Pennsylvania is home to many incredible state parks with a myriad of things to do. Penn-Roosevelt State Park in Centre County is not one such park. However, for those that enjoy history and the outdoors, it’s definitely a spot that’s worth a quick stop when exploring the Alleghenies region of PA.
Penn-Roosevelt State Park can be found in the southern reaches of Centre County, not too terribly far from Route 322 and the community of Boalsburg. It was established as a state park in 1983 after being known as Penn-Roosevelt State Forest Picnic Area for several decades.
The park actually got its start in 1933 as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. The CCC built a large portion of the infrastructure found today throughout PA’s state parks and forests, but the camp at Penn-Roosevelt was unique because it was one of only 12 camps in the state that were set up for African-Americans, an unfortunate legacy of our country’s history of segregation.
A monument to the men who served in this CCC camp can be found near the main parking area. It’s worth a quick look while exploring the park.
The park is centered around Standing Stone Creek and Penn-Roosevelt Lake, which was initially dammed during the CCC days, though the log-crib dam has since been covered by stone.
The area around the lake and the dam is the main highlight of this park, and I quite enjoyed exploring this beautiful spot, especially the area just downstream of the dam where Sassafras Run flows into Standing Stone Creek.
The lake itself is quite small, only 3.5 acres, but is quite scenic as well. Native brook trout can be found in the lake, and the area below the dam is stocked with fish, making this a great spot for some peaceful fishing.
While there are a few very short trails to various campsites and the ruins of a bake oven, the only named trail in Penn-Roosevelt State Park is the Mid State Trail.
This is a 324-mile trail that runs from the Mason-Dixon Line to the PA border with New York. Half a mile of this trail can be found in the park, but you can hike along it for as you’d like from here. Loop hikes are possible with some of the trails in the state forest. Pick up either the official Rothrock State Forest map or, even better, the Purple Lizard map for the region to see the available trails.
Penn-Roosevelet State Park is also home to a small primitive campground. Spots in the park are first-come, first-served and only allow tent camping. The only amenities offered for campers are non-flush toilets and water.
Overall, Penn-Roosevelt State Park isn’t one of PA’s must-visit state parks, and, unless you are camping, no visit to the park will likely last more than a few minutes. However, if you find yourself in the area, possibly while checking out nearby spots like Seeger Natural Area and Shingletown Gap, it’s a fun and beautiful spot to check out.
Looking for even more places to visit nearby? Check out Indian Wells Overlook, Greenwood Furnace State Park, and the PA Military Museum. And find even more hiking spots in my list of the best hiking in Centre County.
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