Beltzville State Park

Hiking   Mountain Biking   -  Covered Bridge   -  Picnicking   -  Swimming   -  Boating   -  Launching and Mooring   -  Water-skiing   -  Fishing   -  Hunting   -  Education   -  Cross-country Skiing   -  Ice Fishing   -  Ice Boating  

---

Picnicking: Wooded and open picnic areas are in the Pine Run West Day Use Area, which has modern restrooms, drinking water, picnic tables, parking areas and day use mooring for boats. Playfields are around the wooded picnic area with an ADA accessible children’s playground between Picnic Pavilion Four and the beach. Beltzville has four picnic pavilions that may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Go online to www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS for reservations. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. Picnic pavilions One, Two and Four are ADA accessible.

Make a reservation.

---

Swimming: A 525-foot sand beach is open from late-May to Labor Day, 8 a.m. to sunset. Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules for swimming. A bathhouse is near the beach. Recreational scuba diving is prohibited.

---

Covered Bridge: At the suggestion of local residents, the original covered bridge, built across Pohopoco Creek in 1841 by local craftsman Jacob Buck, has been relocated between the picnic areas and the beach for public use and enjoyment. This bridge was first used by horse and buggy traffic and later by one-lane car traffic. It is now for pedestrian use only.

---

Boating: unlimited horsepower motors
The 949-acre Beltzville Lake has a maximum boating speed of 45 miles per hour. Most types of recreational boats are permitted on the lake. Please check with the park office if there is a question as to the type of watercraft permitted. It is unlawful to operate a boat equipped with inboard engines with out-of-the-transom or straight stack type exhausts, wet or dry. Sleeping overnight on watercraft is prohibited. Day use mooring is not permitted in the boat rental cove area. The areas east of Preacher’s Camp launch and Pine Run Cove are excellent for canoeing and other non-powered watercraft. Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state.

The lake east of Preachers Camp launch and Pine Run Cove are restricted to “no wake” speed.

Motorboats must display a current boat registration. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks, available at most state park offices; launching permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Complete information on boating rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

---

Launching and Mooring: A three-lane boat launching ramp, ADA accessible courtesy dock, wide gravel beaching area, and parking for cars and trailers are at Pine Run East Launch along the northern shore of the lake. A two-lane launch ramp and parking for cars and boat trailers are at Preacher’s Camp launching area on the southern shore. Seasonal mooring of canoes is available at Preacher’s Camp. An ADA accessible courtesy dock and lifter are in the day use area near the beach.

---

Water-skiing: Skiing is only permitted from sunrise to sunset in the zoned ski area along the south shore of the lake. All boats in this ski area shall operate in a counterclockwise direction. Boats not engaged in skiing must remain outside the ski area while skiing is in progress. A boat may not tow more than one water-ski device on weekends and holidays from the Saturday preceding Memorial Day through Labor Day. Kite-skiing and parasailing are prohibited. Boats may not exceed 45 mph.

---

Boat Rental: A boat rental concession, west of the swimming beach, is open daily during the summer season. It rents kayaks, paddleboats, rowboats, pontoons, and small motorboats.

---

Fishing: The 949-acre Beltzville Lake is stocked with warm-water and cold-water game fish and panfish. Common species are trout, striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge and perch. Below the dam, Pohopoco Creek is stocked with trout. Much of the lake’s northern shoreline can be reached from Pohopoco Drive. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.

Complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.

---

Hunting and Firearms: Over 1,707 acres are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, rabbit, pheasant, ruffed grouse and waterfowl. Contact the park office for ADA accessible hunting information.

The adjacent Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Beltzville Wildlife Management Project has 469 acres open to hunting.

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 ADA accessible hunting information.

Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment used for hunting 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 shall be kept in the owner's car, trailer or leased campsite. The only exception is that law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms may carry said firearm concealed on their person while they are within the park.

Complete information on hunting rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Game Commission Web site.

---

Hiking: 15 miles of trails
The trails of Beltzville State Park follow wooded paths, old roads and mowed walkways through forests, creek valleys, fields and by the lake. Saw Mill Trail, which is just west of the dam breast, offers a diverse historical hike. The trail passes the remains of a gristmill raceway, a dam and gateways, small ponds, a slate quarry from the 1700s, a wetland and a stream. The trails vary in length. A short description of each trail can be found in the "Beltzville Trail Guide," which is available at the park office.

---

Mountain Biking: 2.5 miles of trails
Christman Trail can be biked.

---

No Camping: Overnight lodging on watercraft, in self-contained campers, or in any other form is strictly prohibited. Information on local camping areas is available at the park office.

---

Winter Activities

---

Explore the Winter Report for the current snow and ice depths.

---

Cross-country Skiing: Many open and rolling fields and nine miles of trail are suitable for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

---

Ice Fishing: The 949-acre Beltzville Lake is stocked with warm-water and cold-water game fish and panfish. Common species are trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge and perch. Contact the park office to determine the ice and snow conditions in advance of any planned outing. Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, be sure the ice is at least four inches thick and carry safety equipment.

---

Iceboating: Iceboats must display a state park launching permit.

---

Environmental Education and Interpretation

---

The park environmental interpretive center and amphitheater serve as the focal point for interpretive programs conducted by the park environmental education specialist from April through October. School groups, scouts, civic organizations and the general public can learn about the natural, historical and recreational resources of the area. The Bureau’s Watershed Education program is available to high school and middle school students. The program examines the water resources within the watershed surrounding Beltzville Dam. The environmental interpretive center is ADA accessible.

Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward.

Explore environmental education and interpretation for more information.

---

Access for People with Disabilities

---

In addition to the facilities mentioned in the text, the park office is ADA accessible.

If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.

 

Tthe 949-acre Beltzville Lake is a rest stop for migrating waterfowl, especially in the spring when rafts of ducks can be seen. The forests of the eastern and western ends of the lake are good habitat for warblers. 

Beltzville State Park was developed as a portion of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project. The park officially opened in 1972.

Keep in Touch

Add yourself to the DCNR's online community to receive info on this park, or parks in general.

Volunteering

Like to spend time in the outdoors, meet friendly people and help make Pennsylvania State Parks great? Volunteering at a park might be for you.

Becoming a Conservation Volunteer is easy.

• Sign up to be a Conservation Volunteer
  OR
• Contact your local state park directly and ask for the Conservation Volunteer coordinator - you'll be hooked up with an interesting and appropriate project in Pennsylvania's natural resources.
   

Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation

Believing that each generation is responsible for leaving behind a better legacy of good conservation, the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) was created in 1999 to give supporters and users of Pennsylvania's parks and forests a positive way to contribute to the conservation of our publicly-owned properties. The Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation welcomes the support of individuals and businesses who share a commitment to conserving, protecting, and enhancing the natural, scenic, and recreational areas of this commonwealth. www.paparksandforests.org

Make a Donation

To a park - find this park's address below

To a park or the Bureau of State Parks - Pennsylvania Parks and Forestry Foundation www.paparksandforests.org

Through a purchase at a park gift shop

Thank you for your support!

Education Programs

We love when young people ask us how to get involved!

DiscoverE has programs for young people ages 4 to 17, provided by Pennsylvania State Park educators. By combining recreation and education, we hope to motivate children to learn more and return often, leading to a lifetime of outdoor enjoyment and conservation leadership. 

In Watershed Education, teachers and students assess water quality of a local stream on a quarterly basis and develop strategies to solve local water quality problems. 

ECO Camp - Exploring Careers Outdoors - is a week-long residential camp for a cross-section of high school youth from across Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Participate in action-packed, hands on activities and recreational adventures in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests that expose youth to conservation, recreation and careers in natural resources. Learn how people make a living working in the outdoors.

Explore education for more information on these and other programs.

Explore the Calendar of Events to find a program near you.

iConservePA

Do you take conservation personally? iConservePA is a Web site managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources whose vision is to inspire citizens to value their natural resources, engage in conservation practices and experience the outdoors. Take conservation personally.

Come Work with Us

Pennsylvania State Parks and the Department of Conservation and Natrual Resources offer a wide range of civil service and non-civil service jobs, from foresters, to rangers, to engineers, to educators, to botanists and so much more. Learn what is currently available.

Tell us What You Think

Contact this park with compliments, concerns and issues about the park.

Beltzville State Park

Nearby Attractions

Information on nearby attractions is available from the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau. www.800poconos.com

The Overlook Rotunda, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is just off Pohopoco Drive and provides a complete view of the dam and the lake. Local fossil specimens, models of the outlet works tower and other exhibits, including a geological history of the area are on display at the rotunda.

Adjacent to the park is the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Beltzville Wildlife Management Project. Public hunting is permitted during all established seasons. For information contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Northeast Division.

Maps and Downloadables

Below are many of the maps and publications for this park. You can read them or download them and might need special software (all free) to view the publications.

You must have the free Adobe Reader to view the maps and brochures that are in pdf format (.pdf).

Alternate versions of the text of the brochures are in rich text and text formats. Click on the files to view them. To download (.rtf) files:
For Windows users, right click on the link then left click on "Save target as" to download the file to your computer. For Mac users, hold down the "Options" button and click on the link, then select "Save" to download the file to your computer.

Recreational Guide

Beltzville State Park Map (.pdf)  (1,159 kb, 3/11) 
Beltzville State Park Recreational Guide (.pdf)  (444 kb, 3/11)
    large print version of the guide text (.rtf)

Interactive GIS Map

The Interactive GIS Map uses Geographic Information Systems to create a map that does not need to be downloaded and features driving directions, searchable park amenities and customizable maps. Please note that the background maps are maintained by a variety of public sources and driving directions usually go to the nearest large road.