Keystone State Park
in Westmoreland County PA
Directions
Keystone State Park is located in Derry Township,
Westmoreland County, along route 1018, three miles from the
intersection of Routes 981 and 22 in New Alexandria.
Description
Keystone State Park represents a rich natural environment
replete with great opportunities for outdoor adventure and
family vacation fun. Camping, boating, winter activities,
picnicking and pavilion rental, playfields, a beach,
swimming, hiking, and wildlife observation are but a few of
the possibilities. Much of the park and many activities are
handicapped accessible. Keystone State Park consists of
1,187 acres, a 78 acres lake (Keystone Lake), and 100
campsites.
Attractions and Facilities
- Camping
- Cabins
- Boat Rental
- Public Boat Launch
- Beach & Swimming
- Picnic Areas
- Drinking Water and Restrooms
- Two Pavilions
- Hiking Trails
- Designated Snow Mobile Trails
For family camping, 100 tent and trailer sites are
available from the first Friday of April through late
December, some with electricity. There is a lakeside
campground with 40 sites and a more remote Hillside
Campground with 60 sites. A sanitary dump station is
available, and both sites have a modern bathhouse facility.
Keystone State Park has eleven modern cabins that are
available for rent on a year round basis. Located near the
breast of the dam between the two campgrounds, these
facilities sleep up to 6 people each and come equipped with
a modern bathroom and shower, kitchen with stove,
refrigerator, and microwave.
A boat rental concession, public boat launching ramp and
mooring area are provided for rowboats, sailboats, and
canoes. Non-powered and electric powered boats are
permitted, but must display appropriate permits and boat
registrations. Please call 724-668-2939 for more
information.
Perhaps Keystone State Parks most famous aspect is its
1,000-foot turf and sand beach. For your swimming safety,
the beach is monitored by lifeguards from Memorial Day
weekend through Labor Day, 11 am to 7 pm, or as posted. A
food concession offering hot and cold food is available
during the same period.
A well-loved picnic area each summer, Keystone State Park
boasts over 440 picnic tables in several picnic areas. There
is ample parking.
Drinking water and restrooms are available. Two picnic
pavilions offer charcoal grills and electricity and can be
reserved for use up to 11 months in advance. Pavilion #1 is
located on the north side of the lake and Pavilion #2 is
below the breast of the dam, near the ball field.
Five hiking trails offer a wonderful view of the
park.
- Davis Run Trail follows 2.5 miles of wetland and
upland forest area.
- Lake Side Trail follows a 2 miles loop around
Keystone Lake. This trail is excellent for bicycle
enthusiasts.
- McCune Run Trail offers a short trip to visit a
beaver pond and wetland area.
- Pine Trail offers a short scenic hike through a
plantation of red and white pine.
- Stone Lodge Trail follows 1.4 miles along a steep
loop through hardwoods and ridge top conifers.
Trout stockings throughout the year by the Pennsylvania
Fish Commission make Keystone Lake a favorite of area
fishermen. Keystone Lake is a Big Bass Lake and special
regulations apply. Other fish include tiger muskellunge,
northern pike, black crappie, yellow perch, carp, and
bullhead catfish. There is a handicapped accessible fishing
area near the spillway. Fishing is not allowed at the beach,
dam breast, and boat launch and mooring sites.
Hunters of deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, and grouse will
find about half of Keystone State Park open to hunting.
Hunting is prohibited on the lake and in the surrounding
vicinity. As the park is open to public use, extreme caution
must be used with any firearm or archery equipment. Please
call 724-668-2939 for detailed regulations. Pennsylvania
Game Commission rules and regulations are in effect for all
activities in the park
Winter activities such as Ice Fishing, Ice Skating, and
Sledding are popular, however extreme caution is always
recommended. Please contact the park manager to determine
ice and snow conditions in advance of any planned outing.
Registered snowmobiles may use designated snowmobile trails.
These trails are closed to snowmobiling from September 25 to
the last day of antler-less deer season, Sundays excepted.
Daily snowmobiling begins after the antler-less deer season.
Contact Information
For more information, contact the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources, Keystone State Park at
724-668-2939. Mail and email address follow:
Keystone State Park
R.D. 2, Box 101
Derry, PA 15627
E-mail:
keystonesp@state.pa.us
Additional Information
Other informative websites on Keystone State Park include
Fay-West.coms page on Keystone State Park and the Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources website.
Keystone State Park at Fay-West.com
Keystone State Park at the DCNR website
Westmoreland County offers ideal
outdoor park settings in the heart of the Laurel Highlands