French Creek State Park

French Creek State Park is a nature reserve in Berks and Chester counties in southeastern Pennsylvania, covering roughly 7,700 acres of rolling wooded land. Two large lakes sit among forested hills, surrounded by wetlands and meadows that stretch out in all directions from the park office.

The land was used for charcoal production until the mid-1800s to fuel the nearby Hopewell Furnace ironworks. After industrial activity ended, Pennsylvania purchased the property and established it as a state park in 1946.

The name comes from a creek that flows through the land, once used by French settlers moving through the region. Today families gather at the lake beaches for swimming or rent boats to paddle across the calm water on warm afternoons.

Most trails start near the parking areas by the main entrance or the lakes and remain passable from spring through fall. Summer weekends bring crowds to the swimming areas, so arriving early in the day helps avoid busy times.

The reserve forms the largest continuous forest block between Washington D.C. and New York City. This position makes it a refuge for rare plants and animals that struggle to find habitat in the heavily developed region.

Location: Pennsylvania

Inception: 1946

Operator: Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks

Email: frenchcreeksp@pa.gov

Website: https://dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/FrenchCreekStatePark

GPS coordinates: 40.21170,-75.79190

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30