{{short description|State park in Pennsylvania, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox park | name = Ravensburg State Park | image = Ravensburg State Park Stairs.jpg | image_caption = The dam on Rauchtown Run built by the CCC | image_alt = Dam | image_size = 280 | location = [[Crawford Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania]], United States | coordinates = {{coord|41.1084|-77.2436|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = <ref name="rsp"/> | area = {{convert|78|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name="rsp"/> | elevation = {{convert|1030|ft}} | established = 1933<ref name="rsp"/> | 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 = Ravensburg State Park | label_position = | map_caption = Location in Pennsylvania | relief = 1 | module = [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania State Parks]] }} }} '''Ravensburg State Park''' is a [[List of Pennsylvania state parks|Pennsylvania state park]] in [[Crawford Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania|Crawford Township]] in [[Clinton County, Pennsylvania|Clinton County]], [[Pennsylvania]] in the United States. It is in a gorge carved by [[Rauchtown Run]] through the side of Nippenose Mountain. Ravensburg State Park is {{convert|78|acre}} of wooded land that is almost entirely surrounded by [[Tiadaghton State Forest]]. This state park is on [[Pennsylvania Route 880]], {{convert|8|mi}} north of Carroll and {{convert|8|mi|km}} south-east of [[Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania|Jersey Shore]]. The nearest city is [[Williamsport, Pennsylvania|Williamsport]].
==History== Ravensburg State Park gets its name from the [[common raven|ravens]] that were known for roosting on the rock ledges at the southern end of the park (near the south entrance). Ravens can be seen in the vicinity of the park to this day, making the name logical though there is no community nearby that goes by the name Ravensburg. The park has no connection to the German city [[Ravensburg]] The nearest community to Ravensburg State Park is the [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[village]] of [[Rauchtown, Pennsylvania|Rauchtown]].<ref name="rsp">{{cite web |url=https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ravensburg-state-park |title=Ravensburg State Park |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=2026-01-17}}</ref>
The forest surrounding and within Ravensburg State Park has not changed much in the past 100 years.{{When|date=May 2015}} It is also unlikely that much timber has even been harvested in this area due to the extremely rocky surroundings and the narrow gorge in which Ravensburg State Park lies.<ref name="tsf">{{cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/tiadparks.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040302163354/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/tiadparks.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-date = March 2, 2004 | title = State Parks near the Tiadaghton State Forest | access-date = 2006-10-11 | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources }}</ref>
Ravensburg State Park was constructed during the [[Great Depression]] in the 1930s by the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] founded by [[President of the United States|President]] [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]. Ravensburg State Park is just one of many examples of the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) throughout North Central Pennsylvania. The CCC built a small dam on [[Rauchtown Run]] that is still being used as a swimming hole by the visitors to Ravensburg State Park. The CCC also built pavilions, latrines, bridges, trails, waterlines and fountains at the park.<ref>{{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=2026-01-17}}</ref>
The Emergency Conservation Work architecture in the 1933–1942 period has earned the park a listing on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], along with other Pennsylvania state parks developed in this time period.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/historic/registerlist.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040214215203/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/historic/registerlist.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 14, 2004 | title=Pennsylvania State Parks - Historic Places | access-date = 2006-10-11 | publisher = [[Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] }}</ref><ref name=nrhpdoc>{{cite report|type=none|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71992798 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: Pennsylvania MPS Ravensburg State Park|publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |author= John Milner Assoc.|date= October 1986| access-date=December 16, 2025 }} ({{NationalArchivesNote}})</ref>
==Geology== Over the years [[Rauchtown Run]] has made its way through the mountains on its way to the [[West Branch Susquehanna River]] near Jersey Shore, via [[Antes Creek]]. The years of water flow have created the [[gorge]] in which the park is located. Tall erosional spires of [[sandstone]] have created a formation known as Castle Rocks. The rocks can be seen from the Mid State Trail and are said to resemble the towers of an ancient [[castle]]. The frost action, brought on by the cold winters of Pennsylvania, has led to the creation of this rock formation.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/parkguides/Pg11.PDF | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030820121110/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/parkguides/pg11.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-date = August 20, 2003 | title = Pennsylvania Trail of Geology: Ravensburg | access-date = 2007-12-20 | author = Geyer, Alan R. |author2=Denise W. Royer | publisher = Pennsylvania Geological Survey}}</ref>
==Recreation==
===Camping=== Bring your tents to Ravensburg because that is the only type of [[camping]] available. The campground is downstream from the dam. Each campground has a fire ring as well as a picnic table.<ref name="rsp"/>
===Picnics=== [[Image:Ravensburg SP Shelter.JPG|thumb|Picnic shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in Ravensburg State Park]] Ravensburg is popular for [[picnic]]king by families and church groups. There are three picnic areas on the grounds of Ravensburg State Park. Each area has picnic tables and pavilions and charcoal grills. There is a centrally located playfield with a playground and several [[Horseshoes (game)|horseshoe]] pits.<ref name="rsp"/>
===Hunting=== Because Ravensburg State Park is just {{convert|78|acre}} in size, [[hunting]] is prohibited with the confines of the park. However, there are {{convert|215000|acre}} of hunting area available in the surrounding [[Tiadaghton State Forest]].<ref name="rsp"/><ref name="tsf"/> [[Image:RSP Ballfield.JPG|thumb|The ballfield at Ravensburg State Park]]
===Hiking=== There is one mile (1.6 km) of hiking trail available. Raven Trail, on the banks of Rauchtown Run, provides easy access to the creek for fishing. There are several side trails that lead to scenic rocky outcrops or to other hiking trails on state forest land. The {{convert|306|mi|adj=on}} [[Pennsylvania Mid State Trail|Mid State]] backpacking trail is accessible from Ravensburg State Park.<ref name="rsp"/>
===Fishing=== Avid fishermen will find native [[brook trout]] and [[brown trout]] living in [[Rauchtown Run]]. This provides for cold water fishing in Rauchtown Run as well as its tributaries.<ref name="rsp"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Ravensburg State Park}} {{portal|Pennsylvania}} *[https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ravensburg-state-park Ravensburg State Park] Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources * {{cite web|url= http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd2/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003115.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121115054253/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd2/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_003115.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= November 15, 2012 |title=Ravensburg State Park official map }} {{small|(123.6 KB)}}
{{Protected areas of Pennsylvania}} {{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}} {{authority control}}
[[Category:State parks of Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Civilian Conservation Corps in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Parks in Clinton County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Campgrounds in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Clinton County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Clinton County, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1933]] [[Category:1933 establishments in Pennsylvania]]