Crooked Creek Lake

114 Park Main Road
Ford City, PA 16226-8815
(724) 763-3161
Daily Lake & Recreation Information:
(724) 763-2764

Authorized by the Flood Control Acts of 1936 and 1938, Crooked Creek Lake is one of 16 flood-control projects in the Pittsburgh District. An important link in a system of flood-control projects, Crooked Creek provides flood protection for the lower Allegheny and Ohio rivers. The construction cost of over $4 million appears small when compared to the giant saving which have resulted. Since its completion in 1940, the project has prevented flood damages estimated to be in excess of $548 million.

Crooked Creek 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.

Recreation, Events, Facilities & Activities

Recreation

Nestled among the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, Crooked Creek Lake is an ideal setting for year round outdoor activities. Located only 30 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invites you to discover the scenic beauty of the lake and surrounding countryside at the Crooked Creek project.

Visitors will also find they can pursue a variety of outdoor activities at the project with its numerous well maintained facilities available for their enjoyment. For those who enjoy the outdoors, a visit to Crooked Creek can be a rewarding experience.

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. 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.

Picnicking is well liked at Crooked Creek. There are several picnic areas maintained by the Corps that are provided with tables and charcoal grills. There are also six picnic shelters with picnic tables and grills.

Campground Reservations

Effective for the 2018 recreation season and beyond at Crooked Creek, the campground will no longer be first come, first served and will be by reservation only. Reservation can only be made through the National Recreation Reservation System in two ways, online at recreation.gov or by calling (877)444-6777. For more information, please contact Crooked Creek at (724)-763-3161, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. through 4:00 p.m.

Pavilion Reservations

Effective for the 2017 recreation season and beyond at Crooked Creek, the park office will no longer process pavilion reservation. Reservation can only be made through the National Recreation Reservation System in two ways, online at recreation.gov or by calling (877)444-6777. Reservations are open year-round and can be made one year prior to the reservation date. For more information, please contact Crooked Creek at (724)763-3161, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. For a pavilion pricing click here.

Annual Day Use Pass

America the Beautiful passes allow visitors to avoid having to pay day use fees each time they visit any U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operated day use area nationwide. America the Beautiful Access Passes are available at the Park Office, for qualifying individuals, for free and are valid for the life of the pass holder. Effective immediately, Crooked Creek Lake will only be issuing the Access Pass and the 4th Grade Pass and will no longer sell the Annual, Lifetime Senior or Annual Senior Pass. For more information on the America the Beautiful pass program or to purchase any other interagency pass to include the Annual, Lifetime Senior or Annual Senior pass online, please go to: https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes.

Volunteers

Volunteer applications are now being accepted for a variety of opportunities to get involved at the park. Does spending some time meeting people in the park, handing out interpretive brochures and customer comment surveys sound interesting? Are you a Master Gardener and would like to improve the flower beds at the Visitor Center? How about a church group or scout troop that would like to help the staff with the Pennsylvania Adopt-A-Highway Program? Maybe you're a college student needing a place to earn credits on an internship. Call the Park Office at (724) 763-3161 and ask for the Volunteer Coordinator for more details and an application packet.

Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek Lake

The Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek Laker is under lease with the Armstrong Educational Trust. The Center Coordinator can be reached at (724) 763-6316. To learn more about how you can enjoy this beautiful facility and surrounding grounds virtually, visit at https://www.armstrongcenter.org/locations/odc/.

Crooked Creek Horse Park

The Crooked Creek Horse Park was developed in the area leased as Manor Township Recreation Area. It is maintained by The Fort Armstrong Horsemen's Association, Inc. They have many special events appealing to a variety of interests. To learn more about the recreational opportunities and how to contact them visit http://www.crookedcreekhorsepark.com/.

Facilities & Activities	Offfice	Outflow Area	Spillway Day Use Area	Main Day Use Area	Camp- ground	Tunnel-ville Beach	Boat Launch/ Day Use Area	Group Camp Ground
Amphitheater				X
Campground					X			X
Campground Showers
Campground Hookups
Camper Dump Station	X
Drinking Water	X		X	X	X	X	X
Information/Visitor Center	X		X
Launching Ramp							X
Picnic Areas		X	X	X		X	X
Picnic Shelters			X	X
Playground			X	X	X		X
Restroom Facilities		X	X	X	X	X	X
Accessible Restroom		X		X	X	X	X
Swimming						X
Trails			X	X		X	X	X
Accessible Fishing Pier		X

Crooked Creek Lake Golf Course Map

For more information, visit Recreation.gov.

Lake Information

Master Plan

Click here to view Crooked Creek Lake's Master Plan Design Memorandum (1987).

Firearm / Firework Policy

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers DOES NOT honor State-issued concealed weapon permits, prohibits loaded concealed weapons, the possession of loaded firearms or ammunition on lands and waters administered by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers per Title 36, CFR 327.13{a).

Links of Interest

Crooked Creek Lake News Releases

Corps recreation sites host Earth Day celebration events

4/20/2022

In recognition of Earth Day, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District will host events at several reservoirs across its multistate region. We invite the public to join us as we clean up the environment, plant trees and restore local ecosystems to support the earth for years to come.

Crooked Creek Lake seeks public input on master plan updates

11/13/2020

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is seeking public feedback regarding proposed changes to the Crooked Creek Lake Master Plan based on public input collected in November 2019. The master plan update will affect the future management and use of natural resources and recreational activities at the lake for the next 25 years.

Corps to Open Select Facilities at Recreation Sites

5/14/2020

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is announcing that select facilities at district-managed sites will open Memorial Day weekend for the 2020 recreation season in alignment states’ guidelines.