Promised Land is the closest serious state park to the cabin. About an hour by car, south on Route 191 to Route 590 and then a short jog on Route 390. Three thousand acres of land on the Pocono Plateau at 1,800 feet, with two lakes, around fifty miles of trails counting the adjacent Delaware State Forest, and a dozen rustic cabins the Civilian Conservation Corps built in the 1930s. The state lists it as one of its 25 must-see parks. If you want a day where you do nothing but hike, swim, and look at trees, this is the drive.
The park, in 90 seconds.
The address is 100 Lower Lake Road, Greentown, PA. Pike County. The park itself is 3,000 acres and is surrounded by another 12,464 acres of the Delaware State Forest, so the practical map is more than 15,000 acres of connected wilderness. The forests are mostly beech, oak, maple, and hemlock. Two lakes anchor the park: Promised Land Lake at 422 acres in the north, and Lower Lake at 173 acres in the south. Streams and small wetlands fill in everything between.
It got its name from a 19th-century Shaker settlement that didn't last. The CCC redeveloped the land in the 1930s and built the rustic cabin colony at Bear Wallow that still rents today. The Pennsylvania DCNR has run it as a state park since.
From the cabin, the drive is about an hour. Take 191 south past Lakewood and Waymart, pick up 590 at Hamlin, then 390 south for the last few miles into the park's main entrance. The road in is two-lane through unbroken forest. Cell service goes from spotty to none about ten minutes before you arrive.
Trails worth your time, by difficulty.
The fifty miles of trail inside the park and the surrounding forest range from level lake-loops to rocky scrambles into the forest. The four that get the most use:
- Little Falls Trail. 1.4 miles, a short loop through the forest along a stream with small waterfalls. The most popular trail in the park by a wide margin, with a 4.6-star rating from over 1,200 reviews. Roots and rocks in places. Muddy after rain. Good first hike if you're scoping the park.
- Conservation Island Nature Trail. Just over a mile, looping the entirety of Conservation Island on Promised Land Lake. Flat, easy, family-friendly. Cross the bridge from the parking lot off Park Avenue. Popular for snowshoeing in winter.
- Burley Inlet Trail. Moderate, along the shore of Promised Land Lake with quiet birdwatching spots. A bike-friendly alternative to walking Route 390 between the Day Use Area and the Park Office.
- Bruce Lake Trail. The biggest hike on the property, with 954 feet of elevation gain. Connects from the park into the Delaware State Forest. The trail north of Bruce Lake doesn't get regular maintenance and gets overgrown in summer. Save it for a fall hike when the leaves are down.
The park has a separate Wildlife Observation Station at Lower Lake with an active eagles' nest. Worth a stop even if you're just passing through. The eagles are visible during nesting season (roughly March through August) and the spotting scopes are usually set up.
Swimming, boating, and fishing.
Two sand beaches open Memorial Day through mid-September, 8am to sunset. No lifeguards on duty. Pickerel Point Beach is on the peninsula in Promised Land Lake; the Day Use Picnic Area has its own beach and shaded picnic tables. Both are designated swim areas, both have changing facilities, both fill up on summer Saturdays.
You can bring your own boat or rent one. Boat rentals at the park concession include kayaks, canoes, rowboats, and paddle boats. The lakes are electric-motor only. No gas motors. Fishing licenses required for anyone 16 and up. The lakes hold largemouth and smallmouth bass, pickerel, panfish, and stocked trout in spring. A Family Fishing Program for beginners runs through summer.
Bring your own paddleboard if you have one. The lakes are quiet enough that SUP works well, but the park doesn't rent boards.
Where to stay if you want to camp.
The cabin is the better play for most weekends, but a few cabin guests actually combine: night one at the cabin, night two camping at Promised Land, night three back at the cabin. The park's overnight options:
- Bear Wallow Cabin Colony: 12 CCC-era rustic cabins next to Lower Lake. Built in the 1930s, still standing. Linens not provided. Three cabins allow dogs (cabins 9, 11, and 12).
- Pickerel Point Campground: 75 sites on the southern peninsula. Open year-round, three camping cottages available. Has a swimming area at the end of the peninsula.
- Pines Campground: 58 rustic sites, no electricity, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Flush toilets, pay showers in the picnic area.
- Beechwood and Deerfield Campgrounds: modern RV-friendly, electric sites. Pet-friendly loops available in Deerfield.
- NEW for 2026: a partnership with Timberline Glamping is bringing 10 luxury glamping sites to the park for 4 to 6 guests each. Includes Keurigs, mini fridges, residential-style heat and AC.
Reservations: 888-PA-PARKS or online through Pennsylvania State Parks. Reservations open eleven months in advance. The CCC cabins book up fastest, especially for summer weekends. Try Tuesday morning if you're trying to grab a popular date.
When to come, by season.
Spring (April-May): mountain laurel and rhododendron bloom, wildflowers come up, the eagles are nesting at the observation station. Trails are muddy but the bugs aren't out yet.
Summer (June-August): swim beaches are open, boat rentals are running, all the campgrounds are at full capacity, the lakes are warm enough for swimming by late June. Weekends are busy. Weekdays are still quiet.
Fall (mid-September through October): peak foliage on the Pocono Plateau usually runs the first three weeks of October. The hardwoods around both lakes turn hard, and the trails are dry and walkable. This is the best season for the park. The campgrounds are open through Columbus Day but the beaches are closed.
Winter (December-March): the lakes freeze, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the trails, ice fishing on Promised Land Lake (check ice safety before you walk out), snowmobiling on designated trails. Pickerel Point Campground stays open for cold-weather camping. The park is much less visited in winter, which is part of the appeal.
Drive times from the park.
- To the cabin: about 1 hour
- To Hawley and Lake Wallenpaupack: 25 minutes
- To Honesdale: 35 minutes
- To Scranton: 45 minutes
- To NYC (door to door, weekend traffic): about 2 hours 15 minutes
- To Philadelphia: about 2.5 hours
For broader regional context, the Wayne County guide and the Hawley and Lake Wallenpaupack guide both work well as combined day trips from a Promised Land morning.
Where to stay.
If you're reading this and not yet booked, here's the quick pitch: the better stay for couples and small groups is a private cabin on a quiet lake within an hour of here. Three bedrooms, private dock, paddle boards, a kayak, a row boat, and a fire pit. About 3 hours from NYC. 4.86 stars on Airbnb, Guest Favorite. See it on Airbnb, or check availability and ask a question first.
