HIKING

LONGER HIKES – 2-3 hours

Egypt Meadows/Bruce Lakes – Promised Land State Park

• Two miles past the Egypt Meadows Lake trailhead another parking lot/ trailhead on the left

• leads to a wide forest road. In 30 minutes, one arrives at the far side of Egypt Meadows Lake

• and a WILDLIFE VIEWING BRIDGE. Another 45 minutes and one arrives at Bruce Lake, a PRIMITIVE GLACIAL LAKE with four PICTURESQUE LAKESIDE PICNIC AREAS. This hike is best accomplished as an out-and- back.

Wolf Swamp & Deep Lake – State Game Lands

• Take 380 S. to 80 E. Take exit 299 (outlet mall); drive north on 715 for .3 miles; turn left at the stop light on Sullivan Road & drive .9 miles; at Barley Creek Pub turn left onto Camelback Mountain Road. Pass the ski slopes & water park. In 3.1 miles start the hike at State Game Lands #36 parking area; walk across the power line clearing, passing one radio tower on your right & 5 on your left; turn right onto a red rock road; turn right at a rock sign (“Wolf Swamp & Deep Lake”). After arriving at Wolf Swamp (a PHOTOGENIC LAKE, not a swamp), leave the road & turn right onto a trail that leads to Deep Lake (GLACIAL & PRISTINE). A short trail con- tinues to Sand Spring Lake. This hike is best done as an out-and-back; take a map; bring a camera.

Big Pocono State Park – Camelback Mt.

• Continue past the Wolf Swamp/Deep Lake trailhead to the park which offers a restaurant, re- strooms, maps, picnic areas and at 1,566 feet elevation, perhaps THE BEST VIEWS IN THE POCONOS. Several loops offer a variety of hiking/walking venues. This is A MUST-VISIT LOCA- TION FOR ONE’S OUT-OF-STATE VISITORS.

Tobyhanna State Park

• Take 507 through Gouldsboro, turn right (just after the R.R. tracks) onto Tobyhanna Road. At the Army base, turn right, then a quick left; in the town of Tobyhanna, turn left (at the R.C. Church) onto route 423. The State Park has several parking options; the trail around the lake is well groomed & well marked with LAKE VIEWS (on the east side), hemlock forests, and rho- dodendron patches. The area has a fascinating HISTORY, including ice-harvesting, military training, and German POW’s.

Prospect Rock Trail - Gouldsboro State Park

• This challenging hike, through varied terrains, can be accessed at various points. The best start is at one of the lake parking areas; follow the blue blazes north (toward the entrance) through the woods, returning to the S.P. Road for a short time, then going into the woods on

• the left side of the road. The trail turns rocky, with DRAMATIC ROCK OUTCROPPINGS, then dips down to Yetter Swamp. Turn left on (partially paved) Old Route 611; left again on the wide trail that returns to S.P. Road. The AREA HISTORY includes the career of the town’s namesake, the infamous Jay Gould.

Big Pine Hill – Pinchot State Forest - (formerly: Lackawanna State Forest)

• Follow the directions to the Stone Lookout (passing Tannery Road on your left; in approxi- mately 2 1⁄2 miles the parking/trailhead on your right is clearly marked. Hike north on the Powder Magazine Trail; jog left onto the Pine Hill Trail, through impressive forests & rock outcroppings, to the Pine Hill Road; turn left & a short distance later arrive at the LOOKOUT TOWER and a SPECTACULAR VIEW of the surrounding mountains from what some natural- ists say is the HIGHEST VISTA IN THE POCONOS.

• The best return route is a loop; go back down the Pine Hill Road; turn right onto the Pittston Road; continue downhill until you intersect the Powder Magazine Trail (on your right) which returns you to the parking lot. The terrain on this hike is varied: forest paths, rocks, gravel road; the summit Is special.

• In season this tower can be accessed by gravel road. Just prior to the Big Pine Hill trailhead, turn right onto the Pittston Road (gravel); in approximately 11⁄2 miles, turn left onto the Pine Hill Road.

Fireline Trail – Hickory Run State Park

• Take 80 W.; exit #274; go south on route 534; in Lehigh Tannery turn left, then a quick left again (still 534). In approximately one mile, just after a small bridge over a stream, the trail- head parking is on the right. This hike is best done as an out-and-back; there are few flat sections but good footing & a clearly marked, wide trail. In 20 minutes there is a PHOTO- GENIC VISTA of the LEHIGH RIVER and the RIVER GORGE. The trail turns left and proceeds along the ridge with GREAT VIEWS of the mountains & river, especially during fall colors.

• After approximately 1- 1⁄2 hours there is an obscure, brushy trail (marked only by an orange ribbon & a cairn) which leads down the mountain, across the R.R. tracks, & onto the SHOALS, flat rocks bordering a DRAMATIC SECTION OF THE LEHIGH RIVER. This is a special, but not an easy find, location.

McClintock Gate/Stone Lookout Trail— Pinchot State Forest – (formerly: Lackawanna State forest)

• Park at the Big Pine Hill Trailhead; the trail begins across the paved road (Bear Lake Road),

• parallels the road, turns left onto Tannery Road, then veers left into the woods, winding around Balsam Swamp & up the mountainside to the STONE TOWER VISTA. To return, either retrace your path or go down the Stone Tower Road, turn right onto Tannery Road & follow it back to Bear Lake Road. The terrain is varied: forest paths, swampy sections, up- hill climbs, State Forest Roads.

SHORT WALKS – 1⁄2 - 1 hour

Egypt Meadow Lake – Promised Land State Park

• Take 84 E.; exit Promised Land S.P.; turn right at the stop sign; drive 100 yards & park on the left at the trailhead; walk straight out for 15 minutes to a man-made but PRIMITIVE LAKE. This is an easy out-and-back walk.

Shades of Death Trail – Hickory Run State Park

• Take 80 W.; exit #274; go south on 534; in Lehigh Tannery turn left then immediately left again (still 534); drive into the park; bear left at the phone/first aid station; the trailhead is immediately on the left. This is a short, rocky, scenic walk along HICKORY RUN STREAM.

Hawk Falls/Mud Creek – Hickory Run State Park

• Take 380 S. to 80 W. to exit 284; go south on 115, turn right (south) on 903, turn right (west) on 534; park just before the 476 overpass. This is a spectacular short walk to HAWK FALLS (no hawks) & MUD CREEK (not muddy). The lollipop route is very difficult; make it an out-and-back to the FALLS, a popular swimming venue.

Brady’s Lake – State Gamelands

• Take 380 S.; exit at Mt. Pocono, turn right onto 940 W., go approximately 6 1⁄2 miles, turn right onto Brady’s Lake Road (small sign, long gravel road). This walk is best accomplished as an out-and-back on either side of this PRIMITIVE FISHING LAKE & DAM.

Stone Lookout – Pinchot State Forest – formerly: Lackawanna State Forest –

• This OVERLOOK of the surrounding mountains & Bear Lake can also be accessed by a longer hike (McClintock Gate Trail)

• The car route to the top begins by traveling west on Phillips Road; cross 435; continue straight onto Clifton Beach Road (later labeled Old River Road); turn right onto Bear Lake Road, then left onto (gravel) Tannery Road & right onto (rough) Stone Tower Road (season access only).

• Lackawanna State Park – East Benton

• Take 81 N. to route 438 W. (turn left), arriving (less than 2 miles) at the Park. There are eighteen

• miles of varying-length hiking loops: forests, LAKE VIEWS, streams, and fields.  Nay Aug Park – Scranton

• Take 435 N., bear left (at the Quick Stop fork) onto 307 N., in Scranton turn right onto Harrison Street & right again onto Mulberry Street.

• One block from Geisinger Community Medical Center & adjacent to the Everhart Museum, this dramatic park features RUSHING STREAMS, A WATERFALL, & a nationally-recognized TREE HOUSE. There are varied walking loops, many of them up-and-down.