The Poconos have two kinds of lakes. State park and county lakes, like Beltzville, Tobyhanna, Gouldsboro and Mauch Chunk, are open to everyone, with public beaches and boat rentals in summer. Lake Wallenpaupack, the biggest lake in the region, is public too.
Most of the lakes our homes sit on are private community lakes. Renters can use them, but only with the community's passes or badges, and each community sets its own rules for swimming, boats and fishing. Here is what we could confirm for each lake, as of 2026.
Public lakes (open to everyone)
- Beltzville Lake, Beltzville State Park (about 5 miles east of Lehighton off US 209): 949 acres. The sand beach is open daily Memorial Day to Labor Day, 8am to 8pm. Unlimited horsepower with a 45 mph limit, and a water-ski zone on the south shore. Kayaks, paddleboats and pontoons rent west of the beach in summer. Anglers fish for stocked trout, striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge and perch.
- Tobyhanna Lake, Tobyhanna State Park (2.1 miles north of Tobyhanna on PA 423): 170 acres. Sand beach from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to mid-September, 8am to sunset, swim at your own risk. Electric motors only, slow no-wake. Rowboats, kayaks, canoes, paddleboats and electric motorboats rent daily Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Bass, pickerel, yellow perch, catfish and sunfish, plus stocked brook and brown trout.
- Gouldsboro Lake, Gouldsboro State Park: 250 acres, with a beach on the same schedule as Tobyhanna, electric motors only and the same kinds of boat rentals. Bass, pickerel, yellow perch, catfish, walleye and crappie.
- Mauch Chunk Lake, Mauch Chunk Lake Park, Jim Thorpe (run by Carbon County): 330 acres. The beach is open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, 11am to 7pm, and swimming is allowed only when lifeguards are on duty. Beach tags are sold at the park office (570-325-3669). Unpowered and electric boats only. The county rents kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, rowboats and paddleboats at Boat Launch A.
- Sand Spring Lake, Hickory Run State Park (near White Haven): a swimming beach from late May to mid-September, 8am to sunset. Fishing isn't allowed in this lake; the park's fishing is in its trout streams.
- Lake Wallenpaupack (Pike and Wayne counties): about 5,700 acres with no horsepower limit. From the Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day the limit is 45 mph from sunrise to sunset on weekends and holidays, and 25 mph from sunset to sunrise. The Fish & Boat Commission's Mangan Cove access off SR 590 is a free launch.
- Promised Land State Park (Greentown, Pike County): Promised Land Lake (422 acres) and Lower Lake (173 acres), both electric motors only. Two sand beaches are open Memorial Day to mid-September, 8am to sunset.
Community lakes (passes required)
- Emerald Lakes, Long Pond: five lakes and two beaches, Main Beach on East Emerald Lake and Pinetree Beach, each with a playground, grills and restrooms. No lifeguards; lakes and beaches are open dawn to dusk. Renters buy amenity badges per person, from $20 for one day up to $50 for seven days, and children 2 and under are free (as of 2026). Electric trolling motors only, and boats must be registered at the Association Office. Kayaks and paddle boats rent at Pine Tree Lake on summer weekends, 11am to 6pm.
- Arrowhead Lakes, Pocono Lake: Arrowhead Lake and North Arrowhead Lake, with four sand beaches and roped swim areas (no inflatables or noodles). Gasoline-powered boats aren't allowed. The Rental Shack at the Island Complex rents paddleboards, kayaks and canoes in season. Renters need access passes; the Rental Office is 570-646-1771, option 5 then 1.
- Lake Naomi, Pocono Pines: a 277-acre private lake with sailing, boating and fishing. Renters need a Lake Naomi Club Temporary Membership, which is strictly limited, so ask your host early.
- Lake Harmony: a private lake that isn't open to the general public. It's known for powerboating and water-skiing. Ask your host what lake access comes with the home.
- Towamensing Trails and Indian Mountain Lakes, Albrightsville: private gated communities with their own lakes and beaches. Their renter rules have changed recently, so confirm badges and boat rules with your host before you pack a kayak.
Before you swim or launch
Many Pocono beaches, including the community beaches at Emerald Lakes and the state park beaches at Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro, are swim at your own risk, so keep a close eye on kids. To launch your own kayak or canoe at a state park or Fish & Boat Commission lake, you need a Pennsylvania boat registration or a launch permit. Anyone 16 or older needs a Pennsylvania fishing license, and community lakes can add their own fishing permit on top.
