Bendigo State Park in Pennsylvania, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-27. Check linked official notices before travel.

Bendigo State Park in Pennsylvania's Elk County is a compact valley park near Johnsonburg, with shaded picnic grounds and a seasonal swimming pool. Plan around the pool if swimming is your priority: the East Branch of the Clarion River flows through the park, but swimming in that river is prohibited.

Picnic grounds and a summer pool

• Shaded tables: More than 150 picnic tables are spread through the picnic areas.
• Seasonal swimming: A lifeguarded pool offers water depths of three to five feet and an accessible lift.
• Group spaces: Three pavilions provide an option for a planned gathering.

Time your visit

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Use the pool, not the river

River swimming is prohibited. At the pool, parents remain responsible for supervising children even when certified lifeguards are present. Follow the posted pool rules and check the official swimming information before traveling specifically for a swim.

Keep the park's uses distinct

Hunting is prohibited within Bendigo State Park. Respect the river-swimming prohibition and use the designated pool for swimming during its operating season.

Reserve a pavilion for a group

Pavilions can be booked for a fee up to 11 months in advance. If a pavilion has not been reserved, it is available free on a first-come basis. The picnic information page links to the official reservation system. Booking a pavilion is the practical way to secure one for an organized gathering.

Find the Johnsonburg park

The park address is 533 State Park Road, Johnsonburg, PA 15845-0016. In Jones Township, it lies four miles northeast of Johnsonburg on State Route 1004, reached from U.S. 219. Use the park's official map when choosing where to park for the pool or picnic grounds.

Other parks in the area

Elk State Park, near Wilcox, is another road-accessible stop; swimming in its lake is prohibited. Kinzua Bridge State Park lies north of U.S. 6 near Mount Jewett. Check its construction schedule before going, because the project affects Skywalk and Kinzua Creek Trail access.

Build a picnic around the pool season

Choose a table for an informal meal or reserve a pavilion when keeping a group together matters. Charcoal grills and horseshoe pits make the picnic areas useful for a longer stop without needing to move between distant parts of the park.

During the published pool season, combine lunch with time in the water. Outside that season, plan for the picnic grounds rather than assuming the pool follows the park's year-round hours.

Picnic services and access features

The picnic areas have drinking water, restrooms, charcoal grills, and four horseshoe pits. Pavilion 1 is designated ADA accessible. The pool has an accessible lift. Contact the park about the particular route or facility needed by your group.

About Bendigo's valley setting

From a lumber town to a community park

A lumber operation and town named Bendigo began here in 1895 and disappeared after the available timber was exhausted. The former railroad bed became the main park road. Johnsonburg residents organized a community park in the 1920s, and WPA crews began developing roads, a dam, and a pool in 1936.

Forest and river habitat

Northern hardwoods, including beech, birch, cherry, and maple, surround the developed grounds. The East Branch of the Clarion River runs through the small valley. This forest-and-river setting is the park's natural backdrop; its developed picnic area occupies only part of the 100-acre park.

Contact Bendigo

For pool schedules and group arrangements, call 814-778-5467. The official Bendigo State Park page provides park maps and current information from Pennsylvania DCNR.