Poconos Mountains Region State Forests

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
poconosmountainsforestlake
  • 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

poconos-mountains-loyalsock-state-forest-dushore-pa
  • 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

poconos-mountains-tioga-state-forest-wellsboro-pa

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.)
poconos-mountains-pine-creek-gorge-tioga-state-forest-wellsboro-pa

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.


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