Luzerne: Nature Parks, Waterfalls, and Anthracite History

Nature and history offer different highlights for your trip through Luzerne. Lakes, wetlands, forests, river gorges, and waterfalls shape the natural attractions; museums and historic buildings focus on the anthracite coal region and the Wyoming Valley. As you plan, consider whether you would like to prioritize time outdoors or exhibitions and architecture.

Lakes, Forests, and Waterfalls

Frances Slocum State Park covers 1,035 acres in Luzerne County. Boating and fishing are available on Frances Slocum Lake, which is also home to numerous bird, fish, and other wildlife species. The park has hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as a large day-use area for picnicking and exploring the forests. The Patrick J. Solano Environmental Education Center features exhibits about Indigenous peoples and the park’s ecology. Here, activities on the water go hand in hand with nature observation and environmental education.

Nescopeck State Park covers 3,550 acres, making it larger than Frances Slocum State Park. Wetlands, diverse forests, and varied habitats shape the landscape. Hiking trails follow Nescopeck Creek, pass through forests, and run alongside wetlands. Environmental education programs and public outdoor activities are offered year-round. This also provides a point of comparison when planning a visit: the route here takes in a creek, forest, and wetlands, while boating and fishing are also available at Frances Slocum Lake.

Ricketts Glen State Park includes the Glens Natural Area, designated a National Natural Landmark. The park has 22 named waterfalls, including 94-foot Ganoga Falls. In a conservation update dated August 4, 2025, Bear Creek Preserve in Buck Township, Luzerne County, was listed as covering 3,986 acres. Challenging hikes there pass through forests and steep creek valleys. The three streams that run through the preserve—Shades Creek, Bear Creek, and Stony Run—are classified as high-quality cold-water fisheries.

River Gorges and Trails

Lehigh Gorge State Park is characterized by a deep, steep-walled river gorge, dense vegetation, rock outcrops, and waterfalls. In Luzerne County, the park follows the Lehigh River from Francis E. Walter Dam toward Jim Thorpe; it also extends into Carbon County. The Lehigh Gorge Trail runs for more than 20 miles along the D&L Trail. The abandoned railroad grade of the Lehigh Gorge Trail offers opportunities for hiking, biking, sightseeing, and photography; the trail is designated for non-motorized use.

The D&L Trail stretches 165 miles from Bristol, Pennsylvania, outside Philadelphia, to Wilkes-Barre. In Luzerne County, it follows the Susquehanna River and uses the former railroad grade of the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad. This highlights two distinct trail routes: the Lehigh Gorge Trail along the D&L Trail and the D&L Trail along the Susquehanna River. Check current trail conditions before setting out. Lehigh Gorge State Park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset; the operating seasons of individual facilities may vary.

Anthracite History and Culture

Eckley Miners’ Village preserves the social and architectural history of the anthracite coal region, its mining settlements, and their residents. At the Luzerne County Historical Society Museum, housed in an 1893 building, a permanent exhibit explores the Indigenous peoples of the Wyoming Valley. Temporary exhibitions share stories of people, places, and events in Luzerne County.

Historic buildings and their distinct layers of history also offer a sense of the past: Swetland Homestead features period rooms ranging from an 1790s summer kitchen to an 1860s Victorian parlor. The Luzerne County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts is a restored performing arts theater that also serves as a cinema for limited engagements and for art-house and foreign-language films. It was built in 1938 as an elegant movie theater on Public Square. Together, these places offer different ways to explore local history: through mining settlements, exhibitions, historic interiors, and the evolution of a cultural venue.

Getting to Luzerne County

Luzerne County is accessible via Interstates 80, 81, and 84, as well as the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is located in the northern part of Luzerne County.

Discover more destinations: White Haven, Pittston, Nanticoke, Freeland, Milnesville, Sugarloaf, Avoca, Drums, Kingston, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton

For the regional travel overview: Pennsylvania.