Four fall foliage drives through the Poconos, each built around a real overlook and a coffee stop, with timing and safety tips for leaf-peeping season.
The best way to see Pocono fall color is to stop often. The region's color comes in layers (ridgelines, river valleys, lake edges), and each stop below gives you a different view of it. This guide groups the stops into four drives, each with a coffee or bakery stop, at least one overlook or summit view, and something to eat or taste on the way.
Key Takeaways
- I.Peak color typically spans several weeks through October in Pennsylvania, and it arrives at different times across the Poconos. Check DCNR's Thursday foliage report before you pick a day.
- II.Four drives cover the region: the Delaware Water Gap to Milford, Lake Wallenpaupack and Honesdale, Jim Thorpe and the Lehigh Gorge, and the Camelback summit drive with Stroudsburg.
- III.The Dingmans Falls trail is closed for reconstruction, so plan Raymondskill Falls and Bushkill Falls for waterfall stops instead.
When is peak foliage in the Poconos?
Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) reports color county by county in a weekly Fall Foliage Report with an interactive map, published every Thursday in season (PA DCNR Fall Foliage Reports). In its report for the week of October 8, 2026, Pike and Wayne counties were at peak and Monroe was approaching peak (PA DCNR, 2026 Fall Foliage Report: Week of October 8-14, retrieved 2026-10-18).
The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau splits the region into three color zones: northern (northern Wayne and Pike counties), central (southern Wayne, southern Pike and northern Monroe) and southern (southern Monroe and Carbon), with a forecast map updated each Thursday through October. Its forecast for the week of October 15, 2026 expected peak color to last through October 17 in the northern zone and October 18 in the central zone, and projected October 20-28 for the southern zone (Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, retrieved 2026-10-18). That's why the Lake Wallenpaupack drive peaks earlier than the Jim Thorpe drive. Check both maps the day before you go.
Warm, sunny days followed by cool nights tend to produce the brightest reds, according to the USDA Forest Service (USDA Forest Service, Fall Colors science, retrieved 2026-10-05). For more on timing and where to stay, see our Fall Foliage Escapes page.
Drive 1: Delaware Water Gap to Milford
Start at the southern end of the region, where the Delaware River cuts through the ridge.
Coffee and a bakery stop: Village Farmer & Bakery (Delaware Water Gap). A rustic bakery open since 1976, known for letting you watch pies get made, with local produce and Pennsylvania-made jams, relishes and chocolates. It's a $ stop with a Reserve Score of 70, and a good place to buy something for the road (destination guide).
Overlook: Tumbling Waters Trail. This moderate 3.1-mile loop starts at the Pocono Environmental Education Center and runs through forest and a ravine to its waterfall, with overlooks across the Kittatinny Mountains. It has about 524 feet of elevation gain and takes 1.5 to 2 hours, so it's the one real hike on this drive (destination guide).
Waterfalls: Raymondskill Falls and Bushkill Falls. Raymondskill Falls is Pennsylvania's tallest waterfall, a three-tiered cascade of more than 150 feet with two viewing platforms, reached by a short, steep 0.3-mile out-and-back. Bushkill Falls is a boardwalk network past eight waterfalls, including a 100-foot main falls, and it runs seasonally from April to November. The Dingmans Falls trail is a popular alternative, but the National Park Service closed it in May 2025 for a bridge replacement and trail reconstruction, and its trail page still showed it closed when we last checked (National Park Service, retrieved 2026-10-05).
Finish in Milford: Waterwheel Café, Bakery & Bar. A café, bakery, pub and restaurant in a restored 19th-century water-powered mill, rated $$ with a Reserve Score of 76.
For more waterfalls, read our guide to the best waterfall hikes in the Pocono Mountains.
Drive 2: Lake Wallenpaupack, Hawley and Honesdale
This drive trades big mountain views for lake and river-valley color.
Coffee stop: Cocoon Coffee House & Bakery (Hawley). A casual, budget-friendly coffee house and bakery in Hawley, well reviewed by locals and travelers ($, Reserve Score 68) (destination guide).
Walk or browse: Hawley Silk Mill. A converted 19th-century silk mill on the Lackawaxen River with artisan studios, a marketplace of local vendors and a riverside restaurant. The exposed brick and timber make it a good rainy-day backup if the weather turns.
On the water: Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tour. A 50-minute guided tour of the lake, seasonal, if you want to see the color from the water.
Overlook: Irving Cliff (Honesdale). A steady, moderate 1.1-mile uphill trail with about 324 feet of elevation gain to a cliff-top view over town.
Second coffee: Moka Origins Roastery Café and Chocolate Factory (Honesdale). A roastery café where both coffee and chocolate are made on site ($, Reserve Score 79).
Cider on the way home: Ritter's Winery & Cidery. A working farm winery and cidery near Lake Ariel that makes fruit wines and hard ciders from apples grown on the farm. Call ahead for tasting hours, since we don't list them.
If the weekend lines up, the Hawley Farmers Market runs Fridays from May through October in Bingham Park.
Drive 3: Jim Thorpe and the Lehigh Gorge
Jim Thorpe is busy on fall weekends, so go early or on a weekday.
Coffee stop: Curiosities Coffee & Ice House (Jim Thorpe). A casual coffee and ice cream shop at 77 Broadway in walkable downtown Jim Thorpe ($, Reserve Score 73) (destination guide).
Overlook: Cave Falls and Jim Thorpe Overlook. A difficult 2.1-mile loop in Lehigh Gorge State Park with about 879 feet of elevation gain, taking 1.5 to 2 hours, with waterfalls and a view over town. Save it for when you have the legs for it.
Ride instead of drive: Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. Vintage trains leave Jim Thorpe's restored 1888 station and follow the Lehigh River through Lehigh Gorge State Park, with narrated views of whitewater and old canal ruins. Read our guide to scenic railways for fall foliage for how to plan it.
Festival weekends. The Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival is held across downtown the first three weekends of October each year, with craft and food vendors, live music and scenic train rides. Expect significant crowds and plan parking before you arrive.
Dinner nearby: The Mansion House of Summit Hill. A Summit Hill restaurant with a 4.5-star Google rating from 253 reviews and a Reserve Score of 77.
For the park itself, see our guide to Lehigh Gorge State Park.
Drive 4: The Camelback summit drive and Stroudsburg
This drive asks the least of you: the summit view is reachable by car, with no hiking required.
Summit view: Big Pocono State Park. A 1.4-mile paved scenic drive circles the summit of Camelback Mountain, with views of eastern Pennsylvania and portions of New Jersey and New York. The park closes in early December and reopens the first week of April, and DCNR advises against attempting the drive with a trailer because of steep grades (PA DCNR, retrieved 2026-10-05). Read our Big Pocono State Park guide for trails and history.
Bakery stop: Stroudsmoor Bakery & Café (Stroudsburg). A casual, budget-friendly bakery-café at 125 Broad Street, good for a quick morning bite before hiking or shopping ($, Reserve Score 66).
Coffee on US 209: Perla Coffee Co. and Eatery (Brodheadsville). A casual coffee shop and eatery at 1656 US 209, highly rated by locals on Google and Yelp ($, Reserve Score 75).
Orchard stop: Heckman Orchards (Effort). An orchard and farm market at 3009 Route 115 in Effort. We don't list hours or what's in season, so call ahead before making it the center of your day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Pocono fall foliage drive?
For the most variety, Drive 1 (Delaware Water Gap to Milford) combines an overlook, waterfalls and a bakery. For the least effort, Drive 4 puts a summit view a few minutes off the highway.
When is the best time to see fall colors in the Poconos?
DCNR says peak color typically spans several weeks throughout October statewide, and the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau forecasts three zones that peak at different times. Check DCNR's Thursday foliage report and the Visitors Bureau's forecast map before you go.
Are the Poconos drives good for a day trip?
Yes. Each drive is built so you can do it in a day with a coffee stop and one overlook or waterfall. Check driving distances on a map before stringing two together.
Is Dingmans Falls open?
The National Park Service closed the Dingmans Falls access road, visitor center and trail in May 2025 for a bridge replacement and trail reconstruction. Check the park's trail page for current status before you plan around it.
Where can you stay for a foliage weekend?
See our Fall Foliage Escapes page, and our list of the best hikes in the Pocono Mountains for more to do once you're here.