Marsh Creek State Park
Marsh Creek State Park is in the rolling hills of northcentral Chester County. The 1,727-acre park contains the 535-acre Marsh Creek Lake, which is great for fishing, sailing and is a reststop for migrating waterfowl.
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Hiking - Horseback Riding - Picnicking - Swimming - Boating - Sailing - Fishing - Hunting - Sledding - Ice Skating - Iceboating - Ice Fishing Picnicking: Two picnic areas containing over 150 picnic tables, restrooms and some charcoal grills are available year-round.
For more information on the pool, pavilion, and swimming lessons please go to www.marshcreekparkpool.com or call 610-458-8535. Boating: electric motors permitted A boat rental concession at the East Launch offers rowboats, canoes, kayaks, surfboards and sailboats throughout the summer and weather permitting, on weekends during the spring and autumn. 610-458-5040 www.marshcreeklake.com 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.
Complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site.
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: The trails explore a variety of habitats including forest, field and wetlands. Use extreme caution when hiking in hunting areas during hunting seasons. Horseback Riding: The bridle trails are in the western side of the park and have loops of various distances. Use extreme caution when riding in hunting areas during hunting seasons. With an emphasis on families and fun, Hope Springs Farm offers horseback riding lessons, boarding and trail riding. www.hopespringshorsefarm.com/index.html Winter ActivitiesExplore the Winter Report for the current snow and ice depths. Sledding: About seven acres of slopes are by the picnic area in the East Launch. Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, be sure the ice is at least four inches thick and carry safety equipment. Ice Fishing: Ice fishing is permitted on the 535-acre Marsh Creek Lake. The lake is designated a big bass lake and specific regulations apply. Ice Skating: Ice skating is permitted on the natural ice. Iceboating: Iceboating is permitted on the natural ice. Iceboats must display a state park mooring or launching permit. Access for People with Disabilities
In an EmergencyContact a park employee or dial 911. Nearest Hospitals Marsh Creek is a popular place for birding, especially during the spring and fall waterfowl migration. Marsh Creek State Park was developed to help manage the water resources in the Brandywine Creek Watershed, which drains 330 square miles, most of which are in Chester County. Frequent flooding, water shortages and lack of recreational opportunities for nearby population centers were problems in the watershed. The sponsoring agencies all shared the construction costs of the dam and lake. They were: U.S. Soil Conservation Service, Chester County Water Resources Authority, Chester County Commissioners, Chester County Conservation District, the General State Authority and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (now the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources). The Chester County Water Resources Authority and Chester County Commissioners paid for utility and road relocations. The Chester County Water Resources Authority also acquired the land rights for the project. The Department of Environmental Resources acquired the land around the lake for recreation from the Water Resources Authority for approximately $1.1 million. Project 70 bond funds were used to acquire the land at this site. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania constructed and operates the recreational facilities. Keep in TouchAdd yourself to the DCNR's online community to receive info on this park, or parks in general. Volunteering
Becoming a Conservation Volunteer is easy.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Make a DonationTo 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 ProgramsWe love when young people ask us how to get involved!
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
Come Work with UsPennsylvania 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 ThinkContact this park with compliments, concerns and issues about the park. Marsh Creek State Park Nearby AttractionsInformation on nearby attractions is available from the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau www.brandywinevalley.com or Chester Springs Surrounds www.chesterspringssurrounds.org Maps and Downloadables
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: Recreational GuideMarsh Creek State Park Map (.pdf) (1,487 kb, 11/11) Interactive GIS MapThe interactive 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. Bird ChecklistMarsh Creek State Park Bird Checklist (.pdf) (2,965 kb, 3/11)  The park is about two miles west of the village of Eagle on PA 100. Access to the park from the Downingtown Exit 312 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike is via PA 100 north. At Eagle, signs direct you to the park. Driving Directions: The Interactive GIS Map has turn-by-turn driving directions to the park office from the Park information Window. Marsh Creek State Park
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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.
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. 
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. 
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.