Summers in Erie, Pennsylvania, mean a trip to the sandy shores of Presque Isle. The 3,200-acre peninsula stretches into Lake Erie, creating swimming beaches, miles of hiking trails and lagoons ripe for fishing. Though open year-round, the park really comes alive beginning Memorial Day weekend when the lifeguards climb to the top of their watchtowers, signaling the start of swim season.
Swimming
- Eleven distinct beaches are found on Presque Isle. Beach 1 and Barracks Beach, the peninsula's liveliest beaches, are closest to the park's entrance. Further north at Beach 6 on Peninsula Drive, high-schoolers playing at any of the eight volleyball courts are a common sight. At the peninsula's far eastern end, the flat, placid waves of Beach 11 remain attractive to families with small children. All 11 beaches have at least minimal parking available and lifeguards on duty daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Boating
- Four boat launches, some with multiple ramps, exist throughout Presque Isle. Large boats head to the West Pier Boat Launch near the Marina, accessible by West Foster Road. Smaller water crafts, such as jet skis, use the Vista Boat Launch near the park's entrance. While motorized boats are allowed in park waters, they are not allowed in the park's lagoons and must slow to a small wake speed when approaching shorelines. Boat rentals are available on the peninsula from Presque Isle Canoe and Boat Livery at Graveyard Pond.
Fishing
- The temperate freshwater of Lake Erie translates to an abundance of fish species, drawing scores of fishermen. Waterworks Beach, Perry Monument, North Pier and the many lagoons on the peninsula's south end continue to draw anglers. The fishing spots at West and East Pier are accessible to wheelchairs, which are available to rent at Yellow Bike Rentals on Peninsula Drive at no charge. Perch, bass, smelt and steelhead are common catches at Presque Isle, where an easily obtainable Pennsylvania fishing license from the state's fish and boat commission is required to fish.
Hiking and Cycling
- Fifteen short trails, from one quarter mile to two miles in length, constitute 11 miles of hiking trails on Presque Isle. In particular, the now-paved Sidewalk Trail leads hikers from Presque Isle Lighthouse along a formerly wooden boardwalk to the U.S. Lighthouse boathouse on Misery Bay. On one of the longest trails, Dead Pond Trail, hikers tour through different ecological zones, former sand dunes, and an oak and maple forest. No bicycles or other wheeled equipment are allowed on hiking trails. Cyclists stick to the 13.5-mile Karl Boyes Multi-Purpose National Recreation Trail that loops through the park.
