Big Pocono State Park
Encyclopedia
Big Pocono State Park is a 1305.6 acres (528.4 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Jackson
and Pocono townships in Monroe County, Pennsylvania
in northeastern Pennsylvania
in the United States. The park is on Camelback Mountain
and is maintained jointly by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
and Camelback Ski Corporation.
From the summit of the mountain, one has a view of vast portions of eastern Pennsylvania as well as parts of New Jersey
and New York
. A paved drive, 1.4 miles (2.3 km) in length, around the summit provides visitors with a view in all directions. Visitors can see the Delaware Water Gap
from this location.
The park, except for the Camelback Ski Area
, closes for the winter seven days following the end of deer
season in December and reopens as conditions permit in the spring.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission purchased the land in 1928, 12 years following the death of Cattell. In 1950, the state leased a portion of the land on the north slope to Big Pocono Skiing, Inc., for commercial development. The company was later renamed the Camelback Ski Corporation, and the facility is now a major ski resort
.
In 1953, the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters (now the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) acquired 1306 acres (528.5 ha) of state game lands, which comprised the land that was purchased by the Game Commission, including the ski area lease, and the area immediately around the summit.
Big Pocono State Park opened to the public in 1954, following the construction of facilities and the scenic driver around the summit. The Cattell Cabin served as a park office and a nature museum for many years.
Although the museum no longer exists, the stone cabin still stands and is paramount only to the great views one can obtain by going to the different observation points provided by both DCNR and the Camelback Ski Corporation.
In addition to the hiking trails, there is also a horseback riding trail (3 miles (4.8 km)). The trailhead is near the entrance of the park, on the west end.
Three picnic areas with a total of 50 tables are situated within the park. The picnic area adjacent to Cattell Cabin has tables in an open setting, and the east and south picnic areas are in a wooded setting.
The Camelback Ski Area
, located on the north slope, boasts the largest skiing
, snowboarding
and snowtubing facility in the Pocono Mountains. The facility has 33 trails, 13 lifts, two terrain parks, detachable quads, a halfpipe, night skiing and 100% snowmaking. The ski area also operates the Cameltop restaurant, which is located near the summit and is open from Memorial Day
to Columbus Day
. In the summertime, a waterpark named Camelbeach is operated on the grounds of Camelback, and this can be seen from Big Pocono.
Hunting
is permitted in designated areas of the park during hunting seasons.
The following state parks are within 30 miles (48.3 km) of Big Pocono State Park:
Jackson Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania
Jackson Township is a township in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,979 at the 2000 census. A portion of Big Pocono State Park a Pennsylvania state park is on Camelback Mountain in Jackson Township.-Geography:...
and Pocono townships in Monroe County, Pennsylvania
Monroe County, Pennsylvania
-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there are 176,567 people, 49,454 households, and 36,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 people per square mile...
in northeastern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States. The park is on Camelback Mountain
Camelback Mountain (Big Pocono)
Camelback Mountain or Big Pocono is a conspicuous geographic feature on the Pocono Plateau. It is not a mountain, but rather a peninsular section of the Pocono Plateau, that when viewed from three sides, appears to be a mountain...
and is maintained jointly by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources , established on July 1, 1995, is the agency in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania responsible for maintaining and preserving the state's 117 state parks and 20 state forests; providing information on the state's natural resources; and...
and Camelback Ski Corporation.
From the summit of the mountain, one has a view of vast portions of eastern Pennsylvania as well as parts of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. A paved drive, 1.4 miles (2.3 km) in length, around the summit provides visitors with a view in all directions. Visitors can see the Delaware Water Gap
Delaware Water Gap
The Delaware Water Gap is on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the Delaware River cuts through a large ridge of the Appalachian Mountains...
from this location.
The park, except for the Camelback Ski Area
Camelback Ski Area
Camelback Mountain Resort is a ski and snowboard resort located in the Pocono Mountains region in Tannersville, Pennsylvania and Jackson Township adjacent to, and partially within Big Pocono State Park...
, closes for the winter seven days following the end of deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
season in December and reopens as conditions permit in the spring.
History
The land on which Big Pocono State Park is situated was owned by Henry S. Cattell at the turn of the 20th century. Knowing of the fondness that others in the area shared with him for the view that the summit provided, Cattell constructed a stone cabin there in 1908. For many years the cabin was left unlocked so that anyone who wished to use it as a shelter, could.The Pennsylvania Game Commission purchased the land in 1928, 12 years following the death of Cattell. In 1950, the state leased a portion of the land on the north slope to Big Pocono Skiing, Inc., for commercial development. The company was later renamed the Camelback Ski Corporation, and the facility is now a major ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
.
In 1953, the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters (now the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) acquired 1306 acres (528.5 ha) of state game lands, which comprised the land that was purchased by the Game Commission, including the ski area lease, and the area immediately around the summit.
Big Pocono State Park opened to the public in 1954, following the construction of facilities and the scenic driver around the summit. The Cattell Cabin served as a park office and a nature museum for many years.
Although the museum no longer exists, the stone cabin still stands and is paramount only to the great views one can obtain by going to the different observation points provided by both DCNR and the Camelback Ski Corporation.
Recreation
Big Pocono State Park offers a hiking trail system that consists of 7 miles (11.3 km) of interconnecting trails. The trails are of varying terrain and grade, and park officials caution inexperienced hikers to inquire at the park office before attempting the steep and rocky North Trail.In addition to the hiking trails, there is also a horseback riding trail (3 miles (4.8 km)). The trailhead is near the entrance of the park, on the west end.
Three picnic areas with a total of 50 tables are situated within the park. The picnic area adjacent to Cattell Cabin has tables in an open setting, and the east and south picnic areas are in a wooded setting.
Camelback Ski Area
Camelback Mountain Resort is a ski and snowboard resort located in the Pocono Mountains region in Tannersville, Pennsylvania and Jackson Township adjacent to, and partially within Big Pocono State Park...
, located on the north slope, boasts the largest skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
and snowtubing facility in the Pocono Mountains. The facility has 33 trails, 13 lifts, two terrain parks, detachable quads, a halfpipe, night skiing and 100% snowmaking. The ski area also operates the Cameltop restaurant, which is located near the summit and is open from Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
to Columbus Day
Columbus Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
. In the summertime, a waterpark named Camelbeach is operated on the grounds of Camelback, and this can be seen from Big Pocono.
Hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
is permitted in designated areas of the park during hunting seasons.
Nearby state parks
- Beltzville State ParkBeltzville State ParkBeltzville State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Franklin and Towamensing townships, Carbon County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park was developed around the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project, Beltzville Dam on Pohopoco Creek. Beltzville Lake is a with of...
(Carbon CountyCarbon County, PennsylvaniaAs of the census of 2000, there were 58,802 people, 23,701 households, and 16,424 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were 30,492 housing units at an average density of 80 per square mile...
) - Delaware Canal State ParkDelaware Canal State ParkDelaware Canal State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Bucks and Northampton Counties in Pennsylvania in the United States. The main attraction of the park is the Delaware Canal, which at is the only canal that remains fully intact from the towpath canal-building days of the 19th century...
(Bucks CountyBucks County, Pennsylvania- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
and Northampton CountiesNorthampton County, PennsylvaniaAs of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
) - Gouldsboro State ParkGouldsboro State ParkGouldsboro State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County and Lehigh Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park includes the Gouldsboro Lake. Gouldsboro State Park is located very close to Tobyhanna State Park and Pennsylvania State Game...
(Monroe and Wayne CountiesWayne County, PennsylvaniaAs of the census of 2000, there were 47,722 people, 18,350 households, and 12,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 people per square mile . There were 30,593 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
) - Hickory Run State ParkHickory Run State ParkHickory Run State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Kidder and Penn Forest Townships in Carbon County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is spread across the Pocono Mountains...
(Carbon County) - Jacobsburg Environmental Education CenterJacobsburg Environmental Education CenterJacobsburg Environmental Education Center is a Pennsylvania state park near Wind Gap, in Bushkill Township, Northampton County in Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Jacobsburg National Historic District is almost entirely surrounded by the park...
(Northampton County) - Lehigh Gorge State ParkLehigh Gorge State ParkLehigh Gorge State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Luzerne and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park encompasses the Lehigh Gorge, which stretches along the Lehigh River from a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control dam in Luzerne County to Jim Thorpe in Carbon County...
(Carbon and Luzerne CountiesLuzerne County, Pennsylvania- Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry...
) - Nescopeck State ParkNescopeck State ParkNescopeck State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Butler and Dennison Townships, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is one of the newest state parks in Pennsylvania, with the Environmental Education Center there opening in April, 2005. The state began acquiring the...
(Luzerne County) - Promised Land State ParkPromised Land State ParkPromised Land State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Blooming Grove, Greene and Palmyra Townships, Pike County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The approximately park is mostly surrounded by Delaware State Forest. It is in the Poconos and sits at . The second growth forests in Promised...
(Pike CountyPike County, Pennsylvania-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River * Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
) - Swartswood State ParkSwartswood State ParkSwartswood State Park, established in 1914, was the first State Park established by the state of New Jersey. In the center of the park are the Little Swartswood Lake and Swartswood Lake. Both have been the focus of water-quality improvement efforts by the state, including invasive aquatic-weed...
(New Jersey) - Tobyhanna State ParkTobyhanna State ParkTobyhanna State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on mostly in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County, with a small portion of the park in Dreher and Lehigh townships in Wayne County, all in Pennsylvania in the United States. The park includes the Tobyhanna Lake and a portion of Tobyhanna Creek...
(Monroe and Wayne Counties)