Camping · Fishing · Hiking
Tuscarora State Park
- Type
- State park (cottages & yurts, lake & trail system)
- Where
- 687 Tuscarora Park Road, Barnesville, PA
- Township(s)
- Rush & Kline Townships
- Managed by
- PA DCNR, Bureau of State Parks (co-managed with Locust Lake State Park)
- Coordinates
- 40.8092, -76.02063 (approximate) · Open in Maps
Park-point coordinate from a DCNR-linked listing — represents the park, not an individual facility; field-verify the launch/cottage loop before pin-level use. - Last verified
- 2026-06-18
Tuscarora State Park wraps a 96-acre lake in the coal-region ridges near Barnesville. It is managed together with Locust Lake State Park, but the two parks serve different visitors: Tuscarora’s overnight lodging is roofed camping — six cottages and four yurts, each sleeping five — with no drive-in tent or RV campground (that is at Locust Lake).
Camping
The six cottages are basic (electric heat, porch, picnic table, fire ring); the four yurts are more finished, with a stove, microwave, refrigerator, and wood flooring. Because rates and the open season change year to year, reserve and confirm the current details through Pennsylvania State Parks (ReserveAmerica) or by calling 888-PA-PARKS.
The lake and the trails
Tuscarora Lake is an electric-motor-only, no-wake warmwater fishery — largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, chain pickerel, muskellunge, and yellow perch — with a boat launch, a seasonal mooring area, and an ADA fishing pier at the launch. Around the shore, the Lake View, Spirit of Tuscarora, and Crow trails link into a 5.5-mile perimeter loop, with several short habitat trails and a dam crossing with lake views.
Getting there
The park is off PA Route 54 near Tamaqua and Barnesville; follow signs to Tuscarora Park Road and the day-use area.
Access & parking
- Getting there
- Off PA Route 54 near Tamaqua and Barnesville; follow signs to Tuscarora Park Road and the day-use / boat-launch area.
- Accessibility
- An ADA-accessible fishing pier sits at the boat launch; modern restrooms at the day-use area. Trails are largely natural-surface.
Sources
- PA DCNR — Tuscarora State Park, Stay the Night
Source type: government - PA DCNR — Tuscarora State Park, Hiking
Source type: government - PA DCNR — Tuscarora State Park, Boating & Fishing
Source type: government
Frequently asked
- Can you tent-camp at Tuscarora State Park?
- No. Tuscarora offers roofed camping only — 6 cottages and 4 yurts, each sleeping five — with no conventional tent or RV campground. The drive-in campground for the area is at neighboring Locust Lake State Park, which Tuscarora is managed alongside.
- What can you catch in Tuscarora Lake?
- Tuscarora Lake is a 96-acre warmwater fishery — largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, chain pickerel, muskellunge, and yellow perch — with trout mainly an ice-season target. It is electric-motor-only and no-wake.