Ralph Stover State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ralph Stover State Park | |
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| Pennsylvania State Park | |
| Natural Monument (IUCN III) | |
 The view of Tohickon Creek from the top of High Rocks during autumn.
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| Named for: Ralph Stover | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Bucks |
| Townships | Plumstead, Tinicum |
| Location | [1] |
| - coordinates | Coordinates: |
| - elevation | 256 ft (78 m) [1] |
| Area | 45 acres (18.2 ha) [2] |
| Founded | 1931 [2] |
| Managed by | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Nearest city | Doylestown, Pennsylvania |
  Location of Ralph Stover State Park in Pennsylvania
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| Website : Ralph Stover State Park | |
Ralph Stover State Park is a Pennsylvania State Park on 45 acres (0.18 km²) in Plumstead and Tinicum Townships, 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 (3.22 km) north of Point Pleasant near Pennsylvania Route 32.
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[edit] History
Tohickon Creek was named by the Lenape some of the first inhabitants of the area. "To-Hick-Hanne" means "Deer-Bone-Creek". Ralph Stover State Park was the site of an 18th century gristmill that was built on Tohickon Creek by the park's namesake, Ralph Stover. Remnants of the mill and mill race can still be seen near Tohickon 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 in 1956. Although "High Rocks State Park" is listed in the United States Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System and the coordinates given in USGS GNIS are located here, it was never an official name according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources or a separate park.
[edit] Recreation
High Rocks is a 200 feet (61 m) 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. [3]
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.[2]
A hiking trail of 1 mile (1.6 km) passes the millrace. There is a shaded picnic area along Tohickon Creek and a scenic vista at the top of High Rocks.[2]
[edit] Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Ralph Stover State Park:[4][5][6]
- Benjamin Rush State Park (Philadelphia County)
- Bull's Island Recreation Area (New Jersey)
- Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park (New Jersey)
- Delaware Canal State Park (Bucks and Northampton Counties)
- Evansburg State Park (Montgomery County)
- Fort Washington State Park (Montgomery County)
- Hacklebarney State Park (New Jersey)
- Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center (Northampton County)
- Neshaminy State Park (Bucks County)
- Nockamixon State Park (Bucks County)
- Norristown Farm Park (Montgomery County)
- Spruce Run State Park (New Jersey)
- Round Valley State Park (New Jersey)
- Tyler State Park (Bucks County)
- Voorhees State Park (New Jersey)
- Washington Crossing State Park (New Jersey)
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Ralph Stover State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (August 2, 1979). Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
- ^ a b c d Ralph Stover State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
- ^ Rock Climbing at Ralph Stover State Park. Climbing Source. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
- ^ Map Reference for Ralph Stover State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
- ^ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. 2007 General Highway Map Bucks County Pennsylvania [map], 1:65,000. Retrieved on 2006-07-27. Note: shows Ralph Stover State Park
