Best Fishing and Boating in PA State Parks R.B. Winter by Kelly Houghton State Park photo-courtesy of DCNR

In the ridge and valley region of numerous springs contained by a Families enjoy the park’s swimming central , surrounded sandstone dam. The park’s most beach, featuring 300-feet of white by the mystic beauty of Bald Eagle unique history lies in the foundation sand, while 250 picnic tables and 3 State Forest, is the small, quiet and of this stone structure, which was the picnic pavilions are arranged in the friendly R.B. Winter State Park. This fi rst stone masonry dam ever built by perfect setting for groups to kick back, 695-acre, cold-water fi shery has many the Civilian Conservation Corps in relax and enjoy the park’s beautiful opportunities for recreation and is the United States. The small size of scenery. Hikers have 6.3 miles of trails certainly one of the state’s best kept the lake leaves little ground for both to explore that pass through a variety secrets. “We have a great deal to offer, anglers and boaters to intermingle. of terrains around R.B. Winter’s from lots of activities to beautiful Consequently, boating isn’t permitted on lakeshore, hunters have 487-acres facilities that are very modern,” said the lake, but visitors can hardly complain to utilize and mountain bikers have State Park Manager, Bob Deffner. since this only allows them more time to access to 48-miles of terrain on 25 The state park’s focal attraction enjoy activities like camping, picnicking, off-road trails in the state forest. R.B. is Halfway Lake, a six-acre reservoir hiking, trail mountain biking, swimming Winter is also the ideal starting point fed by cold, mountain streams and and hunting. for long day hikes, backpacking and (article continued on page 30) www.fi shandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March/April 2009 27 TO EASTVILLE, 7 MI R. B. WINTER STATE PARK McCALL DAM STATE PARK, 3 MI Jersey Williamsport US 220 44 Shore US 15 Park Office N Boiling Lock 654 Spring First Aid

Haven Trail 44 Trail Picnic Area 880 Elimsport 44 US 220 Restrooms Ravensburg 477 I-80 147 Tram Trail Lodge I-80 Old Loganton Picnic Pavilion Carroll McCall Dam 477 192 Sand Bridge Milton Overlook 880 Forest 192 Corner Public Phone 192 R.B. WINTER Hill 45 Livonia Lewis- 147 Blue Symbols Mean Accessible Mifflinburg 45 burg 45 Food Concession 304 US 15 204 Overlook Nature Center 104 Trail

Rocky Playground 235 Selinsgrove Snyder Middleburg Beach Middleswarth 147 Boiling US 522 US 522 Springs Amphitheater Sanitary Dump Station Showerhouse/Restrooms ROAD DAM Camping TO REBERSBURG, 14 MI McCALL TO CENTRE HALL, 28 MI Recycling/Trash Trail Unpaved Road Run 192 State Park No Hunting State Park Hunting SAND MOUNTAIN ROAD Spring Rapid Run Natural Area Snowmobile/Mt. Bike/Equestrian

Trailhead Boiling

Rapid RAPID RUN Laurenday NATURAL AREA Run ROAD Trail Nature MOUNTAIN TO PA 192, Trail Spring SAND 6 MI Rapid Run Run Nature Rapid Trail Trail No.2 Spring

Overlook West Boiling BALD EAGLE No.3 No.1 Dressing Area Camping Run STATE FOREST Boundary Playfield Cottage Halfway LODGE A

HALFWAY LAKE

Trail

Trail TRAIL INFORMATION Fishing CB Pier Camping Cottages Hiking Trail Dam Cross-country Skiing TRAIL COLOR CODE Bake Boundary Biking Prohibited NATURE TRAIL (White) Oven Mid Snowmobile Trail MID STATE TRAIL (Orange Rectangle) State Trail Trail Equestrain Trail CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING (Blue Diamond) Old Map courtesy of the Pennsylvania Run Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Snowmobile & Automobile BRUSH HOLLOW (Orange) Joint Use Roadways OVERLOOK (Red / White Bullseye) Bake OLD BOUNDARY (Green/White Bullseye) Oven Trail Mid BOILING SPRING (Yellow) State Trail WEST BOUNDARY (Blue/White) Rapid Trail Mid State & Brush Hollow Trai

ls Mid State

BOYER GAP ROAD BALD EAGLE STATE FOREST 192 500' 0 500' FEET

Map by Wayne T. Fechter 2/03 TO LEWISBURG, 16 MI 28 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March/April 2009 www.fi shandboat.com www.fi shandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March/April 2009 29 10-feet wide, leaving very little room to cast and giving anglers only a few opportunities before the fi sh get spooked. “You have to know what you’re doing to fi sh the creek, but if you do, you can catch some dandy trout,” said R.B. Winter State Park Environmental Education Specialist, Mary Ann Haladay-Bierly. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission stocks the lake and Rapid Run regularly with rainbow and brook trout. Trout stockings in the lake occur four times during the year, one pre-season in early March, two in-season and a fi nal stocking photo-courtesy of DCNR in late September. This spring, trout mountain biking excursions, since the largest crowds, the winter season season opens on Saturday, April 18 at many trails connect with paths in the attracting snowmobile enthusiasts, 8:00 a.m. neighboring 196,213 acre Bald Eagle skiers and dedicated ice anglers, The variety of fi shing opportunities State Forest. the spring months are left with the and recreational activities are even After an active day at the park, undeniable reputation as being a trout more expansive since R.B. Winter you may want to rest your legs while angler’s season of play. The mountain State Park oversees and maintains the taking in one of R.B. Winter’s fantastic streams and springs emptying into facilities at three nearby state parks. environmental education activities, Halfway Lake always keep the lake’s Ravensburg State Park, which lies in a like a guided walk, or a stream and temperature perfect for trout. Both steep gorge and is covered by a northern watershed study. The park’s Sheary- the lake and its tributary stream, hardwood forest, is a 78-acre park Linn Amphitheater and the Halfway Rapid Run, are excellent areas to that has hunting, fi shing, picnicking, Run Environmental Learning Center cast a line and provide two different hiking, cold-water fi shing and a 21- are the two centerpiece facilities environments. site, tent-only campground. McCalls for environmental education, which The most popular location to trout Dam State Park, although only eight is available year round. A calendar fi sh is Halfway Lake, where the shores acres, is a nice place for a quiet picnic of events can be accessed at with exception of the swimming area, next to White Deer Creek, which is also http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us. are crowded with anglers throughout enjoyed by fl y anglers. Sand Bridge R.B. Winter is also more than just April and May. Some anglers choose State Park, located east of R.B. Winter, a day-use park, offering three lodging to wade into the lake’s waters while attracts picnickers and anglers who options amid picturesque scenery. others enjoy the shoreline and its open enjoy the murmur of Rapid Run and From April through December, a 58- lawn areas. Many anglers also choose its trout stocked waters. site campground with a historic and to gather near the sandstone dam or The exceptional trout fi shing, array rustic feel offers newly renovated sites the fi shing pier. Families especially of activities, picturesque scenery and and modern facilities. It’s situated appreciate the Fishing Loan Program, convenience of utilizing neighboring east of the lake and accommodates a project of the Pennsylvania Fish & state parks and a state forest all validate tents and trailers. Other overnight Boat Commission to promote fi shing. why R.B. Winter State Park is one of alternatives include three cottages, This program supplies basic fi shing Pennsylvania’s best kept secrets. “You which each sleep fi ve people, and equipment that can be borrowed feel as if you’re out in the boonies, but a modern, two-story, furnished without a fee. Equipment can be you’re not, and you get to escape your cabin with four bedrooms and front picked up at the state park offi ce. daily stresses, yet you’re not traveling and back porches. The cottages are For the experienced angler, Rapid far from home,” said Deffner. open during the camping season Run, provides a challenging trek See for yourself why people have while the cabin is available year through boulders, plentiful hemlock been coming for generations to R.B. round. To make reservations, visit pines and bountiful rhododendron Winter State Park. The park is in Union http://www.pa.reserveworld.com. bushes. Although the sandstone County, 18 miles west of Lewisburg With the summer months drawing stream is beautiful, it’s also less than on Pennsylvania Route 192.

30 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March/April 2009 www.fi shandboat.com