Ralph Stover State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ralph Stover State Park, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | Doylestown, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 45 acres (0.18 km²) |
| Established: | 1931 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Ralph Stover State Park is a 45 acre (0.18 km²) Pennsylvania State Park in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is a very popular destination for whitewater kayaking on Tohickon Creek and rock climbing on a geologic formation known as High Rocks. Ralph Stover State Park is two miles (3.22km) north of Point Pleasant near Pennsylvania Route 32.
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[edit] History
Tohican Creek was named by the Lenni Lenape some of the first inhabitants of the area. "To-Hick-Hanne" means "Dear-Bone-Creek". Ralph Stover State Park was the site of an 18th century gristmill that was built on Tohican Creek by the parks namesake Ralph Stover. Remnants of the mill and mill race can still be seen near Tohickan Creek.
The Stover family gave their land to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1931. The recreational facilities were built during the Great Depression by the Federal Works Progress Administration created by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide work for the unemployed. Author James A. Michener donated the High Rocks area to the park.
[edit] Recreation
High Rocks is a 200 foot (61m) sheer rock face that is a challenge to even the most experienced rock climbers. The climbing varieties include, top rope, traditional, mixed and boulder climbing.
Tohickon Creek offers whitewater conditions for kayaking in the spring with the winter snow melt and several times a year when water is released from Lake Nockamixon. The creek is also a warm water fishery with smallmouth bass, sunfish, carp and catfish. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission also stocks the creek with trout.
A one mile hiking trail passes the millrace. There is a shaded picnic area along Tohickon Creek and a scenic vista at the top of High Rocks.
[edit] Nearby state parks
[edit] References
- Latitude and Longitude from Topozone
- Rock Climbing at Ralph Stover State Park. Climbing Source. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
- Ralph Stover State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
- Map Reference for Ralph Stover State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
