Promised Land State Park Guide: Lakes, Camping and Trails

Two lakes with electric-motors-only boating, seven camping areas, 12 rustic CCC cabins, nesting bald eagles and about 50 miles of trails, inside a 12,464-acre state forest. What to do at Promised Land State Park, and when.

Promised Land State Park is an almost 3,000-acre park in Pike County, on the Pocono Plateau at 1,800 feet above sea level and surrounded by 12,464 acres of Delaware State Forest. It has two boating lakes with electric-motors-only boating, two sand beaches, seven camping areas, 12 rustic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and about 50 miles of hiking trails across the park and the state forest. It's also one of the state's older parks: it became Pennsylvania's fourth state park in 1905.

Key Takeaways

• I.Boating is electric motors only, at slow, no-wake speed, on the 422-acre Promised Land Lake and the 173-acre Lower Lake. There are five boat launches and 170 mooring spaces.
• II.Two sand beaches are open daily from late May to mid-September, 8 AM to sunset. DCNR says there are no lifeguards, and to swim at your own risk.
• III.The park has seven camping areas, 12 rustic CCC cabins and three camping cottages. Camping is prohibited in the surrounding state forest.
• IV.Bald eagles have nested in the park since 1999. Laws prohibit human activity within 330 feet of a nest.

Promised Land State Park at a glance

The park's official recreational guide, published by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR, map rev. 6/6/2023, retrieved October 6, 2026), is the source for the park-level facts here.

Boating, fishing and swimming

Promised Land Lake has about 9 miles of shoreline, and Lower Lake has almost 4. Boating is electric motors only, at slow, no-wake speed. There are five boat launches, and Snow Shanty is ADA accessible. Five mooring areas offer a total of 170 spaces, which can be rented from April through October. A boat rental on Promised Land Lake, across from the main beach, rents rowboats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboats from May to September, weather permitting, and rental boats are also available at Pickerel Point and Lower Lake. Boats need a registration or a launch or mooring permit, so check the requirements with the park office.

Both lakes offer year-round fishing. Common species are largemouth and smallmouth bass, pickerel, muskellunge, yellow perch, sunfish and catfish. Lower Lake is approved trout waters, stocked with brook, brown and rainbow trout, and trout stamp restrictions apply. An ADA accessible fishing pier is at Snow Shanty Boat Launch.

Two sand beaches are open daily from late May to mid-September, 8 AM to sunset. The main beach is in the day use picnic area, and Pickerel Point Beach is at the end of Pickerel Point Campground. DCNR says there are no lifeguards and to swim at your own risk. Children 10 or younger must be accompanied by a person at least 14 years old.

Camping, cabins and cottages

The park has seven camping areas, from basic modern sites to full hookup. The maximum stay is 14 days in the summer peak season and 21 days in the non-peak season. Campers get one vehicle per site, and alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Camping is prohibited in the state forest around the park. The table summarizes DCNR's guide (map rev. 6/6/2023), and site counts are approximate.

Which area fits you? Going by DCNR's descriptions:

• RVs and hookups: Beechwood, which DCNR calls best suited to RVs, or Pickerel Point, which has electric and full-hookup sites.
• Pets: Northwoods and Deerfield allow pets on all sites, while Rhododendron prohibits them.
• Near the water: DCNR lists Pickerel Point, Deerfield and The Pines as near swimming, boating, fishing and hiking.
• Horses: Hemlock Hill, with stalls for up to four horses per site.
• Early or late season: Beechwood opens in early April, and select Pickerel Point sites and its cottages stay open year round.

The Bear Wallow Cabin Colony, beside Lower Lake, has 12 rustic rental cabins built by the CCC in the 1930s. Each sleeps up to five and has a fireplace insert, refrigerator, stove, microwave, coffee pot, electricity, an outdoor fire ring and an adjacent private bathroom. Linens aren't provided. Dogs are allowed in cabins 9 through 12 for a fee, and Cabin 9 is ADA accessible. Separately, Whittaker Cabin, down a private driveway off North Shore Road, sleeps eight and permits up to two dogs. The three camping cottages at Pickerel Point sleep five in bunk beds, with electric heat and a charcoal grill, and pets aren't allowed in them. About 220 privately owned cabins also sit on leased state park land, so respect their owners' privacy. Reserve through DCNR at 888-727-2757 or online, and confirm current dates with the park office.

Hiking, biking and horseback riding

DCNR counts about 50 miles of hiking trails in the park and the surrounding Delaware State Forest. All recreational trails are marked with vertical blue blazes, and a white post at most intersections gives the trail name, intersection number and permitted uses. DCNR suggests hiking the Bruce Lake Trail to a natural glacial lake, seeing the small waterfalls along Little Falls Trail, or walking a loop around Conservation Island. A trail brochure and self-guided information for Conservation Island are available at the park office.

We sorted the park trails by length. The distances and elevation gains come from AllTrails-based records, since DCNR's guide for this park doesn't publish trail-by-trail lengths, and the ratings are AllTrails ratings, not DCNR's. The two Conservation Island rows are separate records: a 0.33-mile trail and the 0.99-mile self-guided loop around the island.

The Little Falls Trail is a 1.4-mile loop past small waterfalls. The Egypt Meadow Lake Loop is a 3.7-mile loop around Egypt Meadow Lake, with only about 88 feet of elevation gain. The Rhododendron Trail is also a bike route that links Pickerel Point Road and Burley Inlet Trail to the day use area, so riders can avoid PA 390. Mountain biking is permitted on Rhododendron Trail and designated trails in Delaware State Forest, and e-bikes are allowed under DCNR's e-bike guidelines.

DCNR advises hikers to tell someone where they're going and when they'll return, to carry a map, to stay on established trails and to plan to return before dusk. Pets are permitted on trails on a leash of 6 feet or less. In hunting seasons, DCNR says to wear fluorescent orange.

Horseback riding is allowed on park roads and designated trails and on select equestrian trails in the state forest. There are no horse rentals, but six equestrian campsites are available at Hemlock Hill. Riders share the 6.5-mile paved road around Promised Land Lake, and children 12 and under must wear a helmet. DCNR says to avoid riding PA 390 when possible.

Bald eagles and wildlife

Bald eagles have nested in the park since 1999. DCNR says adult eagles typically return to the nest in January and February, lay eggs from February to March, and young eagles are often visible from late April until July. A wildlife observation station on Lower Lake, by the Bear Wallow Boat Launch, lets you see the nest with the naked eye, though binoculars or a spotting scope are better. DCNR says laws prohibit human activity, including camping, fishing, boating and hiking, within 330 feet of a nest, so don't cross the boundary line. The station is also a place to look for waterfowl, otters, mink and white-tailed deer.

The park sits on the Pocono Plateau, a rugged highland of rocky soil and bogs. About 20,000 years ago, DCNR says, a sheet of ice nearly one mile thick covered it, and the rocky glacial till is direct evidence. Blackburnian warblers, red-breasted nuthatches and timber rattlesnakes are common in the bog habitat. The National Audubon Society has named the park and surrounding area part of the Bruce Lake Natural Area Important Bird Area. Serviceberry flowers in early May, mountain laurel in late May, rhododendron in June, and blueberries ripen in mid to late July. Fall foliage typically peaks in early October, according to DCNR.

Black bears, ticks and hunting

Black bears are common in Pennsylvania's state parks. DCNR advises storing all food and scented items in a locked vehicle, cleaning up after meals and never hanging garbage from the lantern pole hook at campsites. Feeding bears is illegal. If you meet a bear, DCNR says not to run, to back away slowly without making direct eye contact, and to make a loud noise like blowing a whistle, honking a car horn or banging a pot if it doesn't leave. BearWise, a black bear safety program, likewise says never to run from a bear or climb a tree (BearWise, bear safety tips, retrieved October 6, 2026).

For ticks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises showering within two hours of coming indoors, doing a full-body check and treating boots and clothing with permethrin (CDC, Preventing Tick Bites, retrieved October 6, 2026).

About 1,528 acres of the park are open to hunting, trapping and dog training during established seasons, and the adjacent state forest has more. DCNR asks everyone to use extreme caution around firearms.

Winter at Promised Land State Park

Registered snowmobiles are permitted on more than 23 miles of designated trails across state park and state forest lands, from the day after the last day of Pennsylvania's regular or extended rifle deer season until April 2, conditions permitting. Trails are marked with orange diamonds. Skiing and snowshoeing are permitted on all trails, and the trails at Bruce Lake Natural Area and Conservation Island are recommended. The park office loans snowshoes with a photo ID, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM Monday to Friday, once there are six inches or more of snow. Ice fishing is popular on both lakes, conditions permitting. DCNR says ice thickness isn't monitored and advises at least 4 inches for one person and 7 inches for a small group.

History: from clear-cut forest to CCC camp

• Before 1900: the land was once home to the Minsi Tribe of the Wolf Clan of the Lenni Lenape. Lumber operators built sawmills and repeatedly clear-cut the land, and by 1903 the area was almost completely bare of trees.
• 1902 to 1904: the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania bought the land at $0.18 to $2.00 an acre. In 1905, Promised Land became the fourth Pennsylvania state park. Between 1902 and 1933, the Commonwealth planted more than 370,000 trees.
• 1933 to 1941: the CCC's Camp S-139 opened in May 1933 and closed in July 1941. The CCC built Pickerel Point Campground, the Bear Wallow Cabins, most of North Shore Road and Egypt Meadow Dam, and planted over a million trees. The park celebrates the CCC's legacy with a festival each August.
• May 31, 1998: an F-2 tornado with winds of 113 to 157 mph passed through the park. More than 500 people were trapped overnight, but no one was seriously injured.

The Masker Museum, one of the largest CCC museums in the Commonwealth, has interactive stories, displays and artifacts, plus natural history displays and a bird viewing area. It's volunteer-run and open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with times that vary, so call the office for hours.

Getting to Promised Land State Park

The park is on PA 390 in Pike County, 10 miles north of Canadensis, and is easily reached from I-80 and I-84. DCNR says it's a one-to-three-hour drive from Allentown, Easton, Bethlehem, Reading, Harrisburg, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, about 100 miles north of Philadelphia and 35 miles from the New York and New Jersey borders. The nearest hospital is Wayne County Memorial Hospital, 601 Park Street, Honesdale. In an emergency, call 911 and contact a park employee.

Restaurants in our Promised Land Lake listings

These restaurants are listed under Promised Land Lake, their nearest destination guide by drive time. They're in Greentown and Milford, so check the distance from the park before you plan around one. A reserve score is Pocono Reserve's own rating.

• Backroads Cafe & Dairy Bar (Greentown): a casual, family-friendly roadside cafe and dairy bar. $, reserve score 79.
• Mountainhouse Tavern (Greentown): a cozy tavern with American comfort food in a wood-toned room. $$, reserve score 72.
• Tom Quick Inn Restaurant (Milford): upscale American dining and craft cocktails, suited to date nights and celebrations. $$$, reserve score 73.
• Milford Wine & Cheese Co. (Milford): a wine and cheese shop that pairs curated cheeses with the Three Hammers wine collection. $$, reserve score 75.

DCNR notes that the 5,700-acre Lake Wallenpaupack is 25 minutes north of the park and is open to public fishing and boating. See our Lake Wallenpaupack destination page for more on the lake.

Frequently asked questions

Are there lifeguards at Promised Land State Park?

No. DCNR says there are no lifeguards at either beach, and to swim at your own risk.

Can you use a motorboat on Promised Land Lake?

Only electric motors, at slow, no-wake speed. Rowboats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboats can be rented from May to September.

Can you camp in the state forest around the park?

No. Camping is prohibited in the Delaware State Forest area around the park. Use one of the park's seven camping areas.

Are dogs allowed at Promised Land State Park?

Pets are allowed on trails on a leash of 6 feet or less. They're allowed on designated campsites in some campgrounds, in cabins 9 through 12 for a fee, and prohibited in swimming areas and in the camping cottages.

Can you see bald eagles at Promised Land?

Yes. Eagles have nested in the park since 1999. Use the wildlife observation station on Lower Lake, and stay at least 330 feet from a nest.

Keep planning

For nearby places to eat and explore, see our Promised Land Lake destination page.

Last updated October 6, 2026. Park details come from Pocono Reserve research and the Pennsylvania DCNR recreational guide for Promised Land State Park (map rev. 6/6/2023). Hours, seasons and rates change, so confirm with the park office at 570-676-3428 before you go. Cover photo: Yinan Chen, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

• Pennsylvania DCNR, Promised Land State Park recreational guide (map rev. 6/6/2023). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
• BearWise, bear safety tips; CDC, Preventing Tick Bites. Retrieved October 6, 2026.