Things to Do , Local, State & National Parks , Sports & Outdoors
Go Outside and Play at NEPA’s 17 State Parks!
Posted: April 17, 2023
Endless Hours of Adventure and Family Fun Await
Ricketts Glen State Park — Benton, PA
Enjoy miles of hiking trails, lakeside picnics, campfires under the stars, waterfalls and so much more at state parks throughout NEPA.
Every year, starting with those first few sunny spring days, NEPA families venture out to rediscover their love for the outdoors. Now, more than ever, we’re hopping on bikes and into kayaks, loading up our coolers and lacing up our hiking boots. We’re packing up the car for camping weekends, Sunday picnics and quick day trip getaways.
Throughout NEPA’s 10 counties, you’ll find 17 amazing, amenity-filled state parks. From north to south and east to west, we’ve got plenty of opportunity for endless outdoor recreation.
Lackawanna State Park, North Abington Twp., PA
Choose your adventure!
Spend a long weekend in a rustic cabin, or at a private tent site. Lose a day exploring hundreds of hiking and biking trails. Snap some photos of stunning waterfalls and mountain top views. Rent a canoe or kayak and get out on the water, or try your hand at paddle boarding. Sunbathe on the sandy beaches or swim in the crystal-clear pools. Bring the tackle box and bait and squeeze in a little fishing. Just keep your eyes peeled for turtles, frogs, bald eagles, busy beavers and more.
From park to park, friendly Conservation Officers lead informative, family-friendly activities. Some parks even feature visitor centers, environmental education centers and convenient refreshment stands. Of course, you can always bring your own lunch. Most parks also offer spacious picnic sites with plenty of tables and seating. Some even include charcoal grills. Throughout most of NEPA’s state parks, you’ll also find clean, safe playgrounds and recreational areas for volleyball, baseball, disc golf and more.
Sure, amenities vary from one park to the next, but a few things, regardless of location, remain the same – clean, wide-open spaces, fresh air and tons of free fun and relaxation. Plan that next sunny weekend at one of NEPA’s beautiful state parks.
And, if you need a little help, we’ve rounded them up for you right here in this convenient list.
Check Out NEPA’s 17 Scenic State Parks:
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Archbald Pothole State Park
Archbald, PA
An impressive 40-foot, glacier-formed “pothole” is the main attraction at this 150-acre park in Archbald. A short loop trail that follows the route of an old mining tram allows visitors to explore the park’s lush, green forest.
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Beltzville State Park
Lehighton, PA
Enjoy a little bit of everything at this popular park in Lehighton. Get out on the water for fishing, kayaking or boating on the 949-acre lake. Reserve a picnic pavilion, or explore the park’s 15 miles of scenic hiking trails.
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Big Pocono State Park
Stroudsburg, PA
Take in the stunning, panoramic mountaintop views from this centrally-located park in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Hiking, mountain biking and even horseback riding are popular spring and summer activities on nearly 9 miles of beautiful trails.
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Frances Slocum State Park
Wyoming, PA
This popular Luzerne County park, located just ten miles outside of Wilkes-Barre, offers over 1,000 acres of forests, meadows, and wetlands to explore. Guests can enjoy 13.7 miles of trails, fishing and other lake activities, a crystal-clear pool in the summer and so much more.
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Gouldsboro State Park
Gouldsboro, PA
Get close to nature among the bogs and evergreen forests at this 2,800-acre park in Gouldsboro. Explore 10 miles of trails. Fish, boat and swim in the 250-acre lake and enjoy lunch at one of five wooded picnic areas.
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Hickory Run State Park
White Haven, PA
With nearly 16,000 acres of land, there’s plenty of room to roam at this park in White Haven. The park features 44 miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, disc golf, a lake for fishing and swimming and the famous Boulder Field.
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Lackawanna State Park
North Abington Twp., PA
Venture just 10 miles outside of Scranton for a day of picnicking along the 198-acre lake. Try your hand at fishing or kayaking. Check out the pool and splash zone. And explore 18 miles of looping trails through forests, fields and alongside streams.
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Lehigh Gorge State Park
Weatherly, PA
Find your share of adventure from White Haven to Jim Thorpe at this popular park situated along the Lehigh River. Experience whitewater rafting. Bike the 26-mile Lehigh Gorge Trail and stop for waterfall photos along the way.
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Locust Lake State Park
Barnesville, PA
Book a camp site at this sprawling 1772-acre park in Barnesville. Enjoy hiking and biking on forest trails. Rent a canoe or kayak, or fish for trout, bass and more in the 52-acre lake and lay out in the sun on the soft sandy beach.
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Nescopeck State Park
Drums, PA
Take your pick out of 19 miles of easily-accessible and relatively flat mountain trails at this popular park in Drums. Drop a line in the well-stocked Lake Frances or Nescopeck Creek and enjoy activities in the modern Environmental Education Center.
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Promised Land State Park
Greentown, PA
Experience abundant wildlife and a rich history at this beautiful park in the Pocono Mountain’s lake region. Stay the night at six unique camping areas featuring a sand beach, swimming area, playground, volleyball court, and picnic facilities.
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Prompton State Park
Prompton, PA
Relax and cast a line into the 290-acre lake at this peaceful, mountain park just outside of Honesdale. Explore nearly 26 miles of forested hiking trails. Break for lunch under the covered picnic pavilion, or take on the park’s popular 18-hole, disc golf course.
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Ricketts Glen State Park
Benton, PA
Bring your camera for Instagram-worthy photos along the famous Falls Trail at this popular park in the Endless Mountains. Enjoy picnic amenities, camping, fishing, a wide sandy beach for swimming and so much more.
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Salt Springs State Park
Montrose, PA
Enjoy the rural charm and tranquility of this scenic park in Susquehanna County. Set out on over 12 miles of trails through gorgeous old-growth forests and along streams. The park also offers rustic tent sites and cabins.
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Tobyhanna State Park
Tobyhanna, PA
Pack a ton of family fun into a whole day at this sprawling park in Tobyhanna. Swim, fish, or kayak in the lake. Hike or bike over 10 miles of trails. Spend the night at one of 135 spacious tent sites.
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Tuscarora State Park
Barnesville, PA
Keep an eye out for wildlife at this 1618-acre park in Schuylkill County. Over 7 miles of trails pass through green meadows, thick forests, wide-open fields and around the pristine Tuscarora Lake. The park also offers camping, picnicking, fishing, swimming, boating and more.
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Vosburg Neck State Park
Tunkhannock, PA
Pack your binoculars and expect to spot majestic bald eagles and other incredible birds of prey that visit the banks of the Susquehanna River in Wyoming County. This 669-acre park, situated on a dramatic oxbow turn in the river, is a great spot to fish, kayak and hike along eight miles of scenic trails.
Article Updated from its Original Version Published on 4/19/22.
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