Pennsylvania has more than 2,500 lakes, the vast majority of them man-made reservoirs created for flood control, water supply, or hydroelectric power. Only a handful are natural, formed by retreating glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age. Whether you’re after world-class walleye fishing, boating on a quiet reservoir, or simply a scenic weekend escape, the lakes of Pennsylvania offer something for every outdoor enthusiast. Here are the 20 biggest.
1. Lake Erie — Largest Lake in Pennsylvania
Lake Erie is the largest lake touching Pennsylvania, though the state shares it with Ohio, New York, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. Pennsylvania’s share of the shoreline is approximately 45 miles, running along the state’s northwestern corner. Among the five Great Lakes, Erie is fourth-largest by surface area (about 9,910 square miles), the shallowest with an average depth of 62 feet and a maximum depth of 210 feet, and the smallest by total water volume at 116 cubic miles. Because of its modest depth, it is the only Great Lake to freeze over reliably in most winters.
The lake was named after the Erie tribe, a Native American people who lived along its shores before conflicts with the Iroquois Confederacy in the 17th century. Erie is considered the “Walleye Capital of the World,” and also supports excellent fishing for yellow perch, steelhead, Chinook and coho salmon, and smallmouth bass. The Pennsylvania shoreline includes Presque Isle State Park, a sandy peninsula offering beaches, boating, birdwatching, and hiking just outside the city of Erie.
2. Pymatuning Reservoir — Second Largest Lake in Pennsylvania
Location: Crawford County | Size: 17,088 acres | Max depth: ~35 feet | Shoreline: ~70 miles
Pymatuning is the largest lake entirely or substantially within Pennsylvania, straddling the border with northeastern Ohio. Completed in 1934, it covers 17,088 acres, stretches 17 miles long, and averages about 15 feet deep with a maximum depth of roughly 35 feet. It is an important conservation area for waterfowl, particularly the Common Goldeneye, Canada Goose, and Hooded Merganser.
Pymatuning State Park draws over 4.5 million visitors annually, more than nearly any other Pennsylvania state park. Motorboats are subject to a 20-horsepower limit. Three marinas — Jamestown Watercraft Concession, Espyville Marina, and Linesville Marina — offer boat rentals, fishing gear, and moorings. Five beaches provide swimming access. Fishing targets walleye, crappie, muskellunge, bluegill, perch, and bass, and both summer and winter ice fishing are popular. One of the lake’s quirky attractions is the “ducks walk on fish” spillway at Linesville, where carp are so densely packed that ducks can literally walk across them.
3. Allegheny Reservoir (Kinzua Lake) — Third Largest Lake in Pennsylvania
Location: Warren County (PA) / Cattaraugus County (NY) | Size: ~12,000 acres | Max depth: 132 feet | Avg depth: 48 feet
Allegheny Reservoir, also called Kinzua Lake, is formed by Kinzua Dam on the Allegheny River in the Allegheny National Forest. The dam was completed in 1965 by the US Army Corps of Engineers for regional flood control. The reservoir extends northward into New York State and is surrounded by the second-growth forests of the Allegheny National Forest, which covers more than half a million acres.
The reservoir’s deep, clear water — reaching a maximum depth of 132 feet — has produced record-breaking catches of walleye and northern pike. Smallmouth bass, muskellunge, walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, channel catfish, and brown trout are all present. Camping ranges from full RV hookups to primitive boat-in sites. The Kinzua Swimming Beach is 11 miles east of Warren, PA. Boating, waterskiing, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are among the many activities available in the surrounding national forest.
4. Raystown Lake — Largest Lake Entirely Within Pennsylvania
Location: Huntingdon County | Size: 8,300 acres | Max depth: ~200 feet | Shoreline: 118 miles
Raystown Lake is the largest lake located entirely within Pennsylvania’s borders. The current lake was completed in 1973 when the US Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River — the dam was dedicated by then-Vice President Gerald Ford in June 1974. (An earlier, smaller private dam on the same river dated to around 1912, but the modern Raystown Lake is entirely a product of the 1973 project.) The lake stretches 28 miles end to end, reaches depths of approximately 200 feet near the dam, and has 118 miles of shoreline — 96% of it undeveloped due to restrictions on residential and commercial construction.
Dubbed “The Crown Jewel of Pennsylvania,” Raystown draws nearly 2 million visitors annually for boating, swimming, mountain biking, scuba diving, fishing, and camping. The lake holds the Pennsylvania record for striped bass — a 53-pound, 12-ounce fish. Other species include muskellunge, tiger muskie, largemouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, and striped bass.
5. Lake Wallenpaupack — Pocono Recreation Hub
Location: Pike and Wayne Counties | Size: 5,700 acres | Max depth: 60 feet | Avg depth: 30 feet | Shoreline: 52 miles
Lake Wallenpaupack is a premier recreation destination in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania, situated between the communities of Hawley and Paupack. Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL) created the lake in 1927 for hydroelectric power generation. “Wallenpaupack” is a Lenape word meaning “fast and sluggish water stream,” referring to Wallenpaupack Creek, whose valley was flooded to create the lake — the village of Wilsonville now lies beneath its waters.
The lake supports boating, water skiing, swimming, and fishing for smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, muskellunge, rainbow trout, walleye, pickerel, and yellow perch. Four public recreation areas provide boat launches. During busy summer weekends and holidays, daytime boating speeds are limited to 45 mph. Mountain stream anglers can also access stocked Wallenpaupack Creek and the Lackawaxen River nearby.
6. Shenango River Lake — Flood Control Reservoir
Location: Mercer County | Size: 3,560 acres | Shoreline: ~35 miles
Shenango River Lake is an 11-mile-long reservoir located primarily in northern Pennsylvania between Greenville and Sharon, with a portion extending into northeastern Ohio. Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, it was built to provide flood protection for the Shenango, Beaver, and upper Ohio River valleys. During dry seasons, controlled water releases maintain downstream water quality for residential, industrial, and aquatic uses.
Six boat ramps serve a lake where most of the surface area is open to unlimited-horsepower boating and water skiing, with some restricted 10-horsepower zones. The fishery is well known for bass, walleye, muskellunge, and panfish, with thousands of anglers visiting the tailwaters below the dam each spring for stocked trout.
7. Lake Arthur (Moraine State Park) — Clearest Water in the Region
Location: Butler County | Size: 3,225 acres | Shoreline: 29 miles
Lake Arthur is the centerpiece of Moraine State Park in Butler County, offering 3,225 acres of unusually clear water across gently sloping forested hills. The land that is now the park had a dramatically different past: it was heavily stripped for coal, oil, and natural gas in the late 1800s, with the Western Allegheny Railroad built to carry materials to Pittsburgh. The last vestiges of the railroad grade can still be seen in the Muddy Creek Finger of the lake. After the rail line was decommissioned in 1939, the state undertook decades of reclamation before the park opened.
Sailboats are a particularly common sight on Lake Arthur, which has excellent wind exposure. Fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and hiking the surrounding trails are also popular. Electric motors are the only permitted boat engines on this lake.
8. Youghiogheny River Lake — Heart of the Laurel Highlands
Location: Somerset County (PA) and Garrett County (MD) | Size: 2,840 acres | Length: 16 miles
Youghiogheny River Lake crosses the Mason-Dixon Line between Pennsylvania and Maryland, managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Its 16-mile length and relatively open waters make it one of the most popular power boating and water-skiing destinations in southwestern Pennsylvania. Numerous coves and backwater areas provide sheltered fishing for walleye and smallmouth bass, which are particularly abundant. The Pennsylvania portion of the lake is licensed to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for fish management.
9. Lake Wilhelm (Maurice K. Goddard State Park) — Premier Birdwatching Lake
Location: Mercer County | Size: ~2,800 acres | Max depth: ~24 feet
Lake Wilhelm was created in 1971 by damming Sandy Creek for flood control and is the centerpiece of Maurice K. Goddard State Park, located about 15 miles west of Franklin. Despite being a relatively shallow lake, it is exceptionally rich in birdlife: bald eagles and osprey fish its waters, bluebirds, purple martins, woodpeckers, and warblers inhabit the surrounding meadows and forests, and in spring and fall, migratory waterfowl including loons, common teals, goldeneyes, mergansers, and buffleheads pass through. Pennsylvania State Game Land also borders the lake, adding to the wildlife habitat.
10. Lake Nockamixon — Weekend Escape from Philadelphia
Location: Bucks County | Size: 1,450 acres | Shoreline: 26 miles | Max horsepower: 20 hp
Lake Nockamixon sits within the 5,283-acre Nockamixon State Park in Bucks County, fed by Tohickon Creek and two smaller runs. It is a popular weekend destination for visitors escaping the Philadelphia metropolitan area, about an hour’s drive north. Four 24-hour public boat launches are available, and a full boat rental concession offers canoes, rowboats, motorboats, sailboats, paddleboats, pontoon boats, and kayaks. Note that swimming in the lake itself is not permitted — a half-acre swimming pool with two waterslides is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day as the swimming alternative.
11. Lake Marburg (Codorus State Park) — York County Gem
Location: York County | Size: 1,275 acres | Shoreline: 75 miles
Lake Marburg, also known as Codorus Lake, is nearly completely surrounded by Codorus State Park in York County. The dam and water flows are controlled by P.H. Glatfelter Company, while the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission manages boating and fisheries. Anglers target largemouth bass, yellow perch, crappie, muskellunge, catfish, northern pike, and bluegill, supplemented by cold-water rainbow and brown trout fishing on the east branch of Codorus Creek.
12. East Branch Clarion River Lake — Elk County Wilderness
Location: Elk County | Size: 1,160 acres | Max depth: 147 feet | Avg depth: 55 feet
East Branch Clarion River Lake was constructed in 1952 by the US Army Corps of Engineers under the Flood Control Act of 1944 to help manage flooding in the Clarion River Valley and the upper Ohio River basin. The lake’s deep, clear water — reaching 147 feet at maximum — is unusual among Pennsylvania reservoirs and supports a diverse cold-water fishery including smallmouth bass, muskellunge, walleye, lake trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regularly stocks streams in surrounding Elk State Park, making it a destination for fly fishing as well as ice fishing in winter.
13. Cowanesque Lake — North-Central Pennsylvania
Location: Tioga County | Size: 1,090 acres | Max depth: 54 feet
Cowanesque Lake is tucked into wooded mountains in north-central Pennsylvania near the New York state border. “Cowanesque” is a Native American term meaning “overrun with briars.” The lake is managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers and offers beaches, swimming areas, picnic spots, boat ramps, campsites, hiking trails, hunting areas, and an educational visitor center. There are no size or horsepower restrictions for boats, and quiet coves with no-wake zones are accessible for kayakers and wildlife observers watching osprey dive for fish.
14. Beltzville Lake — Pocono Foothills Reservoir
Location: Carbon County | Size: 949 acres
Beltzville Lake sits in the southern foothills of the Pocono Mountains in Carbon County, built by the Army Corps of Engineers to prevent flooding and provide water supply and recreation for the Lehigh Valley. The 949-acre reservoir is managed recreationally by the State of Pennsylvania under a lease from the Army Corps. It is one of the less crowded Pocono-area lakes and offers a quieter alternative to busier destinations like Wallenpaupack.
15. Conneaut Lake — Pennsylvania’s Largest Natural Lake by Surface Area
Location: Crawford County | Size: ~925 acres | Max depth: ~75 feet | Avg depth: 29 feet
Conneaut Lake is the largest natural lake in Pennsylvania by surface area, formed approximately 12,000 years ago when glacial ice blocks melted into a depression left by the receding ice sheet. The name comes from the Seneca word meaning “snow waters.” At about 925 acres, it stretches roughly 3 miles long and a mile across at its widest point, reaching a maximum depth of approximately 75 feet.
The lake developed as a resort destination in the late 1800s and is home to Conneaut Lake Park, one of the oldest continuously operating amusement parks in the country. Three boat launches provide water access, and boating is unrestricted by horsepower. Fishing targets walleye, muskellunge, bass, and panfish, with both summer and winter ice fishing popular. Note: Conneaut Lake is the largest natural lake by surface area; Harveys Lake (below) is the largest by total water volume.
16. Harveys Lake — Pennsylvania’s Largest Natural Lake by Volume
Location: Luzerne County | Size: 658 acres | Max depth: ~100 feet | Avg depth: 36 feet | Shoreline: 8.3 miles
Though smaller than Conneaut Lake in surface area, Harveys Lake holds more total water — making it the largest natural lake in Pennsylvania by volume. This depth (reaching around 100 feet at maximum) is what sets it apart. The lake was formed by glaciers and was accidentally discovered by Benjamin Harvey in 1781 while making his way home after being held captive during the Revolutionary War. It became a celebrated summer resort in the late 1800s; President Theodore Roosevelt visited in 1912.
A paved road circles the entire shoreline of Harveys Lake, which is unusual among Pennsylvania lakes and makes it a popular route for walking, biking, and fall foliage drives. The lake supports rainbow trout, lake trout, walleye, and other species, and is designated a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery. Ice fishing is popular in winter.
17. Pocono Lake — Private Mountain Community
Location: Monroe County | Size: 526 acres | Shoreline: 19 miles
Pocono Lake is a man-made lake in Monroe County’s Northeastern Mountain Region, originally created for logging in 1867. Today it forms the centerpiece of the Pocono Lake Preserve, a private lake community established in 1907 as a vacation and religious retreat. Members own parcels of two to four acres each with lakefront access. The Preserve maintains over 28 miles of hiking trails where motorized vehicles are prohibited, preserving an unusually quiet and natural atmosphere around the lake.
18. Indian Lake — Private Horseshoe-Shaped Lake
Location: Somerset County | Size: ~500 acres
Indian Lake is a horseshoe-shaped man-made lake in Somerset County’s Laurel Highlands, fed by Calendar Run and Clear Run. It is a private lake accessible only to property owners, their guests, and visitors. The lake averages about 40 feet deep over a bedrock of shale, sandstone, and siltstone. Lake Stonycreek adjoins it to the south, resembling an upside-down “Y” connected to Indian Lake’s horseshoe. The 900-foot-long Lake Stonycreek Dam, a 31-foot-tall earth barrier, separates the two bodies of water. Power boats and jet skis are permitted with a 35 mph speed restriction, and sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, and kayaking are popular activities.
19. Beaverdam Reservoir — Quiet Cambria County Escape
Location: Cambria County | Size: 382 acres
Beaverdam Reservoir (also called Beaverdam Run Reservoir) is a water supply impoundment located in rural Cambria County in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains and Valleys region. No gasoline engines are permitted on the reservoir, and there are no campsites, beaches, or shoreline development — making it one of the quietest fishing destinations in the state. Public access has been available for roughly the past two decades, and the fishery has been steadily improving in productivity as a result.
20. Treasure Lake — All-Sports Private Community Lake
Location: Clearfield County | Size: ~379 acres
Treasure Lake is a private residential community lake in Clearfield County, certified as an all-sports lake. Power boats and jet skis are permitted under a 35 mph speed restriction. Sailing, windsurfing, paddle boating, canoeing, and kayaking are all popular. A 200-slip marina provides homeowner slip rentals, and small boats and kayaks are available for hire. Homeowners have access to two sandy beach areas with a bath house, volleyball court, picnic shelters, and playground facilities.
Planning Your Pennsylvania Lake Visit
Pennsylvania’s lakes are spread across a wide range of landscapes — from the Great Lake shoreline at Erie to the Pocono mountain reservoirs, the deep valleys of the Allegheny National Forest, the Laurel Highlands of the southwest, and the glacial lakes of the northeast. Most of the larger reservoirs are managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, with recreational facilities operated by the state. A Pennsylvania fishing license is required for all anglers 16 and older and can be purchased online through the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
For more Pennsylvania outdoor adventures, our Allegheny Highlands Trail guide covers one of the state’s great long-distance hikes through the forests surrounding the Allegheny Reservoir. If you’re heading to the Pocono Mountains area, our outdoor guides cover a range of East Coast destinations. And for trip-planning essentials, our road trip packing list has everything you need before heading out.
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