The US Army Corps of Engineers constructed Aylesworth Creek Lake as part of its dam control project in Pennsylvania in 1970. The building of the dam resulted in the creation of Aylesworth Creek Lake that has a drainage area of 6.2 miles with its reservoir extending for more than 4,600 feet upstream.
Aylesworth Creek Lake also hosts a recreation area, Aylesworth Park. This park was previously maintained and operated by the Aylesworth Creek Reservoir Park Authority – a volunteer organization– but was later passed to the Lackawanna County for operation. This park was created as the result of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dam Control Project in 1970.
Aylesworth Creek Lake is located in a picturesque setting in the upper valley, which makes it a beautiful place for friends and families to go swimming, picnicking, fishing, and hiking, enjoying the scenic views and fantastic weather.
The park has gone through several facility upgrades, so you might be surprised by the variety and condition of amenities available for campers here. A multipurpose field, softball field, bocce court, and horseshoe court was added to the park in 2010 that has made it an excellent outdoor destination for all who visit here.
This four-acre lake in Lackawanna County is known for its scenic beach and attractive views to enjoy while hiking along the various trails. Not only is Aylesworth Creek Lake a popular getaway among the locals, but it also attracts many camping and outdoor recreationalists from adjoining cities.
Aylesworth Creek Lake is located only a twenty-minute drive or about 11 miles from Lackawanna State Park. If you are driving from Abington Road then take PA-438 E, Rushbrook Road, and PA-107 East to Bonnie Drive in Jermyn. Drive to Hudson Street in Archbald for another five minutes or so and you’ll find Aylesworth Creek Lake approaching ahead.
Aylesworth Park offers many recreation activities but doesn’t offer any camping facilities. Luckily for visitors, Lackawanna State Park is less than 11 miles away from Aylesworth Creek Lake and offers excellent RV camping opportunities.
The modern campground at the State Park is only a walking distance from its lake. The campground offers 61 campsites with electric hookups. All sites are back-in and come equipped with picnic tables and grills. At the campground, you’ll find centrally located washhouses, hot showers, restrooms, and a sanitary dump station.
The campground also has a swimming pool and a playground. The maximum number of days a group is allowed to stay is 21 during the off-season, and 14 consecutive days during in-season. The maximum RV length capacity at the campground is 40 feet and pets are allowed to stay on the campsites along with their owners.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission makes sure to stock this four-acre lake twice every year for anglers to enjoy fishing to their heart's content. The lake is stocked with brook trout and is even designated as Approved Trout Waters, which makes it an attractive destination for anglers of all levels and expertise.
Aylesworth Creek Lake is one of the best fishing spots for pro anglers to try their hand at reeling in a trophy-sized trout. The fishing experience is highly enjoyable not just because of the high prospects of catching trout, but also because of the surrounding riparian buff and scenic views that make every second that you spend here, worthwhile.
Aylesworth Creek Lake boasts a lake trail and nearly 65 other hiking trails that wind through Aylesworth Park. All the hand-curated trails are beautifully maintained and clearly marked, making them suitable for hikers of all ages and skill levels. No matter what you choose to do, whether hiking or biking, it is guaranteed to be one beautiful, scenic, and smooth escapade.
The trails range from less than 0.1 miles to nearly 15 miles in length, with the longest being Hudson Street in Aylesworth, which is by far one of the most popular and challenging hiking trails in the region.
The New Lake Trail is for hikers as well as mountain bikers. This scenic trail begins from right alongside Aylesworth Creek Lake and loops through the forested areas surrounding the vast lake waters. The trail takes mountain bikers through an open beautiful meadow in a very thrilling downhill ride.
Along the way, mountain bikers also get the chance to freshen up by the many small streams that cut through the tracks before they reach Hunters lodge. The trail continues down the old red ash road until you arrive at the magnificent Hosie Dam.
This mountain bike trail takes about two hours to finish and is about six and a half miles long. It is moderate to slightly strenuous with rocky terrain and numerous stream crossings.
Aylesworth Park sits right alongside the Casey Highway and offers a picturesque mountain landscape, but what really stands out at this park is the 170-feet of soft and sandy beach this park provides access to. You can either relax at the beach, play volleyball, or just go dipping in the clear creek water. The opportunities are endless, and they aren't many location close-by that offer such a maintained beach with the ability to camp for as long as you want.
Aylesworth Park boasts picnic tables and grills in the day-use area for locals and visitors to enjoy a good day right beside the lake and have some homemade snacks to complete the experience. There are grills and park pavilions too, which are rented for free by Lackawanna County residents.
The pavilion complex can be reserved for a group of up to 150 people. There is also a massive playground and playhouse which is a favorite among kids. This makes picnicking with family much easier and more fun.
Discovered in 1884 by coal miners, Archbald Pothole is situated in Archbald Pothole State Park, which is less than a fifteen-minute drive away from Aylesworth Creek Lake. The Archbald Pothole is a 15,000 year old geologic feature that was created during the Wisconsin Glacial Period. The pothole is elliptical in shape and is 38 feet deep, with the largest diameter being 42 feet by 24 feet in length. The depth of the pothole is equivalent to 140,000 gallons of water and is certainly a natural wonder that is worth visiting.
