Kettle Creek State Park
Encyclopedia
Kettle Creek State Park is a 1793 acres (725.6 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Leidy Township, Clinton County
, Pennsylvania
in the United States. The park is in a valley
and is surrounded by mountains and wilderness. It features the Alvin R. Bush Dam
built in 1961 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
as a flood control measure in the West Branch Susquehanna River
basin. Many of the recreational facilities at the park were built during the Great Depression
by the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps
. Kettle Creek State Park is seven miles (10 km) north of Westport
and Pennsylvania Route 120
. It is largely surrounded by Sproul State Forest
.
Alvin R. Bush Dam on Kettle Creek
is an earth and rockfill, flood control dam. It stands at a maximum height of 165 feet (50.3 m) above the stream bed and is 1350 feet (411.5 m) across. The reservoir
has a capacity of 75,000 acre feet (93,000,000 m³) at the spillway
crest. It covers 167 acres (67.6 ha) and is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) long. Alvin R. Bush Dam controls about 226 square miles (585.3 km²) (92%) of the Kettle Creek drainage basin
.
Kettle Creek Reservoir
is open to some recreational boating, fishing
and ice fishing
. Gas powered motors are prohibited on the reservoir. Motorized boats must be powered by electric motors only. Sailboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats are permitted on the waters of the lake. All boats must be properly registered with any state. The swimming area at the lake is on the northern end of the reservoir. Swim at your own risk. Lifeguard
s are not provided.
, bass
, bullhead, sucker
, and panfish
. Kettle Creek
and it tributaries are excellent cold water fisheries. The fishing quality in the areas down stream of the dam has been damaged by pollution from acid mine drainage
.
Most of Kettle Creek State Park is open to hunting
. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission
. The common game species are American Black Bear
s, Eastern Gray Squirrel
s, Ruffed Grouse
, White-tailed deer
, and Wild Turkey
. The hunting of Groundhog
s is prohibited.
, cross-country skiing
, horseback riding, and mountain biking. There is a 22 miles (35.4 km) trail for horseback riding which begins and ends in the park and loops through Sproul State Forest
. The mountain trail also loops through Sproul State Forest. It is 5 miles (8 km) long and, like the horse trail, begins and ends in the park. Kettle Creek State Park is a trail head for the 53 miles (85.3 km) Donut Hole Trail. There are several other short trails within the boundaries of the park.
The picnic area has over 200 picnic table
s with charcoal grills and water spigots. Some picnic tables are sunny and some are shaded. The picnic area includes a softball
field and volleyball
court. A playground
is also located near the picnic area.
Clinton County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 37,914 people, 14,773 households, and 9,927 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile . There were 18,166 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States. The park is in a valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
and is surrounded by mountains and wilderness. It features the Alvin R. Bush Dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
built in 1961 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
as a flood control measure in the West Branch Susquehanna River
West Branch Susquehanna River
The West Branch Susquehanna River is one of the two principal branches, along with the North Branch, of the Susquehanna River in the northeastern United States. The North Branch, which rises in upstate New York, is generally regarded as the extension of the main branch, with the shorter West Branch...
basin. Many of the recreational facilities at the park were built during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
by the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
. Kettle Creek State Park is seven miles (10 km) north of Westport
Westport, Pennsylvania
Westport is an unincorporated community in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies above the Susquehanna River, along Pennsylvania Route 120....
and Pennsylvania Route 120
Pennsylvania Route 120
Pennsylvania Route 120 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, running from U.S. Route 219 in Ridgway east to U.S. Route 220 in Lock Haven.-Bucktail State Park Natural Area:...
. It is largely surrounded by Sproul State Forest
Sproul State Forest
Sproul State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #10. The main offices are located in Renovo, Pennsylvania in Clinton County in the United States....
.
Kettle Creek Reservoir
Kettle Creek (Pennsylvania)
Kettle Creek is a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River in north central Pennsylvania in the United States.Kettle Creek joins the West Branch Susquehanna River at Westport.-See also:*List of rivers of Pennsylvania*Kettle Creek State Park...
is an earth and rockfill, flood control dam. It stands at a maximum height of 165 feet (50.3 m) above the stream bed and is 1350 feet (411.5 m) across. The reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
has a capacity of 75,000 acre feet (93,000,000 m³) at the spillway
Spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
crest. It covers 167 acres (67.6 ha) and is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) long. Alvin R. Bush Dam controls about 226 square miles (585.3 km²) (92%) of the Kettle Creek drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
.
Kettle Creek Reservoir
Kettle Creek Reservoir
Kettle Creek Reservoir is a reservoir at Kettle Creek State Park in Leidy Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is open to some recreational boating, fishing and ice fishing. It was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1961. Gas powered motors are prohibited...
is open to some recreational boating, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and ice fishing
Ice fishing
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice anglers may sit on the stool in the open on a frozen lake, or in a heated cabin on the ice, some with bunks and amenities.-Locations:It is a popular pastime...
. Gas powered motors are prohibited on the reservoir. Motorized boats must be powered by electric motors only. Sailboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats are permitted on the waters of the lake. All boats must be properly registered with any state. The swimming area at the lake is on the northern end of the reservoir. Swim at your own risk. Lifeguard
Lifeguard
A lifeguard supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, or beach. Lifeguards are strong swimmers and trained in first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on...
s are not provided.
Fishing and hunting
Kettle Creek Reservoir is a 167 acres (67.6 ha) and serves as a fishery for troutTrout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
, bullhead, sucker
Catostomidae
Catostomidae is the sucker family of the order Cypriniformes. There are 80 species in this family of freshwater fishes. Catostomidae are found in North America, east central China, and eastern Siberia...
, and panfish
Panfish
A panfish, also spelled pan-fish or pan fish, is an edible game fish that usually doesn't outgrow the size of a frying pan. The term is also commonly used by anglers to refer to any small catch that will fit in a pan, but is large enough to be legal. However its definition and usage varies with...
. Kettle Creek
Kettle Creek (Pennsylvania)
Kettle Creek is a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River in north central Pennsylvania in the United States.Kettle Creek joins the West Branch Susquehanna River at Westport.-See also:*List of rivers of Pennsylvania*Kettle Creek State Park...
and it tributaries are excellent cold water fisheries. The fishing quality in the areas down stream of the dam has been damaged by pollution from acid mine drainage
Acid mine drainage
Acid mine drainage , or acid rock drainage , refers to the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines. However, other areas where the earth has been disturbed may also contribute acid rock drainage to the environment...
.
Most of Kettle Creek State Park is open to hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission
Pennsylvania Game Commission
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is the state agency responsible for wildlife conservation and management in Pennsylvania in the United States...
. The common game species are American Black Bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
s, Eastern Gray Squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the eastern provinces of Canada...
s, Ruffed Grouse
Ruffed Grouse
The Ruffed Grouse is a medium-sized grouse occurring in forests from the Appalachian Mountains across Canada to Alaska. It is non-migratory.The Ruffed Grouse is frequently referred to as a "partridge"...
, White-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, and Wild Turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
. The hunting of Groundhog
Groundhog
The groundhog , also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, or in some areas as a land-beaver, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Other marmots, such as the yellow-bellied and hoary marmots, live in rocky and mountainous areas, but...
s is prohibited.
Bald Eagles
Several bald eagles nest in the park area. On most days in the summer, it is not uncommon to see these animals patrol the waters for fish. It is a normal occurrence to see them soar over the lake and dive down to make a catch.Trails
The trails of Kettle Creek State Park are open to hikingHiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
, horseback riding, and mountain biking. There is a 22 miles (35.4 km) trail for horseback riding which begins and ends in the park and loops through Sproul State Forest
Sproul State Forest
Sproul State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #10. The main offices are located in Renovo, Pennsylvania in Clinton County in the United States....
. The mountain trail also loops through Sproul State Forest. It is 5 miles (8 km) long and, like the horse trail, begins and ends in the park. Kettle Creek State Park is a trail head for the 53 miles (85.3 km) Donut Hole Trail. There are several other short trails within the boundaries of the park.
Camping and picnicking
There are two campgrounds at Kettle Creek State Park. One lacks water spigots and flush toilets. The Lower Campground has 44 sites with 38 electric hook-ups. The Upper Campground was 27 sites with 12 electric hook-ups.The picnic area has over 200 picnic table
Picnic table
A picnic table is a modified table with attached benches, designed for eating a meal outdoors .-Uses:...
s with charcoal grills and water spigots. Some picnic tables are sunny and some are shaded. The picnic area includes a softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
field and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
court. A playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
is also located near the picnic area.
Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48.3 km) of Kettle Creek State Park:- Bald Eagle State ParkBald Eagle State ParkBald Eagle State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Howard, Liberty, and Marion townships in Centre County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park includes the Joseph Foster Sayers Reservoir, formed by damming Bald Eagle Creek and other smaller streams and covering . Bald Eagle State Park...
(Centre CountyCentre County, PennsylvaniaCentre County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 153,990....
) - Bucktail State Park Natural AreaBucktail State Park Natural AreaBucktail State Park Natural Area is a Pennsylvania state park in Cameron and Clinton Counties in Pennsylvania in the United States. The park follows Pennsylvania Route 120 for between Emporium and Lock Haven...
(CameronCameron County, PennsylvaniaAs of the census of 2000, there were 5,974 people, 2,465 households, and 1,624 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile . There were 4,592 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
and Clinton Counties) - Denton Hill State ParkDenton Hill State ParkDenton Hill State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Ulysses Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park is a downhill skiing resort. Denton Hill State Park is on U.S. Route 6 between Coudersport and Galeton...
(Potter CountyPotter County, PennsylvaniaPotter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is in the Allegheny Plateau region. As of 2010, the population was 17,457. Its county seat is Coudersport. Potter County was named after James Potter, who was a general from Pennsylvania in the Continental Army during the...
) - Hyner Run State ParkHyner Run State ParkHyner Run State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Chapman Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is east of Renovo and 3 miles north of Hyner on Pennsylvania Route 120...
(Clinton County) - Hyner View State ParkHyner View State ParkHyner View State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Chapman Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is east of Renovo and north of Hyner on Pennsylvania Route 120...
(Clinton County) - Little Pine State ParkLittle Pine State ParkLittle Pine State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Cummings Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Little Pine State park is along of Little Pine Creek, a tributary of Pine Creek, in the midst of the Tiadaghton State Forest. A dam on the creek has created a lake...
(Lycoming CountyLycoming County, Pennsylvania-Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau:Lycoming County is divided between the Appalachian Mountains in the south, the dissected Allegheny Plateau in the north and east, and the valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River between these.-West Branch Susquehanna River:The West Branch of the...
) - Lyman Run State ParkLyman Run State ParkLyman Run State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Ulysses and West Branch Townships in Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Lyman Run Lake is a man-made lake within the park surrounded by a northern hardwood forest of mainly maple and cherry trees...
(Potter County) - Ole Bull State ParkOle Bull State ParkOle Bull State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Stewardson Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is located on Pennsylvania Route 144, north of Renovo and south of Galeton. Ole Bull State Park is in the Kettle Creek Valley, and is surrounded by Susquehannock...
(Potter County) - Patterson State ParkPatterson State ParkPatterson State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Summit Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is on Pennsylvania Route 44 near Sweden Valley. The park has two rustic roadside pavilions.-History:...
(Potter County) - Prouty Place State ParkProuty Place State ParkProuty Place State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Summit Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is southwest of Pennsylvania Route 44, along Long Tree Road, near Sweden Valley. The park provides access points for hiking, hunting and fishing in the...
(Potter County) - Sinnemahoning State ParkSinnemahoning State ParkSinnemahoning State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Grove Township, Cameron County and Wharton Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is surrounded by Elk State Forest and is mountainous with deep valleys. The park is home to the rarely seen Elk and Bald Eagle...
(Cameron and Potter Counties) - Sizerville State ParkSizerville State ParkSizerville State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Portage Township, Cameron County and Portage Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is nearly surrounded by Elk State Forest making it part of one of the largest blocks of state-owned land in Pennsylvania...
(Cameron and Potter Counties) - Upper Pine Bottom State ParkUpper Pine Bottom State ParkUpper Pine Bottom State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is in Cummings Township on Pennsylvania Route 44 and is surrounded by the Tiadaghton State Forest. It is on Upper Pine Bottom Run, which gave the park its name and is a...
(Lycoming County)