A 170-acre lake with a sand beach, boat rentals and a 140-site campground, on land that began as a military reservation. What to do at Tobyhanna State Park, what to know about old artillery shells, and how to plan a trip.
Tobyhanna State Park is a 5,440-acre park in Monroe and Wayne counties, built around the 170-acre Tobyhanna Lake. It has a sand beach open late May to mid-September, boat rentals, a 140-site campground and a 5.1-mile loop trail around the lake. DCNR also warns that visitors in remote, undeveloped areas could encounter old, unexploded artillery shells left from the land's days as a military reservation.
Key Takeaways
- I.The campground has 140 sites and is open from mid-April through mid-October. It sits at nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, so nights can be cool even in summer.
- II.Lakeside Trail circles Tobyhanna Lake for 5.1 miles. DCNR rates it easiest, and it passes through the campground and beach areas.
- III.DCNR warns that visitors in remote, undeveloped areas could find old, unexploded artillery shells. If you see one, don't touch or move it, and call the park office.
- IV.The beach is open from late May to mid-September, 8 AM to sunset, and DCNR's guide says to swim at your own risk.
Tobyhanna State Park at a glance
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Park size | 5,440 acres |
| Lake | Tobyhanna Lake, 170 acres |
| Counties | Monroe and Wayne |
| Opened | 1949 (camping area added in 1959) |
| Park office | 114 Campground Road, Tobyhanna, PA 18466 |
| Phone | 570-894-8336 |
| Boating | Electric motors only; slow, no-wake speed |
The park's official recreational guide, published by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR, 2023 edition, shared with Gouldsboro State Park, retrieved October 6, 2026), is the source for the park-level facts here. Our guide to Gouldsboro State Park covers the smaller park next door.
Old artillery shells: what to know before you go
Tobyhanna was part of a federal military reservation, and DCNR says that visitors using more remote and undeveloped areas of the park could encounter old, unexploded artillery shells. Three types have been found, ranging from about 3 inches to 24 inches long. They're severely rusted, have no recognizable markings, and look like pointed cylinders of rusted steel.
DCNR's instruction is to not touch, move or disturb any such item, and to call the park office to report its location so it can be disposed of properly. DCNR's warning refers to remote and undeveloped areas and doesn't name specific trails. If you head into remote or undeveloped areas, keep the park office number, 570-894-8336, handy.
Lake, beach and boating
The sand beach at Tobyhanna is open from late May to mid-September, 8 AM to sunset. DCNR says to swim at your own risk and follow the posted rules, and it doesn't mention lifeguards, so treat the beach as unguarded. Pets aren't allowed in swimming areas, and a playground is near the beach.
Boating is electric motors only, at slow, no-wake speed. Tobyhanna Lake has 78 overnight mooring spaces, which are seasonal and need a mooring permit from the park office. Rowboats, kayaks, paddle boats, canoes and electric motorboats can be rented daily from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, except in inclement weather. Boats need a registration or a launch or mooring permit, so check the requirements with the park office.
Common fish in Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro lakes are bass, pickerel, yellow perch, catfish and sunfish. Tobyhanna Lake also has stocked brook and brown trout. An ADA accessible fishing pier is available. Picnic areas with tables and charcoal grills are open year round from sunrise to sunset, and an ADA accessible pavilion with electricity in Lot 1 can be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee.
Camping at Tobyhanna State Park
The campground has 140 sites and is open from mid-April through mid-October. For an additional fee, 26 sites have 30-amp and 50-amp electric service, and pets are permitted at specific sites for a fee. Modern restrooms, showers and water spigots are in a central location, and there's a playground and a sanitary dump station between the park office and the campground entrance.
At nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, DCNR says campers should be prepared for cool nighttime temperatures, even in summer. Five rustic organized group tenting sites are also available. Sites 1 through 4 hold up to 20 people each, site 5 holds up to 40, and all can be combined for up to 120. The area has non-flush restrooms and a hand-operated water pump, and it's open year round. Make reservations at 888-727-2757 or through DCNR online. Dates change, and the season ends in mid-October, so confirm current dates with the park office.
Hiking trails at Tobyhanna
DCNR describes challenging but rewarding hiking on the rugged terrain of both parks. All trails are blazed, and double blazes mark a change of direction or a trail junction. Motor vehicles are prohibited on trails, except snowmobiles on Lakeside Trail.
| Trail | Length (DCNR) | Type | DCNR rating | Blazes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside Trail | 5.1 miles | Loop | Easiest | Blue |
| Range Trail | 2.75 miles | Out and back | More difficult | Yellow |
| Frank Gantz Trail | 1.9 miles in the park (3.2 total) | Point to point | Most difficult | Red |
Lakeside Trail travels completely around Tobyhanna Lake, with chances for wildlife watching and fishing, and passes through the campground and beach areas. It allows hiking and biking, and cross-country skiing is recommended. It has modern restrooms, potable water, picnic tables and benches at the trailhead. Range Trail runs from Lakeside Trail to a small parking area on State Route 196 and passes through Bender Swamp and a boulder field. Frank Gantz Trail is 3.2 miles in total and connects Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro state parks through the Black Bear and Bender Swamps Natural Area. DCNR rates it most difficult.
Our AllTrails-based records give about 223 feet of elevation gain and 2.5 to 3 hours for Lakeside Trail, and list Frank Gantz Trail as a 6.3-mile out-and-back, about twice DCNR's 3.2-mile trail length. DCNR counts 20 miles of hiking across both parks.
Black Bear and Bender Swamps Natural Area
The Black Bear and Bender Swamps Natural Area is made up of acidic shrub swamps totaling 1,600 acres, with openings in the trees containing sphagnum moss and rare plants and animals. DCNR keeps it in a natural condition by allowing physical and biological processes to operate, usually without direct human intervention. Lakeside Trail borders the natural area, and Frank Gantz Trail travels through it.
The park sits on the Pocono Plateau, a rugged highland of rocky soil and bogs. About 20,000 years ago, DCNR says, an ice sheet at least one mile thick covered the area, and the rocky glacial till and the many bogs are evidence of it.
- Plants: carnivorous pitcher plants and cotton grass grow in the bogs, and yellow bladderwort lives in some bogs and in Tobyhanna Lake.
- Birds and amphibians: blackburnian warblers, red-breasted nuthatches and northern waterthrushes are common, and in spring, spotted and Jefferson salamanders and wood frogs migrate to the bogs to breed.
- Bloom calendar: serviceberry flowers in early May, mountain laurel in mid-June, rhododendron in late June to early July, and highbush blueberries bear fruit in mid-July.
Winter at Tobyhanna State Park
Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro lakes are both popular ice-fishing spots, and ice skating is available when natural conditions permit. DCNR says ice thickness isn't monitored and advises at least 4 inches for a single user and 7 inches for a small group. Lakeside Trail is recommended for cross-country skiing. A one-way, 5.1-mile snowmobile trail runs counterclockwise on Lakeside Trail from Lot 1, which has heated restrooms, parking and unloading space. Snowmobiles may be operated only on that designated trail, from the day after the last day of deer regular firearm season in December until April 1, conditions permitting, and operators must follow the Pennsylvania Snowmobile Law. Snowmobiles are prohibited at Gouldsboro State Park.
Black bears, ticks and hunting
Black bears are common in the park. DCNR advises keeping food in the trunk of a car or in a camper and observing wildlife from a safe distance. DCNR's guide notes that bears that depend on human food can become aggressive when people get between them and the food. If that happens, make loud noises like yelling, honking a car horn or banging a pot, and tell a park employee. BearWise, a black bear safety program, adds that you should never run from a bear or climb a tree (BearWise, bear safety tips, retrieved October 6, 2026). Feeding wildlife is prohibited, and feeding raccoons, squirrels or chipmunks risks rabies exposure.
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).
Most of the park is open to hunting, trapping and dog training during established seasons, and State Game Lands 127 and 312 adjoin it. DCNR asks everyone to use extreme caution around firearms. Pets must be on a leash, caged or crated, and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
History: from military reservation to state park
DCNR's guide traces the land's history this way:
- 1912: the federal government acquires the land that becomes the Tobyhanna Military Reservation.
- World War I: the Army trains tank and ambulance corps there, and the National Guard uses it as an artillery-training center. Artillery training continues from 1918 to 1931.
- Early 1930s: the Civilian Conservation Corps houses enrollees on the reservation.
- 1937 to 1941: West Point cadets train there. During World War II, the reservation houses German prisoners of war.
- April 1949: the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania receives title to most of the 26,000 acres, and the rest still operates as the Tobyhanna Army Depot. About two-thirds of the land becomes State Game Lands 127, and the remaining third creates Gouldsboro and Tobyhanna state parks.
Tobyhanna State Park opened to the public in 1949 with parking areas, a swimming beach, boat rental and launching, a water supply and sanitary facilities. The camping area was added in 1959. From about 1900 to 1936, Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro lakes were also the site of active ice industries, with ice shipped by rail in boxcars to East Coast cities.
Getting to Tobyhanna State Park
The park entrance is 2.1 miles north of the community of Tobyhanna on PA 423. PA 423 intersects with I-380 2.5 miles south of the entrance. From I-84, the park can be reached via PA 507, PA 191 and PA 423, a total distance of 11.4 miles. DCNR's guide gives road directions but no driving times from larger cities. The nearest hospital is St. Luke's Monroe Campus, 100 St. Lukes Lane, Stroudsburg. In an emergency, call 911.
More places from our Pocono guide
These places are listed under Tobyhanna Lake, their nearest destination guide by drive time. They're separate trips from the park, so check the distance before you plan around one.
- Mountain View Vineyard, Winery, Brewery & Distillery (Stroudsburg): wine, craft beer and spirits on one farm, with a full restaurant and live music.
- Pocono Brewing Company (Swiftwater): a taproom and restaurant brewing small-batch beer.
- Olde Engine Works Marketplace (Stroudsburg): a multi-vendor antique marketplace in a former engine works building.
- Kalahari Resorts Indoor Waterpark (Pocono Manor): open year round.
Frequently asked questions
Are there unexploded shells at Tobyhanna State Park?
DCNR warns that visitors in remote, undeveloped areas could encounter old, unexploded artillery shells. Don't touch or move any, and call the park office at 570-894-8336 to report the location.
Can you swim at Tobyhanna State Park?
Yes. The beach is open from late May to mid-September, 8 AM to sunset. DCNR says to swim at your own risk and doesn't mention lifeguards, so treat the beach as unguarded.
When is the Tobyhanna campground open?
From mid-April through mid-October. It has 140 sites, 26 with electric service. Reserve at 888-727-2757 or through DCNR online.
Can you use a motorboat on Tobyhanna Lake?
Only electric motors, at slow, no-wake speed. Rowboats, kayaks, paddle boats, canoes and electric motorboats can be rented daily from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
Can you snowmobile at Tobyhanna State Park?
Yes, on a one-way, 5.1-mile trail on Lakeside Trail, from the day after the last day of deer regular firearm season in December until April 1, conditions permitting. Snowmobiles aren't allowed at Gouldsboro State Park.
Keep planning
Tobyhanna sits next to Gouldsboro State Park, and our Tobyhanna Lake destination page lists more places to eat and explore.
Last updated October 6, 2026. Park details come from Pocono Reserve research and the Pennsylvania DCNR recreational guide for Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro State Parks (2023 edition). Hours, seasons and rates change, so confirm with the park office at 570-894-8336 before you go. Cover photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
- Pennsylvania DCNR, Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro State Parks recreational guide (2023 edition, map rev. 3/19/24). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
- BearWise, bear safety tips; CDC, Preventing Tick Bites. Retrieved October 6, 2026.