Beltzville State Park

Beltzville State Park is a 3,002-acre (1,215 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Franklin and Towamensing townships, Carbon County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park opened in 1972, and was developed around the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project Beltzville Dam on Pohopoco Creek. The village of Big Creek Valley was vacated in 1966 to make way for Beltzville Lake. Beltzville Lake is a 949 acres (384 ha) with 19.8 miles (31.9 km) of shoreline. Beltzville State Park is 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Lehighton just off U.S. Route 209. The park is at an elevation of 633 feet (193 m). 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. 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. The swimming beach is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. 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. Beltzville State Park has four picnic pavilions and several large picnic areas. Playgrounds and playfields are in the area of the picnic tables.