Memorial Lake State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Memorial Lake State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Memorial Lake State Park
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 Memorial Lake State Park
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | East Hanover, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 230 acres (93 ha) |
| Elevation | 433 ft (132 m) |
| Established | 1945 |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Memorial Lake State Park |
Memorial Lake State Park is a fun state park located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It covers 230 acres (93 ha) of land. The park is special because it's surrounded by Fort Indiantown Gap, which is a military base for the Pennsylvania National Guard.
This park was created in 1945. It honors the brave soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard who served in World War I and World War II. The park is a great place for many outdoor activities. You can go hiking, have a picnic, try cross-country skiing in winter, or even go ice skating.
The park includes Memorial Lake, which is 85 acres (34 ha) big. It's about a 30-minute drive from Harrisburg. You can easily find it right off Exit 85 of Interstate 81.
Fishing at Memorial Lake
Fishing is a very popular activity at Memorial Lake. When the lake freezes in winter, people also enjoy ice fishing. The lake is home to many different kinds of fish.
Some of the fish you might catch include:
- Largemouth bass
- Muskellunge
- Northern pike
- Yellow perch
- White crappie
- Black crappie
- Bullhead
- Channel catfish
- Carp
- Sucker
- Trout
- Various types of panfish
Memorial Lake is known as a warm water fishery. This means it's a good place for fish that prefer warmer water. Remember to follow all the rules from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission when you fish here.
Boating Fun
Memorial Lake has two places where you can launch your boat. It's important to know that boats with gas engines are not allowed on the lake. You can only use boats that are not powered by gas. This includes boats with electric motors or those you paddle yourself.
If you bring your own boat, it needs to have a current registration. This can be from any state. Or, you can get a special launch permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Rent a Boat
Don't have your own boat? No problem! Memorial Lake also has a boat rental service. This is a great way to try boating for the first time. You can rent different types of boats, such as:
- Paddle boats
- Fishing boats
- Canoes
- Single kayaks
- Tandem kayaks (for two people)
The hours for boat rentals can change depending on the season. You can find more details about renting a boat at Green Way Outdoors.
Nearby Parks to Explore
If you enjoy Memorial Lake State Park, there are other cool state parks nearby. These parks are all within 30 miles (48 km) of Memorial Lake:
- Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area (Dauphin County)
- Gifford Pinchot State Park (York County)
- Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area (Dauphin County)
- Samuel S. Lewis State Park (York County)
- Swatara State Park (Lebanon and Schuylkill Counties)
