Locust Lake State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Locust Lake State Park is a 1,200-acre park located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
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Summary
The park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts due to its beautiful natural surroundings and variety of recreational activities.
Visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, and camping at Locust Lake State Park. The park features a 52-acre lake, which is stocked with a variety of fish including trout, bass, and pickerel. The lake also has two sand beaches for swimming and sunbathing.
In addition to water-based activities, the park has several hiking trails that wind through the forested hills surrounding the lake. The most popular trail is the 3.5-mile Locust Lake Loop Trail, which offers stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
For those interested in history, the park has a historical marker commemorating the site of an early iron furnace that was used during the Revolutionary War. Visitors can also explore the remains of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp that was located within the park during the Great Depression.
The best time to visit Locust Lake State Park is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and all of the park's recreational facilities are open. However, the park is open year-round and offers opportunities for winter activities such as ice fishing and cross-country skiing.
Overall, Locust Lake State Park is a beautiful and versatile destination that has something to offer for everyone. Whether you're looking for a weekend getaway or a day trip, this park is definitely worth a visit.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
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