8 Best Lakeside Towns in The Poconos

The Poconos are famous for their immaculate natural beauty and small area lakes. They are located in the Keystone State of Pennsylvania, and they have an infinite number of outdoor activities in which to participate. The Poconos has plenty to offer, whether you are stopping by for a short stay or calling this picturesque area home.

Explore eight lakeside towns and villages with great water features for every enthusiast, wanderer, or weekend escapist alike. They are well worth a satisfying excursion from New Jersey, Philadelphia, or New York. Uncover eight of the best lakeside towns in the Poconos for your next getaway, or you may even be convinced to call one of these small, quiet towns a potential place to call home.

Hawley

Right off the shore of Lake Wallenpaupack (the second largest lake in the Keystone State) in the Poconos Mountains, Hawley is a borough with a population of 1,229. Hawley is the home of Woodlock Pines Resort, an all-inclusive resort that offers golfing, a spa, and much more. The Costa's Family Fun Park is around the corner with water slides, driver ranges, laser tag, and much more for the whole family. Natural beauty and wonder welcome people with open arms with the Promised Land State Park, which has winter cabins for the adventurer, endless hiking trails, tons of forests to explore, and skiing during the winter.

Another family-friendly park in Hawley is Bingham Park, just across from The Settlers Inn. During the winter months, an ice skating rink is constructed on the baseball field in the park. The Settler Inn offers fine dining and can host weddings and gatherings for those looking to get out of New York City or Philadelphia for the weekend. No matter what season is in the air, Hawley is worth a visit to explore nature and fresh air.

Jim Thorpe

Nicknamed the "Switzerland of America," Jim Thorpe is a borough with a population of 4,507 and is very close to Mauch Chunk Lake. The borough was originally named Mauch Chunk until 1954, when it was changed to Jim Thorpe, honoring the legendary athlete buried there. Jim Thorpe is filled with natural wonders from the D & L Trail, which goes through the Lehigh River that flows in the borough, and the Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary, where visitors and residents can learn more about butterflies, how to raise them, and when to release them. Fun water activities include hiking to the Glen Onoko Falls and whitewater rafting in the Lehigh River.

Jim Thorpe also has a plethora of museums and historical sites to explore, from the Mauch Chunk Museum, the Harry Packer Mansion, and The Stabin Museum, for all to learn more about the borough. The Harry Packer Mansion was the inspiration for Walt Disney World's "Haunted Mansion" thanks to its Victorian design and vines engulfing some of the front of the exterior.

Poconos Pines

Pocono Pines is a town with Lake Naomi right in the center. Whether you are looking for adventures at the Pinecrest Lake Golf Club or sailing on Lake Naomi, Poconos Pines has you covered. The Lake Naomi Club allows people to take sailboats on Lake Naomi, but motorboats are not allowed to preserve the lake's tranquility. While sailing or canoeing on Lake Naomi, an excellent scenic spot to explore is Comfort Island, which is right on the lake.

In addition to the outdoor activities, Hutton Metalcrafts Inc. has visitors covered with unique custom-made lanterns and wall art to purchase. Additionally, 10 minutes away from Pocono Pines is the Kalahari Indoor Waterpark for anyone looking for family fun while visiting relatives or on a weekend trip away from the major cities.

Summit Hill

Summit Hill is a borough with a population of 2,954, with the Mauch Chunk Lake just east of town. For boating enthusiasts, Mauch Chunk Lake Park has two boat launch areas open all year round for recreational boating and fishing. Beach swimming is permitted from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day. Spending the night in Summit Hill shouldn't be an issue with the Lizard Creek Inn and the Inn at Birch Wilds nearby.

A notable landmark to visit is the old Summit Hill High School Building, which was a high school in the area from 1911 until its closure in 1997, when it was converted to apartments. The former high school was added to the list of National Records of Historic Places in 2001 due to its significance in education and architecture in the area. Just east of Mauch Chunk Lake is the Switchback Railroad Trail, for any outdoor adventurer wanting to be one with the forests in the Poconos Mountains in the Keystone State.

The Switchback Railroad trail was also the first railroad in the state, and it can be explored by anyone who wants to see what the historic trail used to be.

Lake Harmony

Lake Harmony is a small, unincorporated community with a population of 718 as of the 2010 United States census. Besides its rolling hills and green forests, it is located on the shores of Lake Harmony, where visitors can practice water skiing and waterboarding, rent kayaks, canoes, and longboards, and partake in lake cruises. Visitors looking to find that perfect lakeside retreat are sure to find much to love in Lake Harmony. A great place to start is The Lodge, with its indoor waterpark, where visitors can enjoy lakeside relaxation in nature without sacrificing amenities. The Kidder Hike and Bike Trail is a young hiking trail that opened to hikers in the fall of 2019. The trail is also excellent for biking and not too far from downtown Lake Harmony.

The Split Rock Golf Club and the Jack Frost National Golf Club are in the area for anyone looking to breathe some fresh air with scenic views, as well as Hickory Rock State Park for adventurous explorers looking to camp in the wilderness. If the craving for skiing and snowboarding can't be accomplished in New York, look no further than the Big Boulder Ski Area in the Lake Harmony area. Big Boulder has lifts to ski and snowboard slopes, skiing lessons, night skiing, and much more to keep the adventure going through the winter.

Waymart

Waymart is a small borough in the Poconos Mountains with a population of around 1,269. The borough is right next to Lake Ladore and Keen Lake. Waymart has plenty of history to it from the Delaware and Hudson Gravity Railroad Depot Museum, highlighting the town's history with coal and railroads.

Keen Lake, which is next to town, offers camping, rental units, and boat rentals, whether they are rowboats, kayaks, paddleboards, aqua-cycles, or canoes for anyone looking for fun activities in the summertime. Lake Ladore is very similar to Keen Lake. However, there is a summer camp for the kids and a summer retreat for anyone wanting to plan a conference or special events. Waymart also has visitors and residents covered for great food with the Waymart Hotel and Restaurant, which has an incredible pizza menu and will leave visitors and locals wanting more.

Bear Creek Village

Bear Creek Village is a borough with a population of 290 residents. Bear Creek Lake is located within the borough and gives visitors and residents a chance to fish, boat, sail, and swim from its two private beaches. The Historic District in Bear Creek Village entices all who travel far and near with its history from the 1700s to how the town became a lumber company area, an ice company area, to what it is today.

Near Bear Creek Village is the Natural Lands' Bear Creek Preserve, which has wonderful natural trails and wildlife. Not far from Bear Creek Village are Buttermilk Falls, a beautiful waterfall with an incredible rock formation. The best time to visit these exquisite falls is in the spring after the rainy season.

Shohola

Shohola is a small town with a population of around 2,330. It is located on the Pennsylvania—New York State line, and Walker Lake, Shohola Lake (also known as the Shohola Marsh Reservoir), and Twin Lakes are within its boundaries. Shohola Lake has a couple of spots where visitors can fish, while at Walker Lake, residents and visitors can use both non-powered and powered boats.

Keeping up with nature, parks in Shohola include Rohman Park and Shohola Falls, which pours into Shohola Lake. Rohman Park is a community park in the township, but unfortunately, it doesn't allow dogs. The Shohola Falls is a breathtaking natural landmark with trails that take an average of 14 minutes to complete.

Each of these eight Pennsylvania towns has a unique history, natural flavor, and spectacular lakes, which should certainly entice visitors to explore. Venturing to the Poconos Mountains is well worth the trip, regardless of the season—fall, winter, spring, or summer. Regardless of the town's size, there is always an adventure waiting in the Poconos Mountains and their glorious lakes. No matter which lake community you visit, the enticement of the area will have you coming back to explore more of the Poconos Mountains.