Promised Land State Park

The land here was long the hunting ground of the Lenni-Lenape, the Delaware people, before European settlers arrived. Among the newcomers was a community of Shakers, the plain-living religious group known for their furniture and their discipline, who took up this stretch of the plateau hoping to farm it. The soil defeated them. It was thin, rocky, and unforgiving, and in bitter humor they named it the Promised Land, then contracted the forest to be timbered and moved on.

The irony only deepened over the next decades. Loggers stripped the hills, and by the time the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania bought the tract in 1902, the land was cut over and bare. It became Pennsylvania's fourth state park, opening to the public in 1905, and the state set about undoing the damage, planting hundreds of thousands of trees to bring the forest back. The barren ground the Shakers scorned is now a lush highland, the name finally living up to itself.

Two lakes give the park its shape. Promised Land Lake and the smaller Lower Lake sit among the trees, quiet water for canoes and kayaks, for fishing the warm-water species, and for a swim off the beach on a hot afternoon. Great blue herons stalk the shallows, loons and ducks pass through, and the boggy inlets draw a whole cast of plateau wildlife down to the water's edge.

Much of the built park dates to the 1930s, when a Civilian Conservation Corps camp operated here from 1933 to 1941. The young men of the CCC were fed, clothed, and paid a small wage in return for hard conservation work, and across the country they left behind a distinctive rustic style of stone and hewn timber. At Promised Land their cabins, bridges, and buildings still stand and still serve, a piece of Depression-era history you can sleep in and walk across rather than just read about.

Beyond the lakeshore, Promised Land and the surrounding Delaware State Forest offer around fifty miles of trail, from easy lakeside strolls to longer routes that climb into the deeper woods. Paths like the Bear Wallow, Burley Inlet, Rock Oak Ridge, and Mountain Laurel trails wind through hemlock groves and hardwood, past bog edges and boulder fields, with mountain laurel putting on a show in early summer.

Because the park is wrapped in state forest, a walk here can open out into thousands of acres of quiet backcountry, so it feels far bigger than its 3,000 acres. It is a fine place to spot wildlife, from herons and beavers to the black bears that share these mountains, and a genuine four-season park, green and cool in summer, blazing in fall, and hushed and white in winter when the plateau holds its snow.

Promised Land lies on the Pocono Plateau in Pike County, off PA 390, an easy drive from Greentown and Hawley and a short hop from Interstate 84. The park office near the lakes is the place to start, for maps, current lake and trail conditions, and advice on which loop or which lake fits your day and your energy.

The plateau sits around 1,800 feet up, so it runs cooler than the valleys and can hold weather the lowlands miss, a blessing in summer and worth dressing for the rest of the year. Give yourself time to paddle a lake, walk a laurel-lined trail, and look closely at the sturdy old CCC stonework. It is the kind of restful, green highland stop the Poconos do best, and a name that was once an insult now fits it well.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Promised Land State Park is a scenic, forested state park high on a plateau in the Pocono Mountains, surrounded by the Delaware State Forest. Centered on two pretty lakes, Promised Land Lake and Lower Lake, it offers swimming beaches, boating, fishing, camping, and miles of wooded trails. A beloved four-season destination, it combines mountain lakes, deep forest, and abundant wildlife into a peaceful, family-friendly retreat that is especially popular in summer and gorgeous in fall.

In the warm months you can swim at the guarded lake beaches, paddle or boat the lakes by kayak, canoe, or small motorboat, fish, and camp or stay in rustic cabins, while miles of trails offer hiking and biking through the forest. Wildlife watching is rewarding, with chances to spot bald eagles, deer, and more. In winter, the park offers cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and snow sports, making it a genuine year-round outdoor destination.

Yes, with normal precautions. Swim at the designated beaches during guarded hours and keep a close eye on children, remembering that mountain-lake water stays cool. When boating or paddling, always wear a life jacket, watch the weather, since wind can pick up on the open lake, and stay aware of your distance from shore. Following these simple safety steps lets you enjoy the lakes fully throughout the warm-weather season.

Summer is prime for swimming, boating, and camping, when the lakes and beaches are at their best, while fall brings spectacular Pocono foliage to the surrounding forest, and winter offers snow sports and a quiet beauty. The park is open year-round, so the ideal time depends on the activities you want. Reserving campsites and cabins well ahead is wise for the busy summer and fall foliage seasons.

The park sits in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, near the large recreational Lake Wallenpaupack and the vast Delaware State Forest, and within reach of Pocono attractions like Bushkill Falls and the resort towns of the region. The scenic Delaware River country lies to the east. That makes Promised Land an excellent base or stop for a broader outdoor getaway in the beautiful Pocono Mountains.