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 © Marty Straub
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Nearby Parks:
Delaware State Forest
Tobyhanna State Park
George W Childs State Park
Gouldsboro State Park
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
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| State Park Overview: |
 | About 3,000 acres in size, Promised Land State Park is in the Pocono Plateau, 1,800 feet above sea level, and is surrounded by 12,464 acres of Pennsylvania?s Delaware State Forest, including natural areas. The forests of the park consist primarily of beech, oak, maple and hemlock trees. Two lakes and several small streams add to the park?s outstanding scenic beauty. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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Great Family All Day Spot
This park has it all.Great playground area,sand,swimming lake,concession stand(seasonal) and barbecue spots with nice shady picnic spots.You can fish,relax,swim eat and play and rent boats too.There is lots of space for volleyball etc. and I swear the bathrooms are the cleanest and nicest I have ever seen in any park.You can even take a warm shower with Quarters too.You can hike too.A really nice and all day family outing because of all the things you can do.Camping is also available for a fee and need reservations.Great hidden spot at the end of a long road.Worth the trip.
Written by annabean
2-May-2008
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| Camping: |
| Camping: modern and rustic campsites, some with electricity
There are four camping areas. All campgrounds are near swimming, boating, fishing and hiking. The maximum stay in all camping areas is fourteen days during the summer season and 21 days during the off-season. Campers must vacate the park for 48 hours before setting up again. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the park.
Tucked into the trees and rocks, Deerfield Campground is just south of Promised Land Lake and is open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. This rustic area has flush toilets. Pay showers are in the Picnic Area.
Lower Lake Campground is at the western edge of Lower Lake. Conditions permitting, portions of the campground are open from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day. The campground has flush toilets and hot showers. Some sites have electric hook-ups.
Pickerel Point Campground is on a peninsula on the southern side of Promised Land Lake. Walk-in campsites are on the lakeshore. Pickerel Point is open for year-round camping, but access cannot be guaranteed during severe winter storms. This rustic area has vault toilets. Pay showers are in the Picnic Area. An unguarded swimming area is at the end of the peninsula.
The Pines Campground is at the northwestern end of Promised Land Lake and is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day Weekend. The restrooms have flush toilets. Pay showers are in the Picnic Area. A trail leads to the Picnic Area and the Main Beach. There are accessible campsites.
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| Trails: |
| The New Trail System: Designated recreational trails in this area are marked with a vertical blue blaze. At each trail intersection, a sign will designate the trail name, trail uses, equipment permitted, distances, directions, and other pertinent information. Permitted trail usage is designated by international symbols. Any other markings are NOT relevant to this trail system. Additional trail information and descriptions are available at the park office.
Hiking: There are about 50 miles of hiking trails in Promised Land State Park and the surrounding state forest, providing access to many natural scenic places. Hike Bruce Lake Road to a natural glacial lake, or see the little waterfalls along Little Falls Trail, or walk a loop around Conservation Island. Splendid opportunities exist for nature study, relaxation and exploration.
The trails lead through areas rich in historic and scenic interest. This is especially true from mid-June until mid-July when the mountain laurel and rhododendron are in bloom and again in mid-October at the height of the fall foliage.
Motorized vehicles are prohibited on all hiking trails, except snowmobiles, which are allowed on designated snowmobile trails. Before hiking, let someone know where you are going and when you will return. Take a map, stay on the trails and plan to return before dusk. Wear proper attire and footwear when hiking. Be aware of hunting seasons and hunting areas within the park and wear fluorescent orange clothing during hunting seasons.
Horseback Riding: Promised Land State Park provides access to selected equestrian trails on state forest lands. Rentals are not available.
Bicycling: Riders share the road on the 6.5-mile paved road around Promised Land Lake. Bicycles are permitted on designated hiking trails.
Mountain Biking: Adjacent Delaware State Forest land has trails. |
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| Area Activities |
| Horseback Riding | |  | Black Walnut Country Inn and Stables - Milford, PA
The Black Walnut Inn is a delightful English Tudor-style Bed & Breakfast, tucked away on a 162-acre wooded estate in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, minutes from the Delaware River. Adjacent to thousands of acres of wooded trails. Overnight boarding available to Inn guests. Trail Rides.
Web Site: http://www.theblackwalnutinn.com |
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| Picnicking: |
| The Picnic Area is by Promised Land Lake and has many picnic tables in a scenic woodland setting. The Picnic Area has parking areas, water, garbage containers, sand volleyball court and restrooms. The Main Beach, boat rental and Refreshment Stand are all within a short walk.
Two picnic pavilions may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilions are free on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Boating: |
| Boating: electric motors only
The 422-acre Promised Land Lake and the 173-acre Lower Lake have five boat launching areas. Five mooring areas offer a total of 240 mooring spaces rented on a seasonal basis. A boat rental is on Promised Land Lake across from Main Beach, and rents rowboats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboats.
Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. |
| Swimming: |
| There are two sand beaches that are open from late-May to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset.
The Main Beach is in the Picnic Area. Swim at your own risk.
The Pickerel Point Beach is on the end of Pickerel Point. Swim at your own risk.
All children ten years of age or younger must be accompanied by a person at least 14 years of age. All groups at the beach must meet the state park adult to child ratio requirements for supervision. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Fishing:
The 422-acre Promised Lake and the 173-acre Lower Lake offer great opportunities for fishing, including ice fishing. The common fish species are largemouth and smallmouth bass, pickerel, muskellunge, yellow perch, sunfish and catfish. Lower Lake is approved trout waters and is stocked with brook, brown and rainbow trout. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.
Hunting and Firearms:
About 450 acres are open to hunting, trapping and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are deer, bear and turkey. Adjacent forestry land has additional areas open to hunting.
Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day to March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for accessible hunting information.
Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during non-hunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner?s car, trailer or camp. |
| History of the Area: |
| The land that became Promised Land State Park was hunting grounds for the Minsi Tribe of the Wolf Clan of the Lenni-Lenape Indians (Delaware).
The religious group, the Shakers, purchased land in the area. After contracting the forests to be timbered, the Shakers left the area.
Early settlers of the area erected sawmills to process the large stands of conifer and hardwood trees. The land was repeatedly clear-cut. With the loss of trees came erosion and forest fires, and migration of wildlife from the area.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased the land in 1902. Promised Land was the fourth Pennsylvania state park. The Commonwealth worked to protect and reclaim the area and the forest and wildlife began to return. The first park facilities were open to the public in 1905.
In 1933, to relieve the rampant unemployment of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The young men in the CCC received food, clothes and a small paycheck, in return for building roads, trails and recreational facilities, fighting fires, planting trees and performing many other conservation activities. Camp S-139 opened in May of 1933 and closed in July of 1941. The hard working young men transformed the land in and around Promised Land State Park.
For more information on the CCC, visit the Civilian Conservation Corps Online Archive.
On Sunday evening, May 31, 1998, an F-2 tornado (winds of 113 -157 mph) passed through Promised Land State Park. It cut a northeasterly path through the park and crossed Lower Lake Road, PA 390 and North Shore Road near Sucker Brook. Over 500 people were trapped overnight in the park, but no one was seriously hurt. The park office has copies of After the Wind Died Down, a booklet about the tornado and its aftermath. |
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| Area Accommodations |
| | | B&Bs / Inns | | | Black Walnut Country Inn and Stables - Milford, PA
The Black Walnut Inn is a delightful English Tudor-style Bed & Breakfast, tucked away on a 162-acre wooded estate in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, minutes from the Delaware River. Adjacent to thousands of acres of wooded trails. Overnight boarding available to Inn guests. Trail Rides.
Web Site: http://www.theblackwalnutinn.com |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
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| Local Visitor Information Web Sites |
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| Related Links: |
| Pennsylvania State Parks - Promised Land - PA DCNR - This is an official Web site of the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks. Begin your ... and area wildlife. --> About 3,000 acres in size, Promised Land State Park is in the Pocono Plateau, 1,800 feet ... | | Welcome to Promised Land PA - recreation, vacation and fun filled activities all located a - Promised Land PA - scenic vacations and outdoor recreation including camping, lodging, ... .com Promised Land State Park News from Promised Land State Park... 2001 Promised Land State Park BOAT ... | | Pocono Weekend Online - ... of Lehighton, just off of Route 209. Promised Land State Park, about 3,000 acres, is surrounded ... two lakes, campgrounds and many hiking trails. Promised Land State Park is in Pike County, 10 miles ... | | Promised Land State Park - PA - 10/16/00 - Promised Land State Park - PA - 10/16/00. Drew Patterson. |
| Nature Programs: |
| Spring through fall, school programs are offered on a wide variety of topics and levels. Everyone is invited to our traditional summer weekend campfire programs.
The park has a small museum that features displays of natural features found in the area and artifacts and the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
A one-mile self-guiding interpretive trail is on Conservation Island on Promised Land Lake. A trail guide is available for investigating different habitats of this island. |
| Area Campgrounds | | Lake Greeley Camp
330 N Main St
Moscow, PA
(570) 842-3739
| Secluded Acres Campground
State Route 590
Paupack, PA
(570) 226-9959
| Lake Owego Camp
1687 Route 6
Greeley, PA
(570) 226-3636
| Hemlock Campground & Cottages
362 Hemlock Dr
Tobyhanna, PA
(570) 894-4388
| Four Seasons Campground
Babbling Brook Rd
Scotrun, PA
(570) 629-2504
| River Beach Campsites
378 Route 6 and 209
Milford, PA
(570) 296-7421
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| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Ted's Bait & Tackle
1597 Mount Cobb Rd
Lake Ariel, PA
(570) 689-4181
| Thomas Spinning Lures Inc
316 Wayne Ave
Hawley, PA
(570) 226-4011
| Cross Current Guide Service
100 Laurel Acres Rd
Milford, PA
(570) 296-6919
| Matamoras Rod & Gun Club
120 Rod and Gun Club Rd
Milford, PA
(570) 409-9330
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| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | Lake View Estates
Bender Rd & Lakeview Timber Dr
Gouldsboro, PA
(570) 842-1420
| Sterling Inn The
South Sterling, PA
(570) 676-3311
| Country Surrey Inn
3rd St
Gouldsboro, PA
(570) 842-2081
| Lukan's Farm Resort Inc
539 Long Ridge Rd
Hawley, PA
(570) 226-4574
| Lakeside Country Cottages
Route 507 & Highway 390
Tafton, PA
(570) 226-8907
| Malibu Dude Ranch
351 Foster Hill Rd
Milford, PA
(570) 296-7281
| Myer Motel
600 Route 6 and 209
Milford, PA
(570) 296-7223
| Milford Motel
591 Route 6 and 209
Milford, PA
(570) 296-6411
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| Directions: |
| Promised Land State Park is in Pike County, 10 miles north of Canadensis, along PA 390. The park is easily reached from interstates 80 and 84. The park is within a one to three hour drive from Allentown, Easton, Bethlehem, Reading, Harrisburg, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, and is about 100 miles north of Philadelphia and 35 miles from the New York and New Jersey state borders. |
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