Alternate A13 · Northeast
Fords Lake
Lackawanna County · Northeast region · 73 acres
Quiet Water Small Water Checked Oct 2026
- Size
- 73 acres as listed by the Fish and Boat Commission's lake page
- Boat traffic
- Quiet water: paddle craft and electric-motor boats only. As listed by the Fish and Boat Commission's lake page, checked Oct 2026.
- Permit
- PA boat registration or a PFBC/State Parks launch permit is required to launch here. Paddling rules →
- Dam
- This lake is held back by a dam. Stay well away from the dam, spillway and outlet structures.
Where to put in
Fords Lake access area
Ramp · paved ramp, pier
41.49018, -75.76665 (about ±50 m)
Parking: 10 spaces or more
PA boat registration or a PFBC/State Parks launch permit is required to launch here.
Access notices
Full drawdown under way since Sep 2026 ahead of dam rehabilitation; PFBC expects construction from spring 2027 and refill in fall 2028.
Access notice from a PFBC news release, published Sep 16, 2026.
About Fords Lake
Fords Lake is alternate A13 for the LakePA 100: a 73-acre reservoir in Lackawanna County, in our Northeast region. That acreage is the figure given by the Fish and Boat Commission's page for the lake. Under a hundred acres, it belongs to the Small Water tier. Gas motors are not allowed; you share the water only with electric-motor boats, so it counts as Quiet Water. (Boat rules as listed by the Fish and Boat Commission's page for the lake.) You launch at Fords Lake access area, which has a paved ramp, a pier and parking listed as 10 spaces or more. Launching at a Fish and Boat Commission or state park site requires a Pennsylvania boat registration or a PFBC or State Parks launch permit. It is held back by a dam: stay well clear of the dam, the spillway and the outlet structures. It is an alternate this season because of a dated closure or drawdown notice, so read the notice box before you plan a trip. Logging it moves you toward the Northeast region milestone. In a straight line, it is about 8 miles from Scranton to the nearest put-in. Check the weather, posted signs and the operator's latest notices before you launch.
Rules for paddlers
Pennsylvania's paddler rules (permits, life jackets, whistle and light) are on one dated page. Paddling rules →
Safety
Paddling has real risks. Wear your life jacket. Pennsylvania requires it to be worn on canoes, kayaks and paddleboards from Nov 1 through Apr 30, and by children 12 and under all year. Check the weather, posted signs and the operator's notices before you launch. Stay well away from dams, spillways and outlet structures. You paddle at your own risk.
Nearby on the list
Straight-line distance between the lakes, not driving distance.
Questions about Fords Lake
Where do I put in at Fords Lake?
Fords Lake has one listed put-in: Fords Lake access area. Fords Lake access area is at 41.49018, -75.76665 with paved ramp, pier; parking: 10 spaces or more.
Are motorboats allowed on Fords Lake?
Quiet water: paddle craft and electric-motor boats only. As listed by the Fish and Boat Commission's lake page, checked Oct 2026.
Do I need a launch permit at Fords Lake?
Yes, at the Fish and Boat Commission launch: a Pennsylvania boat registration or a PFBC or State Parks launch permit is required.
Source: PFBC, “Registration vs. Launch Permit”, checked 4 Oct 2026.
How big is Fords Lake?
73 acres, as listed by the Fish and Boat Commission's lake page.
Is there a notice for Fords Lake?
Full drawdown under way since Sep 2026 ahead of dam rehabilitation; PFBC expects construction from spring 2027 and refill in fall 2028. Source: a PFBC news release, published Sep 16, 2026.
Sources
- PFBC lake page — checked Oct 4, 2026
- Fish and Boat Commission access map — checked Oct 4, 2026
- Access notice source — checked Sep 16, 2026
- USGS National Hydrography Dataset — checked Oct 4, 2026
Every fact on this page comes from these public sources. Posted signs and official notices always control.
Share this lake
Download the lake card (1080×1350)
For your post or story. #LakePA100