Crooked Creek Lake Pavilions

Nestled among the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania only 30 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, Crooked Creek Lake is an ideal setting for year round outdoor activities. Authorized by the Flood Control Acts of 1936 and 1938 and completed in 1940, it is an important link in a system of flood control projects providing protection for the lower Allegheny and Ohio rivers, and it also stores water and releases it downstream during dry periods to improve water quality and quantity for domestic and industrial use, navigation, recreation, aesthetics and aquatic life. The lake and its miles of scenic shoreline provide unlimited opportunities for water-based recreation. A boat launch with ample trailer parking is available for boating and waterskiing enthusiasts, and swimmers and sunbathers will especially appreciate the lake's sandy, peninsula beach. The great variety and abundance of fish found in the lake have lured many fishermen to its waters, and Crooked Creek Lake has yielded many fine catches of bass, muskie, sunfish and crappie. Picnicking is well liked at Crooked Creek: several picnic areas maintained by the Corps are provided with tables and charcoal grills, and there are six picnic shelters with picnic tables and grills, along with a 46 site family campground and a 9 hole disc golf course located at the Justice Pavilion. Independence Pavilion is located on the beach road and offers a ball field and horseshoe pits, with a flush restroom across the parking lot. Heritage Pavilion is located on Overlook Rd and offers a beautiful view of the dam and control tower, with horseshoe pits and a ball field in close vicinity and a flush restroom within walking distance. Justice Pavilion is located behind the park office and offers a private area with a small pond and access to the disc golf course, with a vault toilet a short walk away. The long distance hiker will enjoy the 141-mile Baker Trail, which crosses Crooked Creek Lake on its course through western Pennsylvania. The Crooked Creek Outdoor Discovery Center, operated by the Armstrong Center for Community Learning, is used by groups and agencies interested in environmental stewardship and offers a variety of educational programs. Approximately two miles away from the park, Crooked Creek Horse Park, operated by the Fort Armstrong Horsemen's Association, offers horse staging facilities, stalls, and miles of horseback riding trails.