Laurel Lake

Laurel Lake is the 25-acre lake at the east end of Pine Grove Furnace State Park and the park's only boating lake. It has an unguarded sand beach open May 1 to September 30 from 8 a.m. to sunset, a boat rental, a boat launch and kayak launch, and 85 mooring spaces. Boats may use electric motors only, at slow, no-wake speed. The Pole Steeple Trail starts just across the road.

Swimming at Laurel Beach

Laurel Beach is open May 1 to September 30, 8 a.m. to sunset, with no lifeguards: swim at your own risk and follow the posted rules. DCNR advises caution at both park lakes because of depth and cold water below the surface. A snack bar runs in summer.

Laurel Beach is the accessible one. Park in the upper Laurel Day Use lot, follow the sidewalk around the concession building and use the ramp straight into the water. Compare both beaches on Swimming.

Boating

DCNR lists rowboats, electric motorboats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards on Laurel Lake. Rules:

• Electric motors only, slow, no-wake speed.
• Motorboats need a current registration.
• Non-powered boats need a registration, a Pennsylvania State Parks launch or mooring permit, or a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission launch permit.

There is a boat rental, a boat launch, a hand-carry kayak launch and 85 mooring spaces (Boating).

Fishing

Pickerel, perch, bass and stocked trout are the common fish. DCNR publishes Laurel Lake depth maps in color and black-and-white for anglers, and Mountain Creek, which flows into the lake, holds trout (Fishing). No fishing inside the beach and swimming area.

Wildlife

DCNR's guide suggests watching for bald eagles, osprey and great blue herons hunting around the lakes. Mergansers, Canada geese, mallards, loons and teal use Laurel Lake, and beavers may be seen working in the upper channels at twilight in fall.

Winter on Laurel Lake

When conditions allow, the park maintains a small ice skating area by the boat launch, and ice fishing is allowed on natural ice outside it. Ice thickness is checked only in the skating area; DCNR's minimum is 4 inches for one person and 7 inches for a small group (Winter).

Getting Here

Laurel Lake Day Use Area is east of the park office (GPS 40.04101, -77.26945). Walk from the Furnace Stack on the Hiker Biker Trail or the 1.4-mile Mountain Creek Trail, or drive and park in the day use lots. The steep Pole Steeple Trail begins across Old Railroad Bed Road.

A Little History

Laurel Lake supplied water power for Laurel Forge, which Peter Ege built in 1830 to hammer cast iron from the furnace into wrought iron (About).

Good For

• Paddling, a quiet electric-motor boat ride or a rental rowboat.
• Swimmers who need ramp access.

Maybe Skip If

• You want lifeguards: go to Fuller Lake.
• You want a gas-powered boat: only electric motors are allowed.