This Scenic Lake Park Nestled In Western Pennsylvania Is A Fishing And Boating Paradise

For travelers who want to spend time on the water, Pittsburgh has a lot to offer. Just within the city limits, anglers have 38 miles of riverfront where they can cast a line or launch a kayak to explore the Three Rivers Water Trail running along the Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio, and Youghiogheny Rivers. Those who prefer a less urban setting will find several lakefront and riverside parks within a quick drive of Pittsburgh that fit the bill. Of these, Cross Creek Country Park is a particularly strong choice for bass fishing, with a scenic lake surrounded by trees and greenery that make it a secluded natural escape.

At more than 2,000 acres, Cross Creek County Park is the largest park in Washington County and contains the county's largest lake, the 258-acre Cross Creek Lake. It's located about an hour's drive southeast of Pittsburgh in Avella, a charming small town known as Pennsylvania's rodeo hub. 

The park is open daily all year, with extended hours (6 a.m. to 11 p.m.) from early March through late October that give visitors lots of time to enjoy its lake and trails. This is part of what makes it such an excellent day trip from Pittsburgh, letting you enjoy a full day in the park without needing to wake up before dawn to do it. Cross Creek is also a great addition to the itinerary for travelers who are in Washington County to explore the history at Meadowcroft Rockshelter or catch a show at the Pavilion at Star Lake, both of which are within a 30-minute drive of the park.

Cross Creek Lake is one of Washington County's top fishing spots, per Pittsburgh Magazine, and is home to a variety of gamefish like crappies, bluegills, sunfish, channel catfish, yellow perch, and largemouth bass. It has a long-standing reputation as one of the best bass fishing spots in Pennsylvania (via Go Erie), known for producing trophy-sized largemouth bass upwards of 8 pounds. It's also included in Pennsylvania's Big Bass Program, which means the lake is catch-and-release only from early April through early June, and there are restrictions on the size and number of fish anglers are allowed to keep the rest of the year. To catch big bass, early spring right after the lake thaws can be a great time to visit, but you can catch fish here any time of the year.

There are three boat launches around Cross Creek Lake. The main one is off of County Park Road along the northern shore, near the main playground and picnic area. There is also a second full boat launch at Thompson Hill Park on the southern shore and a non-motorized boat launch on Lynn Portal Road, on the lake's eastern end. Motorized boats up to 10 horsepower are permitted, provided you obtain a boat launching permit, which is required for all watercraft, including paddleboats like kayaks and canoes.

There are no boat rentals or supply shops at Cross Creek's boat launches. If you didn't bring your own portable fishing gear or watercraft, you can stop at Cross Creek Bait Shop on your way in. It's located on County Park Road, less than a mile from the main boat launch, and rents kayaks, canoes, fishing boats, and pontoon boats, along with selling tackle, bait, and other supplies for a day in the park.

Cross Creek Lake is the main attraction of Cross Creek County Park, but there are some areas to explore on the land around it, too. Hikers can use the park's two trails. The Lakeshore Trail connects the main picnic area to the Lynn Portal Road boat launch. Since it runs along the lake, it's a great trail for views of the water or for spotting the park's many water birds. These include year-round residents like great blue herons and wood ducks, along with seasonal visitors like lesser scaups and horned grebes in the spring, green herons in the summer, and greater yellowlegs and great egrets in the fall. 

The longer South Side Trail loop can be accessed from the Thompson Hill Boat Launch parking lot and runs through the wooded area south of the lake. It's a good path for spotting woodland wildlife like deer, turkeys, and migrating songbirds. Families visiting Cross Creek County Park can also enjoy the kid-centric entertainment around the main boat launch. Along with standard playground equipment, the Children's Bicycle Park is a unique way for young visitors to enjoy the outdoors, with ramps, jumps, and other obstacles to ride through. 

Bike riders looking for a longer trail can head about 10 miles east to the town of Westland, where you can access the Westland Branch of the 47-mile Montour Trail. There are other places to go hiking or boating nearby, too, like the underrated Raccoon Creek State Park, which offers a beach, waterfall, and wildflowers around the 101-acre Raccoon Lake, and is located about 20 miles north of Cross Creek Park.