Hiking at Promised Land State Park
50 miles of trails
There are approximately 50 miles of hiking trails in Promised Land State Park and the surrounding Delaware State Forest. Splendid opportunities exist for nature study, relaxation, and exploration.
Promised Land State Park Trail Map (PDF)
Trail Signing System
Designated recreational trails are all marked with vertical blue blazes. At each trail intersection, a sign designates the:
Permitted trail usage is designated by international symbols. Any other markings are not relevant to this trail system.
Trail Definitions
Difficulty Ratings
Easiest -- For beginner trail users. Grade is gentle with few obstacles.
More Difficult -- For the majority of trail users. Grade is steeper and trails narrower with embedded rocks or roots on the trail surface.
Most Difficult -- For trail users with advanced skills. Grade is steep and provides a definite physical challenge. Routes may not be well marked. Elevation gain or loss is severe.
Trail Route Type
Loop -- Start and end at the same location and follow a single trail to form a loop.
Out-and-back -- Start and end at a trailhead and follow a single trail to an endpoint or specific point of interest, then return along the same route.
Point-to-point -- Trails are generally longer in distance and parks may often contain only a portion of the trail within their boundary. Hiker starts and ends in different locations, often requiring a shuttle.
Connector -- Begin and end in connection with another trail or trails but do not terminate at a trailhead.
1800 Trail
0.43 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Blue/orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail begins in the Pines Campground and ends at Boundary Trail. The name is derived from the 1800-foot contour line that it follows for the first part of the trail. Numerous species of hardwoods are found in this area.
Bald Eagle Trail
0.61 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Blue/orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail links Village Trail to Rhododendron and Power Tower Trails.
Bear Wallow Trail
0.9 mile in the park, 2.5 miles total | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue/orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This 2.5-mile trail connects the Bear Wallow Cabin Colony to numerous trails on adjoining Delaware State Forest property. It also is a border trail between Delaware State Forest and the north side of the park.
Big Dam Ridge Trail
1.36 miles | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Blue/orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail runs along the boundary of the park linking Bear Wallow Trail and Mill Brook No. 1 Trail. It crosses a fordway over the East Branch of Wallenpaupack Creek which comes out of Lower Lake Dam.
Boundary Trail
5.8 miles | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue/orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail was created as a boundary marker from state park property to forestry property. It travels from the southern end of the park east, then wraps around to the northern end of the park.
Bruce Lake Trail
2.5-10 miles outside the park | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
From the Bruce Lake trailhead on 390, this old Delaware State Forest road travels 2.5 miles to Bruce Lake, a natural glacial lake formed when ice from the Wisconsin glacier gouged out bedrock and formed a depression.
Glacial till was deposited at the south end of the lake creating a natural dam, and ground water continually fills in the lake. The trail continues past the lake for 7.5 more miles to meet Boundary Trail on the eastern side of Promised Land Lake.
Burley Inlet Trail
0.4 mile in the park, 1.75 miles total | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This 1.75-mile trail is an old woods road that starts off of Route 390 and ends by Burley Inlet. The road was originally built by the CCC as a fire access road. During the 1930's the highest point of this trail was the site of a "South Tower", a 20-foot fire tower. This trail also passes along a large deer exclosure which contrasts with the surrounding area that has deer overpopulation.
Conservation Island Loop
1.01 miles | Easiest hiking | Loop trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: non-flush restrooms
This self-guided nature trail has a corresponding booklet which describes features found on the island. The trail circles the island giving beautiful views of the lake with benches to take a rest along the way.
Conservation Island Trail
0.31 miles | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: non-flush restrooms
This self-guided nature trail has a corresponding booklet, which describes the natural features found on the island. The trail winds through the middle of the island then links to Conservation Island Loop trail.
Egypt Meadow Trail
0.75 mile outside the park | More difficult hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This old woods road in Delaware State Forest passes Panther Swamp Trail and ends at the Egypt Meadow Lake spillway. The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) formed the lake in 1935. Before that time, the area was covered with hollow, soft meadow grass, which was harvested and used as packing material for the famous Dorflinger's Glass Works in White Mills PA. The glass works began in 1865 and was the largest glassware center in the USA until after World War 1.
Hemlock Hill Trail
0.48 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking, equestrian, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: non-flush restrooms
This trail begins at the Equestrian Campground and terminates at Big Dam Ridge Trail. It is mainly used by equestrians to get onto nearby forestry trails.
Little Falls Trail
1.02 miles | More difficult hiking | Loop trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
Named for the numerous waterfalls on this part of the East Branch of the Wallenpaupack Creek, this trail is very picturesque. A footbridge 0.25-mile up the trail allows users to access the other side of the creek. Combine this trail with other trails nearby for a longer hike in the park or the adjoining Delaware State Forest.
Lower Lake Trail
0.58 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Blue/orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail passes through a profusion of hay-scented ferns and is used by deer as often as hikers. The trail terminates at the junction with Bear Wallow Trail.
Mill Book No. 1 Trail
0.66 mile in the park, 2.4 miles total | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Red/blue/orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This 2.4-mile trail provides access from Lower Lake road to numerous trails located on adjoining Delaware State Forest Property. It also borders the park on the southwest side after Lower Lake Road before continuing into Delaware State Forest.
Mountain Laurel Trail
0.39 mile | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This is a short trail that runs along SR 390 linking Boundary Trail, Rhododendron Trail, and the Day Use Area.
Power Tower Trail
0.41 mile | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: modern restrooms, potable water
This short trail connects the Park Office to Bald Eagle Trail.
Red Oak Trail
0.37 mile in the park, 1.17 miles total | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue/orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
Red Oak Trail connects to Bald Eagle Trail from Parking Lot 1 and also to several other trails located on state forest property.
Rhododendron Trail
2.2 miles | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue/orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail connects Pickerel Point Road and Burley Inlet Trail to the Day Use Area. This trail is a bike friendly alternative to State Route 390 to get from the Park Office to the Day Use Area.
Rock Oak Ridge Trail
0.47 mile in the park, 1.5 miles total | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue/red blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This 1.5-mile trail was built by the CCC boys in the 1930's and begins in the park and ends on Delaware State Forest property. The park's orienteering course begins at this trailhead.
Snow Shanty Trail
0.1 mile in the park, 0.5 mile total | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Yellow blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
Snow Shanty is a connector trail that starts on Pickerel Point Road by Park Ave and ends on Burly Inlet Trail. This 0.5-mile trail starts on park property and ends on state forest property.
Tree Tower Trail
0.55 mile | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue/orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail connects the Day Use Area, Rhododendron Trail, Bear Wallow Trail, and Boundary Trail.
Village Trail
0.9 mile | Easiest hiking | Out-and-back trail | Blue/orange blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing recommended, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
This trail links a parking area on Lower Lake Road to the Village of Promised Land.
Whittaker Trail
0.18 mile in the park, 0.55 mile total | Easiest hiking | Connector trail | Blue blazes
Recreations permitted: hiking, snowshoeing recommended
Trailhead amenities: none
Along this narrow trail you will find rhododendron, mountain laurel, and low bush blueberry growing underneath a canopy of mixed hardwoods. Notice the "borrow pits" along the trail where the CCC took material used to build this trail. The 0.55-mile trail terminates at Telephone Trail in Delaware State Forest, where you can see a glacial depression often filled with water in the spring.
Hiking Reminders
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited on all hiking trails; except snowmobiles, which are allowed only on designated snowmobile trails
- Pets are permitted on trails, but must be on a leash of 6 feet or less at all times
- Before hiking, let someone know where you are going and when you will return
- Take a map, stay on established trails, and plan to return before dusk
- Wear proper attire and footwear when hiking
- Be aware of hunting seasons and hunting areas within the park and wear fluorescent orange clothing during hunting season