Hemlock Lake ParkGeneral InfoHemlock Lake was originally called Straight Run Dam when it was completed by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission in 1970. The dam is 650 feet long and is 40 feet high at its highest point. The dam impounds a 60 acre lake. Its deepest point is approximately 33 feet. Indiana County Parks leases the site from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission as a public recreation area. Please be advised that the access roads to Hemlock Lake do not receive winter maintenance.Activities & Accommodations Pavilions Hemlock Lake features a pavilion on each shore. The West Shore Pavilion has a capacity of 20 people, while the East Shore Pavilion can hold up to 50 park-goers. The pavilions at Hemlock Lake are free for public use on a strictly first-come first-served basis, with no reservation or paperwork required. Read more about free pavilions.Hunting & Fishing The 205 acre park features a 60 acre lake with two boat launches and areas for hunting, hiking, and fishing (including ice fishing). The lake has been stocked with bluegill, bass, catfish, muskellunge, walleye and northern pike. Fishermen may moor their boats at the park following regulations established by the Fish & Boat Commission. Only electric motors and hand propelled boats are permitted. Other nearby recreation areas include PA State Gamelands #174, Cloe Dam (Jefferson County) and Little Mahoning Creek. Learn more about the species of fish in Hemlock Lake (a.k.a. – Straight Run Lake) by reading the spring 2008 biologist’s report. And for our bird-watchers, a comprehensive Hemlock Lake Park bird list is available in PDF format. This list was compiled by Margaret Higbee using data collected by the Todd Bird Club.

Source: Hemlock Lake Information | Indiana County Parks & Trails

Memorial ParkGeneral InfoMemorial Park is located in Indiana Borough near the corner of Wayne Avenue and South 6th Street. This two-acre park is a shady retreat within Indiana, and although it is the smallest of the County Parks, Memorial Park is one of the most historic sites within Indiana County.Activities & AccommodationsSummer concertsA bandstand, used for summer concerts and an annual Memorial Day program, is located within the park. Every summer, Memorial Park hosts a series of free summer concerts in the park. Check back every year for a complete list of events; the schedule is typically announced in May of each year. Bring a lawn chair or blanket if you’d like; refreshments will be available for sale. Contact the parks office for additional information.

Source: Memorial Park Information | Indiana County Parks & Trails

Pine Ridge ParkGeneral InfoThe property for Pine Ridge Park was purchased in 1966 and 1967 primarily with federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grants. At the time Pine Ridge was being constructed, Indiana County was simultaneously constructing Blue Spruce Park and Hemlock Lake. Students from Penn State’s Landscape Architecture and Recreation Management departments created the original design for Pine Ridge Park. Students submitted park designs in a contest held by the Indiana County Planning Office in 1966.Activities & AccommodationsHiking & SkiingAt 635 acres, Pine Ridge Park provides a variety of recreation options. Much of the park remains in a natural state with large stands of mature hardwoods. Tom’s Run, a scenic mountain stream, intersects the park. Several miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails traverse the park. These trails are shown on the park map.  Hunting & FishingHunting is permitted in certain locations of the park. Please review and print our hunting map of Pine Ridge Park for details. There is also a two-acre pond available for catch-and-release fishing for groups who rent the Pine Lodge. Tom’s Run is a trout stream stocked by the PA Fish Commission.Pavilions, LodgeThe Tom’s Run area features picnic tables, grills, playgrounds, restrooms, and two pavilions available for rental. Pine Lodge is located in the southern portion of the park. The lodge is available for group rental and is used for reunions, meetings, weddings, receptions, and other social gatherings. Pine Lodge features a kitchen, restrooms, activity rooms, a deck, and two stone fireplaces. A playground is located near the Lodge, as well.Disc GolfPine Ridge Park is also the home to a wonderful, 9-hole, recreational disk golf course. This course provides another great recreational opportunity for visitors to Pine Ridge Park. With 9 holes of recreational play, the course par is 28 with a total length of 2,534 feet. The longest hole is 389 feet, the shortest hole is 240 feet, and the average hole-length is 282 feet. A full course brochure is also available. It is complete with a map of the course, scorecard, and rules of play. Players will find a variety of open, wooded, uphill, downhill, straight, and dog-legged holes at Pine Ridge Park.

Source: Pine Ridge Park Information | Indiana County Parks & Trails

Old Smicksburg ParkGeneral InfoOld Smicksburg Park is a 33-acre park located in Smicksburg Borough, in northwestern Indiana County. Since the year 2000 the park has been managed by the Smicksburg Area Heritage Society, under a management agreement with Smicksburg Borough. Effective March 24, 2010 the management agreement was transferred to Indiana County Parks & Trails. For more information, check out our handy Old Smicksburg brochure.

Activities & Accommodations

HikingThe park offers a number of hiking trails that are suited to hiking, birding and wildflower study. A restroom, picnic tables, and gazebo are now available for visitor’s use.Boat LaunchThe Little Mahoning Creek runs through the town and provides a great location from which to launch a canoe or kayak.Specialty ShopsThe park also serves as an added attraction for tourists visiting the Smicksburg Amish country and the specialty shops of Smicksburg.

Source: Old Smicksburg Park Information | Indiana County Parks & Trails