Yellow Creek State Park

Geobox Protected Area
name = Yellow Creek State Park
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category_local = Pennsylvania State Park
category_iucn = III


image_caption =
etymology_type =
etymology =
country = United States
state = Pennsylvania
region_type = County
region = Indiana
district_type = Townships
district = Brush Valley
district1 = Cherryhill
city =
location =
lat_d = 40
lat_m = 34
lat_s = 06
lat_NS = N
long_d = 79
long_m = 01
long_s = 35
long_EW = W
location_note = cite web
url=Gnis3|1196518
title="Yellow Creek State Park"
date = August 30 1990
work=Geographic Names Information System
publisher=United States Geological Survey
accessdate=2007-12-13]
elevation_imperial = 1316
elevation_round = 1
elevation_note =
area_unit = acre
area_imperial = 3140
area_round = 1
area_note =
area1_imperial =
area1_type =
length_imperial =
length_orientation =
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highest =
highest location =
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highest_long_d =
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highest_long_s =
highest_long_EW =
highest_elevation_imperial =
lowest =
lowest_location =
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biome =
biome_share =
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geology =
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plant =
plant1 =
animal =
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established_type =
established = 1963
management_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
management_location =
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visitation =
visitation_year =
free_type = Nearest city
free = Indiana, Pennsylvania
free1_type =
free1 =


map_caption = Location of Yellow Creek State Park in Pennsylvania
map_locator = Pennsylvania
map_first = yes
website = [http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/yellowcreek.aspx Yellow Creek State Park]

Yellow Creek State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on convert|2981|acre|km2|0 in Brush Valley and Cherryhill Townships, Indiana County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is along Yellow Creek and Little Yellow Creek. The old Kittanning Path goes through the parkland. The park was established in 1963. An additional convert|159|acre|km2|1 of developed land were purchased in 1982. Yellow Creek Lake, a convert|720|acre|km2|1|sing=on man made lake, was built in 1969 by an earth and rock dam on Yellow Creek. Yellow Creek State Park is between the boroughs of Ebensburg and Indiana on Pennsylvania Route 422.

Environmental awareness

Yellow Creek State Park became the first Pennsylvania state park to switch from gasoline powered lawn mowers to propane powered lawn mowers in 2008. This is part of a state wide effort to make the state parks more environmentally friendly. The propane mower reduces emissions by 90% and boosts fuel economy by 10%. Yellow Creek state park has taken other steps to reduce mans impact on the environment. These include installing wind turbines to provide electric power to the environmental education building. The buildings have been remodeled with better window placement in order to take adavantage of the sun's rays. A new boat that uses less fuel has been purchased to patrol Yellow Creek Lake. Lastly, park rangers and educators are using bicycles instead trucks whenever possible. [cite web | url = http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-19-2008/0004816553&EDATE= | title = Yellow Creek State Park Goes Green | accessdate = 2008-05-24 | publisher = PR Newswire Association]

Hiking

There are convert|5|mi|km|0 of trails open to hiking at Yellow Creek State Park. Ridgetop Trail is the most challenging of the trails. It is convert|2|mi|km|0 and passes through a variety of habitats. Laurel Run Trail is a convert|0.5|mi|km|1|sing=on loop trail in the vicinity of the park office. Damsite Trail, the longest trail in the park at convert|2.5|mi|km|1, is a remnant of the roads used to build Yellow Creek Lake in 1969.cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/yellowcreek.aspx
title = Yellow Creek State Park
accessdate = 2007-01-31
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]

Picnicking

Yellow Creek State Park is a popular destination for groups and families for picnicking. The main picnic area is near the beach with parking for over 4,000 people and a large number of picnic tables. There are three pavilions in the main picnic area. The pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance. Unreserved picnic tables are available on a first come first served basis.

Camping

Six cottages and 4 yurts are available to rent at Yellow Creek State Park. The cottages are on the lakeshore near McFeather's Cove. They sleep up to five in single or double bunks. They have wooden floors, glass windows, a porch, and electric lights. The yard area of the cottages have picnic tables and fire rings. The yurts also sleep up to five in single or double bunks. They are a bit more modern than the cottages. Each yurt has a refrigerator and stove as well as tables, chairs and electric lights and heat.

Yellow Creek Lake

Boats up to 20 horsepower are permitted on the waters of Yellow Creek Lake. There are multiple launch areas surrounding the lake. Boats are available to rent in the beach area. All boats must display a current registration from any state or a launch permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

An convert|800|ft|m|-1|sing=on beach is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Beginning in 2008 lifeguards will not be posted at the beach. [cite web | url = http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=384046 | title = Pa. state parks going without life guards at beaches in 2008 | accessdate = 2008-02-19 | publisher = The Times Leader] There is a large bathhouse at the beach that also serves as the first-aid station and snack bar.

Hunting and fishing

Hunting is permitted at Yellow Creek State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species are squirrels, turkey, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, pheasant, black bear, waterfowl, and rabbits. The hunting of woodchucks is prohibited.

Yellow Creek Lake is a warm water fishery. The common game fish are pike, muskellunge, bass, perch, crappie and bluegill. Laurel Run, Little Yellow Creek and Yellow Creek are cold water fisheries. These streams are stocked with trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. All fishers are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the fish commission at all times.

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within convert|30|mi|km|0 of Yellow Creek State Park: [cite map |scale = 1:65,000| publisher= Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division
url= ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/Maps/GHS/Roadnames/indiana_GHSN.PDF
title= 2007 General Highway Map Indiana County Pennsylvania
accessdate= 2007-07-27 "Note: shows Yellow Creek State Park"] cite web
last = Michels
first = Chris
year = 1997
url = http://www2.nau.edu/~cvm/latlongdist.html
title = "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation"
publisher = Northern Arizona University
accessdate = 2008-04-23]
*Blue Knob State Park (Bedford County)
*Keystone State Park (Westmoreland County)
*Laurel Mountain State Park (Westmoreland County)
*Laurel Ridge State Park (Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland Counties)
*Laurel Summit State Park (Westmoreland County)
*Linn Run State Park (Westmoreland County)
*Prince Gallitzin State Park (Cambria County)

References

External links

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