- Size
- 3,559 acres as listed by the Fish and Boat Commission's PA Lakes map
- Boat traffic
- Busy water possible: no motor limit, so expect powerboats and wakes. As listed by the Fish and Boat Commission's access map, 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
Clark Recreation Area
Ramp · paved ramp, pier, dock
41.28614, -80.42755 (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.)
Golden Run access area
Ramp · paved ramp
41.29355, -80.40939 (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.)
Hartford Access
Ramp · ramp
41.30989, -80.47719 (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.)
Mahaney Access
Ramp · paved ramp, dock
41.27312, -80.45870 (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.)
Parkers Landing
Ramp · paved ramp
41.32206, -80.48587 (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.)
R.C. Marina
Ramp · paved ramp, dock
41.28699, -80.42467 (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.)
Show all 7 put-ins
Shenango Recreation Area
Ramp · paved ramp, dock
41.29460, -80.43247 (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 Shenango River Lake
Shenango River Lake is number 3 on the LakePA 100: a 3,559-acre reservoir in Mercer County, in our Northwest region. The acreage comes from the Fish and Boat Commission's PA Lakes map. At a thousand acres or more it is Big Water, so plan for wind and long crossings. There is no motor limit, so expect powerboats and their wakes. That rule is as listed by the Fish and Boat Commission's access data. There are seven put-ins on our list for this lake, among them Clark Recreation Area, Golden Run access area and Hartford Access. Clark Recreation Area has a paved ramp, a pier, a dock 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 Northwest region milestone. In a straight line, it is about 16 miles from Youngstown 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 Shenango River Lake
Where do I put in at Shenango River Lake?
Shenango River Lake has seven listed put-ins: Clark Recreation Area, Golden Run access area, Hartford Access, Mahaney Access and 3 more. Clark Recreation Area is at 41.28614, -80.42755 with paved ramp, pier, dock; parking: 10 spaces or more.
Are motorboats allowed on Shenango River Lake?
Busy water possible: no motor limit, so expect powerboats and wakes. As listed by the Fish and Boat Commission's access map, checked Oct 2026.
Do I need a launch permit at Shenango River Lake?
Shenango River Lake'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 Shenango River Lake?
3,559 acres, as listed by the Fish and Boat Commission's PA Lakes map.
Sources
- PFBC PA Lakes map (lake layer) — checked Oct 4, 2026
- Fish and Boat Commission access map — checked Oct 4, 2026
- USACE National Inventory of Dams (Shenango Dam, PA00111) — checked Oct 4, 2026
- 58 Pa. Code § 111.43 — 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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