What's The Deepest Lake in Pennsylvania?

How Deep is Raystown Lake? A Look into PA's 200-Foot-Deep Reservoir

When people talk about Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County, they usually talk about its massive size. As a premier recreation hub, it's famous for its 118 miles of pristine, undeveloped shoreline and the 8,300 acres of water that wind through the Allegheny Mountains.

But Raystown's most impressive dimension isn't its length—it's its depth. This man-made marvel isn't just a sprawling surface; it's a deep, vast reservoir, and its depth is the key to its unique character.

A Man-Made Lake Reaching Impressive Depths

So, just how deep is Raystown Lake? At its maximum point, Raystown Lake reaches a staggering depth of approximately 200 feet.

This incredible depth is a direct result of its creation. The lake isn't a natural body of water; it was formed by the Raystown Dam, a massive U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project completed in 1973. By damming the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, the engineers flooded a deep, narrow mountain valley. The primary goal was flood control for the Juniata River basin, which required a dam that could hold back an immense volume of water, creating the 200-foot-deep channel we see today.

Putting Raystown's 200-Foot Depth in Perspective

To understand how deep 200 feet really is, it helps to compare it to other notable Pennsylvania lakes.

Let's take Conneaut Lake, located in northwestern PA. Conneaut is a significant landmark in its own right, celebrated as the state's largest natural lake by volume. However, its maximum depth is around 85 feet.

This means Raystown Lake is more than twice as deep as the state's largest natural lake, placing it in a different category entirely.

Why the Depth Matters: A Recreation Paradise

The lake's significant depth is not just a trivia fact; it's the very reason it's such a popular and unique destination, especially for anglers and boaters.

A Hub for Deep-Water Fishing

While shallow lakes are great for some species, Raystown's 200-foot-deep, cold channels create a perfect habitat for deep-water fish that can't thrive elsewhere in the state. This makes Raystown Lake fishing a world-class experience. Anglers from all over come seeking trophy-sized:

• Striped Bass ("Stripers")
• Lake Trout
• Brown Trout
• Walleye
• Atlantic Salmon

A Boater's Dream

For boaters, the depth adds to the lake's vast, open-water feel. It's a major hub for everything from pontoon boats and kayaks to powerboats and houseboats, all of which can be enjoyed without ever feeling crowded.

More Than Just a Playground

Beyond the recreation, Raystown Lake's depth is central to its primary mission. As a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project, it plays a vital and ongoing role in managing water quality and, most importantly, providing flood control to protect downstream communities.

From its impressive engineering to its role as a deep-water habitat, Raystown Lake's 200-foot depth is what makes it one of Pennsylvania's most vital and spectacular resources.

While Pennsylvania has many beautiful and significant lakes, Raystown Lake definitively holds the title of the deepest lake entirely within the state, plunging to depths of around 200 feet. Its creation as a reservoir has resulted in a unique aquatic environment that supports diverse fish populations and offers a wide range of recreational activities, making it a key landmark in the mountains of Central Pennsylvania.

Sources:

• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Baltimore District - Raystown Lake Project)
• Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
• Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau