Ravensburg State Park
{{short description|State park in Pennsylvania, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Ravensburg State Park
| iucn_category = III
| iucn_ref =
| photo = Ravensburg State Park Stairs.jpg
| photo_caption = The dam on Rauchtown Run in Ravensburg State Park was built by the CCC.
| map = USA Pennsylvania#USA
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption = Location of Ravensburg State Park in Pennsylvania
| relief =
| location = Crawford, Clinton, Pennsylvania, United States
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| coordinates = {{coord|41|06|36|N|77|14|35|W|display=inline,title}}
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| length =
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| area_acre = 78
| elevation = {{convert|1030|ft|m|abbr=on}}{{cite web | url={{Gnis3|1184715}} | title=Ravensburg State Park | date = August 2, 1979 | work=Geographic Names Information System | publisher=United States Geological Survey | access-date=2007-12-20}}
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| named_for = Ravens that nest on the cliffs at the park
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| governing_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
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| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20111105112143/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/ravensburg/index.htm Ravensburg State Park]
| embedded =
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Ravensburg State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Crawford Township in 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. The nearest city is Williamsport.
History
Ravensburg State Park gets its name from the 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 village of Rauchtown.{{cite web
| url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/ravesnburg/index.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150530053206/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/ravesnburg/index.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = May 30, 2015
| title = Ravensburg State Park
| access-date = 2006-10-11
| publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources }}
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.{{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 }}
Ravensburg State Park was constructed during the Great Depression in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps founded by 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.{{cite web
| url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/history/historycccyears.aspx
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040205111331/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/history/historycccyears.aspx
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = February 5, 2004
| title = Pennsylvania State Parks: The CCC Years
| access-date = 2006-11-28
| publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources }}
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.{{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 }}
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.{{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}}
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.
=Picnics=
Image:Ravensburg SP Shelter.JPG
Ravensburg is popular for picnicking 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 horseshoe pits.
=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.
=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}} Mid State backpacking trail is accessible from Ravensburg State Park.
=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.
Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within {{convert|30|mi|km|0}} of Ravensburg State Park:{{cite web
| url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/where/index.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110924171030/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/where/index.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = September 24, 2011
| title = Find a Park by Region (interactive map)
| access-date = November 18, 2011
| publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources }}{{cite map | scale= 1:65,000 | publisher= Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division | url= ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/clinton_GHSN.PDF | title= 2007 General Highway Map Clinton County Pennsylvania | access-date= 2007-07-27 | url-status= dead | archive-url= http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20111106194144/ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/clinton_GHSN.PDF | archive-date= 2011-11-06 }}Note: shows Ravensburg State Park{{cite web
| last = Michels
| first = Chris
| year = 1997
| url = http://www2.nau.edu/~cvm/latlongdist.html
| title = Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation
| publisher = Northern Arizona University
| access-date = 2008-04-23
}}
Image:Rauchtown Run in Ravensburg SP.JPG
- Bald Eagle State Park (Centre County)
- Bucktail State Park Natural Area (Cameron and Clinton Counties)
- Hyner Run State Park (Clinton County)
- Hyner View State Park (Clinton County)
- Little Pine State Park (Lycoming County)
- McCalls Dam State Park (Centre County)
- Milton State Park (Northumberland County)
- R. B. Winter State Park (Union County)
- Reeds Gap State Park (Mifflin County)
- Sand Bridge State Park (Union County)
- Shikellamy State Park (Union and Northumberland Counties)
- Susquehanna State Park (Lycoming County)
- Upper Pine Bottom State Park (Lycoming County)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Pennsylvania}}
- {{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:Protected areas established in 1933
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