Whipple Dam State Park
The 256-acre Whipple Dam State Park is a delightful and quiet place to visit. The lake is the perfect place to indulge in a refreshing dip, bird watch or just relax. The beautiful day use area is wonderful for a picnic or hike.
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Picnicking - Swimming - Boating - Fishing - Hunting - Cross-country Skiing - Snowmobiling - Ice Skating - Ice Fishing Picnicking: Three large picnic pavilions and many picnic tables are in a forest-covered area, close to the beach, lake and snackbar. Hand operated and pressurized drinking fountains, charcoal stoves and restrooms are throughout the park. The three picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Make a reservation. Swimming: The 300-foot sand beach is open from May to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset. Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules. A dressing room, beach volleyball court and boat rental are at the beach. Boating: electric motors only Motorboats must display a current boat registration. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks, available at most state park offices; launching permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Complete information on boating rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site. Boat Rental: In the summer season, a boat rental offers canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and rowboats. Fishing: The 22-acre Whipple Lake and Laurel Run are stocked with trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission in the spring and winter months. All Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws and regulations apply. Complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.
Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for ADA accessible hunting information. Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment used for hunting may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner's car, trailer or leased campsite. The only exception is that law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms may carry said firearm concealed on their person while they are within the park. Complete information on hunting rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Game Commission Web site. Winter ActivitiesExplore the Winter Report for the current snow and ice depths. Cross-country Skiing: Park trails and roads, and roads in Rothrock State Forest are recommended for cross-country skiing. Snowmobiling: Conditions permitting, park roads, and roads in Rothrock State Forest are available for registered snowmobiles. Roads are shared with automobiles. Ice Skating: The ungroomed ice of the lake is popular for skating. Ice thickness is not monitored. Ice Fishing: Ice fishing is permitted on the 22-acre Whipple Lake. Access for People with Disabilities
In an EmergencyContact a park employee or dial 911. Nearest Hospital: Wildlife is abundant in the area. An alert observer may see white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, waterfowl and many other species of wildlife. Osprey, great blue heron and Canada goose visit the lake. On quiet evenings, muskrat and beaver may be seen on the water. Feeding wild animals such as waterfowl, deer, bear and raccoons is prohibited. When wildlife looses its fear of people, these animals become pests and dangerous situations can result. Please do not feed the wildlife. The park area was originally purchased from the Iroquois Confederation by the Proprietary Government of Pennsylvania on July 6, 1754. The land eventually became part of the Monroe Iron Works, a few miles to the north. Charcoal was produced in the area for use in the iron furnace, and there is some evidence of iron ore mining. In 1868, Osgood M. Whipple purchased a large block of land and constructed a dam and sawmill downstream of the current park dam. The purpose of the dam was to supply a source of water for the operation of an “up and down” sawmill. Whipple left the lumber business in 1897, but the dam remained for many years and was known locally as “Whipple’s Dam.” In 1927, the former Department of Forests and Waters was considering a recreation site in the area and surveyed the old log-crib dam. It was decided to construct a new dam upstream at a better location. The new dam was completed in the spring of 1928 and provided a shallow pool. Recreational activities began almost immediately and by the early 1930s, Whipple Dam was listed as a State Forest Public Camp. Between 1933 and 1941, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) had a work camp at Owl’s Gap, east of the park. The corps members built pavilions, roads, beach and restrooms during this period. In 1935, the CCC dismantled the old dam and constructed the existing dam and bridge. In 1987, the 32-acre park day use area was designated the Whipple Dam National Historic District. This entry on the National Register of Historic Places recognizes, protects, and preserves the work site of one of the Depression-Era's most important relief programs, the CCC. The CCC work was performed to guidelines embraced by the National Park Service. The use of native materials and the rustic look exemplify the idea that parks should harmonize with the natural setting and not be glaring intrusions onto the landscape. Today, all construction and repair work is done to complement the design character of the CCC architecture and construction methods. For more information on the CCC, explore the Civilian Conservation Corps Online Archive. Keep in TouchAdd yourself to the DCNR's online community to receive info on this park, or parks in general. Volunteering
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Make a DonationTo a park - find this park's address below To a park or the Bureau of State Parks - Pennsylvania Parks and Forestry Foundation www.paparksandforests.org Through a purchase at a park gift shop Thank you for your support! Education ProgramsWe love when young people ask us how to get involved!
In Watershed Education, teachers and students assess water quality of a local stream on a quarterly basis and develop strategies to solve local water quality problems. ECO Camp - Exploring Careers Outdoors - is a week-long residential camp for a cross-section of high school youth from across Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Participate in action-packed, hands on activities and recreational adventures in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests that expose youth to conservation, recreation and careers in natural resources. Learn how people make a living working in the outdoors. Explore education for more information on these and other programs. Explore the Calendar of Events to find a program near you. iConservePA
Come Work with UsPennsylvania State Parks and the Department of Conservation and Natrual Resources offer a wide range of civil service and non-civil service jobs, from foresters, to rangers, to engineers, to educators, to botanists and so much more. Learn what is currently available. Tell us What You ThinkContact this park with compliments, concerns and issues about the park. Whipple Dam State Park Nearby AttractionsInformation on nearby attractions is available from: the Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau. www.raystown.org the Alleghenies. www.thealleghenies.com Greenwood Furnace State Park: (9 miles) has a full range of recreational activities including swimming, camping and a historical interpretive program. Penn-Roosevelt State Park: (14 miles) has a small lake, picnicking and a rustic camping area. Rothrock State Forest: All three state parks serve as a base for exploring an 80,000-acre block of Rothrock State Forest. Hiking trails crisscross the state forest, which also has backpacking, bird watching, wildlife photography, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, auto touring and other activities. State forest public use maps are available at the park office and the Rothrock State Forest district office. 814-643-2340 Maps and Downloadables
You must have the free Adobe Reader to view the maps and brochures that are in pdf format (.pdf). Alternate versions of the text of the brochures are in rich text and text formats. Click on the files to view them. To download (.rtf) files: Recreational GuideWhipple Dam State Park Map (.pdf) (358 kb, 3/11) Interactive GIS MapThe Interactive GIS Map uses Geographic Information Systems to create a map that does not need to be downloaded and features driving directions, searchable park amenities and customizable maps. Please note that the background maps are maintained by a variety of public sources and driving directions usually go to the nearest large road. Common Birds BrochureCommon Birds of Whipple Dam State Park (.pdf) (386 kb, 3/11)
 Whipple Dam State Park is in the northeastern corner of Huntingdon County, 12 miles south of State College. The park is easily reached by turning east off of PA 26 at the Whipple Dam State Park sign. Driving Directions: The Interactive GIS Map has turn-by-turn driving directions to the park office from the Park Information Window. Please note that the background maps are maintained by a variety of public sources and driving directions usually go to the nearest large road. Whipple Dam State Park
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