A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for State Park Cowans Gap Cowans Gap Pennsylvania State Parks Mission The primary purpose of Pennsylvania state parks is to provide opportunities for enjoying healthful outdoor recreation and serve as outdoor classrooms for environmental education. In meeting these purposes, the conservation of the natural, scenic, aesthetic, and historical values of parks should be given first consideration. Stewardship responsibilities should be carried out in a way that protects the natural outdoor experience for the enjoyment of current and future generations. visitPAparks Printed on recycled paper 2017 COWANS GAP STATE PARK HISTORY Cowans Gap State Park is a 1,085-acre park Directions FROM THE SOUTH: US 30 to PA 75 north The history of Cowans Gap State Park is one from opposite political parties, the couple Kalbach and his partner Charles Spangler, of in the beautiful Allens Valley of Fulton at Fort Loudon to Richmond Furnace and of war, forbidden love, and hard work. eloped several years later and headed for McConnellsburg, operated a portable sawmill County. A 42-acre lake, two campgrounds, The park is north of US 30 between follow signs to the park. Kentucky. The family story relates that while in the valley, cutting mainly pine and oak. The Famous Roads rustic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Chambersburg and McConnellsburg. crossing the Conococheague Creek near final cut was completed in 1907, leaving a Reservations The French and Indian War began in 1754 built cabins, and many hiking trails are prime Fort Loudon, their wagon broke down. John landscape of over-cut forests and erosion. FROM THE WEST: I-76 to Exit 180, Fort as the French and British fought for the attractions. State forest land surrounds the traded their horses and wagon to a Tuscarora Littleton, then US 522 north to Burnt Cabins Make online reservations at Ohio River Valley, which included western Recovery park, providing additional land for recreation Indian chief for the land that now is known as and follow signs to the park. www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free Pennsylvania. Key to the control of the area In 1933, to relieve the rampant unemployment and natural beauty in all seasons. Cowans Gap. 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to was the Forks of the Ohio (Pittsburgh), which of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt FROM THE EAST: I-76 to Exit 189, Willow John secured peace pipe and tomahawk 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, for state park was held by the French. In 1755, British created the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Hill, then PA 75 south to Richmond Furnace rights from the tribe, marking a big chestnut information and reservations. Major General Edward Braddock carved young men in the CCC received food, clothes, and follow signs to the park. tree with three slashes, a sign of peace. In a new road from Cumberland, Maryland, and a small paycheck. 1785, John secured a warrant for the land toward the Forks. The CCC boys built roads, trails and from the Proprietors of Pennsylvania. John To carry additional supplies to Braddock’s recreational facilities, fought fires, planted and Mary built their house along Forbes RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES army, Colonel James Burd began a road trees, and did many other conservation Road, near what is now the junction of from Shippensburg that was planned to activities. Spend the Day Stumpy Lane and Aughwick Road. reach Braddock’s forces at Turkey Foot Richmond Furnace Camp S-54 was built Most of Cowans Gap State Park is in Allens (Confluence, Pa.). Burd’s Road climbed next to the new forestry station at Cowans PICNICKING: Picnic areas along the Buchanan State Forest, which is open to Motorboats must display a boat registration Valley, named for neighbors of the Cowans. Tuscarora Mountain by passing through an Gap. The camp was locally called Camp Fox eastern side of Cowans Gap Lake are mostly hunting, trapping, and dog training. from any state. Non-powered boats must unnamed gap that was eventually named Industrial Times for an enrollee killed in an accident while shaded with several CCC-era stone fireplaces Hunting woodchucks, also known as display one of the following: boat registration Cowans Gap. Braddock’s army was defeated Nearby, Mount Pleasant Iron Furnace stationed there. and charcoal grills scattered throughout. groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is from any state; launch permit or mooring and Burd’s Road was never completed past operated from 1783 to 1835. Richmond The first enrollees to the camp lived in tents Some picnic tables are ADA accessible and only permitted from the day following Labor permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are Berlin, Somerset County. Iron Furnace operated from 1865 to 1885. while they built more permanent facilities. available on a first-come, first-served basis. Day through March 31 in designated hunting available at most state park offices; launch use In 1758, the British again sent a campaign The furnaces mined iron ore along the face From 1933 to 1941, the CCC built 30 miles of Four picnic pavilions may be reserved up to areas. The Department of Conservation and permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat toward the Forks of the Ohio. General of Tuscarora Mountain and in the gap. The road, four bridges, 32 miles of fire trails, and 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Commission. John Forbes, along with his aide Colonel furnaces’ demand for charcoal led to the 11 miles of telephone lines. In Cowans Gap picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, Game Commission rules and regulations George Washington and second in command clear-cutting of portions of the forests in the State Park, the CCC built the cabins, picnic first-served basis. Pavilions 2, 3, and 4 are apply. Contact the park office for ADA Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bouquet, carved a gap and the valley every 20 to 25 years. shelters, and spent three years building the stone and have a fireplace. Pavilion 1 is ADA accessible hunting information. new road (Forbes Road) that followed Burd’s Beginning in 1893, Harrison Kalbach, of dam. The Cowans Gap rustic cabins are on accessible. Use extreme caution with firearms at Road through Bedford County then headed Lebanon, Pennsylvania, began purchasing the National Register of Historic Places. all times. Other visitors use the park during SWIMMING: The 500-foot sand beach is due west to the Forks of the Ohio. General land and timbering rights amounting to Improvements have continued at Cowans hunting seasons. Firearms and archery open from late May to mid-September, Forbes drove the French out of Pennsylvania. 4,800 acres around Cowans Gap. Kalbach Gap, with additions like the campground and equipment used for hunting may be uncased 8:00 AM to sunset. Please read and follow In 1763, Colonel Henry Bouquet again used and Company constructed a railroad of modern restrooms. In 2002, Cowans Gap and ready for use only in authorized hunting posted rules for swimming. Swim at your own Forbes Road to break the siege of Fort Pitt wooden rails from Richmond Furnace up State Park closed to visitors for a year-long areas during hunting seasons. In areas not risk. during Pontiac’s War. the mountain and into the gap to move the renovation to upgrade many facilities. open to hunting or during non-hunting lumber to market. Today’s Richmond Furnace FOOD AND REFRESHMENT seasons, firearms and archery equipment Names FISHING: Cowans Gap Lake offers Road follows the old railroad right-of-way. CONCESSION: The concession in the day In 1775, Loyalist John Samuel Cowan met shall be kept in the owner’s vehicle or excellent trout fishing and also has bass, use area serves many snacks and hot foods. Patriot Mary Mueller in Boston. Although enclosed trailer. Exceptions include: law perch, catfish, and panfish. There is an ADA It also has ice, charcoal, firewood, and other enforcement officers and individuals with a accessible fishing pier. The South Branch camping supplies. The concession is open valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms of Little Aughwick Creek offers good Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. are authorized to carry a firearm concealed on trout fishing. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat THE GEOLOGY OF COWANS GAP HUNTING AND FIREARMS: About their person while they are within a state park. Commission regulations and laws apply. Cowans Gap State Park is in Allens Valley, The stream continued to erode the soft rock 630 acres are open to hunting, trapping, BOATING: electric motors only the park and out over the hard rocks of HIKING: 13 miles of trails a narrow highland valley between Tuscarora until the Allens Valley was much lower than and the training of dogs during established There are two boat launches and mooring Cowans Gap down to Path Valley. Complete trail descriptions are on the other and Cove mountains. Allens Valley runs from Cowans Gap. Today, South Branch Little seasons. Common game species are deer, spaces on Cowans Gap Lake. A concession in A different stream flowed in the softer rock side of this brochure. south of Cowans Gap State Park north to the Aughwick Creek continues to carve the valley turkey, and squirrel. The park land borders the day use area rents rowboats, kayaks, and of the north part of Allens Valley by Burnt town of Burnt Cabins. Cowans Gap crosses deeper and deeper. paddle boats and is open daily in the summer. Cabins. In a process called stream capture, Enjoy the Winter Tuscarora Mountain. the two separate streams became one stream. A gap is a notch or pass in a mountain. The Burnt Cabins stream quickly eroded the For ice and snow conditions, visit thick for a single angler and 7” thick for a CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Closed park Cowans Gap is an east and west pass in the soft rock, deepening and lengthening Allens www.visitPAparks.com.