#37 of the LakePA 100 · Northeast
Francis E. Walter Reservoir
Luzerne and Carbon counties · Northeast region · 100 acres
Checked Oct 2026
- Size
- 100 acres as listed by the Fish and Boat Commission's PA Lakes map
- Boat traffic
- Some motorboats: gas motors allowed with a size limit. As listed by 58 Pa. Code § 111.13, checked Oct 2026.
- Permit
- Run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Check its rules. (PA's launch-permit rule applies at PFBC and state park/forest launches.) 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
Francis E. Walter Reservoir Boat Launch
Carry-in launch · carry-in launch
41.11531, -75.72214 (about ±50 m)
Parking: 10 spaces or more
Run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Check its rules. (PA's launch-permit rule applies at PFBC and state park/forest launches.)
Access notices
No access notice on file (we last checked Oct 4, 2026). Check Corps of Engineers lake page before you go.
About Francis E. Walter Reservoir
Number 37 on the LakePA 100 is Francis E. Walter Reservoir, a 100-acre reservoir in Luzerne and Carbon counties (Northeast region). Some sources list it as F.E. Walter Reservoir. That acreage is the figure given by the Fish and Boat Commission's PA Lakes map. Gas motors are allowed with a size limit, so expect some motorboats. That rule is as listed by the county boating rules in 58 Pa. Code § 111.13. You launch at Francis E. Walter Reservoir Boat Launch, which has a carry-in launch and parking listed as 10 spaces or more. The listed launches are run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, so check its rules before you go. A dam holds the water back, so keep well away from the dam, the spillway and any outlet structures. It counts toward the Northeast region milestone. As the crow flies, the closest put-in is about 12 miles from Wilkes-Barre. Check the operator's notices, the weather and posted signs 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 Francis E. Walter Reservoir
Where do I put in at Francis E. Walter Reservoir?
Francis E. Walter Reservoir has one listed put-in: Francis E. Walter Reservoir Boat Launch. Francis E. Walter Reservoir Boat Launch is at 41.11531, -75.72214 with carry-in launch; parking: 10 spaces or more.
Are motorboats allowed on Francis E. Walter Reservoir?
Some motorboats: gas motors allowed with a size limit. As listed by 58 Pa. Code § 111.13, checked Oct 2026.
Do I need a launch permit at Francis E. Walter Reservoir?
Francis E. Walter Reservoir's listed launches are run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; check its rules. Pennsylvania's launch-permit rule applies at PFBC and state park or forest launches.
How big is Francis E. Walter Reservoir?
100 acres, as listed by the Fish and Boat Commission's PA Lakes map.
Sources
- PFBC PA Lakes map (lake layer) — checked Oct 4, 2026
- 58 Pa. Code § 111.13 (Carbon County) — checked Oct 4, 2026
- USACE National Inventory of Dams (Francis E. Walter Dam, PA00008) — checked Oct 4, 2026
- Fish and Boat Commission access map — checked Oct 4, 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.
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