Weather & Seasons
Promised Land State Park sits about 1,800 feet up on the Pocono Plateau. DCNR does not publish climate figures for the park, so pull up the National Weather Service forecast for the park's GPS point instead. The best months depend on what you want: late May and June for mountain laurel and rhododendron, July and August for swimming, early October for fall color, and January and February for snow and ice.
Seasons at a Glance
Get the Live Forecast
The National Weather Service gives a forecast for any GPS point. Use the park office coordinates, 41.29942, -75.21412, at forecast.weather.gov. For ice and snow depth in winter, check DCNR's Winter Report for state parks. Cell service in the park is unreliable, so check before you leave.
Spring: April and May
Programs and guided walks start in April. Beechwood campground opens in early April and the Bear Wallow cabins in mid-April. The serviceberry trees bloom white in early May before the woods leaf out, which is also the best time to see the bald eagle nest across Lower Lake. Mountain laurel comes into bloom from mid- to late May. Lower Lake is closed to fishing until trout season opens.
Early Summer: June
Rhododendron follows the laurel in mid-June, along trails such as Whittaker Trail. The beaches have been open since Memorial Day, and the boat rental runs daily. The eaglets usually leave the nest around July 4.
Summer: July and August
Peak season. Both beaches are open 8 a.m. to sunset, the cabins rent by the week, and the Masker Museum opens daily from early July. Lowbush and highbush blueberries ripen in mid- to late July. The park's CCC festival is held each August.
Fall: September to November
The beaches close in mid-September, and the boat rental runs its last two weekends after Labor Day. DCNR says leaf color usually peaks in early October, when the maples, oaks and beeches around both lakes turn. Most campgrounds close by mid-October, and the cabins stay open into early December. Hunting seasons begin in fall, so hikers should wear orange. See Hunting.
Winter: December to March
The park stays open every day. Once there are 6 inches of snow, the office lends snowshoes on weekdays, and the Bruce Lake Natural Area and Conservation Island trails are DCNR's picks for skiing and snowshoeing. Snowmobile trails open once the final December deer season closes and run until April 1, weather permitting. Ice fishing, skating and iceboating happen on natural ice that the park does not monitor. Limited Pickerel Point campsites and cottages stay open, though access is not guaranteed in severe weather. See Winter.
Best Time to Visit
- For flowers: late May to mid-June.
- For swimming and boating: July and August.
- For fall color: early October.
- For snow: January and February, if the snowpack cooperates.
Weather & Seasons FAQ
What is the weather like at Promised Land State Park?
The park sits at about 1,800 feet on the Pocono Plateau, and DCNR publishes no climate figures for it. Check the National Weather Service point forecast for 41.29942, -75.21412 before you go.
What time of year is best for Promised Land State Park?
Late May to mid-June for laurel and rhododendron, July and August for the beaches, and early October for fall color.
When does fall foliage peak at Promised Land?
DCNR says fall foliage typically peaks in early October.
Is Promised Land State Park open in winter?
Yes, every day. Visitors snowshoe, ski, ice fish and snowmobile, and some Pickerel Point campsites stay open.
Facts from the DCNR page for Promised Land State Park.