Youghiogheny River Lake

General Description

Spanning the Mason-Dixon line between Pennsylvania and Maryland lies Youghiogheny River Lake. Experience the clean waters, mountains and steep-sided valleys that provide wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities.

Yough Lake was formed by damming the Youghiogheny River at Confluence, PA, and is a project of the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is popular for boating, hunting, camping, and exploring the outdoors.

Fishermen love the numerous coves and backwater areas along the lake. Inhabited by a large variety of game and panfish, the lake is especially known as a hotspot for walleye and smallmouth bass. The tail waters of the dam are very popular for trout fishing. Yough Lake's outflow area is one of the few areas in Pennsylvania open for trout fishing year round (except for the two weeks immediately preceding Opening Day) and is stocked by the Fish and Boat Commission on a regular basis throughout the spring and summer.

For those who prefer to propel their boats with a paddle, the Youghiogheny River has plenty to offer. From the outflow area of the dam and extending for approximately 20 miles downstream, paddlers can enjoy one of the most popular rafting and canoeing rivers in the eastern United States. The boulder strewn stretch of river below Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania, is renowned for its whitewater and is often the scene of national kayaking competitions.

A license has been granted to the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission for fish management purposes in the Pennsylvania portion of the lake. The Fish Commission has also developed and maintains the Jockey Hollow Boat Launching Area.

The average depth of the lake is about 54 feet and the maximum depth is about 121 feet.

Fishing supplies are available through concessionaires located at the lake.
No horsepower limit.

• All major coves are No Wake areas.
• The lake is almost 16 miles long and averages 1/2 mile wide.
• There are 2,840 surface acres of water at summer pool.
• The lake is often crowded on busy weekends.
• The lake provides water for rafting in the river below the dam.

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Conditions

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Launch Areas

Jockey Hollow
Paved. From Uniontown, Pennsylvania, go east on Route 40 about 22 miles to launching ramp.

Mill Run
Paved. From Friendsville, Maryland, go about five miles north on Route 53 to Mill Run Campground. Fee charged.

Somerfield North
Paved. From Uniontown, Pennsylvania, go 23 miles east on Route 40, north of bridge on east side of lake. Fee charged.
 
Somerfield South
Paved. From Uniontown, Pennsylvania, go 23 miles east on Route 40, south of the bridge on the east side of the lake. (For Marina customers only.)

Tub Run
Paved. From Uniontown, Pennsylvania, go east on Route 40 about 20 miles to Route 281. Then north about five miles to Tub Run campground. Fee area. For use by campers only.

Spillway Recreation Are

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