Hancock Bend Boat Launch and Recreation Area

Liberty pavilion is located in the Hancock Bend recreation area near the park boat launch, and offers a playground and horseshoe pits. Vault restrooms are located near the pavilion. Picnicking is well liked at Crooked Creek: there are several picnic areas maintained by the Corps provided with tables and charcoal grills, and six picnic shelters with picnic tables and grills. 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 — Crooked Creek Lake has yielded many fine catches of bass, muskie, sunfish and crappie. 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, it is one of 16 flood control projects in the Pittsburgh District; since its completion in 1940 the project has prevented flood damages estimated in excess of $548 million, and it also stores water for release downstream during dry periods to improve water quality for domestic and industrial use, navigation, recreation, aesthetics and aquatic life. 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 Environmental Learning 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.