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Nearby Parks:
Erie National Wildlife Refuge
Pymatuning State Park
Pymatuning State Park
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| State Park Overview: |
 | The 2,856-acre Maurice K. Goddard State Park features the 1,860-acre Lake Wilhelm, which is very popular with anglers. Many recreational activities attract visitors in all seasons. The large lake, abundant wetlands, old fields and mature forests provide a diversity of habitats for wildlife, especially waterfowl and eagles and ospreys. |
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| Be the 1st to Review Maurice K Goddard State Park. You can rate it, post a comment on it, or do both. |
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| Trails: |
| Biking:
A twelve-mile paved bicycle trail follows the shoreline from Boat Launch 4 to the Marina, and continues to Dugan?s Run. It can be accessed from Launch 4, Marina, Launch 2, Launch 1, Dam and Dugan?s Run. The trail is open to two-way bicycle traffic, hiking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Stay to the right while bike riding. Please park bicycles off of the trail to avoid obstructing traffic. |
| Trail Accessories: |
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| Picnicking: |
| Picnicking: Picnic tables and charcoal grills are available throughout the park. Boat Launches 1, 2, 3, 4 and the Marina have restrooms and large picnicking areas. Picnic pavilions can be reserved in advance for a fee by calling 888-PA-PARKS. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Boating: |
| Boating: 20 hp motors permitted
The 1,860-acre Lake Wilhelm has a 241-slip marina and a 48-space dry land mooring area available from May 1 to October 31.
The Marina has 250 car parking spaces, 121 car/trailer-parking spaces, a four-lane boat-launching ramp, two courtesy docks, a marina building and fueling station.
A boat rental concession in the Marina rents rowboats, pontoon boats, paddle boats, kayaks and canoes.
In addition to the boat launch area at the Marina, there are seven other launches around the lake. Four are within the state park and three are in the state game lands.
Only non-powered vessels are allowed in the Game Commission section of the lake.
Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. |
| Boating Accessories: |
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| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Fishing:
The 1,860-acre Lake Wilhelm is a warm-water fishery. Commons species are largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, catfish, perch and sunfish. A bait and fishing tackle concession is available at the marina. An area called the ?Rounded Point,? near the Marina parking lot, has an accessible fishing pier. All Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.
Hunting and Firearms:
Over 1,155 acres of Maurice K. Goddard State Park, plus Lake Wilhelm, are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer and waterfowl. State Game Land 270 is adjacent to the park.
Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for accessible hunting information.
Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. The park is used by other visitors during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment must be kept in the owner's car, trailer or camp. |
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| Area Accommodations |
| B&Bs / Inns | |  | Pine Hills Inn - Volant, PA
A great place to get away from it all. Come rock your stress away or visit the many shops in Volant and the Grove City Prime Outlets. Built in 1879 by the Amish, the Inn sets in the Amish countryside between New Wilmington and Volant, PA.
Web Site: http://www.pinehillsinn.com |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Local Visitor Information Web Sites |
| | Pine Hills Inn
A great place to get away from it all. Come rock your stress away or visit the many shops in Volant and the Grove City Prime Outlets. Built in 1879 by the Amish, the Inn sets in the Amish countryside between New Wilmington and Volant, PA.
Web Site: http://www.pinehillsinn.com |
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| Related Links: |
| Downey Diving - Maurice K. Goddard State Park, Lake Wilhelm - Lake Wilhelm. Weather. How to Get There. Local Contacts. What To See. Rates. Contact Us. Maurice K. Goddard State Park consists of 2,856 acres in northeastern Mercer County. A major attraction... |
| Nature Programs: |
| A wide variety of interpretive and educational programs are offered May through September at the Environmental Learning Center in the Marina. Through hands-on activities, guided walks and evening programs, participants gain appreciation, understanding, and develop a sense of stewardship toward natural and cultural resources. Contact the park office for program schedules. |
| Area Attractions: |
| For information on nearby attractions, contact; Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-637-2370, www.mercercountypa.org.
The 2,027-acre State Game Land 270 is adjacent to the park. Its rolling terrain is open, with interspersed wooded areas. A 420-acre portion of Lake Wilhelm is part of this tract. The common game species include, duck, rabbit, turkey, pheasant, squirrel, woodcock, grouse, deer and dove.
For the benefit and safety of all users, please respect posted rules and regulations. Motorboats are not permitted on Lake Wilhelm, west of I-79. Entry upon posted wildlife refuges and propagation areas is prohibited. Motorized vehicles are prohibited on gated roads and trails; snowmobiles are excepted where so designated and posted. For more information contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Northwest Division Headquarters, 877-877-0299.
McKeever Environmental Education Center is a modern facility that provides group programming for one hour, one day or one week. Three dormitories and a dining hall can accommodate 120 people. A discovery building, auditorium, trails and the outdoors complement each other to make an ideal setting for an environmental education experience. For more information, contact; McKeever Environmental Education Center, 724-376-1000. |
| Area Campgrounds | | R V Resort Village
235 Skyline Dr
Mercer, PA
(724) 662-4560
| Camping Assoc of Presbyteries
114 W Venango St
Mercer, PA
(724) 662-4481
| Plantation Park
734 Wilson Ave
Mercer, PA
(724) 662-4110
| Rocky Springs Camp Ground
84 Rocky Spring Rd
Mercer, PA
(724) 662-4415
| Shenango Valley RV Park
559 Crestview Dr
Transfer, PA
(724) 962-9800
| Brookdale Family Campground
25164 Highway 27
Meadville, PA
(814) 789-3251
| Playland Camping Park
24773 Playland Dr
Meadville, PA
(814) 425-7313
| French Creek Campground
23498 Highway 285
Cochranton, PA
(814) 425-7361
| Runamuck Campground & RV Store
8896 Highway 6
Conneaut Lake, PA
(814) 382-8185
| Goddard Park Vacationland
867 Georgetown Rd
Sandy Lake, PA
(724) 253-4645
| Camp Wilhelm Travel Park
1401 Creek Rd
Clarks Mills, PA
(724) 253-2886
| KOA Campgrounds
1337 Butler Pike
Mercer, PA
(724) 748-3160
| Farma Parks Inc
139 Bean Rd
Hadley, PA
(724) 253-4599
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| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Bill's Field & Stream
242 Birchwood Dr # B
Transfer, PA
(724) 962-2950
| Hunting & Fishing Club of Crawford County Inc
905 Market St
Meadville, PA
(814) 333-2582
| Conneaut Lake Tackle
110 Water St
Conneaut Lake, PA
(814) 382-6095
| Maurer's Trading Post
1696 Pittsburgh Rd
Franklin, PA
(814) 437-9570
| Bite Me Bait & Tackle
5097 Georgetown Rd
Franklin, PA
(814) 437-6987
| Consumer Direct Sports Suplrs
461 Veterans Rd
Mercer, PA
(724) 748-5500
| Western Reserve Fish & Game
W Middlesex-Mercer Rd
Mercer, PA
(724) 983-1473
| Jackson Field & Stream Club
RR 1 Box 35
Jackson Center, PA
(724) 662-3171
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| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | Conneaut Lake Resort Rentals
12213 Midway Dr
Conneaut Lake, PA
(814) 382-8414
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| Directions: |
| The park is five minutes from I-79. Take Exit 130 (Sandy Lake-Greenville) and travel west on PA 358 (towards Greenville) for about 0.1-mile, then bear right onto Carpenters Corner Road. At the first stop sign, turn right onto Lake Wilhelm Road, which goes directly to the park. |
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