A little water fun out in nature is good for any growing youngster, and the adults may find it just as fun! There's a bounty of wonderful swimming holes and lakes near Lancaster, PA, that you can explore with your family and friends. Here's our list of some of Lancaster's best natural freshwater pools.
If you need a place to clean up and dry off after taking a dip in a Lancaster swimming hole, stay at the Warehouse Hotel in Manheim!
Blue Marsh Lake
Berks County's 1,150-acre lake has a roped-off sand beach, clean bathhouses, and a spacious picnic area. Kids of all ages will love playing at this freshwater beach.
Conestoga Creek
Conestoga Creek is a great place to try tubing with the kids. You can enter at East Main St. in Brownstown and float down to Talmage Park for roughly two to three hours of fun. This stretch's maximum depth is 4 feet, but kids can touch the bottom for most of the journey.
Lancaster Central Park
The ankle-deep creek at Lancaster Central Park is a safe place for any child to splash around. Plus, Central Park staff offer $2 classes where students can learn about the stream's native species.
Mt. Gretna Lake & Beach
The family-owned freshwater beach at Mt. Gretna is open to the public for an inexpensive day of lakeside fun.
Muddy Run Park
Muddy Run Park's lake is reserved for boating and fishing, but the Splash Pad is a great way for kids to beat the heat. Visit Muddy Run just downstream from the Holtwood Dam.
Pequea Creek Campground
This campground features various access points along Pequea Creek where kids can splash around and play safely. Older kids and adults will love tubing downstream to Suzie's Hole, where fast-moving waters lead to a small waterfall. There are warning signs before the falls, and it's easy to hop out of the creek and walk around the drop.
Poole Forge Creek
This creek east of New Holland features plenty of shade and a large pavilion for picnickers. Check out the covered bridge and playground while you're there!
Safe Harbor Park and Nature Preserve
This secluded park along Witmer Run, a tributary of the Conestoga River, is a popular fishing spot for Lancaster residents. The water is just deep enough to wade in, making it a safe place to bring your kids.
Silver Mine Park
Follow the paved walking and biking paths at Silver Mine Park to one of the many Silver Mine Run access points where you can fish, wade and splash around surrounded by dense wilderness.
Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve
Tucquan Glen Nature Preserve features numerous hiking trails that lead to Tucquan Creek and Clark Run, it's tributary. There's plenty of parking at the Preserve, so stop in to splash around or hike its strenuous trails.
West Earl Community Park
You can hike through the field from West Earl Community Park — also known as Talmage Park — to find one of Lancaster's hidden swimming holes along the Conestoga River.
