#32 of the LakePA 100 · Northeast
Lake Jean
Luzerne and Sullivan counties · Northeast region · 245 acres
Quiet Water Checked Oct 2026
- Size
- 245 acres as listed by DCNR's Where to Boat table
- Boat traffic
- Quiet water: paddle craft and electric-motor boats only. As listed by the state park's boating 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
Ricketts Glen State Park - Trailhead Parking
Ramp · ramp
41.34190, -76.28017 (about ±50 m)
Parking: 10 spaces or more
PA boat registration or a PFBC/State Parks launch permit is required to launch here.
Ricketts Glen State Park - Visitor Center
Ramp · ramp
41.33691, -76.30199 (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
No access notice on file (we last checked Oct 4, 2026). Check Ricketts Glen State Park alerts (DCNR) before you go.
About Lake Jean
Lake Jean holds spot 32 on the LakePA 100. It is a 245-acre reservoir in Luzerne and Sullivan counties, part of the Northeast region. The acreage comes from DCNR's Where to Boat table. Only paddle craft and electric-motor boats may use it, so it counts as Quiet Water. (Boat rules as listed by the state park's boating page.) We list two put-ins, including Ricketts Glen State Park - Trailhead Parking and Ricketts Glen State Park - Visitor Center. Ricketts Glen State Park - Trailhead Parking has a launch ramp 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. Logging it moves you toward the Northeast region milestone. In a straight line, it is about 22 miles from Wilkes-Barre 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 Lake Jean
Where do I put in at Lake Jean?
Lake Jean has two listed put-ins: Ricketts Glen State Park - Trailhead Parking, Ricketts Glen State Park - Visitor Center. Ricketts Glen State Park - Trailhead Parking is at 41.34190, -76.28017 with ramp; parking: 10 spaces or more.
Are motorboats allowed on Lake Jean?
Quiet water: paddle craft and electric-motor boats only. As listed by the state park's boating page, checked Oct 2026.
Do I need a launch permit at Lake Jean?
Yes, at the state park 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 Lake Jean?
245 acres, as listed by DCNR's Where to Boat table.
Sources
- DCNR Where to Boat in State Parks — checked Oct 4, 2026
- DCNR park boating page — checked Oct 4, 2026
- USACE National Inventory of Dams (Lake Jean, PA00570) — 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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