Poconos Mountains state forests (northeastern region) offer outdoor recreation and fun all 4 seasons of the year.
Enjoy fishing, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, snowshoeing, and sightseeing on foot or in your car.
Delaware State Forest
HC 1, Box 95A
Swiftwater PA 18370
570-895-4000
hiking – Blooming Grove 4-H Hiking Trail, also used for snowshoeing. 7 miles of trails, W of Rte 402 1/2 mile S of Rte 6. Thunder Swamp Trail System – 26 miles of trails in southern Pike County
- camping – overnight backpacking camping
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area – has the George W. Childs Park, waterfalls, picnic tables. Permit needed for camping along the River
- Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River – canoeing, rafting, fishing
- 13 lakes and ponds in the Forest – trout fishing, warm water fishing
- Tarkill Forest Demonstration Area – self guided nature trail
- Messing Nature Center – on Marshall Creek Road. Trails for hiking
- Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center – near Belfast in Northampton County. Hiking, fishing, hunting, horse riding, cross country skiing
- Snow Hill Picnic Area – tables, charcoal grills, trail, playground, fishing on a small lake
- Pecks Pond Picnic Area -same as Snow Hill plus a boat launch
- Bruce Lake Natural Area – has 2 lakes, Bruce Lake and Egypt Meadow Lake
- Stillwater Natural Area – canoeing on Little Bushkill Steam
- Pennel Run Natural Area – has Utts Swamp, is a protected area for reptiles and amphibians
- Buckhorn Natural Area has a high mountain swamp and is also a protected area
- Pine Lake Natural Area has a glacial bog
- Little Mud Pond Swamp Natural Area – has a boreal conifer swamp
- State parks near the forest – Promised Land State Park, Big Pocono State Park, Gouldsboro State Park and Tobyhanna State Park
- ATV Trails open from Memorial Day – last September weekend:
Maple Run Tract in Pike County. Accessible from parking lot on Rte 402, 1.75 miles N of Pecks Pond. - ATV summer and winter Trails (open day after last day of deer season to April 1):
1. Burnt Mills in Pike County – Accessible from parking lot on Route 402, 1 mile S of Porters Lake.
2. Dixon R. Miller Recreation Area – Monroe County – Accessible from Rte 115, 5 miles S of I 80 - snowmobile trails – 1. Monroe County – Dixon Miller Recreation Area Trail and Snow Hill Trail
2. Pike County – Promised Land State Park and Edgemere – Pecks Pond Trails
Lackawanna State Forest
RR 1 Box 230
Dalton PA 18414
570-945-7249
- Thornhurst tract – in Lackawanna county. Picnic (tables, grills), hiking, backpacking, hunting, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, fishing and nature trail walking
- Pinchot Trail – easy walks, overnight backpackin
- hunting
- trout fishing on Choke Creek
- trails for snowmobiling and cross country skiing
- 17 miles of automobile sight seeing roads. Top of Pine Hill has a stunning view.
- West Nanticoke Tract – in Plymouth Township, Luzerne County PA. Hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife and nature viewing
- Spruce Swamp Natural Area – on Thornhurst tract. Has a glacial bog
- Howley Orienteering Area – has a pace course, 1/2 mile basic compass course, and 2 mile intermediate compass course
- snowmobile trail – in Lackawanna County – Thornhurst Trail
Loyalsock State Forest
6735 Rte 220
Dushore PA 18614
570-946-4049
- state parks in the forest – World’s End State Park
- Dry Run Picnic Area – on Dry Run Road, 1 mile E of Rte 87
- Bear Wallow Pond, Sones Pond – visited by ducks and geese. Picnic, boats without motors allowed
- High Knob Overlook
- Kettle Creek Gorge Natural Area – in Forest’s southern area, only reachable by foot
- Devils Elbow Natural Area – small bogs
- Tamarack Run Natural Area – by Sones Pond
- The McIntyre Wild Area – waterfalls. On Rte 14, N and E of Ralston.
Tioga State Forest
One Nessmuk Lane
Wellsboro PA 16901
570-724-2868
In Bradford County and Tioga County PA in the Poconos Mountains area.
- 3 picnic areas
- snowmobiling
- hiking – West Rim Trail – 30-mile long hiking trail, on western rim of Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. Pine Creek Trail – parallels Pine Creek 62 miles south from Wellsboro Junction to Jersey Shore in Tiadaghton State Forest
- cross country skiing trails
- walking trails
- horseback riding trail on a certain segment
- biking trails
- Pine Creek Gorge Natural Area (Pennsylvania Grand Canyon) is a National Natural Landmark. Bradley Wales Picnic Area, Colton Point State Park, Leonard Harrison State Park and Barbour Rock Trail offer scenic views. Offers rafting, canoeing, hiking, fishing, hunting.
- Black Ash Swamp Natural Area – in the Asaph Wild Area in the Poconos Mountains
- Reynolds Spring Natural Area – NW of Cedar Run on Reynolds Spring Road, N of Lycoming/Tioga County Line
- Asaph Wild Area – in Shippen and Clymer Townships, Tioga County. Has Asaph State Forest Picnic Area in the south. Backpack camping allowed.
- State parks near the forest – Leonard Harrison State Park, Colton Point State Park and Hills Creek State Park
- snowmobile trails – in Tioga County – North Central Trails and Armenia Mountain (trails not groomed.)
Weiser State Forest
Box 99
Cressona PA 17929
570-385-7800
In Schuylkill County, Carbon County PA, Berks County and northern Dauphin County PA in the Poconos Mountains area.
- hunting
- fishing
- 2 picnic areas on the Haldeman State Forest Tract in Dauphin County
- major hiking trail – Appalachian Trail
- snowmobile trails – in Dauphin County – Haldeman-Greenland Trail, and in Schuylkill County – Port Clinton Trail in the Poconos Mountains region
Enjoy your visit to Poconos Mountains area state forests.