Marsh Creek State Park

Probably the most memorable experience of my life. First time kayaking, all the staff was incredibly nice! My friend and I took a two person kayak around the lake, which was larger than we expected and absolutely beautiful. So as soon as we stopped at a little island we heard thunder and saw a storm heading our way. Before we knew it, we had a lovey gentleman (Robbie was his name I think) rescue us from the storm and ride back on the boat. Hands down the best experience and rescue squad! Thanks for everything and making us feel safe! We will be back often!

Marsh Creek State Park includes the man-​made 535-​acre Marsh Creek Lake, built some 40 years ago to handle water issues in Chester County as well as provide a recreational area for residents and visitors. It is out of the way, so must be planned for in terms of visiting. The activities offered include: fishing, boating, hunting, swimming and trails. It is a majestically beautiful area, a place to go and be alone or be with family and friends. Either way you will enjoy being with nature. For the best nature has to offer, I suggest Fall when leaves turn colors. It doesn’t get much better than this.

i went kayaking here a few times and the park rangers are a pain in the… neck.

I just discovered this awesome state park an hour away from Philly and spent the day there last weekend. We had such a fun day and I can’t wait to go back. The park is pretty large and encompasses many hiking trails, which we did not take advantage of since the day was extremely hot! There’s plenty of parking and it’s free which is a plus. There’s an area with picnic benches that you can rent out for a party and there’s a large pool with a water playground that looked like a blast for kids. The pool was pretty crowded and we opted to not use it. The lake is huge and gorgeous and we settled down on a grassy area right near the water. Bring a picnic blanket and a cooler and you’ll be set. There’s also a snack bar right at the lake with cheap food. The lake itself is not for swimming. There’s a very small area where kids were playing in the water, but beyond that, no swimming! It would have been a little nice if there had been a larger area designated for swimming but oh well.
The boating options really make the trip to Marsh Creek worth it. They have anything you could want for water activities: sailboats, canoes, single and double kayaks, paddle boards, fishing, etc. We rented a double kayak for an hour ($ 30) and 2 stand up paddle boards for 30 min each ($ 20 each). Paddle boarding was something I’ve been wanting to try for a while now and it was so fun! Balancing is a little challenging but I managed to not fall in. For an entire day of fun, I thought the pricing was totally reasonable. I plan to go back soon and bring a group of friends!

Beautiful day with nothing to do? Hop in the car and go to marsh creek. Beautiful lake where you can fish, kayak or canoe. Maybe you want to have a Picnic or grill or just take in the scenery. There’s a swimming pool that’s open to a day’s worth of fun for only 8 $. The list goes on and on. Great place.

Im new to the area. From the Midwest. Looking for places near Exton to hike with my dog. Very nice trails and everyone I saw was dog friendly. Glad to have a place like this so close to home.

Okay so a few things that I didn’t mention in the first review I wrote. The other side of the creek across from the park road entrance (in your google maps you’ll see it as marsh creek boat launch near creek road) there are really great trails for bikers and runners.
There are quite a few entrances to the trails in this park, I use the park road one for kayaking but never for running or biking.
As I said before, the dorlan mills road entrance to trails is good too and I did pass a place to park and go on handicap friendly trails on dowlin forge road (dowlin forge park).

There are some very fun mountain biking trails in this park. While some of it gets very muddy during the rainy seasons, it’s a blast the rest of the year. The are good bike shops nearby and it’s just a few miles of rt. 76.

Love this place it is so nice boat rentals are a little expensive but the area I very pretty. The pool is nice also it’s the first salt water pool I’ve ever been too. It was very clean for as many people that were there.

I love Marsh Creek State Park!!! So much to do! Hiking, kayaking n boating! I have hiked the trails! Kayaked in the pouring rain n walked on the lake when it was iced over! It’s an awesome place to go for a day. The people are so nice that work in the rental place.

I would be remiss if I did not sing the praises of the pool here on the Unilocal forum. Only $ 7 to get in and no membership red tape to deal with. Wonderful sprinklers and fountains to play in and an enormous pool! It uses a salt water system instead of more traditional chlorine but it’s VERY clean and spacious. No kiddie pool here for tots but swimming diapers are allowed from what I observed. It’s located about 10 minutes from the Downingtown exit on the PA turnpike.

my boyfriend and i were visiting my parents in PA, and drove an hour from their house for the saturday 9 am stand up paddleboard class. We loved it! we were both first-​timers but it was very easy to learn. the paddleboard class ended up actually being a «paddle-​fit» class, so we paddled out to a cove on the lake and did about 45 minutes of yoga and pilates exercises on the board in the water. such a great workout for your entire body, especially your core! the instructor was so great, and very energetic. definitely call ahead of time or get there early to signup, because the class does fill up! highly recommend… the facilities were beautiful, very clean and pristine. I can’t wait to go back!

Excellent summer location. Rent boats, canoes, paddle boats, or my favorite the standup paddle board… or sup.

Marsh Creek State Park is in the rolling hills of northcentral Chester County. The 1,727-acre park contains the 535-​acre Marsh Creek Lake, which is great for fishing, sailing and is a reststop for migrating waterfowl.

Way better state park than French Creek. Cleaner and more family oriented. Their pool is awesome. Oh! and AT&T iphone got signal there! yay: D

Many people utilize Marsh Creek State Park for it’s bar-​b-​cue pits, fishing, and enormous pool which are great, I use it for it’s rolling trails, switch-​backs and single track routes through the woods on a mountain bike. Living right on Park Road, we tend to take it for granted being right on the State Park which serves thousands of people each weekend in season but ALWAYS take full advantage of the hiking by foot or bike through the miles upon miles of trails available. They are technical but any novice could traverse through most of the man-​made (and groomed) trails that surround the park. The dogs love the little swimming holes and some sandy beaches that pepper the edge of the lake. Winter time brings on a whole new excitement when the ice is thick enough to walk on. Enjoy beautiful sunsets while you stand on top of the man made lake with 4″ of ice separating you from the cold abyss below! Marsh Creek is bound to have something to please. Great for family trips or individual hikes!

I’m a birdwatcher so I’m reviewing this for its birdwatching potential. This park is listed as an eBird hotspot and as of writing this review, a whopping 161 species have been reported here:
Pretty impressive!
This park can get very crowded during the warm months, but in the winter, it’s almost empty. This is an artificial lake, created by damming, and appropriately, most of the shoreline is devoid of wetlands. However, there are a couple places, the most accessible of which is along the main road, which have shallower, marshy areas that attract waterfowl. Park in the lot and walk back along the main road to easily view this area. The other similar area, south of the main landmass, is much less easily accessible.
Most of what you see here is canada geese, Ring-​billed gulls, and Ruddy duck, but according to eBird, you can find some good ducks here. I also saw quite a few kingfishers; interesting to see so many of these birds. There are lots of woods to see forest birds as well.
All-​in-​all, this is an excellent and easily accessible birdwatching spot.

Beautiful lake, if albeit overpressured (for anglers and boaters during peak seaon). The park offers a nice hike along the trails and plenty of picnic benches and park style charcoal grills for free on a first come basis. One issue is that the pool does have a fee to enter. Screw that, just head to the lake and rent your floatation device of your choice (paddleboats!). In winter, the lake typically freezes deep enough to skate on. I can’t wait.

Ok I’m a bit peeved that Jim H. reviewed this first, as we’ve been going here for years! But as his review is dated a year ago, I’ll forgive him, just this one time.
Marsh Creek State Park is a great place. A lake, pool, nice place to picnic, etc. We go primarily to rent sailboats. I love to go on a sunny, windy day, rent a 3 – 4 person sailboat, about $ 35 hr or $ 95 for 4 hrs, and let the world melt away. The lake is just big enough to make it a nice place to sail, but not so big you would have any concerns about being capsized by an errant wave. You can also rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, so «whatever» boat that «floats your boat”-so to say.
I have to admit that I stay far away from the pool. A little too one-​on-​one with the masses for me. Hey it’s MY psychological hang-​up. It shouldn’t stop you from enjoying it.
Close, convenient-​although parking on a busy weekend afternoon can be challenging-​Marsh Creek Park offers most of what you’d be looking for in a summertime outdoor experience.

Aint State Parks great?
First, they are free to get in.
Second, Pennsylvania has some great hiking trails
Third, The things that do cost money are very affordable
Never go to a commercial campsite. They charge sometimes 3 or 4 times more than the State Parks do and the staties are offering the same amenities in a cleaner, safer environment.
Ive singled out Marsh Creek here because weve been going to it frequently this summer. All of the State parks have their plusses and minuses, the plusses of Marsh Creek are the water activities. As you come up park drive you will see the beautiful, sprawling Marsh Creek Lake. Unfortunately, there is no swimming here but you are welcome to bring a boat or rent one of the many watercrafts at the marina.
No swimming in the lake but that brings me to the main reason we come here… the ool notice there is no «P» in it. Lets keep it that way!
Seriously, the pool is great. There is a $ 7 per person fee on weekdays (maybe more on weekends) If you compare that to the many exclusive and discriminatory swim clubs around, its pretty reasonable. For a public pool, its very well maintained, both in the pool and out. There is something there called the «sprayground», which is a fountain area which is fun for the kids. The pool is well guarded by as many as 6 lifeguards at all times. They have the requisite snack bar (but they allow you to bring your own food to picnic if you wish). The bathrooms are clean with a shower/​changing area included.
My only complaint is that there is no extra baby pool separate from the main pool and I get a little skeeved seeing the diapered ones in the same pool as me but when its in the high 90s, I get over it.
This place is perfect for us middle class folk, who cant afford to become members of a swim club and are tired of making their kids swim in the creek.
So support our State Parks people! Sometimes your tax dollars go towards something worthwhile.