Laurel Hill State Park is located at 1454 Laurel Hill Park Road in Somerset, Pennsylvania. Somerset is southeast of Pittsburgh and close to the Maryland border. This state park features a seasonal swimming beach, a beautiful man-made waterfall dam, and picnicking areas.
The park consists of 4,512 acres which includes the 63-acre Laurel Hill Lake, one of the main attractions of the park, in addition to Jones Mill Run Dam.
Jones Mill Run Dam – Pumphouse Trail
The Jones Mill Run Dam is located by hiking a trail, called Pumphouse Trail. There is a small parking lot located along Laurel Hill Park Road at the trail head. You’ll see a gate that begins the trail.
The trail is an out-and-back trail totaling about 1.6 miles. The hike to the dam is about .7 miles there, and then .7 miles to turn around and come back. There is a gradual incline that leads from the parking lot of the trailhead to the dam. Pumphouse Trail continues to connect to another trail, but from the Jones Mill Dam, you can turn around and head back.
The trail is mostly easy hiking, with a wide and mostly flat trail. A sign will point you to a turn in the trail to head toward the Jones Mill Run Dam.
Laurel Hill Lake Beach
Laurel Hill Lake is a 63-acre lake, and a main attraction of the park. In the summer months, the lake features a swimming beach. There’s a 1,200-foot sand beach along the lake and swimming is at your own risk between late-May to mid-September, 8 AM to sunset. See the park’s website for any changes to this policy.
Pavilions with picnic tables are available by the lake, with a total of five picnic pavilions at the park. They may be reserved in advance with the park.
The beach also has some playground equipment, a sand volleyball court, and food concessions.
Looking for more fun places nearby?
Laurel Hill State Park is located close to Seven Springs Resort, which offers all-day adventure packages in the summer for their alpine slide, paddleboats, chair lift, bowling, mini-golf, swimming, and more. Seven Springs Resort is mainly known for skiing in the winter.
