F = 44.3 | Nov dew point F = 34.7 | Dec dew point F = 25.2 | year dew point F = 41.6 | source = PRISM<ref name=prism>{{cite web |url=https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University|access-date=August 30, 2019 }}</ref>}}
==Ecology==
According to the [[A. W. Kuchler]] U.S. [[potential natural vegetation]] types, Ralph Stover State Park would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian [[Oak]] (''104'') with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern [[hardwood]] forest (''25'').<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">{{cite web|url=https://databasin.org/datasets/1c7a301c8e6843f2b4fe63fdb3a9fe39|access-date=August 30, 2019|title=U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Ralph Stover State Park}} {{Portal|Pennsylvania}} *[https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ralph-stover-state-park Ralph Stover State Park] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources *[http://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=1737295&DocName=RAST_ParkMap.pdf Ralph Stover State Park Map] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
{{Protected areas of Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Climbing areas of Pennsylvania]] [[Category:State parks of Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Works Progress Administration in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Bucks County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1931]] [[Category:1931 establishments in Pennsylvania]]