Delaware State Forest

Promised Land State Park is an island inside Delaware State Forest: 12,464 acres of state forest, including two natural areas, wrap around the park on every side. The two are run by different parts of the same department. The park is managed by DCNR's Bureau of State Parks; the forest is managed by DCNR's Bureau of Forestry from its Delaware District Office in East Stroudsburg. They have different rules, so check which land you are on. Notably, camping is not allowed in the state forest around the park.

Two Agencies, One Landscape

Delaware State Forest covers 83,519 acres across Pike, Monroe, Northampton and Carbon counties and is named for the Delaware River. The Bureau of Forestry runs it as a working forest: you may pass timber harvests, deer exclosure fences or the marks of a prescribed burn, all part of the bureau's ecosystem management plan. Pennsylvania's state forest system is certified by both the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

On the ground, the boundary is easy to cross without noticing. Boundary Trail follows it, and many park trails, such as Bear Wallow, Mill Brook No. 1, Rock Oak Ridge and Whittaker, start in the park and finish on forest land.

What You Can Do in the Forest Here

DCNR lists hiking, mountain biking, equestrian trails, hunting, fishing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling on the forest land around the park. Horse riders reach the forest's equestrian trails from the Hemlock Hill sites in Lower Lake Campground, and snowmobile trails run across both park and forest. See Biking, Hunting and Winter.

Natural Areas

• Bruce Lake Natural Area: 2,845 acres with two lakes, wetlands and unusual plants, including Bruce Lake, a natural glacial lake.
• Pine Lake Natural Area: a small natural area around a 10-acre glacial bog.

Rules That Differ

• Camping: prohibited in the state forest area surrounding Promised Land. Camp in the park's campgrounds.
• Hunting: the forest adds more hunting ground beyond the park's own hunting areas; Pennsylvania Game Commission rules apply on both.
• Questions: call the Delaware District Office at 570-895-4000, not the park office.

Other Public Lands Nearby

DCNR's list of nearby places includes:

• Tobyhanna State Park: 5,440 acres with 170-acre Tobyhanna Lake.
• Gouldsboro State Park: 2,800 acres with 250-acre Gouldsboro Lake.
• Big Pocono State Park: 1,306 acres on Camelback Mountain, with views into three states.
• Archbald Pothole State Park: 150 acres around a glacial pothole.
• Varden Conservation Area: 444 acres and more than 7 miles of trails, about 25 miles northwest.
• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area: 70,000 acres along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, run by the National Park Service.
• Lake Wallenpaupack: a 5,700-acre lake owned by PPL, about 25 minutes north, open to public fishing and boating.

Each is run by its own agency or owner, with its own rules and hours.