Moraine State Park North Shore
Portersville, Pennsylvania · on Lake Arthur · Moraine State Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- The beach operates seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset; the on-site concession/snack bar runs 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
About Moraine State Park North Shore
Moraine State Park's North Shore is home to Lakeview Beach, one of two official swimming beaches on Lake Arthur, a 3,225-acre reservoir created by damming Muddy Creek within the 16,725-acre state park near Portersville, Pennsylvania. It is a state-designated, facility-equipped swim beach rather than an informal swimming hole.
Lake Arthur sits at the center of Moraine State Park, a 16,725-acre former mining and farmland area reclaimed by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy starting in the 1920s-60s (sealing mines, capping over 400 oil and gas wells, and replanting trees) before the lake was completed in 1970 by damming Muddy Creek. The reservoir has 42 miles of shoreline and hosts osprey and bald eagle nests that have been active since the mid-1990s.
Swimming at Moraine State Park North Shore
Lakeview Beach is a sand swimming beach on Lake Arthur's north shore, roughly five miles from PA Route 422. It is unguarded ("swim at your own risk"), backed by a bathhouse with showers and changing facilities and a snack bar, making it suited to casual family swimming in calm reservoir water rather than a rugged or remote experience.
How to get to this swimming hole
Lakeview Beach is located on the north shore of Lake Arthur, about five miles from Pennsylvania Route 422, within Moraine State Park near Portersville, PA.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up, designated state park swim beach - visitors park in the Lakeview Beach lot and walk directly onto the sand beach; no trail hike is needed to reach the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Lakeview Beach is a designed sand swim beach on a calm reservoir (gentle entry, no river current), which suits families, but the park explicitly states swimming is unguarded ('swim at your own risk') with no lifeguards on duty, so young children should be supervised closely rather than left to a lifeguard.
Parking
Free
Pennsylvania state parks charge no entrance or parking fee statewide, which applies to Moraine State Park; the Lakeview Beach lot is about five miles from PA Route 422. Exact lot capacity/size is not published on the park's site.
Restrooms
Yes
ADA-accessible flush-toilet restrooms are located in the Lakeview Beach Area itself; the beach bathhouse also has showers and changing facilities.
Hours
Lakeview Beach is open for swimming daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 8:00 A.M. to sunset; the park itself is open year-round, sunrise to sunset (day-use areas close at dusk); the on-site concession/snack bar runs 11:00 A.M.-7:00 P.M., Wednesday-Sunday.
On the water
Restrictions: Maximum 20 hp/15 kWh motors permitted on Lake Arthur; boating is prohibited in the Game Propagation Area and near the dam; motorboats need state boat registration, and non-powered vessels need a state registration, PA state park launching permit, or PA Fish and Boat Commission launch use permit.
Lake Arthur is a large multi-use reservoir with several marinas and boat launches around the shoreline in addition to Lakeview Beach.
Rentals nearby
Single and double kayaks, paddleboards, pontoon boats, and motorboats; also sells motorboat fuel and fishing bait.
Prices: Hourly rentals ranging up to all-day, with price breaks at 4 hours and 8 hours; exact dollar rates are not published on the site (motorized boats require reservation; kayaks/paddleboards are first-come, first-served).
Crescent Bay Marina, 225 Pleasant Valley Rd, Portersville, PA 16051, on Lake Arthur within Moraine State Park (contact 724-638-2100 to confirm which shore relative to Lakeview Beach). · 8:00 AM-8:00 PM daily for the 2026 season
Backstory
Park advocate Frank W. Preston, arriving in the area in 1926, championed creation of the park; the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy led reclamation of former mined and drilled land (sealing mines and capping over 400 oil and gas wells) and replanting. Lake Arthur was completed in 1970 by damming Muddy Creek, and Moraine State Park officially opened May 23, 1970.
Moraine State Park North Shore: FAQ
Is Moraine State Park North Shore kid friendly?
Lakeview Beach is a designed sand swim beach on a calm reservoir (gentle entry, no river current), which suits families, but the park explicitly states swimming is unguarded ('swim at your own risk') with no lifeguards on duty, so young children should be supervised closely rather than left to a lifeguard.
Do I need to hike to reach Moraine State Park North Shore?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Moraine State Park North Shore?
Pennsylvania state parks charge no entrance or parking fee statewide, which applies to Moraine State Park; the Lakeview Beach lot is about five miles from PA Route 422. Exact lot capacity/size is not published on the park's site.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Moraine State Park North Shore?
Lake Arthur is a large multi-use reservoir with several marinas and boat launches around the shoreline in addition to Lakeview Beach.
When is the best time to visit Moraine State Park North Shore?
The beach operates seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset; the on-site concession/snack bar runs 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.
What are the rules at Moraine State Park North Shore?
No lifeguards are provided at either park beach (swimming is at one's own risk); pets are prohibited in beach areas; smoking (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and e-cigarettes) is banned on the beaches and in swimming areas.
What water body is Moraine State Park North Shore on?
Moraine State Park North Shore is on Lake Arthur, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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