Tobyhanna State Park covers 5,440 acres in Monroe and Wayne counties, at nearly 2,000 feet above sea level. Its center is 170-acre Tobyhanna Lake. Only electric motors are allowed and every boat goes at slow, no-wake speed, so the lake stays quiet for kayaks, canoes and fishing. In summer there's a sand beach and a boat rental. The easy 5.1-mile Lakeside Trail circles the whole lake. Entry is free.
It's about 15 minutes from our Mount Pocono homes and about 20 minutes from Emerald Lakes (Long Pond), Pocono Summit and Pocono Pines. Gouldsboro State Park, with a bigger lake run by the same office, is next door.
The lake and boating
- Tobyhanna Lake is 170 acres. Electric motors only, at slow, no-wake speed. Rowboats, electric motorboats, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are all welcome.
- A boat rental is open daily from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, except in bad weather. It rents 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 60 overnight mooring spaces; a mooring permit is sold at the 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.
- Swim at your own risk and follow the posted rules.
- The bathhouse has flush toilets and changing areas. Showers cost a fee.
- The beach is smoke-free, including e-cigarettes. A playground is near the beach.
Trails
- Lakeside Trail: 5.1-mile loop around the whole lake, easiest, blue blazes. It passes the campground and beach and is good for wildlife watching. Bikes are allowed on it, and it's the park's only bike trail.
- Range Trail: 2.75 miles out and back, more difficult, yellow blazes. It crosses Bender Swamp and a boulder field to a small parking area on State Route 196.
- Frank Gantz Trail: 3.2 miles point to point (1.9 miles in this park), most difficult, red blazes. It runs through the Black Bear and Bender Swamps Natural Area to Gouldsboro State Park.
- Wear hiking boots: the park describes its terrain as rugged.
Fishing
- Tobyhanna Lake is a warmwater lake with bass, pickerel, yellow perch, catfish and sunfish. Brook and brown trout are stocked.
- An ADA-accessible fishing pier is in the day use area. The park posts water depth maps of the lake online.
- Fish and Boat Commission rules apply.
Winter at Tobyhanna
- Trails are open for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
- Ice fishing and ice skating are allowed on the lake's natural ice; the skating area is 1.2 acres near Parking Area 3. The park does not check ice thickness: DCNR says at least 4 inches for one person and 7 inches for a small group.
- Snowmobiles can use a one-way, 5.1-mile trail on the Lakeside Trail, starting at Lot 1, from the day after the last December deer season until April 1, conditions permitting. Snowmobiles must be registered.
- Check the state parks Winter Report for ice and snow conditions before you go.
Camping and picnics
- A 135-site campground is open from mid-April to mid-October, with flush toilets, showers, a playground and a dump station. Pets are allowed at some sites for a fee. Nights are cool even in summer at this height.
- Five rustic group tent sites near Lot 4 are open year round (up to 120 people combined).
- Four picnic areas have tables and charcoal grills. A pavilion with electricity near Lot 1 can be reserved up to 11 months ahead; unreserved, it's free, first come, first served.
Hunting season
About 5,200 acres of the park are open to hunting in season, and State Game Lands 127 and 312 are nearby. Other visitors share the park during hunting seasons, so wear bright orange on the trails in fall and early winter.
Good to know
- Address: 114 Campground Road, Tobyhanna, PA 18466. Phone 570-894-8336. The entrance is on PA 423, 2.1 miles north of the village of Tobyhanna and 2.5 miles north of I-380.
- Entry is free. The park is open every day, sunrise to sunset; day use areas close at dusk. The beach and rentals have their own seasons.
- The same office runs Gouldsboro State Park.
