Beltzville State Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Beltzville State Park | |
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| Pennsylvania State Park | |
| Natural Monument (IUCN III) | |
 Beltzville Dam, impounding Beltzville Lake in Beltzville State Park
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| Named for: the village of Beltzville | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Carbon |
| Townships | Franklin, Towamensing |
| Location | [1] |
| - coordinates | Coordinates: |
| - elevation | 633 ft (192.9 m) [1] |
| Area | 2,973 acres (1,203.1 ha) |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Managed by | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Nearest city | Lehighton, Pennsylvania |
  Location of Beltzville State Park in Pennsylvania
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| Website : Beltzville State Park | |
Beltzville State Park is a 2,973-acre (12.03 km²) Pennsylvania State Park in Franklin and Towamensing townships, 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 is a 949 acres (3.84 km²) with 19.8 miles (31.9 km) of shoreline. Beltzville State Park park is 5 miles (8 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.[2]
[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.[2]
[edit] Swimming
The swimming beach is open from late May until the middle of September along 525 feet (160 m) of sand beach. Beginning in 2008 lifeguards will not be posted at the beach.[3] 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.[2]
[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.[2]
[edit] Hiking
There are 15 miles (24 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 abandoned slate quarry and a wetland.[2]
[edit] Boating
Beltzville Lake is 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.[2]
[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.[2]
[edit] Winter Activities
Beltzville State Park does not close for the winter months, when Beltzville Lake is busy with ice fishing and ice boating. The trails of the park are open for cross country skiing.[2]
[edit] Nearby state parks
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Beltzville State Park:[4][5]
- 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
- ^ a b "Beltzville State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (August 30, 1990). Retrieved on 2008-04-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Beltzville State Park. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on 2006-11-05.
- ^ Pa. state parks going without life guards at beaches in 2008. The Times Leader. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. 2007 General Highway Map Carbon County Pennsylvania [map], 1:65,000. Retrieved on 2007-07-27. Note: shows Beltzville State Park
- ^ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved on 2008-04-20.
