Pocono Mountains

The Pocono Mountains, or Poconos, is an area of forests, mountain peaks, lakes and valleys in eastern Pennsylvania. We visited in late October and were a little unsure if this was going to be a worthwhile stop. So how was it? Well thanks for asking.

We arrived at our campground in Stroudsburg, PA and it seemed like all of the trees had just dropped their leaves. You couldn’t tell the roads, from the grassy areas, it was quite pretty. In fact, this entire area of the Poconos was quite pretty and there was so much to see and do.

We spent a full day in nearby Jim Thorpe, PA, a small town named after the famous Native American Olympic champion and athlete. This is a really cool little quaint town and well worth visiting. We had an amazing lunch at a little place called Stone Row Pub & Eatery and had the wonderful waitress order for us and it was incredible. Then it was off to the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway to ride the early 1900’s train along the Lehigh River. It was a somewhat short, relaxing and scenic ride. But our day was far from over, our next stop was the No. 9 Coal Mine.

The No. 9 Coal Mine was the longest continuously operating coal mine in the world, operating from 1855 to 1972. The mine is now a museum and tour, intended to preserve the coal mining history. You enter the mine by a real mining railcar and travel 1,600 feet into the mountain where you are dropped off and partake in a walking tour. It was an incredible experience being in the mine and understanding how it all operated. We were able to see the original 700-foot mine shaft and even the miner’s hospital that was used to avoid transporting injured minors out of the mine.

TIP: Dress accordingly because the No. 9 Coal Mine is a constant 50 degrees, year round.

Bushkill Falls, known as the Niagara Falls of Pennsylvania, is a main attraction in the Poconos. It’s actually a series of eight falls in a 300-acre wooded area connected by hiking trails and boardwalks with a series of wooden bridges. Although Bushkill is a bit touristy, it is well worth the visit and everyone can enjoy it. For the not so adventurous, the main falls can be seen from an observation deck or short 15-minute walk. Conversely, for the more adventurous there are four trails that take you to the other falls and further away from the crowds. There is a bit of climbing but none of it is too difficult. It is all so well done and beautiful and so worth the $15 entry fee. Since it is dog friendly the pups got to have a fun day out as well. Be sure to stop for some ice cream or fudge at the snack bar when you are finished with the waterfalls.

TIP: Try to avoid Bushkill Falls on weekends and holidays as it can get extremely busy.

For something completely different, the Boulder Field in Hickory Run State Park is a very unusual National Natural Landmark. This 400 foot by 1,800 field is covered by large boulders up to 26 feet long, formed naturally over 20,000 years ago. Many people challenge themselves walking/climbing across the boulders. We found it to be very difficult and didn’t venture far (avoiding an ER visit) but enjoyed seeing this very unusual natural phenomena. The rock field is accessible by car down a short dirt road or hiking trail. While you’re in the area, explore the rest of Hickory Run State Park and all the hiking trails, including the Shades of Death Trail (not as bad as it sounds) and Hawk Falls which is a wonderful short hike to a beautiful waterfall.

My favorite hike was to the peak of Mt. Minsi via the Appalachian Trail. I got up early in the morning and did this hike solo. It was a cold, frosty morning with some patchy fog. The trail was rocky and steep in many portions and covered in freshly fallen leaves which were somewhat damp from the morning frost. All of this made for a challenging and extremely rewarding hike. The views on the way up overlooking the Delaware River with the sun cutting through the fog was amazing. I made it to the top and paused for a while, knowing our travels would now be taking us away from the mountains and towards the coastal beaches.

As you’ve probably guessed, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the Poconos and it was worth every minute of our time we spend there. Check out all of our great pictures from the Poconos.