Lake Wallenpaupack

Tafton, Pennsylvania · on Lake Wallenpaupack

Verified · 3 independent sources

WATER: lake
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $5
SEASON: Best in summer

About Lake Wallenpaupack

Lake Wallenpaupack is a 5,700-6,000-acre reservoir in Wayne and Pike Counties, PA, created in 1926 when PPL dammed Wallenpaupack Creek near Wilsonville for hydroelectric power. It is a huge lake to swim in, but access is narrow: roughly 95% of its 52 miles of shoreline is privately owned, and the lake's one public swimming hole is the designated beach at Palmyra Township Public Beach in Hawley, adjacent to the PPL Wilsonville Recreation Area.

The lake sits in the Pocono Mountains region of northeastern Pennsylvania, formed by a 1,280-foot concrete dam and the Tafton Dike across the former Wallenpaupack Creek valley; about 13 miles of the original creek lies submerged. The shoreline is a mix of private homes/camps and a handful of PPL-managed public recreation areas (including Wilsonville, where the beach sits), with the surrounding land wooded and hilly, typical of the Pocono plateau.

Swimming at Lake Wallenpaupack

Swimming is concentrated at the sandy, lifeguarded Palmyra Township Public Beach, described in tourism listings as a wide sand beach with calm, swimmable water suited to families; the broader lake itself reaches depths up to about 60 feet and sees heavy boat traffic, so casual swimming off the mostly private shoreline elsewhere is not encouraged or widely reported.

How to get to this swimming hole

The beach is on Lake Wallenpaupack Road (PA-590 area) in Hawley/Wilsonville, immediately adjacent to the PPL Wilsonville Recreation Area and campground.

The hike in

No hike is needed to reach the swimming area -- Palmyra Township Public Beach is a drive-up site with an adjacent parking lot. Separately, the Wallenpaupack Lake Trail (an easy, roughly 3-mile out-and-back path starting near the Lake Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center) follows part of the shoreline nearby, but it is a standalone walking trail, not a route to the swim beach.

Short walk from the parking lot directly to the sand/water.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

Good for kids

Palmyra Township Public Beach has a sandy, roped-off swimming area with calm, shallow lake water, a nearby playground, and shaded picnic spaces, making it well suited to families. Outside the roped swim area the reservoir reaches ~60 ft deep with heavy boat traffic and can see sudden hydroelectric-dam water releases, so the verdict applies specifically to the designated beach area rather than the open lake.

Parking

Free

Free on-site parking lot at Palmyra Township Public Beach, off Route 6 near Hawley.

Restrooms

Yes

Restroom facilities and a snack stand are on-site at Palmyra Township Public Beach.

Water clarity

Mostly clear

One recent regional write-up describes Lake Wallenpaupack as having 'clean, refreshing water,' and one visitor to the lake's public beaches separately described 'clean water' at a small roped-in swimming area. As a large hydroelectric reservoir with heavy boat traffic and depths to ~60 ft away from the beach, some turbidity or tannic tint is plausible but not documented in the accounts found.

Hours

Seasonal beach, open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend; one 2026 tourism-bureau guide lists free parking/admission details without daily hours, while an earlier source cited roughly 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily during the season (unconfirmed for the current year).

On the water

KayaksPaddleboardsMotorboatsPontoon boat

The lake supports a full range of boating (pontoons, fishing boats, speedboats, tubing, wakeboarding, water skiing) through marinas around the shoreline, while the designated swim area at Palmyra Township Public Beach is roped off from boat traffic. No dedicated electric-only or no-wake restriction was found in sources reviewed for this pass.

Rentals nearby

Wallenpaupack Boat Tours & Rentals (East Shore Lodging)

Single and tandem kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and pontoon boats (8-14 passenger); also offers guided boat tours

Prices: Single kayaks from $25, tandem kayaks from $40, paddleboards from $25; pontoon pricing on request

2487 US-6, Hawley, PA 18428, near the Lake Wallenpaupack Observation Dike (parking across the street at East Shore Lodging) · Season runs May through mid-September; rental office open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily in season

New Wave Marina (formerly Pine Crest Marina)

Pontoon and deck boat/speedboat rentals; piloted charter option available

Prices: Not published online; hourly and multi-day rates available by calling (570) 857-1850

839 Route 507, Greentown, PA 18426, on Lake Wallenpaupack · Rental operations 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily in season (service/mechanical desk 9 a.m.-5 p.m.); season begins mid-May

Pocono Action Sports (at Lighthouse Harbor Marina)

Pontoon boats, slide boats, runabout boats, jet car boats, and fishing boats, plus tubes and kneeboards; half-day, full-day, and multi-day rentals, with captain-operated charters available

969 RT 507, Greentown, PA 18426, at Lighthouse Harbor Marina on Lake Wallenpaupack · Open 7 days a week in season

What regulars say

One visitor describing the lake's public beaches called one a 'small roped-in swimming area, clean water, picnic tables, a bar that had $7 pitchers and pretty good food, families with well-behaved [kids],' consistent with calm, family-oriented conditions at the designated swim area.

Backstory

The lake was built 1924-1926 by Pennsylvania Power & Light (PPL), employing about 2,700 workers, damming Wallenpaupack Creek to power a hydroelectric plant via a 3.5-mile pipeline; it is now Pennsylvania's third-largest lake by surface area and is currently operated by Brookfield Renewable.

Lake Wallenpaupack: FAQ

Does Lake Wallenpaupack charge a fee?

Reported admission has varied by source/year: some listings cite roughly $5-10 for adults and $2 for children (under 2 free), while at least one recent local post indicated the beach had no admission charge for the season; current pricing should be confirmed directly with Palmyra Township.

Is Lake Wallenpaupack kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Lake Wallenpaupack?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Lake Wallenpaupack?

Free on-site parking lot at Palmyra Township Public Beach, off Route 6 near Hawley.

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Wallenpaupack?

When is the best time to visit Lake Wallenpaupack?

Summer; the beach operates seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, roughly 11 a.m.-5 p.m., weather permitting.

What are the rules at Lake Wallenpaupack?

Swimming and pets are reportedly not permitted within the adjacent PPL Wilsonville Recreation Area itself; swimming is restricted to the designated Palmyra Township beach, which is lifeguarded and seasonal.

What water body is Lake Wallenpaupack on?

Lake Wallenpaupack is on Lake Wallenpaupack, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.