Speedwell Forge Lake
Kayaking Speedwell Forge Lake
by Teresa Maier
Welcome to your kayak rental adventure on Speedwell Forge Lake! Created by the damming of Hammer Creek in 1966, this beautiful lake covers 106 acres. The dam was severely damaged by floodwaters from Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 and had to be abruptly drained. After repairing the dam, the lake bottom was dredged and the lake allowed to refill in 2016. The dredging gave a lake an average depth of about 6 feet, although down by the dam, it is nearly 20 feet deep.
Hammer Creek Valley
The lake is adjacent to Speedwell Forge County Park, 415 acres of scenic woods and wildflowers at the western tip of the lake.
A section of the 63-mile long Conestoga Trail System runs up the Hammer Creek Valley, along the lake shore, and across the bridge. The trail connects the Mason Dixon Trail in southern York County with the Horse-Shoe Trail just west of Brickerville.
Wolf Sanctuary of PA
For nearly 40 years, this nonprofit sanctuary has rescued wolves and wolf-dogs. Home to dozens of animals, the 80-acre property is less than half a mile from the western end of the lake. Listen carefully when the sun dips below the horizon and you may hear the howl of a wolf pack!
Speedwell Forge
In 1760, James Old purchased 400 acres along Hammer Creek and built Speedwell Forge, one of a number of local iron works. Speedwell stopped production in 1854, and today there is nothing remaining of the forge. There are supposedly some historic artifacts underwater, but the exact location of the forge is unknown. The restored iron master’s mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fishing
The lake is a popular spot for fishing. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has placed numerous habitat improvement structures in the lake to help support the populations of largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish, carp, and perch.
Bird Watching
A popular spot to go birdwatching, Speedwell Forge is host to many species. There are songbirds aplenty - goldfinches, cardinals, bluebirds, sparrows, wrens, mockingbirds, and more. Listen for the tapping of woodpeckers among the trees. Be mesmerized by the swifts and the swallows darting over the lake snatching insects. During the late winter, snow geese and tundra swans often stop by the lake on their way north.
Herons
Stalking the shallows or perched in the trees, Great Blue Herons are hard to miss. Tall and blueish gray, they measure 42-52 inches with a wingspan up to 6 feet.
They have an S-shaped neck, long yellow bill and a wide dark stripe above their eyes. In flight they have very slow wingbeats, a tucked in neck, and legs trailing out behind. Herons will often bark or grunt when disturbed.
Egrets
Great Egrets are tall and stately birds, similar to herons, but slightly smaller. Standing around 38 inches tall, their wingspan is up to 4 1/2 feet. They are all white with a long, yellow bill, and black legs. Egrets have a long S-curved neck that tucks back against their shoulders in flight. They hunt in the shallows and nest in the trees.
Bald Eagles
Bald Eagles are a common sight while kayaking at Speedwell Forge Lake. Eagles stand 31-37 inches tall with a wingspan up to 7 feet. They have pure white heads and tails that contrast with their dark brown bodies. Eagles are often seen soaring and gliding in circles as they search for prey. They are distinguished from the similar looking turkey vulture by their large heads, long wings held straight out, and smooth (not teetering) flight.