Lake Jean
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Entry fee: Free day use (no entrance fee). Lake Jean is a lake cove in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Closures and warnings
Swim at your own risk inside the designated beach area only. Pets are not permitted in the swimming area (leashed pets allowed elsewhere in the park). As of September 28, 2026.
Before you swim
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | Lake cove |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Current | None |
| Water clarity | Designated freshwater beach on Lake Jean; swimming outside the marked area is not permitted. |
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Road note | Lake Jean recreation area inside Ricketts Glen State Park (Luzerne / Columbia / Sullivan counties). Falls Trail System is a separate hike from the beach. |
| Parking | Lake Jean beach and picnic area lots in Ricketts Glen State Park. |
| When it fills | Busy summer weekends at the beach lot. |
| Fee | Free day use (no entrance fee); camping and cabin fees apply separately. |
| Hours | Beach open late May to mid-September, 8:00 a.m. until sunset. |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Managed by | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Ricketts Glen State Park) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Showers | Yes |
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | About a 600-foot beach on 245-acre Lake Jean; food concession, boat rentals, and picnic facilities nearby. Smoke-free beach. |
Rules
| Dogs | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Lake Jean open?
Swim at your own risk inside the designated beach area only. Pets are not permitted in the swimming area (leashed pets allowed elsewhere in the park). As of September 28, 2026. Hours: Beach open late May to mid-September, 8:00 a.m. until sunset.
Can you swim at Lake Jean?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Lake Jean. No current is reported here.
How do you get to Lake Jean?
The road in is paved. Lake Jean recreation area inside Ricketts Glen State Park (Luzerne / Columbia / Sullivan counties). Falls Trail System is a separate hike from the beach. Parking: Lake Jean beach and picnic area lots in Ricketts Glen State Park. Busy summer weekends at the beach lot.
Do you need a reservation for Lake Jean?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Lake Jean?
Yes. Free day use (no entrance fee); camping and cabin fees apply separately.
What facilities are at Lake Jean?
Restrooms, showers, and picnic sites. About a 600-foot beach on 245-acre Lake Jean; food concession, boat rentals, and picnic facilities nearby. Smoke-free beach.
What are the rules at Lake Jean?
Dogs are not allowed and camping is allowed.
Nearby
Nearby
Public land
Lake Jean is inside Ricketts Glen State Park .
Sources
4
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ricketts-glen-state-park/swimming (accessed September 28, 2026; backs swimmingAllowed / hours / amenities / waterClarityNote / hazardNote, access.roadSurface / permitRequired / entryType / current / waterType)
- https://www.allstateparks.com/pennsylvania/ricketts-glen-state-park (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / waterbodyName / fee free day use / parking, amenities.note)
- https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/PDFProvider.ashx?action=PDFStream&chksum=&docID=3244692&docName=RICK_GuideText&nativeExt=docx&revision=1 (accessed September 28, 2026; backs rules.camping / dogs swim area / amenities showers picnic)
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/ricketts-glen-state-park (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.parkingPattern / roadNote)