Get Schooled at Gifford Pinchot State Park’s Environment Learning Center
I arrived at the park on a wonderful warm day. The water was clear and since the children were back in school, it was pretty empty which allowed me to social distance without any problems. It was a wonderful place to have my afternoon meal while watching the water and the birds.
After a nice little meal, I took a bit of a hike on the Lakeside Trail. It was very nice. It goes around the park but I just went for a little bit of it.
The trail is open to bikes, walkers, and hikers during the summer and skier during the winter months.
I took a side trail down to the lake to check for toads and frogs.
The inlet here is more of a pond then a lake.
Don’t forget to bring you kayak, catamaran, small sailboat, or motor boat! If you do, they have rentals and mooring spaces available from April through October with three launch areas. Pinchot Lake is 340 acres and has lots of places to explore.
After my short hike, I drove over to the Dam parking area which allow you hiked on it.
I am finding that I enjoy seeing Dams along my way.
This one is pretty large as it is holding back 340 acres of water. I could even get a great picture to show it all.
It has this great little creek going down the side of it.
Near the dam is the Maytown School House which is used by the Beaver Creek Conservation Group.
On the other side of the lake is the beach area. Not much of a beach but at least you will not get sand in your shoes and can have a nice swim.
They do not have showers at the beach area but they have changing areas and more important, Ice Cream!!! It was a nice desert!!!!!
The Gifford Pinchot State Park offers many environmental education and interpretive programs through out the year in honor of Governor Gifford Pinchot. The park has an environmental learning center and offers pontoon boat and kayak tours. (Note: most of these programs are on hold due to Covid19.)
The park is open year round with both summer and winter activities. Cabins are avail all year round but camping is only available during the warmer months. Reservations.
Brief History
Born in 1865, Gifford Pinchot was interest in nature which lead him to become one of the founders of the conservation movement. After graduating from Yale, he went to France to become the first American trained in forestry.
Being a good friend of President Theodore Roosevelt, he was appointed Chief Forest of the U.S. Division of Forestry for twelve years. During he time he helped created over 200 million acres of national forest. He also developed the policies and guidelines that are still being used today for most national and state forest parks around the country.
After leaving Washington, Pinchot become Governor of Pennsylvania during the depression. He would helped create over 20,000 miles of paved roads to help farmers get their goods to market, elected 2 women to his cabinet, and created the first budget for the state of Pennsylvania and pay off all of the debt the state had when he came into office.
He also create the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board which was to discourage the purchase of alcohol by making it inconvenient and expensive. The liquor tax in Pennsylvania now covers 3% of the states spending but it really never stopped people from drinking.