Beltzville State Park
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| Beltzville State Park, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location: | Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | Lehighton, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 2,973 acres (12.03 km²) |
| Established: | 1972 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Beltzville State Park is a Pennsylvania State Park located on 2,973 acres (12.03 km²) in Carbon County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park was developed around the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project, Beltzville Dam on Pohopoco Creek. Beltzville Lake is 949 acres (3.84 km²) with 19.8 miles (31.87 km) of shoreline. Beltzville State Park park is 5 miles (8.05 km) east of Lehighton just off U.S. Route 209.
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[edit] Fishing
Beltzville Lake is a popular fishing destination. Anglers can fish for striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, trout, walleye, perch, and muskellunge. Pohopoco Creek is stocked with trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
[edit] Hunting
Hunting is permitted at Beltzville State Park. Hunters are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The common game species are ruffed grouse, squirrels, pheasant, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, and rabbits. The hunting of groundhogs is prohibited.
[edit] Swimming
The swimming beach is open from late May until the middle of September along 525 feet (160 m) of sand beach. Lifeguards are on duty from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm. There is a bathhouse with showers, a food stand, and first-aid building at the beach. Recreational scuba diving is prohibited at Beltzville State Park.
[edit] Picnics
Beltzville State Park has four picnic pavilions and several large picnic areas. Playgrounds and playfields are in the area of the picnic tables. Visitors also have the use of modern restrooms and drinking water. A large parking lot and a boat dock are also close by the picnic areas.
[edit] Hiking
There are 15 miles (24.14 km) of hiking trails at Beltzville State Park. The trails follow old roads, paths in the woods and follow the banks of small streams. Saw Mill Trail starts just west of Beltzville Dam is a path through the history of the park. Hikers will pass the remains of a gristmill, small ponds, an abandonded slate quarry and a wetland.
[edit] Boating
Beltzville Lake is very popular with recreational boaters. The maximum boating speed permitted is 45 miles per hour. Boats with inboard engines with out-of-the-transom or straight stack type exhausts are prohibited. Camping overnight on boats is also prohibited. Canoes and other small boats are often seen in the shelter coves of Beltzville Lake.
[edit] Water Skiing
Water skiing is permitted only in the south end of the lake in the marked water skiing area. Boats are required to travel in a counterclockwise direction. Boats not towing water skiers or tubers are not permitted to enter the waters of the skiing area.
[edit] Winter Activities
Beltzville State Park does not close for the winter months and neither do the activities. Beltzville lake is busy with ice fishing and ice boating. The trails of the park are opened to cross country skiing.
[edit] Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Beltzville State Park:
- Big Pocono State Park (Monroe County)
- Delaware Canal State Park (Bucks County and Northampton Counties)
- Gouldsboro State Park (Monroe and Wayne Counties)
- Hickory Run State Park (Carbon County)
- Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center (Northampton County)
- Lehigh Gorge State Park (Carbon and Luzerne Counties)
- Locust Lake State Park (Schuylkill County)
- Nescopeck State Park (Luzerne County)
- Tobyhanna State Park (Monroe and Wayne Counties)
- Tuscarora State Park (Schuylkill County)
[edit] References
- United States Geological Survey. Beltzville State Park, USGS Palmerton (PA) Topo Map. TopoZone. Retrieved on November 5, 2006.
- Beltzville State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on November 5, 2006.
