Beltzville State Park - Beach
Lehighton, Pennsylvania · on Beltzville Lake · Beltzville Recreation Area
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Memorial Day through Labor Day (official beach operating season); hours are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (per main park page) or 8:00 AM to sunset (per swimming page).
About Beltzville State Park - Beach
Beltzville State Park's swimming beach sits on Beltzville Lake, a 949-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on Pohopoco Creek near Lehighton, PA, and is one of the largest official swimming beaches in the Pennsylvania state park system. The 525-foot sand beach is staffed and operated by PA DCNR seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The beach sits on the shore of Beltzville Lake, a 949-acre, 19.8-mile-shoreline reservoir created by the USACE Beltzville Dam on Pohopoco Creek within a 3,002-acre state park in Carbon County, about 5 miles east of Lehighton off US Route 209. The lake covers the former village of Big Creek Valley, which was vacated in 1966 to make way for the reservoir.
Swimming at Beltzville State Park - Beach
This is a large, official, lifeguarded lake beach rather than a swimming hole in the wild sense - open water swimming and wading off a 525-foot sand beach, with roped-off designated swim boundaries and K-9 water-rescue teams patrolling the area on weekends in season. It draws heavy crowds and reaches visitor capacity (parking-lot closure) on hot holiday weekends.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located about 5 miles east of Lehighton, PA, off U.S. Route 209, within Beltzville State Park in Franklin/Towamensing townships, Carbon County.
Parking: Beach has a large paved parking area; on peak summer holidays (e.g., July 4th) the lot has filled to capacity by mid-morning (904 cars reported on one such day), after which the park closes further beach access, at times restricting entry to county residents only.
The hike in
- Time on foot
- Under 5 minutes on foot from the beach parking lot to the sand; no hike needed.
The beach is drive-up, reached directly from an adjacent paved parking lot (roughly a 1-2 minute walk to the sand). Separately, the park has 15 miles of hiking trails (Pine Run Cove, Ground Pine, Falls, Christman, Cove Ridge, Sawmill Loop, Preachers Camp, Trinity Gorge), but per the official DCNR hiking page 'no trail specifically leads to a swimming beach' - the closest is the 4.1-mile out-and-back Trinity Gorge Trail, which includes an optional 1.2-mile lakeshore section, unrelated to the designated swim beach.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Large 525-ft sand beach with roped-off designated swim boundaries and K-9 water-rescue lifeguard teams patrolling every weekend Memorial Day-Labor Day, which supports supervised family swimming. However, this is open reservoir water (not a shallow pool) and a documented 2025 incident required active rescue of an adult who went beyond his depth, so close supervision is still warranted, especially on weekdays outside lifeguard patrol hours.
Parking
Lot
Large paved parking lot directly adjacent to the beach. On peak summer holidays (e.g., July 4th) the lot has filled to capacity by mid-morning (904 cars reported on one such day), after which the park closes further beach access and at times restricts entry to county residents only. No fee amount could be confirmed on official pages.
Restrooms
Yes
Bathhouse with showers located adjacent to the swim beach (per official PA DCNR swimming page); elsewhere in the park, modern restrooms also exist at the Preachers Camp and Trinity Gorge trailheads.
Hours
Beach season is Memorial Day through Labor Day; official hours are listed as 8:00 AM to sunset on the PA DCNR swimming page and 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on the main park page (discrepancy not reconciled by DCNR).
On the water
Restrictions: 45 mph general speed limit on the 949-acre lake; no-wake zone east of the Preachers Camp launch and Pine Run Cove; water-skiing confined to a zoned area on the south shore, sunrise to sunset; motorboats need current registration, non-powered vessels need a boat registration, state park launch/mooring permit, or PA Fish and Boat Commission launch permit; certain inboard engine/exhaust types prohibited; overnight sleeping aboard and day-use mooring in the rental cove are not allowed.
Two launch areas: Pine Run East (north shore, 3-lane ramp, ADA-accessible courtesy dock, trailer parking) and Preachers Camp (south shore, 2-lane ramp, trailer parking, seasonal canoe/kayak mooring).
Rentals nearby
Single and 2-person kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, 4-5 and 6-8 person rafts, pedal boats, and multiple pontoon boats (Playbuoy 6-person, Victor 6 8-person, Avalon Blue 4-6 person, Smoker Craft 8-person)
Prices: Kayaks/paddleboards/pedal boats start around $26/hour; pontoon boats range roughly $120-$575 depending on capacity and rental duration
2950 Pohopoco Dr, Lehighton, PA 18235 - on-site concession located just west of the swimming beach within the state park; pontoon reservations recommended in advance · Mon-Fri 10:30 AM-7:00 PM; weekends & holidays 9:30 AM-7:30 PM
Backstory
Beltzville Lake was formed by the USACE Beltzville Dam, a flood-control project on Pohopoco Creek; the village of Big Creek Valley was vacated in 1966 to allow the reservoir to be built, and the state park opened in 1972.
Beltzville State Park - Beach: FAQ
Is Beltzville State Park - Beach kid friendly?
Large 525-ft sand beach with roped-off designated swim boundaries and K-9 water-rescue lifeguard teams patrolling every weekend Memorial Day-Labor Day, which supports supervised family swimming. However, this is open reservoir water (not a shallow pool) and a documented 2025 incident required active rescue of an adult who went beyond his depth, so close supervision is still warranted, especially on weekdays outside lifeguard patrol hours.
Do I need to hike to reach Beltzville State Park - Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Beltzville State Park - Beach?
Large paved parking lot directly adjacent to the beach. On peak summer holidays (e.g., July 4th) the lot has filled to capacity by mid-morning (904 cars reported on one such day), after which the park closes further beach access and at times restricts entry to county residents only. No fee amount could be confirmed on official pages.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Beltzville State Park - Beach?
Two launch areas: Pine Run East (north shore, 3-lane ramp, ADA-accessible courtesy dock, trailer parking) and Preachers Camp (south shore, 2-lane ramp, trailer parking, seasonal canoe/kayak mooring).
When is the best time to visit Beltzville State Park - Beach?
Memorial Day through Labor Day (official beach operating season); hours are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (per main park page) or 8:00 AM to sunset (per swimming page).
What are the rules at Beltzville State Park - Beach?
Swimmers use the beach at their own risk and must follow posted rules; recreational scuba diving is prohibited; smoking (including e-cigarettes) is banned on the beach and in the swimming area, with designated smoking areas adjacent; overnight lodging on watercraft or camping is prohibited.
What water body is Beltzville State Park - Beach on?
Beltzville State Park - Beach is on Beltzville Lake, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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