State Parks and National Parks

Beltzville State Park

Beltzville State Park is best known for its covered bridge. Once crossing Pohopoco Creek, it has been relocated over a picturesque gully in the park, where it draws nostalgic sightseers, photographers and wedding parties.

The park sits along the banks of the Pohopoco and contains the 947-acre Beltzville Lake, created by the damming of the creek.

Boating and waterskiing are popular here, and the park offers visitors a three-lane boat launching ramp, courtesy docks, boat rentals and a beaching area. There's also a guarded swim beach.

The lake is stocked with warm-water game and panfish, such as bass, walleye, muskellunge and perch. Anglers catch trout in the creek below the dam. Hunters pursue pheasant, deer, rabbits, ruffed grouse and waterfowl in a designated portion of the park and in the adjacent Beltzville Wildlife Management Area.

The park has 15 miles of hiking and nature trails through wooded pathways, creek valleys and on old roadways. Most trails are easy to moderate hikes, ranging from .75 miles to 3.25 miles. One trail leads to an abandoned slate quarry dating back to the 1700s. The Wild Creek Trail runs past a waterfall.

Fossil specimens, geological displays and other exhibits can be seen in the Overlook Rotunda, which offers a good view of the dam and lake. Environmental education programs are offered seasonally at the Environmental Interpretive Center.

Winter recreation includes ice boating and fishing. There are about nine miles of designated cross-country ski trails.

Photo credits in order: Photo by Burt Ellsworth, courtesy of Pennsylvania Bureau of