Eagles Mere Beach
Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania · on Eagles Mere Lake
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Eagles Mere Beach
Eagles Mere Beach sits at the north end of Eagles Mere Lake, a 250-acre spring-fed lake in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, entirely owned and managed by the private Eagles Mere Association. It is a long-running resort swimming hole with a lifeguard-protected, sandy-bottom swim area, but this is not a public lake to swim in: access is restricted to association members and their guests (borough homeowners, hotel guests, and renters of member properties) rather than the general public.
The lake and beach sit within the small historic resort borough of Eagles Mere in the Allegheny Mountains/Endless Mountains region of Sullivan County. The lake is ringed by a roughly 100-foot association-owned shoreline strip and the Laurel Path, a two-mile walking trail lined with old rhododendrons that encircles the lake; the surrounding area connects to trail networks reaching Worlds End State Park and Loyalsock State Forest.
Swimming at Eagles Mere Beach
Swimming takes place in a sandy-bottom area at the lake's north end marked off with a dock and floating lines, in cold, clear spring-fed water. Lifeguards supervise the area, and swimmers can either wade in the shallows or jump off the dock/diving platform into deeper water. The setting retains an early-20th-century resort character, with green-and-white striped umbrellas and a snack bar nearby.
How to get to this swimming hole
The beach is located at the north end of Eagles Mere Lake, where Pennsylvania Avenue meets Lakewood Avenue in the borough of Eagles Mere, PA.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. No hike is needed to reach the swim area; the beach is a drive-up resort facility at Pennsylvania Ave & Lakewood Ave in Eagles Mere borough. The Laurel Path, a separate ~2-mile walking loop around the lake lined with old rhododendrons, is an optional recreational walk (not required for swimming) accessible to members/guests.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Marked-off, sandy-bottom shallow area is lifeguard-supervised and good for young kids, but the same swim zone includes a dock/diving platform for jumping into deeper water, and the lake is spring-fed and cold, so younger or non-swimming kids should stay in the roped shallow section and be watched closely.
Restrooms
Yes
Restroom facilities are on-site at the beach building during regular operating hours (per emalake.org), alongside lockers, a first-aid station, and a snack/beach shop.
Water clarity
Clear
Multiple firsthand accounts describe the spring-fed lake as notably clear, with visibility down several feet to the sandy bottom. One visitor describes 'the slightly disorienting...sensation of floating above rather than in the water,' and others call the water at the dock and diving area 'cold and clear.'
Hours
Beach open Monday-Saturday 10:00am-5:45pm and Sunday 11:00am-5:45pm (per emalake.org); exact seasonal open/close dates not published on official pages.
On the water
Restrictions: Only EMA's own rental fleet may be used by temporary members/guests -- 'Temporary members may not bring their own boats' (eaglesmereassociation.org). Full/co-op association members may use personal boats but the entire lake is capped at 6 horsepower or less for any motorized craft.
All watercraft use is confined to the privately owned lake and is gated behind EMA membership; there is no public/carry-in access point for outside boat owners.
Rentals nearby
Sailboats, canoes, kayaks, windsurfers, rowboats, stand-up paddleboards, jon boats, and paddle boats, rentable by the hour, day, week, or month; canoes and rowboats also available for overnight rental.
At Eagles Mere Beach, north end of Eagles Mere Lake, Pennsylvania Ave & Lakewood Ave, Eagles Mere, PA · Same as beach hours: Mon-Sat 10:00am-5:45pm, Sun 11:00am-5:45pm
What regulars say
Visitors describe lifeguards on duty at the swim area, kids jumping off the dock into 'cold and clear' water, and families renting non-motorized boats (pedal boats, canoes) for self-guided tours of the lake; the free rides on the century-old wooden launch 'Hardly Able' (running late June through Labor Day) are frequently mentioned as a highlight. Note this is a private, membership-gated beach, so visitor commentary skews toward guests who already secured lodging-based access.
Backstory
Eagles Mere developed as a summer resort beginning in the 1880s-1890s. The Eagles Mere Association was formed in 1961 as the nonprofit owner of the lake and shoreline, and the beach has reportedly operated in much the same form, complete with striped umbrellas and a diving platform, for over a century.
Eagles Mere Beach: FAQ
Does Eagles Mere Beach charge a fee?
No public day-use admission was found; access is gated by temporary Eagles Mere Association membership, which comes with staying at a lodging property like the Eagles Mere Inn or renting a house owned by an EMA member. Boat rentals (sailboats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, rowboats, etc.) are available by the hour, day, week, or month for an additional cost.
Is Eagles Mere Beach kid friendly?
Marked-off, sandy-bottom shallow area is lifeguard-supervised and good for young kids, but the same swim zone includes a dock/diving platform for jumping into deeper water, and the lake is spring-fed and cold, so younger or non-swimming kids should stay in the roped shallow section and be watched closely.
Do I need to hike to reach Eagles Mere Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Eagles Mere Beach?
No dedicated public parking lot or fee was documented on official EMA pages. The beach sits at the intersection of Pennsylvania Ave & Lakewood Ave inside the small Eagles Mere borough; access itself is gated by temporary EMA membership tied to lodging (Eagles Mere Inn or a rental home from an EMA member), not by a separate parking fee.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Eagles Mere Beach?
All watercraft use is confined to the privately owned lake and is gated behind EMA membership; there is no public/carry-in access point for outside boat owners.
What are the rules at Eagles Mere Beach?
Eagles Mere Lake and its shoreline are privately owned by the Eagles Mere Association; the lake, beach, and facilities are for the exclusive use of association members and their guests, not the general public. Motorboats on the lake are limited to 6 horsepower or less.
What water body is Eagles Mere Beach on?
Eagles Mere Beach is on Eagles Mere Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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