Explore the Area
The park is located near the community of Barnesville, which was founded as a railroad town to service the Anthracite Coal Region. Other nearby communities include Tamaqua, Mahanoy City, and Frackville.
Learn about some of the area businesses and things to do from the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce.
Nearby State Parks and Forests
Locust Lake State Park is close to several state parks and one state forest, where visitors can enjoy recreation, education, and other activities.
Beltzville State Park
The 3,002-acre Beltzville State Park features the 949-acre Beltzville Lake, which is a rest stop for migrating waterfowl and is a destination for boaters and anglers. The sand beach and picnic pavilions are very popular.
Other recreational activities include hiking, mountain biking, swimming, and hunting.
Lehigh Gorge State Park
The 6,107-acre Lehigh Gorge State Park is characterized by a deep, steep-walled gorge carved by a river, thick vegetation, rock outcroppings, and waterfalls.
In Luzerne and Carbon counties in eastern Pennsylvania, the park follows the Lehigh River from the outlet of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Francis E. Walter Dam at the northern end, to the town of Jim Thorpe at the southern end of the park.
Tuscarora State Park
When viewed from the lake or the day-use area, Locust Mountain seems to drop right into the southern side of Tuscarora Lake. The scenic picnic area plays host to many trips and family reunions and the lake is a popular fishing spot.
The 1,618-acre Tuscarora State Park is home to the park office and visitor center for Tuscarora and Locust Lake state parks.
Weiser State Forest
The nearly 30,000-acre Weiser State Forest is located in the ridge and valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The forest offers many outdoor opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, picnicking, boating, kayaking, fishing, hunting, camping, and even hang gliding.
Weiser State Forest contains approximately 114 of the 229 miles that the Appalachian Trail covers in Pennsylvania, four miles of which are located on state forest land.
Other Nearby Outdoor Spaces and Natural Places
State Game Lands 222 is located a short drive south of the park and offers additional recreational opportunities.
Pennsylvania Heritage Areas
Heritage Areas protect, enhance, and promote Pennsylvania’s historic, natural, cultural, and scenic resources.
The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area is Pennsylvania’s first designated Scenic River. It has been instrumental in shaping the nation’s heritage for more than 300 years, playing an important role in three revolutions: the American, Industrial, and Environmental.