Promised Land State Park —
Your Complete Guide
Two quiet lakes, 1930s CCC cabins and about 50 miles of trails high on the Pocono Plateau, free to visit every day.
Know Before You Go
- HoursSunrise to sunsetEvery day of the year; day-use areas close at dusk
- EntryFreeNo entrance or day-use fee at any Pennsylvania state park
- Pets6-foot leashAllowed on trails on a leash of 6 feet or less
- Cell serviceUnpredictableDownload the park map before you go
- Address100 Lower Lake RoadGreentown, PA 18426, on PA Route 390
What is Promised Land State Park?
Promised Land State Park is a free, roughly 3,000-acre state park on the Pocono Plateau in Pike County, Pennsylvania, about 1,800 feet above sea level with gates open from sunrise to sunset every day. Opened in 1905, it is built around two quiet lakes where only electric motors are allowed: 422-acre Promised Land Lake and 173-acre Lower Lake. People come to swim at its two sand beaches, paddle, fish, camp, stay in 1930s cabins left by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and watch the bald eagles that nest on Lower Lake.
For a first visit, park at the Day Use Area on PA 390, swim or rent a kayak at the main beach, walk the mile-long loop around Conservation Island, then drive over to Little Falls Trail for its run of small waterfalls.
Two things to know before you go. Cell service is patchy, so save the park map to your phone first. And the park sits inside 12,464 acres of Delaware State Forest, which is run by a different part of DCNR, the Bureau of Forestry, with its own rules: camping, for one, is not allowed on that land.
Promised Land State Park at a Glance
Things to Do at Promised Land
Swim, paddle a quiet lake, sleep in a CCC cabin or watch for eagles. There is no charge to get in.
Promised Land Lake
422 acres and about nine miles of shore, with both beaches and the boat rental.
Main Lake →
Swimming
Free sand beaches, Memorial Day to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset. No lifeguards.
Two Beaches →
Camping
Lower Lake, Pickerel Point, Deerfield and the Pines, from rustic sites to full hookups.
Campgrounds →
CCC Cabins
12 rustic 1930s cabins with fireplace inserts beside Lower Lake, mid-April to early December.
Bear Wallow →
Bald Eagles
A pair has nested at Lower Lake since 1999. Watch from the observation station.
Wildlife →
Winter
Over 23 miles of snowmobile trails, free snowshoe loans and ice fishing on both lakes.
Snow & Ice →Trails at Promised Land
About 50 miles of trails run through the park and Delaware State Forest, most of them short and rated Easiest by DCNR.
A self-guided nature walk around the island, with benches facing the lake.
Small waterfalls on the East Branch of Wallenpaupack Creek, with a footbridge.
An old forest road to a natural glacial lake in Delaware State Forest.
The park's longest trail, tracing the edge between park and state forest.
How to Get to Promised Land State Park
PA 390 runs right through the park, past the office and the Day Use Area. Parking is free.
Directions
PA 390, about 10 miles north of Canadensis, reached from I-84 or I-80. Routes and GPS points.
Park Office
100 Lower Lake Road, Greentown, PA 18426. Phone 570-676-3428. GPS 41.29942, -75.21412.
Beach Season
Memorial Day to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset, no lifeguards. Swimming guide.
Drive Times to the Park
| From | Miles | Drive (typical, no traffic) |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 128 | 2 hr 51 min |
| New York City | 103 | 2 hr 22 min |
| Scranton | 34 | 47 min |
| Allentown | 64 | 1 hr 40 min |
Each drive ends at the park office at 100 Lower Lake Road. Miles and minutes come from OSRM, a routing service built on OpenStreetMap roads, checked November 8, 2026, from each city hall to the park office. They are typical times with no traffic. Add time for weekend and holiday traffic on I-80, I-84 and I-476, and expect weak cell service near the park.
Turn-by-turn from each cityTrail Map
The park's outline as OpenStreetMap volunteers drew it. For trail detail, use DCNR's park map.
See the mapToday at Promised Land
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A Park Grown Back From Bare Ground
By 1903 loggers had cut this plateau almost bare. Pennsylvania bought the land for between 18 cents and $2 an acre and made it the state's fourth park in 1905. In the 1930s the young men of CCC Camp S-139 planted more than a million trees and built Pickerel Point Campground, the Bear Wallow cabins and most of North Shore Road by hand. Their story fills the free Masker Museum. Read the full history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Promised Land State Park free?
Yes. Pennsylvania charges nothing to enter its state parks, and parking costs nothing too. Campsites, cabins, glamping, reserved pavilions, mooring and boat rentals cost money.
Can you swim at Promised Land?
Yes, at the main beach and Pickerel Point Beach on Promised Land Lake, from Memorial Day to mid-September, 8 a.m. until sunset. Neither beach is guarded.
Are dogs allowed at Promised Land State Park?
Yes, leashed (6-foot leash maximum) on trails and in day use areas. Swimming areas and buildings are off-limits to them; some campsites and cabins take pets.
Can you camp at Promised Land State Park?
Yes, at Lower Lake, Pickerel Point, Deerfield and the Pines campgrounds, with sites from rustic to full hookup. Some Pickerel Point sites stay open all year.
Are motorboats allowed at Promised Land?
Both lakes are electric-power-only and no-wake. The boat concession rents rowboats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and electric motors in summer.
Where is Promised Land State Park?
On PA 390 in Pike County, about 10 miles north of Canadensis. The park office is at 100 Lower Lake Road, Greentown, PA 18426, GPS 41.29942, -75.21412.
How much trail is there at Promised Land?
About 50 miles, counting the park and the surrounding Delaware State Forest.