State Park Beaches Offer Extended Swimming Season

Although back to school traditionally means swimming pools have fewer open days and shorter hours, there’s still time to enjoy summer fun at Pennsylvania state parks, even after the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Swimming is a recreational opportunity offered at many state parks. Fourteen parks have pools. While most of them are open for the Labor Day weekend, many are offering reduced hours because lifeguards, who are most often high school and college students, have returned to school.

Many swimming beaches at state park lakes are open into the school year because they operate under the “open swim” policy, meaning you swim at your own risk and schedules are not dependent on lifeguard availability. This allows visitors to enjoy a longer swimming season.

There are 54 state parks with designated swimming beaches

North

• Bald Eagle State Park
• Black Moshannon State Park
• Chapman State Park
• Hills Creek State Park
• Little Pine State Park
• Lyman Run State Park
• Ole Bull State Park
• Parker Dam State Park
• Poe Valley State Park
• Raymond B. Winter State Park

South

• Canoe Creek State Park
• Colonel Denning State Park
• Cowans Gap State Park
• Gifford Pinchot State Park
• Greenwood Furnace State Park
• Pine Grove Furnace State Park
• Prince Gallitzin State Park
• Shawnee State Park​
• Whipple Dam State Park

East

• Beltzville State Park
• Gouldsboro State Park
• Hickory Run State Park
• Locust Lake State Park
• Promised Land State Park
• Ricketts Glen State Park
• Tobyhanna State Park
• Tuscarora State Park
• Worlds End State Park

West

• Clear Creek State Park
• Keystone State Park
• Laurel Hill State Park
• Moraine State Park
• Presque Isle State Park
• Pymatuning State Park
• Raccoon Creek State Park
• Yellow Creek State Park

These 14 Pennsylvania state parks offer swimming pools

North

• Bendigo State Park
• Hyner Run State Park
• Mount Pisgah State Park
• Sizerville State Park

South

• Blue Knob State Park
• Caledonia State Park
• Codorus State Park
• Little Buffalo State Park

East

• Frances Slocum State Park
• French Creek State Park
• Marsh Creek State Park
• Neshaminy State Park
• Nockamixon State Park

West

• Ryerson Station State Park

How to Find Swimming Opportunities at State Parks

It’s a good idea to call the park -- or check the park’s webpages -- you are planning to visit to make sure the facility is open before you go.

Whether you like to dip your toes in a lake, sit on a beach, or lounge in one of our pools, DCNR welcomes you to spend the last few days of summer with us at a Pennsylvania state park.