Hiking at Yellow Creek State Park

5 miles of trails

​Laurel Run Trail
0.5 mile loop

This easy hike starts at the park office and is especially beautiful in the spring when wildflowers abound.

Ridgetop Trail
2-mile loop

This challenging trail begins in the beach/day-use area and winds through a variety of habitats.

Damsite Trail
2.5 miles

This trail offers a view of the Yellow Creek Dam. To drive to this trailhead, follow PA 259 south from the park office. After taking a right turn on PA 259 toward Brush Valley, turn onto Hoffman Road, the second road on the right. This road ends at a small parking area where Damsite Trail begins.

Picnicking at Yellow Creek State Park

The beach/day-use area has parking for more than 4,000 people. Picnic tables, modern restrooms, and a limited number of charcoal grills are scattered throughout the area.

Visitors are encouraged to provide their own grills. Open ground fires are prohibited in the park.

Pets are permitted in the day-use area and must be controlled and attended at all times, and on a leash or otherwise safely restrained.

A small picnic area on the north shore is near the North Boat Launch, and another picnic area is near the park office.

Stay the Night at Yellow Creek State Park

Camping Cottages

This activity or structure is ADA accessible.
Six, 13’ by 15’ cottages are along the lakeshore near McFeaters Cove. Each cottage sleeps five people in bunk beds. The cottages have:

Wooden floors
Windows
Porch
Picnic table
Fire ring
Electric lights and outlets

Swimming at Yellow Creek State Park

The 800-foot beach is open from late-May to mid-September, 8:00 A.M. until sunset.

A changing house with an outdoor shower and a snack bar are in the beach area.

Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules.

Pets are prohibited on the beach.

Smoke-Free Beach
Smoking is prohibited on the beach and in the swimming area. For visitors who smoke and still want to use this beach, designated areas adjacent to the beach are provided. The restriction includes:

Cigarettes
Pipes
Cigars
E-cigarettes
Other handheld, lighted smoking devices

Wildlife Watching at Yellow Creek State Park

Yellow Creek State Park has many opportunities for watching wildlife, especially birds. A wildlife watching blind is a short hike from the day use area.

Boating at Yellow Creek State Park

up to 20 hp motors permitted

This activity or structure is ADA accessible.
The 720-acre Yellow Creek Lake has boat launching ramps at the:

North shore
South shore
Beach day-use area
Grampaps Cove (small launch)
Overnight mooring of boats is permitted in the park by special permit only.

For your safety, please be certain that required U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices are on board for all passengers.

Iceboating
Iceboating is permitted on the lake provided the boat displays a launch permit. Iceboats are not available for rental. Ice thickness is not monitored.

Fishing at Yellow Creek State Park

The 720-acre Yellow Creek Lake is well stocked with most warmwater game fish and panfish.

Common species are:

Smallmouth bass
Largemouth bass
Walleye
Muskellunge
Northern pike
Tiger muskellunge
Yellow perch
Bluegill
Catfish

This activity or structure is ADA accessible. There is an ADA accessible fishing pier on the north shore.
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission big bass regulations are in effect on Yellow Creek Lake.

Laurel Run, Yellow Creek, and Little Yellow Creek are stocked with brown and brook trout and provide excellent trout fishing.

The breast of Dragonfly Pond is usable by many people with disabilities, and is also for children 12 years and younger. Access ramps and benches are provided.

Fishing is prohibited in the swimming area, from boat launching docks, or in the boat mooring area.

Ice Fishing
Sunfish, perch, and pike are caught most frequently through the ice at Yellow Creek.

Wooden devices for ice rescue are located around all ice use access areas.

Hunting and Firearms at Yellow Creek State Park

During established seasons, most of Yellow Creek State Park is open to:

Hunting
Trapping
Training of dogs
Common game species are:

Deer
Pheasant
Rabbit
Squirrel
Bear
Turkey
Waterfowl
This activity or structure is ADA accessible. Contact the park office for ADA accessible hunting information.
Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas.

DCNR and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply.

Mountain Biking at Yellow Creek State Park

18 miles of trails

The mountain bike trails on the north and south shores are for hikers and bikers. The trails are easy riding with some challenging sections, which have alternate routes to bypass the obstacles. The trail loops around the park, with intersections marked with letters.

Sledding at Yellow Creek State Park

An area for sledding and tobogganing is maintained opposite the south shore boat launch. If you decide that another hill looks more inviting or challenging, please be alert for old fences that may still be in the area.

Cross-country Skiing at Yellow Creek State Park

While no special area or trail system has been developed for winter sports, the park has many opportunities for cross-country skiers and snowshoers of all experience levels.

Ice Skating at Yellow Creek State Park

The lake near the boat rental building in the beach/day-use area is available for ice skating.

Ice thickness is not monitored.

There are facilities here for a warming fire and winter picnics.

Snowmobiling at Yellow Creek State Park

Registered snowmobiles are allowed in one area that is about 350 acres in size. This designated area consists of forests and open fields. The access to this trail area is from the beach/day use area.