Though their proximity to New York City makes the Pocono Mountains a frequented vacation spot, they remain one of the most wild and secluded regions in Pennsylvania. Rugged, tree-covered slopes, crystal-clear lakes and mile after mile of hiking trails make the Poconos a perfect place for anyone who loves the outdoors -- and several state parks provide a gateway to the region.
Big Pocono State Park spans 1,300 acres on the slopes of Camelback Mountain, and the 2,100-foot mountain -- with a ski resort in winter and a water park in summer -- is the park's main attraction. Most of Big Pocono State Park's developed facilities can be found at the summit, including restrooms, ample parking and several picnic areas with tables and charcoal grills. If picnicking isn't your style, you can grab a bite to eat at the Cameltop Restaurant. The summit offers expansive views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, and you can climb to the top of the fire tower for an even higher vantage point. Camelback Road allows visitors to drive right to the top, but anyone who prefers the scenic route can hike up the mountain on the 3-mile South Trail, one of several hiking trails that wind their way along Camelback's slopes.
Surrounding the quiet shores of its namesake lake, Locust Lake State Park encompasses nearly 1,800 acres of shady mountain forest. The park is a prime spot for camping, with 282 campsites in two separate campgrounds on either side of the lake. The north shore campground is for tent camping only, with nonelectric sites, campfire rings, picnic tables, drinking water, modern restrooms and showers. The campground on the south shore has similar amenities, but includes electric campsites for RVs and an RV sanitation station. Visitors can go for a swim, launch a boat -- electric motors and no-powered craft only -- and fish for bass, trout and panfish in 52-acre Locust Lake. Anglers need a valid Pennsylvania fishing license. Camping reservations are available by phone or through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website.
The Pocono Mountains offer a lot of fishing opportunities, and you'll find prime fishing water at 950-acre Beltzville Lake. The man-made reservoir is accessible through Beltzville Lake State Park, which provides boat launch facilities and ample open shoreline. The lake supports abundant populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge, trout and perch. Anglers looking for peace and quiet can follow two hiking trails to numerous fishing spots along the lake's southern shore. Boats are allowed with unlimited horsepower, but the northeast corner is a designated no-wake zone, making it perfect for canoes and kayaks. Other park facilities include picnic areas, a swimming beach, playground, concession stand and outdoor amphitheater. As with all waters across the state, a current Pennsylvania freshwater fishing license is required to fish at Beltzville Lake State Park.
Swatara State Park lies in the shadow of Blue Mountain, in an area where the rolling mountains of the Poconos meet the distinctive ridges and valleys of the Appalachians in the Lehigh Valley. The 3,500-acre park spans the banks of Trout Creek, which, true to its name, provides excellent trout fishing in the springtime. But the real draw to this mostly undeveloped park is its many miles of trails. The Bear Hole Trail and Swatara Rail Trail are both open to hiking and mountain biking, and the latter is also available for horseback riders. While these trails are mostly flat and easy, hikers in search of a challenge can find it on the Appalachian Trail, which swings through the park on its 2,180-mile trek from Georgia to Maine. Numerous access points make it easy to sample a small section of the Appalachian Trail, but if you're looking for an extended backpacking trip, you can spend days, weeks or even months exploring the trail, camping overnight at backcountry campsites and lean-to shelters along its entire length.
