Promised Land State Park boasts two lakes and is surrounded by over 12,000 acres of State Forest. Get the complete inside scoop on camping and outdoor adventure before you go.
Promised Land State Park consists of nearly 3000 acres in Pike County in the Poconos region of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The state park is situated around two connected lakes: the 422-acre Promised Land Lake and the 173-acre Lower Lake. There are seven camping areas with a total of 391 sites. The seven camping areas are concentrated in three regions of the state park plus cabin areas, as shown in the excerpt from Promised Land State Park Trail Map below.
As with all Pennsylvania state park campgrounds, reservations can be made easily through the DCNR website. The website has three helpful features to assist you in finding the right campsite:
- Search campsite by type (e.g. electric, non-electric, full hookup, cabin, etc.)
- Search by availability via scrolling through a 2-week window for a list of campsites
- Search by an interactive map showing each campsite’s availability during a given date range by color coding
Clicking on a campsite either in the list or in the interactive map allows you to see site details. One opportunity for improvement is that the site description contains typically one or two narrow-framed pictures of the site that don’t show the surroundings, such as the proximity of adjacent sites and cover between them. You can look at pictures of the adjacent sites to try to cobble together a best guess of the campsite’s surroundings. Wider angle pictures of each site would be helpful.
Promised Land State Park Campground Review
Promised Land State Park camping check-in time is 3:00pm and campsites must be cleared by 3:00pm of your checkout date. Quiet hours are 9:00pm and 8:00am. As with all Pennsylvania state parks, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Pet areas, non-pet areas, and the amenities of the site (electric, water) are marked on the map and are noted in the site description, so make sure you pay attention to which type of site you are booking. As with most Pennsylvania state parks, the bathroom facilities were clean and well maintained. We had cell service throughout the state park.
The majority of the campsites are located in four campgrounds near the northwest side of Lower Lake:
- Beechwood
- Northwoods
- Rhododendron
- Hemlock Hills Equestrian Area
Lower Lake Campgrounds
We stayed in a wooded site in the Rhododendron area. The first thing we noticed when we pulled up to the site is that it was not as secluded as it appeared on the website when we booked (see campsite photo comment above). The site must have been cleared significantly since the photo was taken. There was a decent amount of tree cover and distance between us and our neighbors to the right, but there was just a light, thin strip of young birches between us and our neighbors on the other side. The openness and closeness to our neighbors gave us full visibility high audibility of each other. This was not a big deal, since we were in fact in a campground, and it would not have deterred us; it is just not what we expected. We were also surprised by the knee-high grass that encroached our site and throughout the campground in general. It looked as if the high grass would typically be maintained, but maybe being early in the season (Memorial Day) they didn’t get to it yet? All of the sites we saw were flat, so you don’t have to be concerned about finding a level spot.
The campgrounds are arranged in loops. Generally, the sites in the interior of the loops are closer and more open than the sites on the outside of the loops. The interior of the loops would be advantageous for group camping where multiple sites can be combined to accommodate a large party. If you prefer more privacy and a woodsy experience, sites on the curve of the loop are your best bet.
The Northwoods area and the Hemlock Hills Equestrian area were closed for maintenance during our trip. Hemlock Hills Equestrian area consisted of six large sites with stalls for horses and room to accommodate trailers. The campground was arranged as a cul-de-sac for easy maneuvering.
The Beechwood area is a large, dense campground of approximately 100 sites. Some of the sites were quite small, consisting of a driveway to park a camper and enough room for chairs and a campfire. The more wooded sites are along the back row (farthest from the lake in the map). The sites in the interior are shaded with trees but many have little screening cover between them. The Beechwood area is a good choice if you like socializing with the neighbors and want abundant friends for the kids to play with. Both the Rhododendron and the Beechwood areas have shower facilities.
Pickerel Point and Deerfield Campgrounds
The Pickerel Point and Deerfield campgrounds are on the southeastern side of the state park, the opposite end from the Lower Lake camping area. Pickerel point has a shower facility, but the Deerfield Area does not. However, Deerfield area campers may take a short drive (or longer walk) to use the Pickerel Point facilities. Pickerel Point is located on a peninsula that juts into Promised Land Lake and consists of electric, full hookup, non-electric walk-in sites, and three cabins. The full hook-up sites are located along the main road and most of the electric sites are on loops that are somewhat wooded. None of the full hookup or electric sites are waterfront. However, over half of the sites are non-electric walk-in sites, and these are the closest to the water. There are three cabins located on the open hillside near the entrance to Pickerel Point. There is a small beach and swimming area at the tip of Pickerel Point, adding to the appeal of this campground.
The Deerfield Area consists of a loop of non-electric sites just south of Pickerel Point. The Deerfield Area is slightly more wooded but only a few of the sites offer appreciable seclusion. The Deerfield Area is on a hill, so be sure to check how flat a site is in the site details on the website.
Pines Campground
The Pines area is located in a large hollow and is a short walk to the day use area and beach. The campground is largely underneath a canopy of tall hardwoods, giving it the most woodsy feel of all the campgrounds. However, there isn’t much screening between campsites and the center area of the loop is a relatively open tent town, although they appeared to be well spaced. This would be another good spot for group camping. Young white pines are interspersed throughout and along the edge of the area. All the sites in the Pines area are non-electric.
There are twelve cabins located along the scenic Bear Wallow Road and plus the Whittaker Cabin on its own peninsula. See the Promised Land State Park Website for more information.
Things to Do at Promised Land State Park
Watersports, Beach, and Day Use Area
The most significant attractions are Promised Land Lake and Lower Lake. Fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and canoeing were popular activities during our visit. Boat rentals are available to the south of the day use area. Non-wake motorized boats are allowed. There are multiple boat ramps and access points on both lakes. The day use area features large open spaces for activities and picnics and reservable pavilions for parties, as well as a beach with swimming area. Pickerel Point also offers a smaller beach and swimming area. We were impressed with the cleanliness of the beaches and day use area.
Conservation Island
Conservation Island is a nature preserve area on an island located in the southwestern section of Promised Land Lake. The island is accessible via a short foot bridge. There is a quiet loop trail a little less than a mile long with spurs to the water in several places, offering views of the lake and wetlands from various perspectives. A small rock formation is located at the eastern end of the island.
Promised Land Lake Scenic Bike Loop
Promised Land State Park offers an excellent road biking opportunity, approximately 6.5 miles around the perimeter of Promised Land Lake. You can start near the day use area, head south past Conservation Island, then head East on Pickerel Point Rd. From Pickerel Point follow the lake north on North Shore Rd. and loop all the way up to The Pines campground then back to the day use area. The scenery is especially beautiful in the more densely wooded sections along the east and northeast portions of the lake, particularly near the tributary streams (Snow Shanty Run, Burley Inlet, Big Inlet, and Crane’s Nest Run). The dark water is reminiscent of Black Moshannon State Park in Center County, PA. Whether you bike, walk, or drive, this scenic trip is highly recommended.
Little Falls Waterfall and Hiking Trails
There are numerous trails available, most of them are a few miles or less and easy terrain. Because there is a network of trails through Promised Land State Park, you can combine them for a longer adventure. We recommend one must-do trail to Promised Land State Park’s waterfall, the Littles Fall Trail.
For more intense hiking adventure, Promised Land State Park is surrounded by over 12,400 acres of Delaware State Forest, particularly on the north side. Join us on an adventure to the scenic Bruce Lake Natural Area.
The Masker Museum
The Masker Museum tells the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It is located at the entrance to the Deerfield Area and admission is free. The museum was closed at the time of our visit, but you can read more about it here.
Scenic Lake Vistas
Finally, be sure to take time to enjoy the views of the lake from some of the many scenic spots, including Pickerel Point, the day use area, Conservation Island, Ridgefield Point, and Bear Wallow. We especially enjoyed the large pine stand views from Bear Wallow, and even saw one of the bald eagles hunting and diving over Lower Lake.
Concluding Thoughts and Recommendation
Promised Land State Park is large, with nearly 400 campsites over five regular campgrounds plus an equestrian campground and cabins at Bear Wallow, Pickerell Point, and the Whittaker Cabin. There is cell service throughout the state park. We love camping at Pennsylvania state parks because of their consistent high quality, and because you generally know what to expect. However, the campgrounds at Promised Land State Park were just OK for a Pennsylvania state park. The campsite maintenance wasn’t up to state park par, although the bathroom facilities were clean and well maintained. Most of the sites, especially on the inner portions of the loops, were more open and denser than we prefer. If you want more space and seclusion, we recommend one of the sites near the loop curves of the Rhododendron area or Deerfield area. Most of the Beechwood area is the camping equivalent to a suburban subdivision, so if that is your style, then the Beechwood Area is right for you. If you are interested in proximity to the beach, the Pines area, Pickerel Point, and Deerfield areas good choices. Although situated on a lake, the only campsites that could be considered waterfront are some of the walk-in sites at Pickerel Point. The two lakes were beautiful and offer beach, boating, fishing, and exploration opportunities. Promised Land State Park would be a good option for group camping and watersports on the lake. Otherwise, there are more suitable locations for our preferred camping style. If we would return to Promised Land State Park, it would be to paddle around the lakes and to serve as a base for further exploration of the Delaware State Forest.
Highlights include the Little Falls Trail, watersports on the lake, scenic views, biking the circuit of the Promised Land Lake, and exploring the Delaware State Forest.
For more information, visit the Promised Land State Park website.
While you are in the area, join us exploring Little Falls and the Bruce Lake Natural Area.
Also, be sure to check out our other campground guides and reviews.
