Can’t beat the heat? Take a dip at one of these Centre County swimming spots
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Centre County faces a record-breaking heat wave with temperatures over 90 degrees.
- Local swimming pools and state parks offer accessible options for cooling down.
- Red Cross urges hydration, shade and vigilance to prevent heat-related ailments.
Summer has officially arrived in Centre County, and with it has come a heat wave that could break temperature records. With a heat advisory in effect through late Wednesday, many may be looking for a place to cool off.
The heat wave is expected to bring temperatures around 90 degrees Fahrenheit through Wednesday, with heat index values up to 104 degrees.
While the weather will cool off slightly toward the end of the week, bringing some mid-80 degree days, the heat wave is still no joke — just take it from AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines.
“If you don’t have a pool and your neighbor does, now’s the time to make sure that you’re on good terms with them, because you’ll probably want to use it,” he told the CDT last week about the heat wave.
If you don’t have a neighbor with a pool though, Centre County and the surrounding area still has plenty of spots where you can cool off. Here are some options for summer 2025:
Bald Eagle State Park
The 5,900-acre Bald Eagle State Park in Howard Township is home to the Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir, and has a 1,200-square-foot long, American Disabilities Act-accessible sand and turf beach/swimming area.
Beach hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, Memorial Day to Labor Day, unless otherwise posted
Other amenities: Snack bar, playground, parking, changing rooms, public restrooms, watercraft rental
Location: 149 Main Park Road, Howard
Black Moshannon State Park
The 3,394-acre Black Moshannon State Park in Rush Township is home to the Black Moshannon Lake, which has an ADA-accessible sand beach/swimming area.
Beach hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, mid-May to mid-September, unless otherwise posted
Other amenities: public restrooms, park store, refreshment stand, watercraft rental
Where: 4216 Beaver Road, Philipsburg
Poe Valley State Park
Located in Penn Township in the Bald Eagle State Forest, the 620-acre Poe Valley State Park is home to a 25-acre swimming area along a widened portion of the Big Poe Creek. The swimming area comes with an ADA-accessible sand beach.
Beach hours: 8 a.m to sunset, late May to early September, unless otherwise posted
Other amenities: concession stand, public restrooms, watercraft rental
Location: 136 Poe Valley Park Circle, Coburn
Whipple Dam State Park
Located in Huntingdon County, just over 20 minutes from State College, the 256-acre Whipple Dam State Park offers a 300-square-foot beach.
Beach hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, late-May to mid-September, unless otherwise posted
Other amenities: dressing room, beach volleyball court, boat rental, public restrooms
Where: 3746 Laurel Run Road, Petersburg
Raymond B. Winter State Park
The 695-acre Raymond B. Winter State Park, located just over the eastern Centre County line in Union County, provides visitors with a 300 foot-long white sand beach.
Beach hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, late-May to mid-September, unless otherwise posted.
Other amenities: public restrooms, dressing facilities, beach volleyball court, children’s play area
Location: 17215 Buffalo Road, Mifflinburg
Spring Creek Park
If you’re not in the mood for a beach, you can head to Spring Creek to wade or float around in the shallow water. The College Township park also has plenty of shade, a covered bridge, playground equipment and restrooms.
Location: 901 Houserville Road, State College
Park Forest Community Pool
The Park Forest Community Pool is located in Patton Township, and offers a shallow and deep swimming pool for visitors of all ages, as well as various slides and water attractions.
Centre Region Parks and Recreation operates the pool and are there are resident and non-resident fees. Residents are those who live in State College Borough or College, Harris, Ferguson or Patton townships.
For residents, full-day admission costs $10 for ages 3-10 and seniors aged 65+, and $14 for ages 11-64. Evening passes that grant access to the pool from 5 p.m. onward cost $9 for all ages.
For non-residents, full-day admission costs $12 for ages 3-10 and seniors aged 65+, and $12 for people aged 11-64. Evening passes that grant access to the pool from 5 p.m. onward cost $7 for all ages.
Non-swimming adults can enter the pool for a flat $3, resident or not.
Pool hours: 1 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 8 p.m. on weekends.
Location: 2100 School Drive, State College
William L. Welch Community Pool
Located in State College Borough, the William L. Welch Community pool provides visitors with a slide and water recreation area, pools with a deep and shallow end, a miniature lazy river, diving boards and more.
Like Park Forest pool, Welch is operated by Centre Region Parks and Recreation and the fees are the same.
Pool hours: 1 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 8 p.m. on weekends.
Location: 670 Westerly Parkway, State College
Mountain Top Area Pool
Located in Snow Shoe Township, the Mountaintop Area Pool offers visitors a pool with shallow and deep spots for visitors of all ages to swim. A kiddie pool and picnic pavilions can also be found there.
Day passes to the pool can be purchased at the its entrance. Day passes cost $7 for adults, $5 for children and teenagers in elementary, middle or high school and $3 for children under 5 years old. Children under 1 year old get in for free.
Pool hours: noon to 6 p.m. daily
Location: 225 Park Ave., Snow Shoe
Clear-Centre Pool
Named for its close proximity to both Centre and Clearfield counties, the Clear-Centre Pool in Osceola Mills offers a both shallow and deep end for swimmers of all ages, and a diving board.
According to the pool’s Facebook page, daily admission to the pool sits at $5 for swimmers of all ages, and $3 for all non-swimming patrons.
Pool hours: 1 to 7:45 p.m. daily.
Location: 925 Stone St., Osceola Mills
Tips for stating safe in extreme heat
The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania released tips for how to stay safe during extreme heat. It recommends staying hydrated by drinking a cup of water every hour while avoiding sugary, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks. Babies should also be breast-fed or bottle-fed more often.
To stay cool, the Red Cross recommend spending time in air-conditioned spaces, including libraries or malls. Taking cold showers and wearing lightweight, loose-fitting clothes can also help with cooling off. It also said to never leave a child or pet inside of a parked car.
The Red Cross also recommends keeping an ice-filled cooler stocked with food, water and medicine in case the power goes out.
Heat-related illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, can result from the body not being able to cool properly during extreme heat.
Heat cramps are signified by heavy sweating and muscle pain. Heat exhaustion is signified by heavy sweating, weakness, cool and clammy skin, muscle cramps, dizziness, fainting, nausea or vomiting. In both cases, it’s important to stop what you’re doing, rest in a cool place and slowly sip water. Loosening clothes and placing a cool wet cloth on your body can help alleviate symptoms.
Heat stroke is a deadly condition signaled by high body temperature, rapid heartbeat, confusion, headache, dizziness, fainting, nausea or vomiting. In this situation, first call 911, and then move to a cooler place, remove extra clothing and use a wet cloth or cool bath to cool down. Do not drink anything.
More information on how to stay safe in extreme heat can be found on the American Red Cross website.