Pymatuning State Park (Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pymatuning State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Looking to the Ohio shore
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 Pymatuning State Park
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Crawford, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 21,122 acres (85.48 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,017 ft (310 m) |
| Established | 1934 |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Pymatuning State Park |
Pymatuning State Park is a large state park in Pennsylvania. It covers about 21,122 acres (8,548 hectares) in Crawford County. This makes it the biggest state park in Pennsylvania!
The park is home to Pymatuning Lake, which is also very large. About three-quarters of the lake is in Pennsylvania, and the rest is in Ohio. A long road, called a causeway, connects Pennsylvania and Ohio across the middle of the lake.
Pymatuning State Park is a great place for fishing and boating all year. It also has two special natural areas: Clark Island and Blackjack. The University of Pittsburgh has its Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology here too.
Good news: it's free to enter Pymatuning State Park! You can reach the park from U.S. Route 6 in the north or U.S. Route 322 in the south. The park was even named one of the "25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks" by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Contents
Park History: From Swamp to Lake
Early People and the Land
Long ago, the area where Pymatuning State Park now sits was a huge swamp. The first known people to live here were the Mound Builders. They built large earth mounds, but two of these were covered when Pymatuning Lake was created.
Later, the Lenape tribe lived in this area. The lake is named after a Lenape chief called Pihmtomink. The Seneca tribe, part of the larger Iroquois Confederacy, later moved the Lenape out.
The Seneca tribe was eventually defeated by General Anthony Wayne during the Northwest Indian War. They left the area after signing the Treaty of Greenville. This treaty marked the start of European settlers taking over the land.
Building the Big Dam
The first European settlers were farmers. Life was very hard because the land was so swampy. It was tough to make the land good for farming. Farm animals often got lost in the quicksand or were hunted by foxes, bears, and mountain lions. The swamps also had many mosquitoes, which caused diseases like yellow fever.
People first thought about building a dam on the Shenango River in 1911. A huge flood in 1913 caused a lot of damage and even took lives. This made people realize a dam was needed.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly approved money to build the dam. Work began in 1931, and about 7,000 men helped build it. The dam was finished in 1934. Today, Pymatuning Lake holds a massive amount of water. It covers 17,088 acres (6,915 hectares) and is up to 35 feet (11 meters) deep.
Pymatuning Lake: Fun and Wildlife
Pymatuning Lake was created in the 1930s by building a dam on the Shenango River. The lake has many beaches and camping spots in both Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The northeastern part of the lake is a protected area for animals. Thousands of Canada geese and many ducks spend the winter here. The lake's water flows out to form the Shenango River. A special spillway crosses the northern part of the lake.
Along this spillway, you can find a wildlife museum. The Linesville spillway is famous as "The Place Where the Ducks Walk on the Fishes' Backs." Many people throw bread into the water. So many carp fish gather that ducks and other waterfowl can actually walk on top of the fish to get the food! The spillway was updated in 2007.
Boating on the Lake
You can use motorboats with up to 20 horsepower on Pymatuning Lake. All boats need to be registered or have a special permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
There are three marinas on the Pennsylvania side of the lake. These marinas have places to dock boats and rent out pontoon boats, rowboats, motorboats, and canoes. They also have stores that sell bait, fishing gear, and snacks.
Fishing Fun
Pymatuning State Park is open for fishing all year long. It's known as a warm water fishery. You can catch fish like largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, bluegill, crappie, perch, carp, and muskellunge.
During winter, the lake is a popular spot for ice fishing. Always follow the fishing rules! If you are fishing from a boat, you can use a license from either Ohio or Pennsylvania. But if you fish from the shore, you need a license from that state.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission runs one of the largest warm water fish hatcheries in the world right here at Pymatuning State Park.
Swimming at the Beaches
Pymatuning State Park has four beaches open to the public. They are open from late May to mid-September, from 8:00 a.m. until sunset. There are no lifeguards, so you swim at your own risk. The beaches do have bathhouses with restrooms.
Wildlife in the Park
Pymatuning State Park is home to many different animals. Bald eagles build their nests in the trees around Pymatuning Lake. Many types of waterfowl, both migrating and living here, thrive in the lake's waters.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission has a waterfowl museum at the park. The land around the lake is a perfect home for white-tailed deer and other woodland animals.
Hunting in Designated Areas
Hunting is allowed on about 10,300 acres (4,168 hectares) of Pymatuning State Park. Hunters must follow the rules of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Common animals to hunt include squirrels, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, and rabbits. Hunting groundhogs is not allowed. Some areas of the lake are specially set aside for waterfowl hunting.
Staying Overnight at the Park
You can stay overnight at Pymatuning State Park from mid-April to late October.
There are two camping areas near the lake. They have a place to empty RV waste. Linesville Campground is in the northern part of the park. It has modern facilities with flush toilets and hot showers. Jamestown campgrounds are close to small stores where you can buy camping supplies and groceries. These stores also have laundry facilities.
The park also has twenty-five modern cabins for rent. Each cabin has a living area, a kitchen, a dining area, restrooms, and two or three bedrooms. Remember to bring your own bed linens, towels, dishes, and cooking gear.
Nearby State Parks
Other state parks close to Pymatuning State Park include:
- Erie Bluffs State Park (Erie County)
- Maurice K. Goddard State Park (Mercer County)
- Mosquito Lake State Park (Ohio)
- Pymatuning State Park (Ohio)
Images for kids
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A decorative gatehouse sits at the head of the lake adjacent to the dam.
