6 Coziest Mountain Towns In Pennsylvania
Home to the Poconos, Allegheny Mountains, and Endless Mountains, Pennsylvania is absolutely brimming with mountain towns. And the fall just happens to be one of the best times to explore them! Whether you want to enjoy a fall foliage train ride through the mountains, attend a fall festival, or sip a glass of wine in the crisp fall air, these six towns are some of the best places to embrace the season’s coziness.
Stroudsburg
Stroudsburg sits in the heart of the Poconos and is filled with cozy wineries and arts venues to explore. Upon arriving in town, travelers can visit Mountain View Vineyard, the only joint winery, distillery, and brewery that you will find in the Poconos region. In addition to producing some wonderful drinks, this vineyard has a beautiful wrap-around porch that looks out over the vineyards and mountains, making for an incredibly scenic afternoon. For more picturesque scenery, travelers can also visit the Rail Gap Pocono Creek Preserve. This 61.5-acre preserve features a portion of Pocono Creek, abundant in trout and perfect for some fishing or light hiking. As you hike, you will be able to appreciate Eastern Hemlocks, spring wildflowers, and even wetland habitats. As the sun begins to set and a chill fills the air, head back into town to enjoy a show at the Sherman Theater, a bustling performance venue that puts on events throughout the year.
Jim Thorpe
Once one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, second only to Niagara Falls, Jim Thorpe, in the Poconos, continues to attract visitors with its natural beauty and fall festivities. Lehigh Gorge State Park is just a short drive away, known for its towering gorge carved by a river. This park, which covers over 6,100 acres, is extremely popular for hiking, biking, and whitewater boating. If you visit the town during the first three weekends of October, you will also be able to attend the Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage Festival! Celebrating the vibrant colors that overtake the town, activities throughout the three weekends include four music locations, crafts, and food vendors. Those needing a place to stay will love the Inn at Jim Thorpe, a Victorian-style inn in the historic district that dates back to 1849.
Eagles Mere
Eagles Mere has been a relaxing vacation destination since 1887, providing refuge in the gorgeous Endless Mountains. Worlds End State Park is just north of town, spanning 780 acres in a winding, S-shaped valley. In addition to its excellent photographic opportunities, the park is wonderful for fishing, hiking, picnicking, swimming, whitewater boating, and even winter recreation like cross-country skiing. Another great place to swim and boat in the area is at Eagles Mere Lake, a natural glacier lake that sits in the heart of town, extending about a mile long by a third mile wide. Due to being partially spring-fed, the water is considered to be especially pristine, making it one of the best places to enjoy your water recreation! Need a place to lodge? Look no further than Eagles Mere Inn. This inn dates all the way back to 1887, making it a historic staple in the community with amenities like country club golf course access, a nearby fitness center, and indoor and outdoor gathering places.
Honesdale
Known as the “Birthplace of the American Railroad,” Honesdale is rich in railroad heritage and continues to offer train rides through the Poconos! Fall is a particularly nice time to enjoy a train ride, as the countryside is covered with fall foliage. Travelers can hop aboard the Stourbridge Line, a passenger train that offers excursions through the Lackawaxen River Valley. It also hosts a variety of seasonal events like pumpkin patch excursions, beer tasting rides, and thematic Halloween trips. After your scenic train ride, head over to Prompton State Park for an afternoon by the water, home to the 290-acre Prompton Lake, along with 26 miles of hiking trails. There are a couple of cozy breweries in town to wind down at the end of the day as well, such as Here & Now Brewing, a local brewery that brews all of its beers in-house and serves scratch-made dishes like artisan pizza, salad, duck fat fries, and brown butter popcorn.
Wellsboro
Always dreamed of visiting the Grand Canyon? You can stay closer to home and visit Pennsylvania’s version in Wellsboro. This small town is home to Pine Creek Gorge, affectionately nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.” Carved into the Allegheny Plateau of the Appalachian Mountains, this gorge stretches 50 miles and plunges up to 1,000 feet deep. Travelers can hike along the canyon rim or camp at one of the nearby state park campsites. Back in town, you can enjoy a film at the Arcadia Theatre, a historic theater that dates back to 1921, today screening some of the most popular and current features. You won’t find a cozier place to stay than at Bear Mountain Lodge, a rustic-style inn with four available suites and rooms. The lodge is positioned near the Rail Trail, making it an excellent accommodation for cyclists.
Milford
Milford has quickly developed into an adventure capital in the Poconos, acting as a gateway to the gorgeous Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. This natural area spans roughly 70,000 acres and is abundant in waterfalls, streams, geologic marvels, and diverse plant species, and is excellent for hiking, rafting, canoeing, fishing, and camping. To see a beautiful waterfall, consider adding Raymondskill Falls to your itinerary as well, which is the tallest waterfall in the state and can be seen from two viewing platforms. Mid-October in Milford, meanwhile, brings the Black Bear Film Festival, a lively film festival that has been attracting filmmakers and film lovers to town for over two decades!
Pennsylvania’s Coziest Mountain Towns Await
Don’t miss out on all that the fall season has to offer. There is so much to explore across these six towns, including gorges, waterfalls, and lakes. So go ahead and spend the day hiking, then return to town to unwind at a local brewery or a Victorian inn. If you plan your trip just right, you might even be able to attend a film festival or foliage celebration. Don’t put off your trip any longer! Now is the perfect time to get out there and bask in the coziest season of the year.
