Gouldsboro State Park

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

---

etymology_type = Named for
etymology = Jay Gould and nearby Gouldsboro
country = United States
state = Pennsylvania
region_type = Counties
region = Monroe
region1 = Wayne
district_type = Townships
district = Coolbaugh
district1 = Lehigh
district2 =
city =
location =
lat_d = 41
lat_m = 12
lat_s = 38
lat_NS = N
long_d = 75
long_m = 27
long_s = 21
long_EW = W
location_note = cite web
url=Gnis3|1175864
title=Gouldsboro State Park
date = August 2 1979
work=Geographic Names Information System
publisher=United States Geological Survey
accessdate=2008-03-07]
elevation_imperial = 1909
elevation_round = 1
elevation_note =
area_unit = acre
area_imperial = 2880
area_round = 1
area1_imperial =
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lowest =
lowest_location =
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biome =
biome_share =
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geology =
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plant =
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established_type =
established = 1958
management_body = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
management_location =
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visitation =100,000
visitation_year =2008
visitation_note =
free_type = Nearest city
free = East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
free1_type =
free1 =


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

Gouldsboro State Park is a convert|2880|acre|km2|2|adj=on Pennsylvania State Park in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County and Lehigh Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park includes the convert|250|acre|km2|2|adj=on Gouldsboro Lake. Gouldsboro State Park is located very close to Tobyhanna State Park and Pennsylvania State Game Lands 127 and 312. It is on Pennsylvania Route 507 near the small village of Gouldsboro.

History

Gouldsboro State Park is named for Gouldsboro, which was in turn named for Jay Gould (1836 - 1892). Gould, a native of New York, acquired an immense fortune during the Industrial Revolution, part of which included ownership of ten percent of all the rail tracks in the United States at the time of his death. One of his railroads passed by what is now the eastern boundary of the park. Gould was also the co-owner of a tannery in nearby Thornhurst. Raw hides were shipped from the western United States and Australia on the railroads owned by Gould to Gouldsboro. The hides were then sent to Thornhurst by way of wagons traversing a plank road.cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/tobyhannagouldsboro_history.aspx
title = Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro
accessdate = 2007-02-13
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources "Note: Histories of both state parks"]

As of 2006, this rail line forms the dividing line between Gouldsboro State Park and Tobyhanna State Park in Monroe County, and is owned by the Lackawanna County Railroad Authority and operated by the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad Co. Inc. Tourist excursions on this line are operated by Steamtown National Historic Site, and run from Steamtown's yard in Scranton to Tobyhanna.cite web
url = http://www.nps.gov/stea/planyourvisit/tour30.htm
title = Steamtown: Tobyhanna, PA Excursion
accessdate = 2006-12-30
publisher = National Park Service, US Department of the Interior] cite web
url = ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/MAPS/Statewide/parail.PDF
title = 2006 Railroad Map of Pennsylvania
accessdate = 2006-12-30
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (shows owners and operators)]

A dam and spillway were built on an existing lake in 1895 by the North Jersey & Pocono Mountain Ice Company. The new dam allowed more ice to be harvested from the lake in winter. In 1956 the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission took over ownership of the dam. The park opened in 1958 and the dam was transferred to the DCNR in 2003.

Inspections on the dam in 1979 revealed "the dam’s drain gate was inoperable and its spillway was deteriorating". The lake was partially drained in 1985 and 1995 for repairs to the dam and spillway, and completely drained in January 2005. Repairs included removing debris, installing a culvert, fence and erosion control measures, and replacing the spillway. Repairs were completed and the lake was refilled in January 2008.cite web | url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/news/newsreleases/2008/0208-gouldsborosp.htm | title = Governor Rendell says Gouldsboro State Park dam repair is example of statewide potential of 'rebuilding PA': Lake Filling After Repairs Makes 113-year-old Dam Safe | accessdate = 2008-07-11 | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]

Recreation

Gouldsboro Lake

Gouldsboro Lake is a convert|250|acre|km2|2|adj=on man made lake. It is open to boating, swimming, fishing and ice fishing. Gas powered boats are prohibited on Gouldsboro Lake. Electric powered and non powered boats must have current registration from any state, or a launch permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. A beach at the lake is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Swim at your own risk, as lifeguards are not provided. Gouldsboro Lake is a warm water fishery. The common game fish are pickerel, yellow perch, bass, walleye, sunfish, muskellunge, and catfish. Gouldsboro Lake is also a popular ice fishing destination, however the thickness of the ice is not monitored by the park staff so visitors are asked to use caution when venturing out onto the ice.cite web
url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/STATEPARKS/parks/gouldsboro.aspx
title = Gouldsboro State Park
accessdate = 2006-12-30
publisher = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]

Hunting and trapping

Hunting is permitted at Gouldsboro 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, black bear, and snowshoe hare. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited. The trapping of muskrats, raccoons, beaver, mink, fox, and coyote is permitted with the proper license.

Picnics

Gouldsboro State Park has five picnic areas with about 300 picnic tables. All five picnic areas are shaded and open year round. There is one pavilion with an electric hook-up.

Trails

*Old Route 611 is a convert|1.25|mi|2|adj=on "easy" trail that is flat and wide and runs parallel to Interstate 380 on the western edge of the park. The trail is open to hiking, bicycling and cross-country skiing.

*Prospect Rock Trail is a convert|5.8|mi|2|adj=on "difficult" trail that is a loop that begins and ends in the day use area, passing over some very rugged terrain.

*Frank Gantz Trail is a convert|3.2|mi|2|adj=on "difficult" trail that connects Gouldsboro State Park with Tobyhanna State Park. The trail is very rocky and therefore very demanding, with an estimated round trip completion time of three hours.

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within convert|30|mi|0 of Gouldsboro 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/monroe_GHSN.PDF
title= 2007 General Highway Map Monroe County Pennsylvania
accessdate= 2007-07-27 "Note: shows Gouldsboro 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/wayne_GHSN.pdf
title= 2007 General Highway Map Wayne County Pennsylvania
accessdate= 2007-07-27 "Note: shows Gouldsboro 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 = 2008-04-20]
*Archbald Pothole State Park (Lackawanna County
*Beltzville State Park (Carbon County)
*Big Pocono State Park (Monroe County)
*Frances Slocum State Park (Luzerne County)
*Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center (Northampton County)
*Hickory Run State Park (Carbon County)
*Lackawanna State Park (Lackawanna County)
*Lehigh Gorge State Park (Carbon and Luzerne Counties)
*Nescopeck State Park (Luzerne County)
*Promised Land State Park (Pike County)
*Prompton State Park (Wayne County)
*Tobyhanna State Park (Monroe and Wayne Counties)
*Varden Conservation Area (Wayne County)

References

External links

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