Hawk Mountain is one of a handful of magical places I will never grow tired of visiting…read more It's both sad and inspiring to learn about the history of Hawk Mountain and why it exists. The visitor center is fun to browse around. We like to take the short walk up to the North Lookout and hangout up there for a little while enjoying the scenery. If you're lucky, you can get the lookout to yourself for a while - or at least have quiet people enjoying the uniqueness of the setting. When I'm by myself, I like to do a more difficult and lengthy walk down the River of Rocks Trail to the Golden Eagle Trail, and then up the Skyline Trail where I can take in the scenery from the North Lookout before heading back to the visitor center. We've been members for several years and have enjoyed some of their special events like the photography contests and Birds and Brews. If you're just visiting for a few hours, head down to Wanamaker's General Store for a delicious wrap!

Want to learn about raptors and see them in person? Located along the Appalachian flyway, Hawk…read moreMountain straddles the Kittatinny Ridge, or Blue Mountain, a 300-mile-long, prominent ridge extending from 60 miles north of New York City to 20 miles west of Chambersburg, PA. It is here where every autumn, more than 20,000 birds of prey pass over, making their way from northern states and Canada to warmer climates. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is the oldest and largest wild bird sanctuary in nearby Kempton, PA, where trails and lookouts offered beautiful scenery and access to nature where my partner, his family and I came today. From the Visitors Center, which had some interesting exhibits and a gift shop where the admission fee was collected at $10 per person, the Lookout Trail was the easiest and most popular, covering a one-mile route to several lookout points along the ridge. Friendly staff members were positioned here to answer questions and point out birds. The trails were very well marked, and the trail map explained each so that one knows what you're getting into. We walked to North Lookout. It was the pinnacle of Hawk Mountain perching on top of the mountain at an elevation of 1,500 feet and offering a 200-degree view that stretches 70 miles on a clear day. This was a perfect place to work on photography and binocular skills, as well as a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts that we can recommend.

Came here on Sat 10/25 to hike with a couple gf's and brought my doggo, Linc, since it's a dog…read morefriendly trail. I work out but I wasn't ready for this trail as a first time hiker lol! I wore sneakers but would have greatly benefited from hiking boots for more ankle support after slipping and tripping my way along the dense leaf covered dirt trail that continued to get more rocky on the ascent. Also, you will need to climb some legit large rocks/boulders to reach the Pulpit Rock overlook but the challenge was well worth it for the views! My gf's & I chose the easy way down which was to take the gravel road alongside the observatory that eventually transitions to pavement. Even the decline of this road was steep in itself. No easy way up or down haha! I saw people of all ages and fitness levels along my hike and plenty of cute dogs! Bring snacks and water to re-energize during a rest break. My one friend packed some TP and I thought it was a great idea cuz you just never know when you might have to go! Parking lot is a joke with ~20-25 spots but many ppl, including us, parked along Reservoir Rd so make sure to get here early in the morning or expect to walk a couple extra miles just to reach the start of the trail.

Great spot for a day hike, with beautiful views at the two main lookouts - Pulpit Rock and the…read morePinnacle. The hardest part of the hike is getting to Pulpit Rock, as it starts with a fairly steep road to get to the trail, and then some more elevation climb as you get up to the lookout. From there, it's probably another 2.5 miles or so to get to the Pinnacle, but the elevation gain is minimal. Both of these stops provide great views, with lots of raptors flying around if you're lucky! Bring snacks and water, especially on a hot day, and cameras to take pictures!

One of my favorite places ever Our family has enjoyed camping here many years. There is a medium…read moresized lake with a beach area and plenty of room outside of that to fish and boat. The sites have a nice amount of trees in them and privacy between spots. We prefer the beach loop which is all tent camping. It usually is cold enough in the summer to need hoodies at night. There are a ton of chipmunks and squirrels. Make sure your food is secured well as they will find it and have chewed through our plastic totes to get to it. This morning we found that they got our chocolate bars, took them up into a tree and were dropping them half eaten onto the ground. Wildlife is nothing to mess with, they will cut you.

The lake and property are quite beautiful but the inhumane restrooms/showers are unacceptable.read more

This is a large park with well-marked trails, restrooms, signage on what birds you may see, and of…read morecourse, great mountain views. It's right past the Camelback resort, so if it isn't crowded there, traffic should be a breeze getting to the park. The Indian Trail was a bit rocky and a little steep at parts, but the blazes are easy to follow, and the trail was doable for beginners. Make sure you wear good, sturdy shoes. There was plenty of parking and some picnic tables nearby.

This is our favorite mountain park at the Poconos. We walked all the trails and they are beautiful,…read morepresenting many types of nature and vegetation. Note near the parking lot 3 there's a trailhead with a quest book, it's sweet to leave some memories there. The trails are well marked but some are quite steep, be aware of the elevation changes. There's beautiful lookouts and the view from the top is pristine. Many places to just sit, enjoy and meditate. Only sometimes there's mindless people blasting loud music, but luckily most times you can enjoy the nature in silence at the mountain top. Tip: download a map from the park website before hitting the trails, it will help you greatly to locate yourself while hiking.

If you don't mind the terrain - which can be a bit unstable - then this is a hike you'll enjoy!…read more The river runs right next to it. I parked at the "Devils" parking entrance. There's a tiny bridge as well as a very iffy hike alongside. I had my deaf and blind dog along with me so I couldn't do too much as I was afraid he'd fall down the side into the river. I hear that just past this parking area there's a beach? That should be cool. I'm actually on my way back there this morning to check it out. Bring water and bug spray cause I can only imagine the mosquitos, etc., that are there in late Spring and during Summertime. Enjoy!! Happy hiking.

I've camped at Hickory Run a few times and although this time there were some updates, there were…read moresome major downfalls. I stayed in the organized group camping area and loved how the sites that we booked allowed for plenty of tents to spread out within your group. We stayed in J, K and L. Last year there were porter potties and this year there was a bathhouse. Sadly there were no showers, the family bathroom was locked all weekend, and maintence getting to the bathroom was not good. Wehad to walk through a field of knee high grass to get there. During peak tick season, this was not ideal. Lastly, quiet hours apparently do not exist this is area of camping. Groups around us were chanting and singing before 5am and had an intense volleyball match at 6am. Boyscotts camped near us and were up late screaming until 12am. There needs to be more ranger presence, this truly altered our experience. The state park itself has great hiking and swimming area but the organized group sites were very mismanaged.

Such a cool and interesting thing to see in the state park. Have to drive a little over 3 miles to…read moreget here on a dirt road but lots of parking once you get there. There are plaques explaining how the field developed. Overall, a super cool thing to see, pictures don't do the size of the field justice

If you're visiting here, DRIVE SLOW! There are potholes that will break your car's axle if you…read moredrive too fast. The posted speed limit it 25. Drive 10 MPH or less. As for the field: it's exactly what the name implies. A field of boulders as far as you can see. And exercise extreme caution because it's very easy to get a foot caught between the boulders.

Ricketts Glen is a very special place for me and my family, and we have been visiting annually for…read moremany years. Lodging: My family likes to stay in the little cabins in the park. They have two or three bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a fire ring. They are fully furnished and climate controlled, which is nice in the winter and summer. However, there is no WiFi or cell service (unless you have A T and T) so be mindful of that when you book. I have never stayed at the campsites, so I cant speak for accommodations there. Activities: There's so much to do around the park, including boating or swimming at Lake Jean, exploring the many miles of trails, or having a family barbecue. The most famous trail in the park, the Falls Trail, is a must-hike for visitors. The trail can be steep, rocky, and slippery, and the main loop (not including the bottom three falls) runs about 5 miles, which is longer than the advertised distance, so be prepared. Bring good shoes and lots of water and expect some amazing views of the falls. The other trails in the park are also beautiful, albeit far less traveled. I did the 13 mile loop from cherry run to mountain springs road to the mountain springs trail, and it was a great distance and not too steep. We went past the old Lake Leigh dam breast and an unnamed waterfall with a nice swimming hole. The cherry run and mountain springs trails have lots of tall grass, so make sure to wear long pants in case of ticks. Additionally, the spring runs right through portions of the mountain springs trail, so be prepared to get your feet a little wet. I look forward to each year I get to go to Ricketts and even though I am sad I'm home, I'm super excited for next year!

My birthday is the most important day of the year. This is a fact. I get very ornery if I don't…read morespend the day/week/month the way that I want. For 3 years running The Plan has been to go to Acadia. First year: someone went to an international wedding of 500 people and got the Rona Second year: someone bought a big rig and rates were in the toilet Third year: Someone was tired and the planing was overwhelming I just knew this would be The Year. Sike - Rain and thunderstorms forecasted from May 27-June 4 and we had a campsite lmaaoooooo But one thing about me - I'm gon pivot every time. So we booked a Hipcamp and headed to PA instead. I wanted open land, dark skies, and opportunities to hike. Ricketts was only 10 minutes away!! All I knew about this park beforehand was that it was a waterfall paradise. We had our dog with us and arrived at Ricketts around 4pm on a Sunday. We checked out some of the small falls at the trailhead then did the Evergreen Trail. Beautiful view of Adams Falls, a lovely wooded walk through an old growth forest, and some climbs here and there to keep your heart rate up. I love when Wesley goes out on the trails - he sniffs everything, bounds ahead to scout the path, and patiently waits until I can clear obstacles. Still, given the height and uneven terrain of even this shorter trail in the park, I would likely return without him to take on some of the more challenging routes. Making sure he didn't fly off the ledge and I didn't fall off the stone steps had my nervous system on fire lol. I'm also old now and believe feet should always stay rooted to the floor. So yeah. The park is very dog friendly and we love that. But for me and mine, maybe we'll come solo next time. Summed Up: Beautiful Ethereal Calming Steep Heights Dog-friendly Free Do it!

Tuscarora State Park has all the classic elements which make the PA state park system arguably the…read morebest in the United States. * Over 250 picnic tables and two pavilions which can be reserved up to 11 months in advance. (Although for the sake of full disclosure, a fair number of the picnic tables not in or around the pavilion areas are buried in the trees/bushes and are in various stages of disrepair.) * A sand beach and lake swimming available from May-September. * A boat launch and seasonal boat rentals for fishing on Tuscarora Lake. * 1,100 of the park's 1,600 acres are open for deer, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel, turkey, grouse and dove hunting. * Six camping cottages and four yurts which can be reserved up to 11 months in advance. * About eight miles of hiking trails of which most are pancake flat but parts of the Spirit of Tuscarora Trail and Locust Mountain Trail can get steep but the diversity of the terrain, trees, flowers and water here is amazing. The Sunday that we visited found the beach and picnic areas to be very busy as well as the boat rentals but in the four hours we were on various hiking trails we only saw two other people so my take is that like at most PA state parks the hiking end of things is more or less ignored. As a brief bit of FYI trivia, the park got it's name as a tribute to the Tuscarora Indians who by legend supposedly inhabited the Locust Valley area including the land that the park is on for a brief time during the 18th century. Most of trees in and around the park are not original to the area as the area was almost fully deforested during the early 20th century by logging operations. The dam which created Tuscarora Lake was built in the 1960's and the park opened in 1971. While not my favorite state park, Tuscarora provided a great visit and hopefully we'll be back for a visit or two in the not too distant future.

Yurt camping to remember, Tuscarora State Park, Pa.,…read more Reservations were made in late February, 2014, for $114 for the 2 day weekend. Our camping dates were for May 30th and 31st, and this was the last day of spring that they allowed the weekend only bookings. Check their website for booking Yurts, and Cabins during the summer, or off season. We had Yurt #1, and it appears that we picked the right one for us. It has good tree shade much of the day, with the sun on the yurt for about 3.5 hours. The yurts sleep 5, a very nice kitchen with a 4 burner stove, a 5' refrigerator, but no water or sink. A sturdy table with 4 great chairs, a skylight that opens 6 inches, a fire extinguisher, smoke alarm, 2 windows and a solid lockable front door. Also cleaning gear in case it gets dirty, and a hardwood floor. To beat the heat, bring along a 10' by 10' canopy/gazebo (light tan, silver or white color) to give you an outdoor shelter, away from the heat. In talking to barb, she agreed that maybe 2 - 10' x 10' shelters would be best. Keep in mind that the Yurt is about 20 feet across, and that the deck is about 34' x 34'. Bring along a box fan that can be tilted, and has 3 speeds. With everyone under the shelter, it will help you cool off. Look for our attached photos. #1 Yurt - sun from about 11 a.m. to about 3 p.m. Trees on 3 sides, with yurt #2 up on the right side. #2 Yurt - mostly sun all day, and it get a bit hot. Trees on back side, and other yurts down to the left and up to the right. #3 Yurt - some shade during the day, morning to the early afternoon. Trees to the rear, and a yurt to the left and to the right. #4 Yurt - gets mostly all day shade. There is a water pumping station nearby, that makes a slight humming noise. Basically a forest on 3 sides, and a Yurt to the left. For us, the hum would not be a problem. We would take along a tilting box fan for inside the yurt at night, or outside as we sit in our chairs. (a smaller wall fan is already mounted in the Yurts.) For all of our camping trips, one of these fans are essential for better sleep, cooling hot afternoons, filtering out evening noise, or let the kids use it as a super bubble machine. Just have them hold the wand in front of the outgoing fan air, and watch their eyes get big. For all 4 yurts, the bathrooms are just 30 to 50 feet away. The outside bathroom doors are very quiet. There are no changing bench in the showers. In the bathroom, it is hard to press the wall button, to flush the toilets. I can barely do it, my wife can't do it, and neither can kids. As for getting potable water? On the outside of the bathroom you will find a double wash station, for cleaning your dishes. That cold water faucet provided us with some of the finest, purest, clear cold water that we've ever seen. Walking past Yurt #4, you can make a right turn, and follow the wide dirt path that takes you to the swimming area, the concession stand, and boat rentals for the lake. Along that dirt road, you will see smaller paths leading down to the lake's edge. Over several years, I caught and released many fish in those early morning hours. As for the Yurts, you are allowed to drive up to its entrance location, drop off the items and people that you brought, and turn around and park your vehicle in the first parking lot that you come to. Note - at the end of that first parking lot is a large children's playground. As for Latino families? Living in Allentown, PA, we have put up with some of the worst that they have to offer. They were the reason we left center city, and moved to the outskirts. But, I must say this........there was a group of Latino's staying in Yurts 2 and 3 for Friday night. 7 kids total, and 5 adults, and they were the most respectful group that we have ever encountered. Music was played softly, no yelling back and forth, nothing destructive, no car alarms, and the children behaved like children. The only issue we had was on Friday evening, and that was because the smells from their grilled ribs, chicken, burgers and hot dogs were driving us crazy. And because of this, we gave that family group a 5 star rating. Store and Food places in town and nearby. Walmart, the Beacon Restaurant, Rita's, and McDonalds are all near the same location just north of Tamaqua, on Rt. 309. I was also told that in Tamaqua, PA, near the 5 points intersection, is a really good Italian restaurant. Read the rules about going out at night, and coming back late. The gates are closed at night, and you might have to park a little further away. Also, a golf course is less than a half mile away. And for the final tip? If you are interested in a cabin? Numbers 1, 2, and 3, (which are just on the other side of the bathrooms) have their front porches facing the lake. Take the time to go to Tuscarora State Park, and look at the locations of the Yurts/Cabins that meets your needs. We hope that we have been of some help. Cosmo

A beautiful area. This area I've fished and visited since I was a kid. The parking is plentiful,…read morethe trails are easy to navigate. The area is beautiful. The more you walk, the different views you come across. Easy to find, and easy to fall in love with

My friend and I like to I hike and this was the closest to where we were staying…read more I'll agree like some other Yelpers that the trails are not especially well marked, that it can get quite muddy, and that the tree roots are very plentiful. Additionally, someone some time ago "decorated" a pine tree into a Christmas tree complete with ornaments and a manger. There's also the broken down house in the middle of nowhere. We both had fun trying to navigate and the awesome payoff was a massive powerful waterfall along the Tobyhanna Creek. We stayed a good 15 minutes just observing its greatness. If you're not careful in your step, you'll step in the mud and be S O L. You may consider hiking boots here instead of the sneakers I wore. Check out the shot videos I posted. If you like woods and a not too strenuous hiking trail steepness wise, this is a great place to check out.

This is a nice park with playgrounds and tables. There's a small pond with a fountain. The best…read morepart is the shoreline by the Susquehanna River, which has great views of the river and the mountains.

This park is huge and shared by so many people. Running along the Susquehanna River filled with…read moretrees and manicured lawns. Perfect for hiking, jogging, just sitting on the lawn, or napping. I chose napping and it was wonderful. The children's playground is filled with slides and swings for all the little ones. There seemd to be plenty of parking, however I would venture a guess that may be tougher on a weekend. The City of Bloomburg is to be complimented for such a wonderful addition to the town