ELK STATE PARK
ELK STATE PARKJohnsonburg, Pennsylvania 15845
Phone: 814-965-2646 Toll Free: 888-727-2757 Reservations: 888-727-2757 Email: 
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The 3,192-acre Elk State Park is in the rugged mountains of northern Pennsylvania. The 1,160-acre East Branch Lake is large enough for unlimited horsepower boating and is great for water-skiing. The lake and nearby streams are stocked with warm-water and cold-water fish.
Just south of Elk State Park, the Belgian Count De Hamm founded a settlement of glass blowers. The settlers could not survive on just glass making and soon B.F. Hazelton built a large sawmill in the town and the town was renamed Glen Hazel. The logging town thrived while the timber lasted, but now is mostly summer cottages and hunting camps.
Chartered in 1887, the Johnsonburg and Clermont Railroad linked the towns and mills of the area to haul the timber to the market. When the timber was exhausted, the railroad, sawmills and towns like Glen Hazel, slowly disappeared.
In 1961, the state legislature authorized the development of Elk State Park. Initial development, completed in 1963, included road improvement, parking lots, restroom, water well, launching ramp and access dock at the Instanter Launch Area.
Swimming is not permitted in the lake. A swimming pool is available at Bendigo State Park, about 13 miles away on PA 1004.
Boating: unlimited horsepower motors permitted
The 1,160-acre East Branch Lake has one boat launch on Instanter Drive. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also provides a boat launch by the dam.
Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
