An Hour From Allentown Is Pennsylvania's Artificial Lake Paradise With Wetland Trails, Fishing, And Boating

There are millions of acres of protected land across Pennsylvania. Northampton County didn't think it had enough lakes, so it built Minsi Lake less than an hour outside of Allentown. The lake, plus the wilderness area around it, is now an outdoor playground where you can go boating, fishing, and hiking.

The Lehigh Valley is perched along the edge of the Lehigh River in Eastern Pennsylvania. It's a picturesque region that's dotted with charming cities and endless scenic trails. Surprisingly, the hilly area didn't have many lakes, though. In the 1970s, Northampton County decided to change that by erecting a dam along the East Branch of Martins Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River, in Upper Mount Bethel Township. The Minsi Lake Dam flooded land to create wetlands and a 117-acre lake. Minsi Lake is currently the larger of two public lakes in the county. Meanwhile, the woodlands and wetlands surrounding the lake were leased to Northampton County to become a county park. Minsi Lake Wilderness Area now spreads across 311 acres.

When you arrive at the wilderness area, you'll find parking lots with picnic areas and restrooms on both the east and west shores of the lake. You'll also see the beginning of two trails: the Lake Trail through the woods to the north and the Dam Trail along the dam. They combine into the Minsi Lake Nature Trail, an easy, 3.3-mile loop that circles the entire lake.

As you follow the Minsi Lake Nature Trail, you'll probably see a lot of birds in the park's wetlands. Migrating birds, including horned grebes and red-throated loons, stop here during their journeys. Canadian geese and mallards breed here, too. Then, when you focus on the lake, you'll likely notice fishermen out on the water. They're fishing for rainbow trout, with which Minsi Lake is regularly stocked. There's a chance they could catch bluegills, tiger muskies, and yellow perch, as well.

If you'd like to cast for fish here, you can do so from either the floating fishing pier or an electric-motor or unpowered boat. The aluminum dock is accessible with a step-down bench, grab bars, and a kayak launch, while two paved boat ramps are located near the parking lots. To go fishing on Minsi Lake, adults (age 16 and older) need to obtain a fishing license from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

To reach the Minsi Lake Wilderness Area and its lake, you can fly to Allentown, the thriving, artsy Pennsylvania city with world-class bites. Its small Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), which receives nonstop flights from 14 cities around the country, is only 26 miles away. Or, for additional options, you can check out flights to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), since it's still only 70 miles away. Though it's a US East Coast hub known for cancellations, flights from all around the world land at the much larger airport.