A 949-acre lake behind a flood-control dam, a 525-foot sand beach, ten named trails and two boat launches, five miles east of Lehighton. What to do at Beltzville, season by season, and where to eat nearby.
Beltzville State Park is a 3,002-acre park in Carbon County built around a 949-acre lake (Beltzville Lake), with a 525-foot sand beach, ten named trails totaling 16.6 miles, and two boat launches. It sits five miles east of Lehighton, just off US 209, and it works as a day trip or as a morning on the water before dinner in Jim Thorpe.
Key Takeaways
- I.The sand beach is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, 8 AM to sunset. DCNR's guide says to swim at your own risk and doesn't mention lifeguards, so treat the beach as unguarded.
- II.The park has ten named trails totaling 16.6 miles, from a 0.4-mile bird-blind walk to the 4.1-mile Trinity Gorge Trail.
- III.Boats are limited to 45 mph, and the eastern end of the lake is a no-wake zone.
- IV.A seasonal rental concession offers kayaks, paddleboats, rowboats and pontoon boats.
- V.Camping and overnight stays on boats are prohibited, so plan lodging nearby.
Beltzville State Park at a glance
| Detail | Details |
|---|---|
| Park size | 3,002 acres |
| Lake | 949 acres, with 19.8 miles of shoreline |
| County | Carbon |
| Established | 1972 |
| Address | 2950 Pohopoco Drive, Lehighton, PA 18235 |
| Phone | (610) 377-0045 |
| Trails | Ten named trails, 16.6 miles total |
| Beach | 525 feet of sand, Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day |
| Boat launches | Two (Pine Run and Preachers Camp) |
The park's official recreational guide, published by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR, 2022 edition), is the source for the park-level figures here.
The beach and swimming
The park's sand beach is 525 feet long and is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, from 8 AM to sunset. A bathhouse with showers sits near the beach, and a beach wheelchair can be borrowed from the first aid station on a first-come, first-served basis.
DCNR's guidance is "swim at your own risk," and the park's guide asks swimmers to read and follow the posted rules. It doesn't mention lifeguards, so treat the beach as unguarded unless the park tells you otherwise (DCNR, Beltzville State Park swimming page, retrieved October 5, 2026). Scuba diving is prohibited. Pets aren't allowed in swimming areas.
Boating, water-skiing and fishing on Beltzville Lake
Beltzville Lake has a maximum boating speed of 45 mph, and most types of recreational boats are permitted. Two launches serve the lake:
- Pine Run Boat Launch, on the northern shore, has a three-lane ramp, an ADA accessible courtesy dock and a wide gravel beaching area.
- Preachers Camp Boat Launch, on the southern shore, has a two-lane ramp and an ADA accessible kayak launch. Seasonal mooring of canoes and kayaks is available there by permit.
The part of the lake east of Preachers Camp launch and the Pine Run Cove area are restricted to "no wake" speed, which makes them good for paddling. Water-skiing is allowed from sunrise to sunset in a zoned ski area along the south shore. A boat rental concession west of the beach is open daily in summer and rents kayaks, paddleboats, rowboats and pontoon boats. Sleeping on a boat overnight is prohibited.
For anglers, the lake is stocked with warmwater and coldwater game fish and panfish. Species include rainbow trout, striped, largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge and perch. Below the dam, Pohopoco Creek is stocked with rainbow trout, and much of the northern shoreline can be reached from Pohopoco Drive (DCNR, Beltzville fishing page, retrieved October 5, 2026). Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission rules apply.
Beltzville State Park trails
The park has ten named trails totaling 16.6 miles, following wooded paths, old roads and mowed walkways through forests, creek valleys, fields and the lake shore. All are blazed yellow except the Christman Trail, which is blazed blue. The trails are listed below (distances and difficulty ratings are from DCNR's park guide):
| Trail | Distance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Bird Blind Trail | 0.4 mile | Easy |
| Tree ID Trail | 0.6 mile | Easy |
| Pine Run Cove Trail | 0.7 mile | Easy |
| Ground Pine Trail | 1.0 mile | Easy |
| Falls Trail | 1.0 mile | Difficult |
| Christman Trail | 2.0 miles | Moderate |
| Sawmill Run Trail | 2.0 miles | Moderate |
| Cove Ridge Trail | 2.4 miles | Moderate |
| Preachers Camp Trail | 2.4 miles | Moderate |
| Trinity Gorge Trail | 4.1 miles | Moderate |
The ten trails add up to 16.6 miles. The park guide's labels are "easiest," "more difficult" and "most difficult," which we've mapped to our Easy, Moderate and Difficult ratings. We also have a separate Sawmill Trail entry (1.7 miles, about 98 feet of elevation gain, rated easy) that appears to be the same route. It comes from AllTrails, which often measures distances differently from signed trail lengths, so go by the park's figure of 2.0 miles (Sawmill Trail on AllTrails). The park's trail guide, available at the park office, has full descriptions.
If you want one short walk, pick the Bird Blind Trail or the Tree ID Trail. For a half-day hike, the Trinity Gorge Trail is the longest at 4.1 miles. The Falls Trail is the park's only trail rated most difficult. See the full list on the Beltzville Lake trails and details page.
When to visit Beltzville State Park
Summer is the main season: the beach is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and the boat rental concession is open daily during the summer season. In fall, parts of the park are open to hunting, so check which areas before you go. Winter turns the open fields to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, with the ice-safety limits covered below.
Picnicking, hunting and winter at Beltzville
Beltzville has four picnic pavilions that can be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. Pavilions 1, 2 and 4 are ADA accessible. The day-use area has modern restrooms, drinking water, picnic tables and parking. A covered bridge built in 1841 by local craftsman Jacob Buck was moved between the picnic areas and the beach and is now open to pedestrians only.
About 1,707 acres are open to hunting, trapping and dog training during established seasons, and a separate 469-acre Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife management project adjoins the park. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons, and DCNR asks everyone to use extreme caution around firearms.
In winter, the park's open fields and trails suit cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and the lake is open to ice fishing and iceboating (iceboats must display a state park launching permit). DCNR says ice thickness isn't monitored and advises at least 4 inches for a single person and 7 inches for a small group (DCNR, Beltzville winter page, retrieved October 5, 2026).
History: from the Lenape to a flood-control dam
According to DCNR's park guide, the first inhabitants of the area were the Lenape, who lived along Pohopoco Creek. The 1737 Walking Purchase, a disputed colonial land deal, was measured by a walk that Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission markers say ended at a point beyond present-day Jim Thorpe (PHMC historical marker text, retrieved October 5, 2026). European settlers later formed the farming village of Big Creek Valley, according to DCNR's park guide.
In 1966, Big Creek Valley was vacated for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood-control project on Pohopoco Creek. DCNR's park guide dates dam construction to 1970 through 1972, and says the park opened to the public on Memorial Day weekend of 1972. Today the park's recreation facilities are a cooperative effort of the Army Corps of Engineers, DCNR and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
How to get to Beltzville State Park
Beltzville is five miles east of Lehighton, just off US 209. From the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, take exit 74 and follow the signs. The park's map lists Allentown at 27.1 miles and Scranton at 45.2 miles. The nearest hospital is St. Luke's Carbon Campus, 500 St. Luke's Drive, in Lehighton.
The park is open every day, sunrise to sunset. Camping isn't allowed in the park, including overnight stays on watercraft or in self-contained campers, so the park office can point you to local camping areas. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited, and pets must be on a leash and attended at all times.
Where to eat and shop near Beltzville
Beltzville sits a short drive from Lehighton and Jim Thorpe, and we group several nearby places under Mauch Chunk Lake, the closest destination page in our guide. In Lehighton, Pocono Tavern on Long Run Road is a casual pub with a reserve score of 78. Bonnie & Clyde Pub and Grill on North 1st Street is another casual pub (reserve score 69), and PJ Whelihan's Pub & Restaurant on North Harrity Road is a $$ pub (reserve score 66). Country Junction on Interchange Road combines a casual restaurant with the store billed as the World's Largest General Store.
In Jim Thorpe, Thorpe's 903 on State Route 903 has a reserve score of 76. Each October, the Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival fills downtown for the first three weekends of the month, with craft and food vendors, live music on multiple stages and scenic train rides. Expect crowds and plan parking ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a lifeguard at Beltzville State Park?
Not confirmed. DCNR's guide says to swim at your own risk and doesn't mention lifeguards, so treat the beach as unguarded and swim only in the designated area. Call the park office at (610) 377-0045 to confirm.
Can you camp at Beltzville State Park?
No. Overnight lodging on watercraft, in self-contained campers or in any other form is prohibited in the park. The park office has information on local camping areas.
When is the beach open?
From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 8 AM to sunset.
What is there to do at Beltzville State Park in winter?
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Ice thickness isn't monitored, so DCNR advises at least 4 inches for one person and 7 inches for a small group.
Are dogs allowed at Beltzville State Park?
Pets are allowed if they're on a leash, caged or crated and attended at all times. They're prohibited in swimming areas.
Keep planning
For more nearby places to eat, shop and explore, see our Mauch Chunk Lake destination page.
Last updated October 5, 2026. Park details come from Pocono Reserve research and the Pennsylvania DCNR recreational guide for Beltzville State Park (2022 edition). Hours and seasons change, so confirm with the park office at (610) 377-0045 before you go. Cover photo: Mr. Matté, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
- Pennsylvania DCNR, Beltzville State Park pages (swimming, fishing, winter) and the Beltzville State Park recreational guide (2022 edition, map rev. 12/20/21). Retrieved October 5, 2026.
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Walking Purchase historical markers, via Explore PA History. Retrieved October 5, 2026.