Lakes and Rivers – Amish Country PA
and South Central PA

When you visit south central and Amish Country PA, you’ll find lakes and rivers with recreational activities including row boating, kayaking, pedal boating,  fishing, and ice skating.

The lakes in state parks offer swimming during the late spring and summer months. The water is inviting and refreshing, and the views surrounding the lakes are gorgeous.

Enjoy the great outdoors with winter activities including ice fishing, ice skating and ice boating. Just being on the frozen lake surrounded by the still of nature – and maybe snow hugging the tree branches – makes this an experience you’ll definitely want to try.

You’ll find the areas of our state surrounding water are very peaceful and quiet.

Take in nature at its best as you savor all that the outdoors of PA has to offer.

Cowans Gap Lake

Cowans Gap State Park
Fulton County PA 

Open all year

  • Swimming Memorial Day to Labor Day
  • Boating – 2 launches
  • Fishing


Doubling Gap Lake
Colonel Denning State Park
Cumberland County PA

  • 3.5 acres
  • Fishing
  • Ice skating
  • Swimming Memorial Day to Labor Day

Fuller Lake
Laurel Lake
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Cumberland County PA

  • Swimming Memorial Day – Labor Day
  • Fishing
  • Boating on Laurel Lake
  • Boat rentals
  • 1 boat launch
  • Ice fishing
  • Ice skating
Cumberland County PA lake with green grass and trees

Holman Lake

Little Buffalo State ParkOpen all year

  • 88 acresFishingBoating – 2 launchesCanoeingRentals of canoes, rowboats, pedal boatsIce fishingIce skatingSwimming pool open Memorial Day to Labor Day, no swimming in LakeLake Grubb
    • West Hempfield Township, Lancaster County PA
  • 13 acre lakeFishing

    • Lower Susquehanna RiverRuns through the following counties:

  • CumberlandDauphin County PALancasterLebanonPerryNorthumberlandSnyderYork KayakingCanoeingMotor boatingFishing
    • Marburg LakeCodorus State ParkYork County PAOpen all year
  • FishingBoating – 7 launchesBoat rentalsIce fishingIce boatingIce skatingRentals of canoes, paddleboats, rowboats, kayaks

    • crystal clear water with stones showing through in Fulton County Pennsylvania

    Meadow Grounds Lake
    Fulton County PA

    • 204 acres
    • Fishing
    • Boating – 1 launch


    Memorial Lake
    Memorial Lake State Park
    Lebanon County PA

    Open all year

    • Ice skating
    • Boating – 2 launches
    • Sailing
    • Sailboarding
    • Ice fishing
    • Fishing


    Pinchot Lake
    Gifford Pinchot State Park
    York County PA

    Open all year

    • FishingBoating – 3 launches
    • Boat rentals
    • Swimming Memorial Day to Labor Day


    Speedwell Forge Lake
    Lancaster County PA

    • 106 acres
    • FishingBoating – 2 launches
    • Kayaking
    • Canoeing


    Enjoy the water sports in the south central area of PA!

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