Monroe: Nature, Hiking Trails, and History

Waterfalls, lakes, trails, and historic sites give a trip to Monroe different focal points. You can plan around outdoor activities, nature watching, or regional history. The landscapes and experiences vary considerably in scale and subject matter.

Waterfalls, Lakes, and Expansive Views

Raymondskill Falls is the highest waterfall in Pennsylvania. Silver Thread Falls is located along the accessible Dingmans Creek Trail. The state parks also showcase different landscapes: Gouldsboro State Park is in Monroe and Wayne Counties in northeastern Pennsylvania. It covers 2,800 acres and includes the 250-acre Gouldsboro Lake. Big Pocono State Park spans 1,306 acres across the summit and slopes of Camelback Mountain and offers views of three states. Tobyhanna State Park covers 5,440 acres and includes the 170-acre Tobyhanna Lake. The options range from a park with a lake to summit and hillside terrain with far-reaching views.

Trails and Outdoor Activities

Hiking trails can be compared by their length and route. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail runs for more than 20 miles through Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The McDade Recreational Trail extends across most of this recreation area, from Hialeah Recreation Area to Milford Beach. It offers opportunities for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. While the length of the Appalachian Trail within the recreation area is specified, the description of the McDade Trail gives its endpoints and notes that it extends across most of the area.

In Big Pocono State Park, the Indian Trail is the easiest hiking trail and offers views from the eastern cliffs. The Lakeside Trail loops all the way around Tobyhanna Lake and offers opportunities for wildlife watching and fishing. The Frank Gantz Trail connects Tobyhanna State Park and Gouldsboro State Park and passes through the Black Bear and Bender Swamps Natural Area. Outdoor recreation along the middle Delaware River centers on a 40-mile stretch and includes fishing, boating, canoeing, and swimming.

The Monroe County Transit Authority offers a free shuttle service to people who bring their own canoe or kayak. Operational details may change, so check the service before your trip.

History, Museums, and Regional Experiences

Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm is a living history museum that preserves the 19th-century agricultural heritage of the Pennsylvania Germans. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center offers environmental education programs year-round for people of all ages. Exhibits on the history of Monroe County are spread across four floors of the Stroud Mansion Museum. Jacob Stroud built Stroud Mansion in 1795.

The restored Cresco Station was made available to the Barrett Township Historical Society in 1999 and subsequently reopened as a museum for the community. Cresco Station Museum houses exhibits, artifacts, and research materials from the Barrett Township area. In Stroudsburg, the easily walkable downtown is characterized by original buildings from the late 18th century, now home to specialty shops, art galleries, and restaurants.

History can also be explored through specific places and routes: Sullivan’s Trail, the section of General John Sullivan’s famous 1778 march route from Easton to New York, runs through Monroe County from Tannersville to Pocono Pines. Monroe County is also home to Pocono Raceway, a popular attraction near Blakeslee in the western Pocono Mountains. The annual Celebration of the Arts Jazz Festival in Delaware Water Gap features local food vendors; check event dates before your visit.

More Things to Do

Aquatopia offers private FlowRider sessions, which must be reserved at least 24 hours in advance. Session availability may change; check before making plans. Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark offers 37 rides and slides. As seasonal operating details may change, check them before visiting.

Explore more destinations: East Stroudsburg, Blakeslee, Cresco, Skytop, Canadensis, Stroudsburg, Bartonsville, Pocono Pines, Mt Pocono, Mountainhome, Albrightsville, Saylorsburg, Delaware Water Gap, Scotrun, Tannersville, Pocono Summit, Tobyhanna

For the main travel overview: Pennsylvania.