The park contains the historic 1930s-era CCC camp, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Laurel Hill Creek, which feeds the lake, is recognized as a high-quality coldwater fishery.
The park's namesake, Laurel Hill Mountain, forms part of the Allegheny Mountain range transition zone.
The 63-acre lake was created by damming the Laurel Hill Creek specifically for recreational purposes.
The park was one of the first state parks in Pennsylvania developed as part of a New Deal-era work relief program.
Laurel Hill State Park encompasses 4,062 acres in the Laurel Highlands of Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The focal point is the 63-acre Laurel Hill Lake, which provides swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities. The park features over 15 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy lakeside paths to more strenuous forest treks. It contains significant historic infrastructure, including structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression. The park offers extensive camping facilities, including rustic sites, modern cabins, and specialized areas for organized group tenting. Visitors can access a sand swimming beach located on the west side of the lake. The region is notable for its elevated topography and diverse deciduous and coniferous forest cover. It serves as a trailhead for connections to the broader regional trail network within the Laurel Ridge State Park complex.
The wooden footbridge spanning the Laurel Hill Creek inlet, offering a symmetric view of the lake reflecting the surrounding ridge.
Bring polarized sunglasses to better navigate the reflective glare on the lake surface while boating.
Check the Pennsylvania DCNR website for seasonal deer hunting alerts before hiking during autumn months.
Reserve campsites well in advance, as the facility reaches capacity quickly during summer weekends.
Attempting to swim outside of the designated beach area, as current and underwater debris in the creek-fed lake can be hazardous.
Beach swimming is limited to the summer season; campgrounds are typically open from spring through late autumn.
Leash pets at all times, remove all trash to maintain wildlife safety, and stay on marked trails to protect sensitive forest floor vegetation.
