Promised Land State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Promised Land State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Green forest at Promised Land State Park
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 Promised Land State Park
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Pike, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 3,000 acres (12 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,745 ft (532 m) |
| Established | 1905 |
| Named for | A so called Promised Land that the earliest settlers were told they would find. |
| Governing body | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Website | Promised Land State Park |
Promised Land State Park is a cool state park in Pike County, Pennsylvania, USA. It covers about 3,000 acres and is mostly surrounded by the Delaware State Forest. You'll find it in the beautiful Poconos, sitting high up at about 1,800 feet. The park's forests are full of beech, maple, oak, and hemlock trees. There are also two lovely lakes inside the park. Promised Land State Park is about 10 miles north of Canadensis on Pennsylvania Route 390. It's even one of the "25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks" chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources!
Contents
Park History: From Forests to Fun
The name "Promised Land" is a bit of a joke from early settlers. They were told the land was amazing, but it turned out to be a bit disappointing.
Early Days and Lumbering
Long ago, this area was the hunting ground for the Lenape Indian tribe. Later, the land became part of Pennsylvania, founded by King Charles II and led by William Penn. Penn wanted a colony where people had religious freedom. A religious group called the Shakers from England bought some of this land. However, they didn't settle here. Instead, they sold it to lumber companies. These companies cut down all the trees, sending the wood to Philadelphia for shipbuilding. This clear-cutting happened many times.
Rebuilding the Forests
In 1902, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania bought the land. The forestry department worked hard to regrow the forests. Promised Land State Park officially opened in 1905, making it one of Pennsylvania's first state parks!
The Civilian Conservation Corps
Many of the park buildings you see today were built in the 1930s during the Great Depression. Young men from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) did this work. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the CCC to help people find jobs during tough times. The CCC men helped bring the forests back to life. They built roads, trails, fought wildfires, planted trees, and built bridges.
Two important buildings, Whittaker Lodge and the Bear Wallow Cabins, are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They are special because of their design and their role in the park's history.
Nature and Wildlife at Promised Land
Since the forests have grown back, Promised Land State Park is now home to many different animals and ecosystems. The soil here is often rocky and shallow, with nutrient-poor bogs and dark evergreen forests. This is because huge glaciers covered Pennsylvania during the last ice age. When the glaciers melted, they left behind rocky soil that doesn't drain well, creating the bogs you see today.
Forest Birds and Bog Creatures
The evergreen trees attract cool birds like the red-breasted nuthatch, Blackburnian warbler, and northern waterthrush. Salamanders and wood frogs love the bogs, especially in spring when they come to breed.
Some deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves) have also grown in the park. These trees attract different birds, such as the American redstart, Louisiana waterthrush, and red-eyed vireo.
Meet the Bears and Other Animals
Black bears are common at Promised Land State Park. They enjoy the many plants, grasses, and berries found here. Park visitors should be very careful around bears. Bears usually avoid people, but if they get used to being fed, they can become dangerous. They are super fast, strong, and agile! Bears also have a great sense of smell. So, always keep your food securely stored and never leave it out overnight.
Besides bears, you might see other large animals like white-tailed deer and wild turkeys. There's a wildlife observation deck on Lower Lake where you can spot waterfowl and even bald eagles that have nested nearby. Please remember not to feed any wildlife. Feeding animals like raccoons, squirrels, and chipmunks can expose you to diseases like rabies. Also, feeding Canada geese near swimming areas makes the water dirty.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Promised Land State Park is open all year for lots of outdoor activities! You can go hiking, birdwatching, fishing, swimming, boating, horseback riding, trail biking, camping, and even ice skating in winter.
Fishing and Hunting
Promised Lake and Lower Lake are great for fishing and ice fishing. You can catch smallmouth and largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, pickerel, muskellunge, and yellow perch. Lower Lake is also stocked with brook, rainbow, and brown trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Make sure to follow all fishing rules!
Hunting is allowed in some areas of the park. Hunters must follow the rules of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. You can hunt turkey, white-tailed deer, and black bear. However, hunting groundhogs is not allowed.
Trails and Boating
There are about 50 miles of trails in Promised Land State Park and the nearby state forests. These trails are perfect for hiking, and some allow horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and mountain biking. The trails go through different habitats, giving you a chance to see lots of wildlife.
Gas-powered boats are not allowed on the lakes. You can use electric-powered or non-powered boats, but they need to be registered or have a launch permit. You can also rent canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats at the park.
Picnic and Beach Area
The park has a central picnic and beach area near Promised Land Lake. It's a lovely spot in the woods with a sandy beach, boat launch, picnic tables, and places to grill food. There are also restrooms with showers, a concession stand, boat rentals, and a sand volleyball court.
Staying Overnight at the Park
If you want to stay longer, Promised Land State Park has four campgrounds and some rustic cabins. The cabins were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s.
- Lower Lake Campground is right on Lower Lake. It's open from mid-April to mid-December and has flush toilets and hot showers.
- Deerfield Campground is tucked away in a rocky forest. It's open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. It has flush toilets, but showers are a short walk away in the picnic area.
- Pickerel Point Campground is on a peninsula on Promised Land Lake. It has walk-in campsites along the shore. This campground was updated in 2012 with modern facilities, including eco-friendly bathhouses.
- The Pines Campground is on the northwest shore of Promised Land Lake. It's open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It has flush toilets, but no showers directly in the campground; you can use the pay showers in the picnic area.
- Bear Wallow Cabins Colony has 12 rustic cabins. Each cabin has a fireplace, refrigerator, beds, and electricity. They also have a modern shower and toilet building nearby.
Masker Museum: Learn About the CCC and Nature
The park's Masker Museum is a great place to learn! It has exhibits about the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and all the amazing work they did in the park. You can see a barracks with beds, hear interactive stories, and look at old tools and items.
The museum also teaches you about the park's natural history, including its animals, plants, and ecosystems. There are fun activities for kids, a bird observation area with outdoor feeding stations, and a garden with native plants.
You can find the museum off Pickerel Point Road, near the amphitheater and Pickerel Point Campground. Admission is free!
Nearby State Parks to Explore
Here are some other state parks not too far from Promised Land State Park:
- Archbald Pothole State Park (Lackawanna County)
- Big Pocono State Park (Monroe County)
- Gouldsboro State Park (Monroe and Wayne Counties)
- High Point State Park (New Jersey)
- Prompton State Park (Wayne County)
- Swartswood State Park (New Jersey)
- Tobyhanna State Park (Monroe and Wayne Counties)
- Varden Conservation Area (Wayne County)
