- Size
- 1,680 acres as listed by DCNR's Where to Boat table
- Boat traffic
- Some motorboats: gas motors allowed with a size limit. As listed by 58 Pa. Code § 111.43, 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
Lake Wilhelm - Old Launch #1
Ramp · ramp
41.43112, -80.15897 (about ±50 m)
Parking: 10 spaces or more
PA boat registration or a PFBC/State Parks launch permit is required to launch here.
Lake Wilhelm Launch #1
Ramp · paved ramp, dock
41.38242, -80.09390 (about ±50 m)
Parking: 10 spaces or more
PA boat registration or a PFBC/State Parks launch permit is required to launch here.
Lake Wilhelm Launch #2
Ramp · paved ramp, dock
41.40551, -80.12367 (about ±50 m)
Parking: 10 spaces or more
PA boat registration or a PFBC/State Parks launch permit is required to launch here.
Lake Wilhelm Launch #3
Ramp · paved ramp, dock
41.42544, -80.15121 (about ±50 m)
Parking: 10 spaces or more
PA boat registration or a PFBC/State Parks launch permit is required to launch here.
Lake Wilhelm Launch #4
Ramp · paved ramp, dock
41.41678, -80.12980 (about ±50 m)
Parking: 10 spaces or more
PA boat registration or a PFBC/State Parks launch permit is required to launch here.
Marina
Ramp · paved ramp, pier, dock
41.41895, -80.14891 (about ±50 m)
Parking: 10 spaces or more
PA boat registration or a PFBC/State Parks launch permit is required to launch here.
Show all 9 put-ins
Marina Point
Ramp · ramp, pier
41.42076, -80.15123 (about ±50 m)
Parking: 10 spaces or more
PA boat registration or a PFBC/State Parks launch permit is required to launch here.
Long Boom - Gamelands 270 access area
Ramp · ramp, dock
41.43080, -80.16821 (about ±50 m)
Parking: 10 spaces or more
Run by Maurice K. Goddard State Park (Pennsylvania DCNR). Check its rules. (PA's launch-permit rule applies at PFBC and state park/forest launches.)
Sheakleyville Road - Gamelands 270 access area
Ramp · ramp, dock
41.44598, -80.18095 (about ±50 m)
Parking: 10 spaces or more
Run by Maurice K. Goddard State Park (Pennsylvania DCNR). 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 Maurice K. Goddard State Park alerts (DCNR) before you go.
About Lake Wilhelm
Lake Wilhelm holds spot 5 on the LakePA 100. It is a 1,680-acre reservoir in Mercer County, part of the Northwest region. That acreage is the figure given by DCNR's Where to Boat table. At a thousand acres or more it is Big Water, so plan for wind and long crossings. Motorboats with a capped motor size use it too, so expect to share the water. That rule is as listed by the county boating rules in 58 Pa. Code § 111.43. There are nine put-ins on our list for this lake, among them Lake Wilhelm - Old Launch #1, Lake Wilhelm Launch #1 and Lake Wilhelm Launch #2. Lake Wilhelm - Old Launch #1 has a launch ramp and parking listed as 10 spaces or more. At Fish and Boat Commission and state park launches your boat needs a Pennsylvania 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 counts toward the Northwest region milestone. In a straight line, it is about 34 miles from Youngstown to the nearest put-in. Before you go, check posted signs, the weather and the operator's notices.
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 Wilhelm
Where do I put in at Lake Wilhelm?
Lake Wilhelm has nine listed put-ins: Lake Wilhelm - Old Launch #1, Lake Wilhelm Launch #1, Lake Wilhelm Launch #2, Lake Wilhelm Launch #3 and 5 more. Lake Wilhelm - Old Launch #1 is at 41.43112, -80.15897 with ramp; parking: 10 spaces or more.
Are motorboats allowed on Lake Wilhelm?
Some motorboats: gas motors allowed with a size limit. As listed by 58 Pa. Code § 111.43, checked Oct 2026.
Do I need a launch permit at Lake Wilhelm?
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 Wilhelm?
1,680 acres, as listed by DCNR's Where to Boat table.
Sources
- DCNR Where to Boat in State Parks — checked Oct 4, 2026
- 58 Pa. Code § 111.43 (Mercer County) — checked Oct 4, 2026
- USACE National Inventory of Dams (Lake Wilhelm (Pa-475), PA00900) — 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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