Beltzville

A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for Beltzville State Park Beltzville State Park The 3,002-acre Beltzville State Park is in the southern foothills of the Poconos. Pohopoco Creek, an excellent trout stream, feeds the 949-acre Beltzville Lake, which is a rest stop for migrating waterfowl and a destination for boaters and anglers. The sand beach and picnic pavilions are very popular attractions. Recreational facilities are a result of a cooperative effort of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources-Bureau of State Parks, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Directions Beltzville is five miles east of Lehighton, just off US 209. From the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, take Exit 74 and follow signs to the park. Recreational Opportunities FISHING: Beltzville Lake is stocked with warmwater and coldwater 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 regulations and laws apply. 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. and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms are authorized to carry a firearm concealed on their person while they are within a state park. 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 twolane launch ramp and parking for cars and boat trailers are at Preacher’s Camp launching area on the southern shore. Seasonal mooring of canoes and kayaks is available at Preacher’s Camp. An ADA accessible courtesy dock in the day use area near the beach is available upon request. SWIMMING: A 525-foot sand beach is open from late-May to mid-September, 8:00 AM to sunset. Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules for swimming. A bathhouse with showers is near the beach. Recreational scuba diving is prohibited. A food and refreshment concession at the swimming beach is open daily, weather permitting, during the summer season, Memorial Day to Labor Day. WATER-SKIING: Skiing is 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. 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. COVERED BRIDGE: Built in 1841 by local craftsman Jacob Buck, the covered bridge spanned Pohopoco Creek and was first used by horse and buggy traffic and later by one-lane car traffic. At the suggestion of local residents, the bridge was relocated between the picnic areas and the beach for public use and enjoyment. It is now for pedestrian use only. 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. Falls Trail passes Wild Creek Falls. 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. Tell us about your hike at: www.explorepatrails.com For More Information Contact: Beltzville State Park 2950 Pohopoco Drive Lehighton, PA 18235-8905 610-377-0045 email: beltzvillesp@pa.gov GPS DD: Lat. 40.86468 Long. -75.629 An Equal Opportunity Employer Information and Reservations Make online reservations at: www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, for state park information and reservations. www.visitPAparks.com Printed on recycled paper visitPAparks 2015 BOATING: unlimited horsepower motors Beltzville Lake has a maximum boating speed of 45 mph. Most types of recreational boats are permitted. 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 prohibited in the boat rental cove area. The lake east of Preachers Camp launch and Pine Run Cove are restricted to “no wake” speed and are excellent for non-powered boating. 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. 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. Exceptions include: law enforcement officers Information on nearby attractions is available from the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, 800-POCONOS. www.poconomountains.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, a geological history of the area, and other exhibits are on display at the rotunda. Adjacent to the park is the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Wildlife Management Area 414. Public hunting is permitted during all established seasons. For information, contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Northeast Division. Protect and Preserve Our Parks Please make your visit safe and enjoyable. Obey all posted rules and regulations and respect fellow visitors and the resources of the park. • Be prepared and bring the proper equipment. Natural areas may possess hazards. Your personal safety and that of your family are your responsibility. • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. BOAT RENTAL: A boat rental concession, west of the swimming beach, is open daily during the summer season. It rents kayaks, paddleboats, rowboats, and small motorboats. 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. Make online reservations at www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, for state park information and reservations. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. Picnic pavilions One, Two, and Four are ADA accessible. Nearby Attractions • Because uncontrolled pets may chase wildlife or frighten visitors, pets must be controlled and attended at all times and on a leash, caged, or crated. Electronic fences and leashes are prohibited. Pets are prohibited in swimming areas. Winter Activities Ice and snow depths are online. www.visitPAparks.com ICE FISHING: Beltzville Lake is stocked with warmwater and coldwater game fish and panfish. Common species are trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge, and perch. Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, make sure ice is at least 4” thick for a single angler and 7” thick for a small group. Always carry safety equipment. ICE BOATING: Iceboats must display a state park launching permit. Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, make sure ice is at least 6” thick. Always carry safety equipment. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Many open and rolling fields and nine miles of trail are suitable for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Environmental Education and Interpretation The park’s environmental interpretive center and amphitheater serve as the focal point for interpretive programs conducted at the park. The environmental interpretive center is ADA accessible. History 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. • Prevent forest fires by having a fire in proper facilities and properly disposing of hot coals. Do not leave a fire unattended. • Please park only in designated areas and obey all traffic regulations. • Soliciting and posting signs are prohibited without approval from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Access for People with Disabilities This symbol indicates facilities and activities that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible for people with disabilities. This publication text is available in alternative formats. If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.  In an Emergency Call 911 and contact a park employee. Directions to the nearest hospital are posted on bulletin boards and at the park office. NEAREST HOSPITAL Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital 211 North 12th Street Lehighton, PA 18235 610-377-1300