Waterfalls and lakes in Pennsylvania

Scenic Lakes and Waterfalls

Pennsylvania’s diverse aquatic landscapes range from the expansive Raystown Lake, the largest reservoir entirely within the state, to the dramatic 94-foot Ganoga Falls in Ricketts Glen State Park. This collection includes engineering landmarks like the Kinzua Dam on the Allegheny River and the historic Halfway Dam, the first stone masonry dam built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. These sites offer a mix of natural glacial lakes, artificial reservoirs like Lake Wilhelm, and accessible cascades such as Cucumber Falls in Ohiopyle.

Scenic Lakes and Waterfalls — Map

Drums600 / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Raystown Lake

Raystown Lake is a reservoir in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. It is the largest lake that is entirely within Pennsylvania.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,… / Public domain

B

Allegheny Reservoir

The Allegheny Reservoir is a reservoir along the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania and New York, USA.

ben.kouba / CC BY 2.0

C

Ganoga Lake

Ganoga Lake is a natural lake in Colley Township in southeastern Sullivan County in Pennsylvania, United States.

Jakec / CC BY-SA 4.0

D

Lake Chillisquaque

Lake Chillisquaque is a lake and reservoir in Montour County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It has a surface area of 165 acres.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / CC BY 2.0

E

East Branch Clarion River Lake

East Branch Clarion River Lake, or East Branch Lake is a reservoir at Elk State Park in Elk County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.

msvanscyoc / CC-BY-SA

F

Cucumber Falls

A 30-foot bridal veil waterfall in Ohiopyle State Park. Fed by Cucumber Run, the falls feature a limestone overhang that allows visitors to walk behind the cascading water.

G

Halfway Dam

Located in Raymond B. Winter State Park, this 1933 structure was the first stone masonry dam built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the United States.

H

Kinzua Dam

One of the largest dams in the eastern United States, this 1965 structure on the Allegheny River controls downstream flooding and created the 25-mile-long Allegheny Reservoir.

I

Ganoga Falls

The highest waterfall in Ricketts Glen State Park, dropping 94 feet. It is a centerpiece of the Glens Natural Area, a designated National Natural Landmark.

J

Buttermilk Falls

A scenic cascade located near the Lehigh Gorge State Park area. The falls drop over a series of rocky ledges surrounded by dense hemlock forest.

K

Lake Wilhelm

A 1,860-acre reservoir within Maurice K. Goddard State Park. It was formed by damming Sandy Creek to provide flood protection for the Shenango River Valley.

L

Shawnee Lake

A 451-acre reservoir in Shawnee State Park, Bedford County. The lake was completed in 1951 as part of a flood control and recreational development project.

M

Canonsburg Lake

Canonsburg Lake is a lake in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. It is an artificial lake formed by the waters of Little Chartiers Creek behind a 525…

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