Pocono Mountains Mountains

Address: Pocono Mountains, northeastern Pennsylvania, USA

Website: https://www.discoverpoconos.com

The Pocono Mountains are a dissected plateau and mountain region in northeastern Pennsylvania known for outdoor recreation, lakes and resort towns. The area is a major regional destination for both nature-based activities and commercial leisure facilities.

The region offers a mix of natural attractions - waterfalls, forested hills, and reservoirs - alongside developed resorts that provide skiing, waterparks, golf and year-round lodging. Notable visitor sites include multi-tiered waterfall parks, long lakes used for boating and fishing, and protected river corridors for hiking and paddling.

Geologically part of the Allegheny Plateau, the Poconos were shaped by uplift and erosion; human use shifted from logging and small-scale agriculture to tourism and resort development in the 20th century. The rise of automobile travel and the growth of regional resorts made the Poconos a frequent getaway for nearby metropolitan populations.

The Poconos occupy a broad area of northeastern Pennsylvania across several counties, roughly inland from the New Jersey border and within driving distance of New York City and Philadelphia, which are the region’s primary source markets.

• Seasonality: Peak visitation seasons are summer for lakes and waterfalls and winter for ski resorts and snow sports, so planning by season is important.
• Access and fees: Many attractions are private or municipal and have separate fees and regulations, for example the privately run Bushkill Falls park and several resort-operated ski areas.

What to See#

• Bushkill Falls: Bushkill Falls - a privately managed set of multi-tiered waterfalls and walking trails often marketed as a key scenic attraction in the Poconos.
• Lake Wallenpaupack: Lake Wallenpaupack - a large reservoir popular for boating, fishing and lakeside recreation stretching several kilometres within the region.
• Delaware Water Gap: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - a protected corridor on the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border noted for hiking, river recreation and scenic gaps in the mountains.

The Poconos are reachable by car from New York City (about 1.5-2.5 hours depending on destination) via I-80, I-380 and PA-33. Nearest Amtrak service is in stations like Scranton or Matamoras followed by local transit; commercial airports in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Lehigh Valley provide regional access.

• For fall foliage drives, take Route 715 and the Pocono Mountains Scenic Byway early in the morning to avoid weekend congestion.
• If visiting for outdoor activities, check local resort schedules-some lift operations and lake activities are seasonal.
• Most national and state parks require parking permits on busy days-check specific park websites (e.g., Bushkill Falls, Promised Land State Park).