Black Moshannon State Park
Philipsburg, Pennsylvania · on Black Moshannon Lake · Black Moshannon State Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Black Moshannon State Park
Black Moshannon State Park in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania centers on the 250-acre Black Moshannon Lake, a dam-impounded lake whose water is naturally stained tea-brown by tannins from the surrounding sphagnum bog. The park operates an official, ADA-accessible sand swimming beach seasonally from mid-May through mid-September, making this tea-colored water a distinctive swimming hole and an unusual lake to swim in.
The lake sits within a reclaimed bog and forest landscape in the Allegheny Plateau of central Pennsylvania, an area that was logged and burned over before the Civilian Conservation Corps rebuilt the park's facilities in the 1930s. The park protects the largest reconstituted bog in Pennsylvania, home to carnivorous plants and numerous orchid species, and is designated Important Bird Area #33.
Swimming at Black Moshannon State Park
Swimming takes place off a sand beach on Black Moshannon Lake. The water is naturally dark/tea-colored from plant tannins leaching out of the surrounding sphagnum bog rather than from pollution, and a first-hand account describes swimming among lily pads. There is no lifeguard on duty (removed since 2008), so swimming is at each visitor's own risk; the beach suits casual, supervised family swimming rather than serious open-water swimming.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up beach: the swim beach parking area is adjacent to the sand beach with a short, flat walk from car to water; visitors describe easy car access to the boardwalk/beach area. No trail hike is needed to reach the swimming area.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
ADA-accessible sand beach with a playground right at the beach and kids' fishing rods to borrow (first-hand account) make it welcoming for families, but there is no lifeguard on duty (discontinued since 2008) and swimming is at your own risk, so young/weak swimmers need direct adult supervision.
Parking
Free
A day-use parking area is located near Pavilion 3 with an EV charging station. Pennsylvania state parks charge no entrance fee statewide (per PA DCNR), and no beach-specific parking fee is mentioned on any official page.
Restrooms
Yes
Official park accessibility page confirms restrooms exist near the lower campground amphitheater/playground; an ADA-accessible park store and refreshment stand operate seasonally near the beach. Exact restroom/bathhouse location specific to the swim beach itself was not confirmed by an official source.
Water clarity
Often murky
Water is naturally dark, tea/tannin-colored (not turbid pollution) from the surrounding sphagnum bog draining into the lake; a first-hand visitor describes swimming among lily pads in the 'black water.' This is a stained/tannic lake rather than a clear spring or mountain stream, so visibility underwater is inherently low even though the water itself is considered clean.
Hours
Park open every day, sunrise to sunset (day-use areas close at dusk). Swim beach specifically open mid-May through mid-September, 8:00 A.M. to sunset. Sleepy Hollow Outpost boat rental hours: Sun 11a-7p, Mon 12p-6p, Tue-Thu 11a-7p, Fri-Sat 11a-8p (seasonal).
On the water
Restrictions: Electric motors only, no-wake/slow speed; gas motors fully prohibited. Motorized boats need current registration; non-powered vessels need boat registration, a PA state park launch/mooring permit, or a PA Fish & Boat Commission launch permit. 87 mooring spaces across 4 boat launch/mooring areas; Boating Area 1 is ADA accessible. Iceboating allowed with a launch permit in winter (ice thickness not monitored by the park).
PA Fish and Boat Commission regulations apply lakewide.
Rentals nearby
Canoe, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard rentals; official park page also notes seasonal boat rentals including an ADA-accessible option
Prices: ~$20/hour reported by a recent visitor (not listed on the outfitter's own website)
Inside the park, in a historic Civilian Conservation Corps-era (c. 1930) log cabin/boat house at the center of Black Moshannon State Park, on the lake · Sun 11a-7p; Mon 12p-6p; Tue-Thu 11a-7p; Fri-Sat 11a-8p (seasonal operation)
What regulars say
Visitor reports: the lake's black-tea water is a natural bog/tannin effect, not dirty water, and swimming happens right alongside lily pads. The beach has a playground and kids' fishing rods to borrow, but no lifeguard. There is no cell/internet signal anywhere in the park. Boat rentals ran about $20/hour at the time of one visitor's trip.
Backstory
Black Moshannon Lake was formed by the Kephart Dam, completed in 1974, on Black Moshannon Creek. The park itself dates to 1937 and was largely built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (1933-1937) out of previously logged and fire-damaged forestland, including the original beach bathhouse. Three CCC-era historic districts here were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Black Moshannon State Park: FAQ
Is Black Moshannon State Park kid friendly?
ADA-accessible sand beach with a playground right at the beach and kids' fishing rods to borrow (first-hand account) make it welcoming for families, but there is no lifeguard on duty (discontinued since 2008) and swimming is at your own risk, so young/weak swimmers need direct adult supervision.
Do I need to hike to reach Black Moshannon State Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Black Moshannon State Park?
A day-use parking area is located near Pavilion 3 with an EV charging station. Pennsylvania state parks charge no entrance fee statewide (per PA DCNR), and no beach-specific parking fee is mentioned on any official page.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Black Moshannon State Park?
PA Fish and Boat Commission regulations apply lakewide.
When is the best time to visit Black Moshannon State Park?
Beach open mid-May through mid-September, 8:00 A.M. to sunset (per official park swimming page); a first-hand source likewise describes swimming as a summer-months activity.
What are the rules at Black Moshannon State Park?
Official park policy: swim at your own risk and follow posted rules; the beach and adjacent area are smoke-free (no cigarettes, pipes, cigars, or e-cigarettes), with a designated smoking area located away from the beach.
What water body is Black Moshannon State Park on?
Black Moshannon State Park is on Black Moshannon Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
