Gouldsboro State Park covers 2,800 acres in Monroe and Wayne counties. Its 250-acre lake is bigger than neighboring Tobyhanna Lake, and it's known for fishing and quiet boating: electric motors only, at slow, no-wake speed. There's a summer sand beach, a boat rental, five wooded picnic areas and about 7 miles of trails. Entry is free.
It's about 25 minutes from our homes in Mount Pocono, Pocono Summit and Emerald Lakes (Long Pond). Tobyhanna State Park, run by the same office, is a few minutes away and has the campground.
The lake and boating
- Gouldsboro Lake is 250 acres. Electric motors only, at slow, no-wake speed. Rowboats, electric motorboats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are welcome.
- A boat rental is open daily from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, except in bad weather, with rowboats, kayaks, paddleboats, canoes and electric motorboats.
- Bringing your own: motorboats need a current registration. Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards need a registration, a state park launch or mooring permit, or a Fish and Boat Commission launch permit.
- There are 50 overnight mooring spaces; permits are sold at the Tobyhanna State Park office.
The swimming beach
- The sand beach is open from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to mid-September, 8 a.m. to sunset.
- It has rustic restrooms (no bathhouse showers like Tobyhanna's).
- Swim at your own risk and follow the posted rules. The beach is smoke-free.
Fishing
- Gouldsboro Lake is a warmwater lake with bass, pickerel, yellow perch, catfish, sunfish, walleye and crappie.
- An ADA-accessible fishing pier is near Parking Lot 4.
- Fish and Boat Commission rules apply.
Trails
- Old 611 Trail: 1.25 miles, easiest. It follows a stretch of old Route 611 left behind when I-380 was built. Bikes and cross-country skis are allowed.
- Old Entrance Trail: 1.8 miles out and back, easiest, along the park's original entrance road. Bikes allowed.
- Prospect Rock Trail: 2.9 miles, more difficult, with a real climb. It links the Old Entrance and Old 611 trails.
- Frank Gantz Trail: 1.3 miles in this park, most difficult, red blazes. It continues through the Black Bear and Bender Swamps Natural Area to Tobyhanna State Park (3.2 miles in all).
- The park lists 5 miles of trails for mountain biking, starting from the day use area.
Winter at Gouldsboro
- Trails are open for cross-country skiing (Old 611 is the park's pick) and snowshoeing.
- Ice fishing and ice skating are allowed on natural ice; the skating area is about one acre near Parking Lot 4.
- The park does not check ice thickness. DCNR says at least 4 inches for one person, 7 inches for a small group and 6 inches for iceboating. Check the state parks Winter Report first.
Picnics
Five wooded picnic areas have tables and charcoal grills, open year round. A pavilion with electricity near Lot 3 can be reserved up to 11 months ahead for a fee; unreserved, it's free, first come, first served.
Hunting season
About 2,700 acres of the park are open to hunting in season, and State Game Lands 127 and 312 are nearby. Wear bright orange on the trails in fall and early winter.
Good to know
- Address: SR 507 and State Park Road, Gouldsboro, PA 18424. Phone 570-894-8336 (the Tobyhanna State Park office runs both parks).
- The entrance is half a mile south of Gouldsboro village on PA 507, two miles north of I-380 Exit 13.
- Entry is free. Open every day, sunrise to sunset; day use areas close at dusk.
- There is no campground at Gouldsboro. Tobyhanna State Park next door has one.
