Raymond B. Winter State Park
Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania · on Halfway Lake · Raymond B. Winter State Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Year-round
About Raymond B. Winter State Park
Raymond B. Winter State Park is a Pennsylvania DCNR state park in Hartley Township, Union County, centered on Halfway Lake, a small spring-fed lake impounded by a hand-laid native sandstone dam originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park's official page lists swimming as a designated recreational activity at the lake, with a beach area open on seasonal hours, making the spring-fed lake a designated swimming hole rather than an informal swim spot.
The park sits in the Bald Eagle State Forest in the Appalachian ridge-and-valley country of central Pennsylvania, about 18 miles west of Lewisburg. Halfway Lake, fed by spring-fed mountain streams, is the focal point of the park, surrounded by forested terrain with an environmental learning center (Halfway Run Environmental Learning Center) on site.
Swimming at Raymond B. Winter State Park
Swimming takes place at a designated lake beach on Halfway Lake. Per DCNR, swimming is a listed park activity, though according to older secondary reporting lifeguards are not provided. The lake water is spring-fed and stays cold (reported around 50°F), and the lake also supports a stocked cold-water trout fishery.
The hike in
No hike is needed to reach the beach, it's a drive-up parking-lot-to-sand walk. The park separately has about 6.3 miles (10 km) of hiking trails looping around the park and lakeshore (named trails include Rapid Run Trail, Mid State Trail, and Overlook Trail), which double as cross-country ski/mountain-bike routes, but none of them are required to access the swimming area.
Mountain biking is permitted on most park trails except Rapid Run Trail, the Mid State Trail, and part of the Overlook Trail.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Beach has 300 feet of white sand, a shallow gradual entry, a children's play area, and a volleyball court, but per state-park listing sites no lifeguards are provided ("swim at your own risk"). Good for kids with adult supervision; water is cold/spring-fed and there is no lifeguard to rely on.
Parking
Free
A main day-use parking area serves the beach/picnic area (a separate lot serves the mountain-bike trailhead). No entrance or parking fee is mentioned on the official DCNR page or on stateparks.com's fee/pricing coverage of this park; PA DCNR state parks do not charge for day-use as a rule, and neither source found lists any exception here.
Restrooms
Yes
Restrooms and dressing facilities are located at the swimming beach; additional restrooms are near picnic areas. Heated restrooms are provided at the snowmobile trailhead in winter, and the campground has modern restrooms/showers.
Hours
Park grounds open daily, sunrise to sunset (day-use areas close at dusk). The swimming beach itself is seasonal, per stateparks.com open daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day; DCNR's official page notes beach/overnight-area hours can vary and advises calling the park office (570-966-1455) to confirm.
On the water
No source found that documents boating/paddling rules for Halfway Lake specifically. Confirmed activities on the lake are swimming and stocked trout fishing (PA fishing license required); no mention of a boat launch, rental, or kayak/canoe policy was found in the official DCNR page or secondary listings, so this is left unconfirmed rather than assumed.
Backstory
Originally established as 'Halfway Dam State Park' and renamed in 1957 to honor Pennsylvania state forester Raymond Burrows Winter. The Halfway Lake dam is a hand-laid native sandstone structure built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Raymond B. Winter State Park: FAQ
Is Raymond B. Winter State Park kid friendly?
Beach has 300 feet of white sand, a shallow gradual entry, a children's play area, and a volleyball court, but per state-park listing sites no lifeguards are provided ("swim at your own risk"). Good for kids with adult supervision; water is cold/spring-fed and there is no lifeguard to rely on.
Do I need to hike to reach Raymond B. Winter State Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Raymond B. Winter State Park?
A main day-use parking area serves the beach/picnic area (a separate lot serves the mountain-bike trailhead). No entrance or parking fee is mentioned on the official DCNR page or on stateparks.com's fee/pricing coverage of this park; PA DCNR state parks do not charge for day-use as a rule, and neither source found lists any exception here.
When is the best time to visit Raymond B. Winter State Park?
Park program activity runs April through October per the official page; the park itself operates year-round, but the swimming beach is seasonal.
What are the rules at Raymond B. Winter State Park?
DCNR states the beach, overnight areas, and other areas are open only during specific seasons and hours, and advises contacting the park office (570-966-1455 / rbwintersp@pa.gov) for exact facility hours. No lifeguards are provided per secondary reporting.
What water body is Raymond B. Winter State Park on?
Raymond B. Winter State Park is on Halfway Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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