Counting down to America’s 250^th birthday on July 4, 2026, DCNR has partnered with America250PA to celebrate the role of Pennsylvania’s public outdoor spaces and their impact on the Commonwealth. Focusing on America250PA’s theme of “Educate, Preserve, Innovate, and Celebrate” (EPIC), DCNR is helping to engage citizens in all 67 counties to commemorate this momentous occasion.

Join the environmental educators for 1.5 mile Pymatuning history dam walk. We will begin at Shelter 3 with a view of the gatehouse and explanation of what was in the area before the lake was here and why the dam was necessary. From shelter 3 we will hike down around the emergency outflow area and the dam outflow area and up to the gatehouse. Once inside the gatehouse we will learn about how it operates and watch the dam dedication video from 1934. From the gatehouse we will once more walk beside the outflow and to the weir to look inside the weir house and learn how the weir is important to the function of the dam. The walk back will be on a portion of Sugar Run Trail.   There are some steep areas and steps to traverse up and down during this walk.  The 1.5 mile Pymatuning History Dam Walk and any other walk hosted by DCNR can be used for America250PA’s Road to 2026 Celebrate Pennsylvania challenge.    For adult audiences only.

If you have any further questions please email smarendt@pa.gov. Please register by emailing smarendt@pa.gov.