Gouldsboro State Park

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Gouldsboro State Park
Pennsylvania State Park
Natural Monument (IUCN III)
GboroSP Wetland.jpg
Named for: Jay Gould and nearby Gouldsboro
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
Counties Monroe, Wayne
Townships Coolbaugh, Lehigh
Location [1]
 - coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
 - elevation 1,909 ft (582 m) [1]
Area 2,880 acres (1,165 ha)
Founded 1958
Managed by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Visitation 100,000 (in 2008) [2]
Locator Red.svg
Location of Gouldsboro State Park in Pennsylvania
Location of Gouldsboro State Park in Pennsylvania
Website : Gouldsboro State Park

Gouldsboro State Park is a 2,880-acre (1,165 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County and Lehigh Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park includes the 250-acre (100 ha) 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.[3]

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.[4][5]

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.[2]

Inspections on the dam in 1979 revealed "the dam’s drain gate was inoperable and its spillway was deteriorating".[2] 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.[2]

Recreation

Gouldsboro Lake

Gouldsboro Lake

Gouldsboro Lake is a 250-acre (100 ha) 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. The beach does not have lifeguards. 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.[6]

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, wild 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.[6]

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.[6]

Trails

  • Prospect Rock Trail is a 5.8-mile (9.3 km) "difficult" trail that is a loop that begins and ends in the day use area, passing over some very rugged terrain.[6]
  • Frank Gantz Trail is a 3.2-mile (5.1 km) "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.[6]

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Gouldsboro State Park:[7][8][9][10]


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Note: Histories of both state parks
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (shows owners and operators)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Note: shows Gouldsboro State Park
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Note: shows Gouldsboro State Park
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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