Whipple Dam State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily sunrise – sunset
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- pa.gov(814) 667-1800
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Whipple Dam State Park is a 250-acre park in Huntingdon County, about 8 miles south of State College.
The park supports cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, winter sports, hunting in season, and canoeing and kayaking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach, a boat ramp, a fishing pier, and boat or kayak rentals.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | sunrise – sunset | — |
Official wording
The park is open every day of the year, sunrise to sunset. Day use areas close at dusk. Park offices are open specific hours. The beach and other areas are open specific seasons and hours. Contact the Greenwood Furnace State Park office for facility seasons and hours.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (Aspira), Pennsylvania State Parks contract
- Phone
- 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Things to do
BoatingWinter sportsCross-country skiingFishingHuntingPicnickingSnowmobilingSwimmingCanoeing and kayaking
Swimming
The 300-foot sand beach is open from late-May to mid-September, 8:00 A.M. until sunset.
A dressing room, beach volleyball court, and boat rental are at the beach.
Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules.
Smoke-Free Beach
Smoking is prohibited on the beach and in the swimming area. For visitors who smoke and still want to use the beach, designated areas adjacent to the beach are provided. The restriction includes:
- Cigarettes
- Pipes
- Cigars
- E-cigarettes
- Other handheld, lighted smoking devices
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
- Fishing pier
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Whipple Dam State Park offers a range of accessibility accommodations to ensure all visitors can enjoy its natural beauty and recreational opportunities.
Accessible Picnic Tables
ADA accessible picnic tables are located in the main picnic area near the beach.
Pavilion 1 (Lakeside)
Pavilion 1, Lakeside can accommodate up to 75 people. Domestic pets are allowed.
Fishing Access
An accessible fishing pier is located near pavilion 2 on the northwest shore of the lake.
Swimming and Beaches
An ADA accessible 300-foot sand beach is open from late-May to mid-September, 8:00 A.M. until sunset.
There is a ramp leading into the water.
Swim at your own risk. Please read and follow posted rules.
There is an ADA accessible observation deck between the beach and the boat rental with an ADA path leading to it on both sides.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 3746 Laurel Run Road
Petersburg, PA 16669 - Nearest town
- State College — about 8 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 40.6823, -77.8644
- Phone
- (814) 667-1800
- greenwoodfurnacesp@pa.gov
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Whipple Dam State Park is in the northeastern corner of Huntingdon County, 12 miles south of State College. The park is easily reached by turning east off PA 26 at the Whipple Dam State Park sign. GPS DD: Lat. 40.6823 Long. -77.86436
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Pennsylvania State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Sep 3, 2026
- DCNR Find a Park: content-fragment JSON feed used by the pa.gov park finder
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Whipple Dam Lake reflective.jpg — CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication), Smallbones
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology