A year-round destination for outdoor lovers: Promised Land State Park in the Poconos. This place has something for just about everyone: swimmers, hikers, bikers, horseback riders, anglers, geocachers, boaters, archers, campers, and hunters. Then there are the winter sports like snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and ice skating to entice people out on winter days. Plenty of trails, two lakes, and so much surrounding land make Promised Land the perfect place to spend a day — or even an overnight or two.
Promised Land is located in northeast Pennsylvania close to the New York and New Jersey state borders (see map below). It spans about 3,000 acres and is surrounded by over 12,000 acres of the state’s Delaware State Forest.
There’s a range of wildlife (like black bears, deer, wild turkeys, migratory birds, frogs, fish, and salamanders) as you’d imagine in forests, lakes, and bogs that make up this park. There’s also a pair of bald eagles that have been visiting and raising their young here since 1995 (across from the Wildlife Observation Station).
Accessibility
There are ADA-accessible picnic areas, campsites, cabins, and restrooms throughout the park. They are shown on the park map (listed later in this post).
Admission
There is no fee to enter and enjoy the park.
What You’ll Find at Promised Land
- 50 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding
- 2 sand beaches (Day Use Picnic Area and Pickerel Point)
- rentals of rowboats, paddleboats, canoes, and kayaks (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
- boat launch area for visitors’ non-powered or electric-powered boats
- a snack bar in the Day Use Picnic Area (open Memorial Day to Labor Day)
- campsites from rustic to full hookup
- rustic cabins for rent
- designated areas for hunting in season
- geocaching locations
- options for winter fun: snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and ice skating
- wildlife including black bears, deer, wild turkeys, and bald eagles
- Masker Museum that helps to tell the story of the CCC workers from the 1930s who helped create the spaces today’s visitors enjoy in the park
Tips for Your Visit
- Although there aren’t fees to enter the park, bring along money for the snack bar and boat rentals.
- Trails are open from dawn to dusk.
- Bring sunscreen and bug spray. It can get quite buggy at times. And remember that ticks may be present, as well.
- Wear comfortable hiking/walking shoes if planning to hike.
- Choose your own picnic: either bring your own food and drinks or buy what you want at the snack bar in the Day Use Area (open during the summer season).
- The Day Use Picnic Area offers plenty of options: a beach, a snack bar, a playground, a sand volleyball court, a basketball hoop, and restrooms. Plus it’s a short walk to the boat rentals.
- If interested in camping, reserve your spot ahead.
- Do NOT feed or otherwise disturb the wildlife.
- Leashed pets are allowed.
Promised Land State Park Map
Brief History of Promised Land
Originally inhabited by the Lenni Lenape, a group of settlers tried to farm here without much success. The land is rockier than it is fertile ground. It is said that the group named the area “the Promised Land” sneeringly because they felt they had been promised more than what was delivered. Later came the lumbering operations which took advantage of the heavily forested area by clearing the land and selling the wood. Within time, the area became virtually treeless.
The Park is Created
In the early 1900s, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania bought the land and established Promised Land State Park in the Poconos. Hundreds of thousands of trees were planted to replace those that had been cut down.
Building the Park
Later, in 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) — a national public work program during the Depression designed to employ those out of work — built trails, cabins, and campgrounds as well as planted over a million trees. It was that effort by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration — and the hard-working CCC men — that created a space for visitors to enjoy in the years to come. There’s a statue at the Masker Museum (on the grounds) dedicated to the men of the CCC who helped transform this special area.
Nearby Attractions
Consider visiting some other great places in Pennsylvania. There are some inviting parks on the list for outdoor lovers.
- Big Pocono State Park, Poconos
- Bushkill Falls, Poconos
- Colonial PA Plantation, outside Philadelphia
- Covered Bridge Driving Tour of Bucks County
- Covered Bridge Driving Tour of the Lehigh Valley
- Gettysburg Visitor Guide
- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Lehigh Valley area
- Hickory Run State Park, Poconos
- Housenick Park, Lehigh Valley
- Jacobsburg State Park, Pocono area
- John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, outside Philadelphia
- Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia
- National Museum of Industrial History, Lehigh Valley
- Philadelphia: Fairmount Park’s Unique Colonial Mansions & Their Stories
- Philadelphia Self-Guided Walking Tour
- Best Things to Do in Philadelphia
- Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania Guide
- Ricketts Glen State Park, Poconos
- Ridley Creek State Park, outside Philadelphia
- Tyler State Park, Bucks County
- Valley Forge National Historical Park, outside Philadelphia
- Washington Crossing Historic Park, Bucks County
Final Thoughts
Promised Land State Park has a lot to offer those who enjoy spending time in the great outdoors.. On our visit, my husband, Pop, hiked in several areas to explore different trails and then feasted on our picnic lunch. Promised Land is a well-maintained state park in the Poconos that is popular with day visitors and overnight campers (in RVs and cabins) alike.
Comments?
Please share your experiences and/or suggestions for other places to visit in the area. Your ideas could be helpful to other travelers. Thanks! 🙂
