Facility Overview

Weikert River Access Parking is an open-air, gravel surface parking area located off Jollys Grove Lane and Weikert Road in the quiet, scenic village of Weikert near Millmont, Pennsylvania. Positioned directly alongside the world-renowned waters of Penns Creek within Union County, this staging area is purpose-built to serve outdoor recreationists, fly fishermen, kayakers, and nature enthusiasts exploring the Central Pennsylvania wilderness. Because it is a completely open-air gravel lot without overhead structures or barrier bars, there are no vertical clearance restrictions. This open headroom makes the area well-suited for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles, full-size pickup trucks, SUVs equipped with rooftop kayak racks, and vehicles towing small canoe or drift boat trailers.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Nestled in the heart of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, this parking area serves as a primary access point for one of the East Coast’s premier wild brown trout streams and surrounding public lands:

• Penns Creek: Located directly adjacent to the parking area, providing instant launch access for wading anglers, drift boaters, canoeists, and kayakers targeting premier wild trout and seasonal hatches.
• Bald Eagle State Forest: Surrounds the immediate corridor, offering tens of thousands of acres of public land for hiking, wildlife viewing, and seasonal hunting within a few minutes of driving.
• Penns Creek Rail Trail & Mid State Trail: Located just across or along the creek corridor, offering scenic crushed-stone rail-trail routes, the famous historic Poe Paddy railroad tunnel, and long-distance backpacking connections within a 5-to-15-minute drive.
• Poe Paddy State Park & Poe Valley State Park: Situated approximately 15 to 25 minutes west along gravel forest roads, offering state-managed campgrounds, picnic facilities, and lake recreation.
• Coburn & Millmont Communities: Charming rural hamlets offering local fly fishing outfitters, rustic bed-and-breakfasts, and country stores within a 15-to-20-minute drive.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

The facility is accessed via PA-235 and Weikert Road, turning onto Jollys Grove Lane to reach the creek bank. Roads leading into Weikert can be winding and narrow, transitioning from two-lane rural asphalt to maintained gravel lanes. Given its remote forest setting, there is no fixed-route municipal public transit or passenger rail serving the area; arriving by personal vehicle, truck, or recreational rig is required. Cell phone reception can be intermittent or nonexistent along the Penns Creek valley, so visitors are strongly advised to download offline navigation maps prior to departing highway corridors such as US-322, PA-45, or PA-104.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Unpaved, level gravel surface parking directly adjacent to the water.
• Unrestricted vertical clearance accommodating rooftop gear, tall vans, and boat trailers.
• Direct shoreline access for launching and pulling out kayaks, rafts, and canoes.
• Informational signage regarding Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) regulations and waterway safety.
• Peaceful, scenic natural surroundings with low ambient noise and dark night skies.
• Complimentary public access with no metering or parking permits required for day use.

Ideal For

• Anglers & Fly Fishermen: Individuals traveling to Penns Creek for legendary aquatic insect hatches, including the iconic Green Drake hatch.
• Paddlers & Kayakers: Boaters organizing upstream drops or downstream takeout shuttles along the Millmont-Weikert run.
• Trail Hikers & Bikers: Outdoor adventurers heading into Bald Eagle State Forest or trekking local rail-trail segments.
• Nature Photographers: Visitors looking for undisturbed Appalachian river views, native flora, and wildlife watching.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Because this access lot is rustic and unstaffed, drivers should practice Leave No Trace principles and carry out all trash. During peak spring fishing season—particularly late May and early June during major evening insect emergences—parking spots can fill rapidly; plan early morning or mid-afternoon arrivals to secure an optimal staging space. Drivers towing trailers should pull in with care to ensure other anglers and vehicles have sufficient turning radius. Finally, verify local stream gauges and water levels online before setting out, and always dress appropriately for changing mountain weather conditions.