Raystown Lake Anyone???

[Blue Crabber]

Hi there everyone!!

So who all has boated at Raystown Lake?
Can anyone tell me if it is worth the 3 hour drive for me?
Whats it like?
Plenty of water everywhere?
Any areas that you must see?
Any areas to avoid?
How busy our the weekends in the summer?

Also, i see that they rent houseboats for the week? Is the lake really big enough for a house boat for 7 days?

Also, i see that there a few campgrounds accessible by boat only. Has anyone camped at any of them? If so, what did you like/dislike about it. I thougt it sounded like a fun weekend.

I spend most of my boating time down on the Chesapeake Bay but have been invited to spend a weekend with some family out near Raystown Lake. I have heard some good things about it, just wondering what fellow iboaters have to say.

Sorry for all of the questions, just want to learn eveything i can before i head out later this summer.

 

[mainelymaniacs]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

I've been there a couple times with my mom.

Raystown is approx 26 miles long. Some places are very wide, some not.

From what I remember you need to be careful about the bottom. It used to be a river and they dammed it, covering houses, camps, whatever to make the lake.

There is a nice marina at Seven Points (?) well seven something.

Lots of boats, lots of room, lots of people some weekends. We camped on the boat so I don't know about the campsites.

I would say worth a three hour drive. You can ski, wakeboard, tube, whatever or just tie up somewhere and enjoy life. It has lots of quiet coves and hideaways.

I hope I have helped.

Lisa

 

[LSM]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

We are there every weekend.

There are two marines 7-Points and the Resort. We are in the Resort. They both have camping and restraints. The Resort also has cabins, Water park, and they also rent houseboats.

There is one place to camp by boat. That is Nancy's

The water is very deep. You do not need to worry about hitting anything. There are a couple of places that do get shallow but they are well mark.

On weekends it does get busy. But you can always find a nice cove some where.

If you have any questions please feel free to e mail me. I can also send my number to you if you like. I know the area very well up there. We have keep our boat at the Resort now for 6 years. Be boating at the lake for about 20 years.

 

[blouderback]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

PLENTY of room, especially if you're used to the little lakes and streams in eastern PA. Also, the fresh water in comparision to the salt water is a delight, IMHO.

It gets busy on the weekends, as LSM says, but there's plenty of room to ski or tube, or just pull into a quiet cove.

The Resort has a nice water park, and a good amount of campsites (will be trying them out for the first time this summer). There's LOTS of camping at Seven Points, and a fair sized marina. Seven Points is run by the Army Corps of Engineers, so it's a little less expensive than the privately owned resort. However, I think there are more (and nicer) amenities at the Resort.

Nancy's Campground is boat in only, but we've never stayed there.

It is DEFINTELY worth the 3 hour ride. It takes us about 4 hours, and we have always camped for at least the weekend, sometimes longer.

LSM - see you in August!

 

[LSM]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

You will have to look us up. We are usually out on the lake most weekends. We leave Friday night and come back late Sunday. We do have some vacation time we are using in Aug.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

Thanks for the help everyone!

Just firmed up the plans last night. We will be coming out for the weekend of Aug 1 & 2. We will be staying with some family at a cabin nearby. (Need to find out where, then i can get advice on launching locations, etc.)

I think since it is our first weekend we will be checking out the resort and 7 points marina etc. Plan on cruising, water sking, wakeboarding and relaxing in some quiet coves.

Also want to see most of the lake if possible. We are talking about renting a house boat with my wifes family for a week next year and Raystown Lake is a possible location. Want to see if it would work out or not.

LSM - I might need to take you up on your offer closer to the time. Appreciate the helpful info.

Thanks again everyone! Please chime in if you have more to add. The more info the better!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

Went there once two years ago and didn't take my boat. Took a couple canoes. That I don't recommend. The wakes from the big boats made the canoes really scary. Our friends in kayaks though didn't seem to mind. We did paddle to a really nice cove right around the corner from the resort and swam. The resort also has a really nice beach and swimming area. We camped at one of the Corps campgrounds, Susquehanock I think, and it was beautiful. (primitive site though) I'd really like to go back and take the boat. The resort has a really nice ramp.

 

[ThrashN]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

Nice place to take the boat out.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

Lived on her when she was Raystown Dam ... It is a terrible place to come ... please, stay home and leave the beauty to us locals!

Lot's of places to stay, 7 different launch ramps, Boat to shore camping is primative, but not bad ... and less crowded than any other place. Come on a Tuesday or Thursday and you have the place to yourself. Drs and Bankers come out on Wednesdays! Weekends can be crazy. Because I live 8 miles from 7 Points, I generally stay away on weekends, but would like to meet up with some of you sometime.

Fishing can be great, but because it is a deep lake, can be tricky at times. Lots of bass, striper, muskie, walleye, catfish, and panfish, some lake trout, and more.

Deepest spot is by the dam (195 feet). Lake is very serpantine, nestled in between mountain ranges, so most places have steep drop offs. But as already said, there are a couple of shallow points, but they are well marked.

Come and Enjoy Raystown Country. If you want to know about area motels and things to do, let me know.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

Aspeck - Thanks for the offer. We are really looking forward to coming out. We will be out the first weekend in August. Wish I could come during the week but I have to settle for the weekend now. Maybe some other time I can make a week trip out of it.

Thanks again!

 

[StatRX67]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

We trailer to Raystown at least once pre year from outside of Philly (about 3 1/2 hours) and it's well worth it. I'd recommend staying on the north half, it's beautiful with generally clear water with few hazards even in the coves. On the south end (South of 7 Points) it can get shallow with tons of hazards and shallows towards the far end, even well off the shore. We did just shy of $10000 in damage to our Volvo DP and props while cruising dead smack in the middle in 20 feet of water.

There are many campsites available where you can tie-off just off-shore and if you're set-up for overnight trips its a great place to go. We trailer all along the Atlantic coast inland and along the coast and Raystown is one of our favorites. I'd highly recommend it.

 

[skargo]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

We'd like to visit sometime this summer. Any maps of the lake?
Also, is anyone aware of any pet friendly accommodations in the not so primitive category?

 

[aspeck]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

http://www.raystown.org/

http://www.huntingdon.net/

http://huntingdoncounty.net/hunt_co/site/default.asp

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

Hey everyone!

Just bumping up one of my old posts now that I have some more info about our trip!

The weekend:

Friday July 31st to Sunday August 2nd

The plan:

Leaving Friday night around 4 pm at the latest. Hoping to arrive at my uncles cabin around 7:30pm. My uncle and 2 cousins will already be at the cabin. This is where will be call home for the weekend.

Looking at the maps I have, we will be approx. 30 mins from the Tatman Run Access.

Probably will have to leave the area late afternoon on Sunday. Need to make it back for a family BBQ that evening.

The questions:

So... any suggestions anybody? How long would it take to cruise to the north end of the lake? We will be checking out the Marinas and Nancy Campground for future reference. Any other places that we should see or stay away from? How much farther south should I venture? Anybody else going to be out there that weekend?

Also, Skargo, I do have some maps and will bring them along down to the bay with me to show you sometime. We will fill you in on our thoughts when we get back!

I really appreciate all the advice and looking forward to a fun weekend soon!

 

[aspeck]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

Heading south (up lake) from Tatman Run it is only a very short run under the bridge and to The Raystown Resort. From there you have about 6 more miles of navigable waterway before you hit no-wake and a shallow river.

Heading North (down lake) from Tatman Run, you have about 20 miles of navigable water before you run into the dam. Between Mile makers 10 - 6 it is always crowded - shucks, we were out yesterday and the lake was full of people there, but empty everywhere else! But between those mile markers you have the 7 Points Marina (the restaurant there - Clem's - is pretty good), boat launch, and camp ground complex which has about 200 camping sites (counting Susquehannock Camp Ground). So that is why it is crowded there.

There are lots of coves to explore, and some really beautiful scenery all along the lake. There are about 4 or 5 pairs of eagles on the lake, so keep your eyes open, especially from the dam to Mile Marker 4, the Mountain side of Mile Marker 10, and around 18. We see them more readily in the fall, but keep your eyes open, if you are on the lake for a couple days, you have a good chance of seeing one.

Where is the Cabin? Is it closer to Todd, or Saxton? I am assuming it is on the East side of the lake. There is not a whole lot on that side, but you are also 30 minutes from Lake Raystown Resort (water park, mini-golf, restaurant, etc). Let me know where you are staying and I will let you know what is available without driving miles to get there.

I would love to meet up with you, but that weekend I will be Camp Director for a bunch of 8 - 12 year olds - they leave Saturday at 3. Might be ready to wind down and run out to the lake Saturday evening, but we generally avoid that place over weekends - too many tourists! HA!

PM me if you want any more detailed info, or to give me the location of the cabin where you are staying. I will help make you stay in Raystown Country as pleasant as possible - there are good people here AND a GREAT Lake!

 

[LSM]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

You will have to look us up. We keep our boat at the Resort. We are on the water every weekend. We are usually tied up from 7-Points to the dam. There are usually 10 or so boats with us. We go by Last Call we use channel 6 all the time. So just give us a shot. I can not add any more then what aspeck has said. Hope to see you.

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

Ive been there 5 times..Its nice and worth seeing for sure....nothing spatacuar but nice....Is it worth a 2-3 hr drive???? for me the first time or 2 was.... after that same old same old... it has no comparison to the nothern chesapeake but im sure it will be a nice change for you.. I prefer lake clarke on the susquahanna #1 n chesapeake #2....the water is deep and cold at raystown gotta watch for some tree tops sticking out of the water but nothing to worry about mainly 100' + water////50' drop off the bank in spots. There is alot of large no wake zones also. Some of the coves are around 8' with thick muddy bottoms. The times I went were in the buisy summer season and it was crazy and I felt cramped everywhere we went there was a boat right there or a jet skis following to close to jump your wake(alot of crazy people). It did not take long to decide that place was not for me....my opinion.
Denny

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

dgopetactical, you really gotta try Conowingo.....

 

[pmat1]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

havent been there for a few years. well before we got a boat, but from the shore it was beautiful and looked very nice.

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: Raystown Lake Anyone???

dgopetactical, you really gotta try Conowingo.....

I know, I know you been telling me that for over a year LOL...Thought about it a few times but im just use to my old routine... When we decide to go down you will be the first I get a-hold of for info on the area.
Denny