The crisp autumn air and its fall season are upon us! Home to endless adventures, the Pocono Mountains has plenty of fall happenings for you to enjoy. 

Whether on the ground or in the air, our activities offer an irreplaceable discovery of fall, foliage and fun! Below are 15 autumn experiences to catch before the leaves fall this season.

1. Air Tour

What better way to experience the fall foliage than with a bird’s eye view? See the beauty of fall in the Pocono Mountains with an air tour! Ascend over well-known waterways and mountains bursting with renowned red, yellow and orange hues.

Moyer Aviation, Inc. offers air tours year-round! Catch the aerial views of the Delaware Water Gap, Lake Wallenpaupack or choose your own sightseeing excursion. Buckle up for a private tour for two and see the sights of the region like never before.

2. Train Ride

Take a scenic train ride through the region’s eclectic towns. Learn the history of the Pocono Mountains on an old-fashioned rail car while seeing the foliage. From couples to families, a train ride is an experience everyone can enjoy.

Hop aboard the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway for a 16-mile round trip from Jim Thorpe to the Lehigh Gorge State Park. Stop by the neighboring No. 9 Mine & Museum, and ride 1,600 feet into the mountain to discover an authentic coal mine!

The Stourbridge Line chugs along 25 miles throughout the Poconos with incredible views of the region’s autumn alteration in iconic towns like Hawley and Honesdale, the birthplace of the American railroad.

3. Biking

Autumn leaves line over 260 miles of trails, setting the scene for biking. Two national and nine state parks, totaling over 100,000 acres, offer trails ranging in difficulty and distance. Scenic views also vary; however, vibrant fall colors are constant throughout the region.

Bike rentals and shuttle services are available throughout the region, making biking a breeze. Rent a bike and pedal through the Delaware Water Gap for a mountainous biking excursion. 

Set out for a leisurely bike ride through the Lehigh Gorge on the Switchback Railroad Trail or The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. Up the ante and experience The Bike Train; take a scenic train ride up the Lehigh Gorge for 25 miles, and then bike back down to Jim Thorpe at your own pace. 

4. Horseback Riding

Giddy up! Hit the trails and discover the warming colors of the season while horseback riding. Mosey within woods, stroll through streams or saunter across fields on horseback! Whichever your adventure, beautiful scenery awaits.

Never ridden a horse? No problem! Deer Path Riding Stable loves beginners. If you are not up for a ride, Daisy Field Farm offers carriage, hay wagon and pony rides too. Pocono Mountain Villas Horseback Riding accommodates both families and anyone looking to reconnect with nature!

5. Scenic Drive

With over 120 varieties of plants, trees and shrubs, the Pocono Mountains is ablaze with brilliant foliage and spectacular views in the fall. Different areas throughout the four-county region have been recognized as a few of the best sceneries in the country. Come see for yourself!

Car and Driver Magazine ranked PA Route 6, through Hawley, as one of the “Top Scenic Routes in America.” Alongside Lake Wallenpaupack, Route 507 has been hailed by the Travel Channel as one of the “Best Fall Foliage Road Trips.” CNN has named the Delaware Water Gap one of the best places to view fall foliage.

6. Festivals

Nothing says fall in the Poconos more than festivals. The change of the seasons prompts highly anticipated visitations for these annual events. From pumpkin picking and lumberjack demonstrations to beer tasting and craft vendors, there’s a festival for all!

Family festivals include The Great Pocono Pumpkin Festival, Hawley Harvest Hoedown and the Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival. Fall fun includes the Pocono Food Truck & Art Festival and the Great Brews Beer Festival. Browse even more upcoming fall festivals below.

7. Adventure Park

Can’t get enough of the trees? Play amongst them! Get your adrenaline pumping at an adventure park. Try your skills at a treetop ropes course, rock climbing, mountain rides and more! Experience aerial thrills as you ride, slide and glide through the foliage.

Test your skills at Blue Mountain Resort – Summit Aerial Park with four levels of difficulty. Try your luck at Gorilla Grove Treetop Adventures and Adventure Center at Skytop Lodge with in-air obstacles.

8. Boating

Uncover pretty panoramas while boating. Choose to cruise along our rivers and lakes to catch fiery foliage reflections off the water. The woodlands surrounding the waterways present breathtaking views. Bring your own boat or rent one!

Rubber Duckie Boat Rentals offer boat rentals on Lake Wallenpaupack until late October. Visit one of our parks, Mauch Chunk Lake Park and Tobyhanna State Park, to launch your boat. The parks are open from dawn until dusk. 

9. Camping

Continue an action-packed day with a stay at a campground. Don Laine Campground, Jim Thorpe Camping Resort and Adventure Campground at Whitewater Challengers offer on-site activities for everyone to enjoy. Spend a night with nature from now until mid-October.

Whether you prefer RV, tent or cottage sites, we’ve got the year-round spots for you at Delaware Water Gap/Pocono Mountain KOA or Otter Lake Camp Resort. 

Spend a night under the stars and around the fire while camping at Keen Lake Camping & Cottage Resort. You’ll enjoy stunning fall scenery and amenities like the 90-acre lake, camp store, game room and movie lounge.

10. Paintball

Battle it out beneath the trees for bragging rights. Play a round at Skirmish Paintball. The 700-acre facility has over 50 playing fields. 

Intensify the fall color; challenge friends and family to a paintball game. Kittatinny Canoes, Inc. - Paintball has wooded battlefields providing natural cover and extra color.

11. River Trips

Canoe or kayak down the Delaware River for unmatched views of the autumn leaves. Take a trip with one of our many guides like Edge of the Woods Outfitters, Shawnee River Trips, Chamberlain Canoes or Lander's River Trips. 

Looking to kick things up a notch? Pocono Whitewater’s Big Day Out packs three big adventures into one epic outing. Raft, bike and hike your way through bright fall foliage in the Lehigh Gorge. Equipment and meals are provided. This is one fall day you won’t forget. Try it September 21, 2019 or October 5 or 19, 2019. 

12. Golfing

Get an early start at nearby golf courses. Hit the links this fall and experience the colors firsthand. Buck Hill Golf Club and Jack Frost National are both surrounded by tall trees—ideal for an autumn outing.

Play a round on a pristine golf course, or buy our Golf-A-Round Card and play more than one! Eight Pocono Mountains courses are included, like historic properties the greats graced like Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort and Pocono Manor Resort & Spa. 

13. Zip Line

Fly through the foliage. Ride solo or race a friend on a mountain zip line! See the leaves from high in the sky during a zip line ride with Whitewater Rafting Adventures. Their 900-foot zip line is more than eight stories high!

Feel your adrenaline pumping as you zip past the trees on North America's longest twin zip-flyers at Camelback Mountain Adventures. Take a gentle ride reaching speeds up to 35 miles per hour with Pocono Zip Racer. 

14. Fishing

Go fish! Head out on Lake Wallenpaupack for a guided fishing trip. Ray’s Charter Guide Service runs outings on the Big Lake. Be sure to call ahead for fall hours of operation to schedule your appointment.

Visit Big Brown Fish & Pay Lakes and fish two stocked ponds through the end of October. Here a fishing license is not required. If you have your own equipment and would like to fish Pocono waterways, you'll need a state license. 

15. Hiking

Another great way to experience the fall colors is taking a hike. Pocono trails have spectacular views, especially trails throughout the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. 

Here, you can also hike many of the Pocono Mountains’ most iconic waterfalls. The trails at Raymondskill Falls are relatively easy and appropriate for children. Bushkill Falls is another top spot for waterfall viewing. 

Since the Pocono Mountains covers 2,400 square miles, roughly the size of Delaware, our properties are spread across the entire region. Use our Interactive Map to help plan your trip to experience as much as possible while staying with us. 

Want updates on the season? Visit our fall foliage forecast for weekly updates on each of the three zone’s peak colors! Discover leaf peeping FAQs, ways and adventures to experience fall fun and ideas for fall day trips!

Interested in more adventure in the Pocono Mountains? Check out our activities and events occurring throughout the region! Be sure to check out our festivals to catch your favorite festive happenings. Find special offers on places to stay!