Complete Guide to Promised Land State Park

Campgrounds and Cabins at Promised Land

Looking to stay the night in the park? Promised Land State Park campgrounds provide accommodations in the heart of the park at six distinct camping areas as well as in rustic Promised Land State Park cabins and camping cottages. From the modern Lower Lake Campground to the promontory Pickerel Point Campground, overnight areas vary in offerings and opening dates. There are pared-down rustic sites, full hookup sites with sewer, electric, and water, and even six equestrian sites at the Hemlock Hill Equestrian Campground, which includes water for horses, a manure pit, and is adjacent to miles of equestrian trails in Delaware State Forest. Make your reservation online in advance to confirm your spot!

Hotels near Promised Land State Park also provide visitors with a place to relax and recharge before another day of outdoor adventure. Spectacular Skytop Lodge is a short drive away from Promised Land State Park, with 5,500 acres of their own outdoor beauty to discover. For even more accommodation possibilities, take a look at hotels around nearby Lake Wallenpaupack.

Promised Land State Park Fishing and Boat Rentals

The two lakes at Promised Land State Park, the 422-acre Promised Land Lake and the 173-acre Lower Lake, make this Poconos destination ideal for fishing and water recreation of all kinds. Anglers will find largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, muskellunge, yellow perch, pickerel, and sunfish. Trout stocking takes place in the Lower Lake in season with brook, brown, and rainbow trout.

Bring your own boat, canoe or kayak to launch from five different boat launches at Ridgefield Point, along Pickerel Point Road, and along North Shore Road on the main lake or off of Bear Wallow Road and at the Beechwood Camping Area on the Lower Lake. Don't forget your appropriate Pennsylvania vessel registration!

Don't have your own boat? The boat rental, located on the main lake just off of 390, is open daily from the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. Hourly, day, overnight, multi-day, and one-week rental rates are available for electric motorboats, rowboats, and canoes. Pedal boats, single and tandem kayaks, paddle boards, and fishing kayaks are also available. Note that fishing is not allowed in certain smaller vessels, and, while dogs are allowed on the boats, large dogs are only allowed on rowboats or electric motorboats.

Park Activities: Beaches, Hiking, and Biking

There are plenty of different Promised Land State Park activities to experience! Set up a towel at one of the two sandy beaches, open Memorial Day to mid-September, and splash in the designated swimming areas at the Day Use Picnic Area and Pickerel Point Beach. There are no lifeguards on duty, so use caution in the water and don't forget your life jacket.

Visitors who would rather spend the day on land can ramble along roughly 50 miles of Promised Land State Park hiking trails. Traverse the easy, mile-long Conservation Island loop trail for beautiful view of the lake, or challenge yourself to the out-and-back Little Falls Trail, which leads to picturesque cascades along Wallenpaupack Creek. With many trails connecting to the trail systems in the adjacent Delaware State Forest, the hiking possibilities are almost endless! Keep your eyes open for wildlife as well, from songbirds to bald eagles. Black bear are common in the park, and while they normally avoid humans, they can become aggressive when seeking food. Never feed wildlife in the park and remember to keep a safe distance. Take a look at Pocono Promise Principles to discover ways to protect the landscape as you explore.

Biking in Promised Land State Park is permitted in the campgrounds and along the 6.5-mile, paved road around Promised Land Lake and Lower Lake Road. Bikers share the road with cars: be sure to ride single file and use Rhododendron Trail when possible rather than PA 390. Head to the designated trails in next-door Delaware State Forest for mountain biking.

The Masker Museum and History of Promised Land

The landscape of Promised Land State Park has had a long and varied history. Glacier melt from the ice age left a soil full of rocks and boulders, and Lenni Lenape American Indians once used the land as hunting grounds. As Europeans arrived, a religious group called the Shakers purchased land in the area but struggled to farm the rocky soil. Early settlers then turned to timbering the trees and building sawmills to make a living. By the late 1800s, concerned citizens were working to preserve and replant forests throughout the commonwealth and the country. The present-day footprint of Promised Land State Park was purchased by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the early twentieth century and became the fourth state park in 1905.

Sustainability has been at work here for over 100 years: 370,000 trees were planted between 1902 and 1933, creating the lush landscape visitors can enjoy today. Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot* had been leading the fight for conservation at the federal level and already had plans to improve the park in place when President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933. Many structures in the park that visitors can enjoy today, including the Bear Wallow Cabins and the Egypt Meadow Dam, were built thanks to young men working in Promised Land's CCC camp. The Masker Museum, located off of Pickerel Point Road, pays tribute to their hard work and is full of interactive displays and artifacts. Admission is free, and the museum is typically open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Call ahead to confirm the hours before your trip!

*You can learn more about Gifford Pinchot and his legacy of conservation at his beautiful former home, Grey Towers National Historic Landmark, which is also located in the Pocono Mountains!

Winter Activities and Snow Adventures

When the snow arrives, bring your own equipment to enjoy a wide variety of winter outdoor activities at Promised Land State Park. All trails are open to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, with some of the prime trails located in Bruce Lake Natural Area and on Conservation Island. Weather permitting, strap on your blades for some open-air ice skating on Promised Land Lake or bring your registered snowmobile to glide along 23 miles of groomed, designated trails, open daily in late December following the finish of deer season. Check the PA Winter Report, updated weekly throughout the winter season, to find ice thickness and snow depth information.

Restaurants near Promised Land State Park

Nothing works up an appetite more than a day soaking in the great outdoors! When it's time to eat, you won't have to travel far. Get comfortable in front of the stone fireplace or in one of the outdoor seating areas at Promised Land Inn Bar Restaurant for flatbreads, burgers, salads, and skillet dinners. Mountainhouse Tavern, located just down the road, offers delicious food and drinks plus hosts live music performances and trivia nights. Take a short drive to Jam Room Brewing Company to visit one of the stops along the Pocono Beverage Trail. Jam Room's recently-opened new space serve up hand-crafted beers, great live music, and tasty snacks from the Sound Bites Kitchen. Looking for more options? Head south to the Skytop area or north to the Lake Wallenpaupack area to find even more nearby restaurants.

Promised Land State Park is one of many amazing outdoor adventure hubs in the Pocono Mountains! Read our complete guides to Hickory Run State Park and Lehigh Gorge State Park to find more fresh-air things to do, and browse our directory of park maps to plan out your time in the sunshine. Check out dining options and find a welcoming place to stay to round out a memorable trip. Like many families and guests, you may find your escape to Promised Land State Park becoming a yearly tradition!