There are only eight natural lakes in western Pennsylvania. Among the most beautiful is Lake Pleasant, in central Erie County between the towns of Waterford and Wattsburg. It’s wonderful for exploring, particularly for canoeing and kayaking.
These lakes were formed by retreating continental glaciers, about 20,000 years ago. Tremendous blocks of ice were left behind and smothered in sand and gravel. Water-filled depressions formed when the ice melted, creating natural glacial lakes. Our region’s glacial lakes and surrounding wetlands are habitats for native plants and animals found nowhere else in the state, and include endangered species.
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy began protecting the 64-acre Lake Pleasant in the 1990s. Now 580 acres of conserved lands surround much of the lake. It’s a beautiful place — peaceful, remote, and unusual among western Pennsylvania landscapes.
Boating access is available on the eastern and western shorelines, with state regulations allowing only non-motorized boats. It is important to clean all boats of any potential invasive species before entering the lake. Both hunting and fishing are also permitted.
For more information about visiting the Conservancy’s Lake Pleasant Conservation Area, visit WaterLandLife.org/Preserves
Thomas D. Saunders is president and CEO of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the region’s exceptional places.
