Codorus State Park

Come on out to Codorus this weekend to celebrate the cooler weather. Check it out and register at https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/search?search=Codorus

Join the park naturalist for a Moonlit Paddle this Friday, September 4th at 8:00 PM. We will enjoy the quite of the lake at night and see what animals are out and about. **This is a bring your own boat event** Due to CoVid19 masks are required until we are on the water. Program size will be limited and preregistration is required. Please register at: http://eventsreg.dcnr.pa.gov/register/create/34484916635906

**REMINDER** Waterfowl hunting is not permitted until the day AFTER Labor Day in Codorus State Park.

Beginners Kayak! Saturday, September 5th at 6:30 Pm Have you recently purchased a Kayak or Canoe? Come out for some fun on the lake and learn all the tricks to a safe and enjoyable day on the water! **This is a bring your own boat (and PFD) event**... Due to CoVid 19 masks must be worn until we are on the water, program size will be limited and registration is required. Please regisgter at: http://eventsreg.dcnr.pa.gov/register/create/34440638343838

**UPDATE** 8/25/2020 - The Main Launch restrooms are now OPEN! The contractor will return Friday morning to finish up, which will close the restrooms for a few hours, but they are now OPEN.

Why we’re nuts about our Chestnuts! Codorus is the home of 4 orchards planted by The American Chestnut Foundation. These orchards are part of the work being done to bring this amazing tree back to our forests and back into timber production. American Chestnuts constituted a quarter of the trees growing in PA and 20% of those in Appalachia. These trees grew fast and straight. Trees larger than 10 ft. in diameter and over 100 ft. tall were often recorded. The timber was rot ...resistant and the wood was used to build just about everything, from homes and furniture to fill them to coffins. American chestnut produce abundant amounts of large, sweet, nutritious nuts. The nuts were important to wildlife, used as livestock forage and were an important part of the mountaineers of Appalachia livelihood. In some places the nuts made up an important part of people’s diets. Tens of thousands of pounds were shipped to cities and sold on city streets as a seasonal treat, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Even the bark was valuable as it was used in the leather industry for tanning. In the early 1900’s Chestnut trees were imported from Asia, some of these trees carried a blight. Chestnut blight is a fungus that damages the cells of Chestnut trees. The blight is common in Asia and trees there have developed resistance. American trees had never been exposed and had no defenses. The blight was first noticed by a forester in New York at the Bronx Zoo in 1904. By the 1950’s most of the trees were gone, only their stumps survive, still trying to make a comeback only to be defeated by the blight again. Two old Survivors (American trees that resistance to the blight), the Kelley tree and the Amherst tree, were bred together. 130 saplings were planted at Codorus, right along the road through the campground! This orchard was followed by two others were American Chestnuts were crossed with Asian trees to try to bring together the desirable timber traits of the American chestnut and the blight resistance of the Asian chestnut. Each year The American Chestnut Foundation volunteers (mostly the orchard manager) spend many hours caring for these plantings, (including all the mowing). Penn State works with The American Chestnut Foundation to monitor and gather information about the orchards. We are lucky to have this project in the park and are honored to be a part of returning this iconic species to the American forest. Be on the lookout for workdays and walks in our events calendar to learn more about these trees and the ongoing efforts to bring them back. See more

Please register for this event at: http://eventsreg.dcnr.pa.gov/register/create/34368109479412

Litter left in state parks and forests, or thrown along the road, can seriously impact wildlife, hurting both health and habitat. Even the smallest amount of li...tter can have an impact. Please be a good steward for our wildlife and natural places by disposing of litter properly. #LeaveNoTrace #WildlifeOverWaste

At these Pennsylvania state park lakes managed under Big Bass Program special regulations, anglers may harvest up to four bass with a minimum size of 15 inches year-round, except during the annual No Harvest period. Learn more https://bit.ly/3akx27H #PAFishing

Please note important changes for this year! The drawing will be held at the Bandshell in the Main Launch area off of Sinsheim Rd. Face coverings are REQUIRED!