Beltzville State Park

About Beltzville State Park

Beltzville Lake covers 949 hectares and covers an area of 2.2 square kilometres. The park is located by the Pohopoco stream, a recreational area around the lake, and there are leisure facilities. Beltzville State Park, the only park of its kind in the United States, is located at the southern end of New York State, north of Buffalo, N.Y.

The 525-foot sandy beach is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless otherwise stated. A lifeguard is on duty, but when not in action, the rules for swimming must be followed and read beforehand.

The bathhouse, shower and sanitary facilities are located on the beach, and in low season first aid is available at the park office.

Diving is prohibited, but beach snacks are open all year round, weather permitting, on the beach and in the parking lot of the park office.

The 949-acre Beltzville Lake has a total area of 1,949 hectares and a maximum depth of 2,000 feet. Most types of recreational craft are allowed on the lake, but please check with the park office what type of boat is allowed. It is illegal to operate an inboard engine equipped with a suction screw - on a straight pile, wet or dry.

Daily use of the jetty is not permitted in the area of boat rental, and overnight stays in boats are prohibited, except for special occasions such as weddings and special events.

The races are limited to a maximum of 1,500 m running time per day and can be completed on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Monday and Thursday at the same time from 4.30 p.m.

The races can also be held in the morning and evening hours, except in the summer months.

The boat rental concession on the west beach is open from 10 am to 4 pm. M. on Saturday and Sunday, and from 16.30 to 17: 00, on Monday and Thursday from 13: 00 to 15: 45, on Friday and Saturday from 14: 00 to 18: 50 and on Sunday from 17: 00 to 19: 15.

Seasonal canoe moorings are available at Preacher's Camp, located on the south side of the beach at the northern end of Beltsville State Park. Rental boats are available on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm and from 4: 30 pm to 5 pm, on Monday and Thursday from 1 pm to 3: 45 pm and on Friday and Saturday from 2 pm to 6: 50 pm. Rent a rowing boat from the boat rental concession at "Preacher's Camp," which is located on Sundays and Mondays from 12.15 to 15.20 and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 13.25 to 14.40 and from 14.05 to 13.00.

In the area there is a walkway for daily beach activities and a boat rental concession at "Preacher's Camp," located on the north side of the park.

All non-motorized boats must have one of the following boat registrations in the state: All motor boats must have a boat registration in that state.

A wooded and open picnic area is located on the west side of the park and offers a variety of activities including hiking, cycling, running and camping. The playground borders the wooded picnic areas, with a playground for children aged 3 to 6 years.

Beltzville has four picnic pavilions that can be reserved for up to 11 months for a prepayment.

Picnic pavilions one to four are accessible from the parking lot on the west side of the park, whoever comes first is served. To reserve a picnic pavilion, call toll-free at 888-PA-PARKS (1-800-743-4357) or send an e-mail to park _ parks @ pa.gov. Picnic pavilions may be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, and from noon to 5 p.m. on weekdays and Sundays.

The Sawmill Trail, which runs west of the dam, offers a varied historical walk, and the trail offers a number of lookouts and various picnic areas. The 15-mile hiking trails of Beltzville can be seen from the parking lot on the west side, along the old railroad tracks and a number of paths along the river and waterfront.

Each path is different, and a brief description of each trail can be found on the Beltzville State Park website as well as the State Park website.

A copy of the guide is available at the Park Office, and the Interpretation Centre for Environmental Issues in the Amphitheatre is the venue for interpretative programmes run by the Park's environmental educators from March to November.

The Watershed Education Program is the first of its kind in Belzville State Park and you can learn about the natural and historical resources of the region. The programme will examine the impact of climate change on water quality, biodiversity and biodiversity conservation in the region. This environmental centre is accessible from the amphitheatre and the park office and from the Interpretation Centre for Environmental Affairs.

The Overlook Rotunda, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is located directly on Pohopoco Drive and offers a complete view of the dam and lake. The Rotunda exhibits a number of other exhibits, including the geological history of the area.

At this time of year, public hunting is permitted in the park, as are hunting and fishing on the lake and in some areas of Belzville State Park. The nearest park is adjacent to State Park and just a few miles from the dam and lake on Pohopoco Drive, south of Overlook Rotunda.

Beltzville is located on the west side of State Park, south of Pohopoco Drive, south of Overlook Rotunda. Please follow the signs and contact the State Park Information Center at (717) 584-5555 for information.