Youghiogheny Recreation Area

The Klondike Pavilion Shelter is located on the Youghiogheny River Lake in the heart of the Laurel Highlands. The lake spans the Mason-Dixon Line between Pennsylvania and Maryland, and its clean waters, forested mountains and steep-sided valleys provide an unsurpassed setting for recreational opportunities. The Klondike Pavilion provides parking, grills, tables, electric, waste receptacles, and a buffet-style counter top. It is a short walk to the two available restrooms, and there is a handicap accessible path from the parking lot. The pavilion offers a short path to the beach area and boat launch, while also providing a beautiful view of the lake where you can see recreators and wildlife. Camping, fishing, boating, water skiing, hiking, biking, picnicking and sightseeing are the area's most popular activities. Boaters consider Youghiogheny River Lake, with its 16-mile length and channels up to one-half mile wide, the best powerboating and water-skiing lake in southwestern Pennsylvania. The lake's outflow area is renowned for its excellent trout fishing and is stocked from April to September each year, and a fishing pier is located in the campground. The country surrounding the lake is made up of narrow valleys and high rounded hills with steep slopes. Much of the land is covered with northern hardwoods including beech, sugar maple, white ash, yellow poplar and basswood, and a variety of wildlife makes its home around the lake, including deer, bear, turkey, grouse, rabbit and squirrel. Some of Pennsylvania and Maryland's finest state parks surround Youghiogheny Lake. Ohiopyle State Park is known for some of the best whitewater in the East and is often the location of national kayaking competitions, cyclists enjoy the many miles of bike trails in the area, and for the history buff the area boasts many historical sites and parks.