Conewago Lake
Timber Hills, Pennsylvania · on Conewago Lake
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $28
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Conewago Lake
Conewago Lake, operated commercially as Mt. Gretna Lake & Beach, is a mountain-stream-fed lake in Timber Hills, South Londonderry Township, Pennsylvania, just outside the Mount Gretna community. It has been a swimming destination since the Victorian era and today operates as a ticketed, lifeguard-staffed beach facility.
The lake sits in the wooded Mount Gretna area of Lebanon County, about 12 miles from Hershey and 25 miles north of the Lancaster tourist/outlet area. The site spans roughly eight acres of beach, recreation lawn, and picnic grove, and historically featured a Victorian-era bathhouse with a high-dive platform and floating docks.
Swimming at Conewago Lake
Swimming takes place off a sand beach on a mountain-stream-fed lake, with lifeguard supervision, a designated children's dock, and rental inflatables/canoes/kayaks available. This is a managed, ticketed swim beach rather than an unsupervised wild swimming hole, suiting families and casual swimmers who want a supervised lake day.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 130 Lakeview Drive, Lebanon, PA 17042, about 4.5 miles off PA Turnpike Exit 266, near the Mount Gretna community (Timber Hills area of South Londonderry Township).
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up, ticketed beach facility with an on-site parking lot at 130 Lakeview Drive, no hike is required. No source specifies the exact walk distance from the lot to the beach, but nothing suggests it is more than a short walk across the grounds.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Ticketed, lifeguard-staffed lake beach with a designated Kid's Dock and a roped-off shallow area that non-swimmers/those needing assistance are required to stay within, per the facility's own FAQ. Sand-beach entry (no cliffs/current) makes it well suited to young kids under supervision.
Parking
Free
On-site parking at the facility address (130 Lakeview Drive, Lebanon, PA 17042); the facility's own FAQ states "Parking is free!" No separate lot location/capacity details were found.
Hours
Open daily 11:30 AM, 6:30 PM for the 2026 season (per mtgretnalake.com); exact season start/end dates not found.
On the water
Restrictions: Private/personal boats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and oars/paddles are prohibited, only the facility's own rental canoes/kayaks (30-minute sessions) are permitted on the water. Inflatable tubes, boogie boards, and rafts are allowed for personal use.
No launch for private watercraft of any kind exists here; this is strictly a swim-and-rental-boat facility, not a paddle-in-your-own-gear spot.
Rentals nearby
Canoe and kayak rentals (30-minute sessions), inflatable tubes, and beach chairs, rentals only usable on Conewago Lake itself, no personal watercraft permitted
Prices: Canoe/kayak $9 per 30 minutes; inflatable tube $9/day; beach chair $6/day
130 Lakeview Drive, Lebanon, PA 17042 (on-site at the beach) · Same as facility hours: daily 11:30 AM-6:30 PM, 2026 season
Backstory
The lake has hosted swimming since the Victorian era, when it featured a bathhouse with a high-dive platform and floating docks, tied to the historic Mount Gretna Chautauqua-era resort community.
Conewago Lake: FAQ
Does Conewago Lake charge a fee?
Daily admission (2026 rates found): $28 regular (ages 13-59), $14 youth (ages 4-12) and senior (60+), children 3 and under free. Season passes: $260 regular, $65 youth, $130 senior. Rentals: inflatable tube $9/day, canoe/kayak $9/30min, beach chair $6/day. All tickets must be pre-purchased online; none sold on-site.
Is Conewago Lake kid friendly?
Ticketed, lifeguard-staffed lake beach with a designated Kid's Dock and a roped-off shallow area that non-swimmers/those needing assistance are required to stay within, per the facility's own FAQ. Sand-beach entry (no cliffs/current) makes it well suited to young kids under supervision.
Do I need to hike to reach Conewago Lake?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Conewago Lake?
On-site parking at the facility address (130 Lakeview Drive, Lebanon, PA 17042); the facility's own FAQ states "Parking is free!" No separate lot location/capacity details were found.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Conewago Lake?
No launch for private watercraft of any kind exists here; this is strictly a swim-and-rental-boat facility, not a paddle-in-your-own-gear spot.
What are the rules at Conewago Lake?
No pets, no alcohol, no fishing, no private boats/canoes/kayaks/paddleboards (rentals only), no balls/frisbees except on designated volleyball courts, no drones/remote-control toys, no pop-up tents/awnings; smoking/vaping restricted to a designated area. Chairs, coolers, food/drink, grills, single-pole umbrellas, and inflatables are permitted.
What water body is Conewago Lake on?
Conewago Lake is on Conewago Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
More swimming holes near Timber Hills
Swim Beach, Blue Marsh Lake
Bernville, Pennsylvanialake
⛺🛶🏄🚤
Gifford Pinchot State Park
Lewisberry, Pennsylvanialake
🛶🏄🚤
Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground
Wellsville, Pennsylvanialake
⛺🛶🚤
Tuscarora State Park Beach
Barnesville, Pennsylvanialake
🛶🏄🚤
Beltzville State Park - Beach
Lehighton, Pennsylvaniareservoir
🛶🏄🚤
Raymond B. Winter State Park
Mifflinburg, Pennsylvanialake
⛺