8 Best Attractions To Visit In The Poconos
The Poconos are a close-to-home escape for Pennsylvanians, with each season bringing a different reason to visit. Summertime brings Lake Wallenpaupack to life with paddlers and beachgoers. Similarly, the alpine drive at Big Pocono State Park is a favorite way to see the region's leaves change in the fall. Meanwhile, winter snowmelt and spring rain set the region's waterfalls in motion at Bushkill Falls and the Lehigh Gorge. All that said, beauty in the Poconos never sleeps, no matter the season.
Bushkill Falls
Bushkill Falls has awed waterfall chasers for over a century. Open to the public since 1904, the "Niagara of Pennsylvania" features 8 waterfalls across 300 hemlock-wooded acres in the Pocono Mountains. Weather permitting, the site is open from April through November. 2 miles of trails and bridges lead to these cascades, ranging from family-friendly strolls to longer treks for the avid hiker. After waterfall spotting, youngsters can let loose on the playground and try gem panning at the water trough.
Families with youngsters prefer Bushkill's short and easy Green Trail, which leads to Bushkill's Main Falls in 15 minutes. The tiered plunge drops 100 feet over a massive cliff, and it's clear why it's Bushkill's centerpiece. The Yellow Trail takes longer, but it offers more to see. The 45-minute hike highlights the Main Falls and 3 other cascades: Lower Gorge, Laurel Glen, and Upper Canyon Falls. Alternatively, the Red Trail is a roughly 2.5-hour, 2-mile trek that lets you see all 8 waterfalls in one go. This is the only trail leading to Bridal Veil Falls.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
The Delaware Water Gap is a gorge carved by the Delaware River. Straddling the New Jersey and Pennsylvania border, the 70,000-acre National Recreation Area is a hiker's paradise, especially for waterfall lovers. The 0.3-mile Raymondskill Creek Trail loops to Pennsylvania's tallest cascade. Roughly 150 feet tall, the three-tiered Raymondskill Falls is a sight to behold. I
Vista hikes are another Water Gap specialty. In New Jersey, the Mt. Tammany Trail is a difficult climb with a summit view that makes it worthwhile. The hike delivers 360° views of the gorge and river from an elevation of 1,201 feet high. On the Pennsylvania side, the 2.8-mile Cliff Trail climbs Raymondskill Ridge with 4 overlooks. Each stop along the hike offers a different bird's-eye view of the Delaware River below. Afterward, hikers can cool down with a swim at Milford Beach or Smithfield Beach on the Delaware.
Lake Wallenpaupack
In Northeastern Pennsylvania, Lake Wallenpaupack is all about water recreation. The massive reservoir has over 52 miles of uninterrupted shoreline, and its waters cover more than 5,700 acres. 6 public recreation areas border the lake, including the Palmyra Township Public Beach. The Hawley shore is popular for its calm swimming waters. Bordering its sand, spacious grass, and shaded picnic tables let beachgoers relax with lake views.
Wallenpaupack Scenic Boat Tours & Rentals are also available from mid-June through Labor Day. 50-minute boat tours cover a third of the lake, letting passengers sit back and sightsee. You can also rent kayaks, pontoon boats, and stand-up paddle boards for solo exploring. Back on land, the gravel-paved Wallenpaupack Lake Trail lets lake lovers walk its border. This gentle walk follows the shoreline for 2.6 miles and features unobstructed views of the water and surrounding forests.
Camelback Mountain Adventures
Pennsylvania's only mountain coaster is an hour south of Lake Wallenpaupack. High in the Poconos, Camelback Mountain Adventures is an outdoor amusement park that families love. In addition to its alpine coaster, parkgoers can soar above the area's trees on a 1,000- or 4,000-foot zipline. For slower-paced sightseeing, Treetop Adventures lets visitors navigate the largest aerial course in the state for 3 hours. The courses feature rope bridges, swinging logs, and other thrilling aerial obstacles.
If heights aren't your thing, Sunbowl Tubing is a thrill that descends. The summer attraction lets guests slide down lanes on Camelback Mountain in tubes normally meant for snow. Scenic UTV Tours also explore the Poconos at ground level with even more speed. The 1-hour backcountry experience leads through rugged trails and switchbacks to see the mountains in all their glory.
Big Pocono State Park
Big Pocono lets parkgoers explore Camelback Mountain's wild side. The 1,300-acre park is best known for its Scenic View, an overlook you can drive to. The 1.4-mile Scenic Drive is a popular way to see the mountains without hiking gear. At the 2,100-foot summit, sightseers can view 3 states at once, including Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and New York. This is a popular autumn drive, putting the region's foliage on full display.
Many pair their Big Pocono drive with a hike. The park has 8.5 miles of trails, ranging from easy to challenging. Eastern cliff views are a highlight of the 1.3-mile Indian Trail, the park's easiest path. Alternatively, the South Trail follows the eastern slope for 3 miles, with 2 overlooks making the extra effort worthwhile. For families and less-avid hikers, Big Pocono State Park also has several picnic areas high on the mountain for lunch with a view.
Lehigh Gorge State Park
Lehigh Gorge State Park is another stunning place to chase waterfalls and climb the Poconos. Sculpted by the Lehigh River in eastern Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Gorge rises hundreds of feet above the waterway that carved it. To see these steep walls from overhead, the Bald Mountain Loop is an 8.5-mile climb. At the crest, the hike connects to the Vista Trail, a short loop with dramatic views. For an easier hike, try the Buttermilk and Luke's Falls Trail. The riverside hike is 1 mile long and mostly flat, connecting 2 waterfalls.
The Lehigh Gorge is also renowned for its excellent whitewater rafting conditions. A 26-mile section of the Lehigh River Water Trail runs through the park, with several access points to choose from. In nearby Lehighton, outfitters like Jim Thorpe River Adventures handle the gear and guide you through. Led by professional guides, river trips range from a family-friendly EasyWater tour to the BigTime Whitewater for experienced rafters.
Hickory Run State Park
12 miles northeast, Hickory Run State Park is a fun follow-up for more ancient geology and recreation. Located in the western foothills of the Pocono Mountains, the 15,990-acre park is known for its rare Boulder Field. The "field" features a flat 16-acre area of valley covered with sandstone and quartz boulders, 10- to 12-foot-deep. Formed roughly 20,000 years ago, this ice-age relic lets parkgoers walk atop geological history.
Beyond the Boulder Field, Hickory Run has a swim beach and more than 40 miles of hiking trails. Swimming is open at Sand Spring Lake from late May to mid-September. The 0.6-mile Hawk Falls Trail also leads to a 25-foot waterfall, lined with rhododendron flowers from mid-June to mid-July. Later, October attracts leaf peepers to the 0.4-mile Nature Trail to see the height of Hickory Run's fall foliage. For sweeping views of the distant Lehigh Gorge State Park in the fall, the 2.4-mile Fireline Trail has a gorgeous overlook.
Grey Towers National Historic Site
Grey Towers is a National Historic Landmark that looks like a castle inside and out. The French chateau-style estate was once home to Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the United States Forest Service (USFS). As of 2026, the Stone Estate can be toured Fridays through Mondays until November 01. The First Floor Museum Tour explores Pinchot's legacy and the grand rooms he worked in, including a historic library.
Outside, the gardens and grounds are open from sunup to sundown, year-round. Self-guided tours highlight the Forest Discovery Trail, a half-mile hike through hemlock and white pines. A free Landscape Tour brochure can also be downloaded for free online. The guide explains elegant landscape features, such as the Marble Court and a half-moat behind the mansion's stone terrace. Nearby, the Laurel Hill Burial Ground is Milford's first cemetery, with gravestones dating back to 1810.
While "the best" is subjective, these 8 Poconos attractions top travel lists for a reason. In just 2 miles, Bushkill Falls lets guests see 8 alpine waterfalls. Pennsylvania's tallest waterfall requires an even shorter hike at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. For those wanting to skip a trek altogether, the mountain drive at Big Pocono State Park leads to a stunning summit. Similarly, Camelback Mountain Adventures lets families soar through the Poconos with ziplines, slides, and coaster rides.
