If you want to water-ski or pull a tube behind a boat, the two public lakes to know are Lake Wallenpaupack and Beltzville Lake. Most other Pocono lakes, public and private, allow electric motors only, which keeps them quiet for paddlers and anglers.
Pennsylvania has a few rules visitors should know before bringing a boat: how long an out-of-state registration is good for, who needs a boating safety certificate, and when life jackets must be worn. Here is what the state and the parks say, as of 2026.
Lakes that allow powerboats
- Lake Wallenpaupack (Pike and Wayne counties): about 5,700 acres with no horsepower limit. From the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, the speed limit is 45 mph from sunrise to sunset on weekends and holidays, and 25 mph from sunset to sunrise. The Fish & Boat Commission's Mangan Cove access off SR 590 is free, and Brookfield runs fee launches at Caffrey, Ironwood Point, Ledgedale and Wilsonville. Marinas around Tafton and Greentown rent pontoons; call ahead to confirm.
- Beltzville Lake, Beltzville State Park (near Lehighton): unlimited horsepower with a 45 mph limit. It's no-wake east of the Preachers Camp launch and in Pine Run Cove. Water-skiing is allowed from sunrise to sunset in the south-shore zone, running counterclockwise. Launches are at Pine Run East (3 lanes) and Preachers Camp (2 lanes). A concession west of the beach rents pontoons in summer; reserve ahead.
- Lake Harmony: a private lake known for powerboating and water-skiing. It isn't open to the general public, so ask your host about lake access and current boating rules.
Electric-only lakes
- Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro state parks: electric motors only, slow no-wake. Both rent electric motorboats, rowboats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboats daily from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
- Promised Land State Park, Greentown: electric motors only on both lakes. The concession off PA 390 (570-676-6010) rents rowboats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and electric motors by the hour or the day.
- Mauch Chunk Lake, Jim Thorpe: unpowered and electric-motor boats only, at slow no-wake speed. All motorboats must be registered.
- Emerald Lakes, Long Pond: electric trolling motors only. Every boat must be registered at the Association Office, and each person aboard needs a life vest.
- Arrowhead Lakes, Pocono Lake: gasoline-powered boats aren't allowed.
Pennsylvania rules for visiting boaters
- A boat validly registered in its home state can be used in Pennsylvania for up to 60 days. Use it longer and it needs Pennsylvania registration.
- Anyone born on or after January 1, 1982 needs a Boating Safety Education Certificate to run a motorboat over 25 horsepower, and every personal watercraft (jet ski) operator needs one. The Fish & Boat Commission announced a $17 online course with a partner in December 2024.
- From November 1 to April 30, life jackets must be worn, not just carried, while underway or at anchor on boats under 16 feet and on any kayak, canoe or paddleboard.
- Children 12 and under must wear a life jacket while underway on boats 20 feet or shorter.
- At state parks such as Beltzville, motorboats need current registration, and unpowered boats need a registration or a state park or Fish & Boat Commission launch permit.
