Pike County PA - Bruce Lake Hike

Pike County PA has so many beautiful places - another of these is Bruce Lake Natural Area.

Part of Promised Land State Park, 2.5 mile Bruce Lake Natural Area hiking trail is one of over 50 miles of hiking trails in the Delaware State Forest in northeastern PA's Pocono Mountains.

One Sunday afternoon, the husband, Mr. Rice, and I took our three unruly kids on this hike, hoping to hike the attitudes right out of them.

It worked!

They soon stopped bickering with each other, and even my couch potato son reluctantly had fun. This trail is relatively easy going - the only way it could be easier is if it were 100% flat and blacktopped. While the beginning of the trail is gravel, most of it is just a wide grassy road, decorated with some rocks here and there. A few little hills. Anyone in good health can easily conquer this hiking trail.

The beauty is breathtaking. I stopped and saw some princess pine, a ground covering commonly used in wreaths and other holiday decorations. I also noticed some elderberries, which brought back memories of making elderberry jam with my aunt. The views of Panther Swamp, Balsam Swamp, Egypt Meadow Lake, and finally, Bruce Lake were so beautiful - I was once again reminded of why I love Pike County PA & the Poconos.

Bruce Lake is accessible only by hiking in (there is another shorter trail that takes you directly to the lake, but the kids were so antsy, we needed the entire 2.5 mile hike in to settle them down.) Supposedly the lake is good for fishing; I saw several fish breaking water when we got to the end of the trail. Bass, muskies, pan fish, and pickeral are said to be inhabitants of the clean waters of this glacial lake.

Maybe you'd like to move to Pike County PA, too, so that you can take advantage of this and other hiking trails in the state forest and in Promised Land State Park. If I can be of any assistance to you, please contact me using the buttons below.

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Paupack Group Independently Owned and Operated

Poconos, Pocono Mountains

Promised Land State Park - Pike County PA

Promised Land State Park in Pike County covers nearly 3000 acres and is probably one of northeastern Pennsylvania's best places to spend the day (or a weekend, or a week!)

Located on Route 390, a few miles south of I-84's Exit 26, it is easy to find.

Our family visits Promised Land State Park several times a year. The kids love to swim in the clean waters of the lake and play on the sandy beach. Lots of shade trees are nearby for those of us who do not worship the sun. Picnic spots are plentiful...and please do not feed the ducks, however cute they may be! Reserve a picnic pavilion for a large gathering, and have electricity and a private bathroom along with protection from sudden rain or hot sun!

There are hiking trails, camping areas, cabins, bike trails, snowmobile trails, and access to equestrian trails...it's probably the best investment of time anyone can spend.

Rent a boat, kayak, canoe, or paddleboat and take a leisurely ride along the shores of beautiful 442 acre Promised Land Lake or 173 acre Lower Lake.

One client of mine recently commented about the religious theme for the park's name. Originally the hunting lands of the Minsi Tribe (Wolf Clan) of the Lenni-Lenape Delaware Indians, these grounds were purchased by the Shakers, a religious sect seeking to build a farming community (or so one story goes). The legend continues that the Shakers found this rocky land most unsuitable for farming - and sarcastically dubbed it "The Promised Land."

Eventually the Shakers sold the land for timber and left the area. In 1902, after the land had been repeatedly cleared and timbered, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased the tract to become the state's 4th state park, opening it to the public in 1905. During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt started the Civilian Conservation Corps to help relieve unemployment; much of the CCC's handiwork can be seen in Promised Land State Park today.

While it may not have been "The Promised Land" for the Shakers, it most certainly is the "Promised Land" for nature lovers visiting and living in the Poconos!

Maybe it's time to think about purchasing your own cabin near Promised Land. Most of the cabins are on state owned ground and only available to PA residents, but there are others for non- PA residents as well. One of them might just have your name on it. Contact me today - or search the MLS on your own (no registration required).

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Paupack Group Independently Owned and Operated

Poconos, Pocono Mountains