Memorial Lake State Park in Pennsylvania

Trip Overview

The park rules restrict boating to electric motors and unpowered boats, so there were no problems keeping an eye peeled for jet skis, power boats or water skiers. The park has two boat launch areas; Lower Rd and Middle Rd. We put in at the Lower Rd boat launch and paddled east toward the dam, roughly 3/4 mi away.

I was in the tandem kayak with my younger son, 7, and my daughter, 10, was in the single yak. After about a half mile, the kids decided they wanted to trade places, so we stopped at a small piece of muddy beach for the switch. Then we headed back to the put-in so my older son, 8, could have a turn. This was the first time that any of them had paddled solo. They were definitely having the time of their lives.

We continued exploring the nooks and crannies of the shoreline and a small arm of the lake on the south side, separated from the main body by a bridge, for a few more hours, with the kids taking turns paddling the solo boat. They had a great time spotting wildlife and chatting with other paddlers as well as being able to paddle by themselves.

Accommodations:

Launch ramps with courtesy docks, rest rooms, picnic tables, snack bar, boat rentals (only from Memorial Day thru Labor Day), hiking trails and fishing.

Fees:

No fees for park use, but PA boating registration rules apply.

Directions:

The park is 30 minutes east of Harrisburg and is easily reached from I-81. From the north, take Exit 85. From the south, take Exit 85B. Turn north onto Fisher Avenue and follow signs to the park.

Resources:

PA Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources web site.