Parker Dam State Park
Penfield, Pennsylvania · on Mud Run · Parker Dam State Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- May
About Parker Dam State Park
Parker Dam State Park is a 968-acre Pennsylvania state park in Clearfield County, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and centered on Parker Lake, a small 20-acre reservoir. The park operates an official sand swimming beach in season, making this a designated, developed swimming hole and an easy lake to swim in rather than an informal natural pool.
The park sits in Huston Township along PA Route 153 near I-80, surrounded by the Moshannon State Forest and adjacent to the Quehanna Wilderness. Parker Lake, the recreational centerpiece, is a small artificial reservoir with camping and picnic areas along its shore; a road named Mud Run Road leads into the park from the surrounding forest.
Swimming at Parker Dam State Park
Swimming takes place at a designated sand beach on Parker Lake. The official DCNR swimming page states the maximum water depth is 5 feet at the buoy line, making it a shallow, calm reservoir suited to families and casual swimmers rather than deep-water or current swimming. Swimmers proceed at their own risk under posted regulations.
How to get to this swimming hole
The park is reached via PA Route 153, about 17 miles north of Clearfield, near I-80 exit 111; official directions reference turning onto Mud Run Road and continuing about 2.5 miles to the park. Address: 28 Fairview Road, Penfield, PA 15849.
The hike in
No hike is needed to reach the swimming beach on Parker Lake; it is a drive-up, designated day-use beach. (Separately, the park is the western terminus of the 75-mile Quehanna Trail, but that trail is unrelated to reaching the swim spot.)
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Shallow reservoir beach (max 5 ft at the buoy line) suits families, but the official DCNR page confirms lifeguards have not been posted at the beach since 2008, so swimming is unsupervised and parents should watch children closely; swim-at-own-risk rules apply.
Hours
Beach: late May to mid-September, 8:00 a.m. to sunset. Boat/canoe/kayak/paddleboard rental concession: Memorial Day through Labor Day, noon to 6:00 p.m. daily (weather permitting). Park grounds: open year-round, sunrise to sunset.
On the water
Restrictions: Non-powered and electric-motor boats only (electric motors limited to slow, no-wake speed), no gas motors. Non-powered boats need boat registration, a state park launching/mooring permit, or a PA Fish and Boat Commission launching permit.
Confirmed directly on the official DCNR boating page for Parker Dam State Park.
Rentals nearby
Parker Dam State Park beach concession (on-site, park-operated concessionaire)
Pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and stand-up paddleboards, rented right at the park's own beach/lake
At Parker Lake within Parker Dam State Park, Penfield, PA · Noon to 6:00 p.m. daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day (weather permitting)
Backstory
Built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps; the park's name derives from William Parker, who leased logging rights and built an earlier splash dam near the current lake site.
Parker Dam State Park: FAQ
Does Parker Dam State Park charge a fee?
No general park entrance fee was found on official pages; camping/cabin reservations go through the PA state park reservation system (888-727-2757).
Is Parker Dam State Park kid friendly?
Shallow reservoir beach (max 5 ft at the buoy line) suits families, but the official DCNR page confirms lifeguards have not been posted at the beach since 2008, so swimming is unsupervised and parents should watch children closely; swim-at-own-risk rules apply.
Do I need to hike to reach Parker Dam State Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Parker Dam State Park?
No source found specifies a dedicated beach parking lot, its size, or fees. The park's day-use/beach area is reached via Mud Run Road inside the park; no walk time or lot details were documented.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Parker Dam State Park?
Confirmed directly on the official DCNR boating page for Parker Dam State Park.
When is the best time to visit Parker Dam State Park?
Beach season runs from late May through mid-September, daily 8:00 a.m. until sunset (per DCNR); the park itself is open year-round sunrise to sunset.
What are the rules at Parker Dam State Park?
Swim only at the designated beach at your own risk and follow posted rules; no smoking or vaping (including e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes) within the beach and swimming zone; boating on Parker Lake is limited to non-powered and electric-motor vessels.
What water body is Parker Dam State Park on?
Parker Dam State Park is on Mud Run, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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