The Pocono Mountains region is a mountainous area of Northeastern Pennsylvania of about 2,400 square miles and about 2 hours across by car. The Poconos are a popular recreational destination for regional visitors from Pennsylvania and the neighboring states of New York, New Jersey, Maryland. The region has a population of about 300,000, which is growing at a rapid pace, largely attributable to vacationers from the New York City region who are turning vacation homes into permanent residences. The regions largest metropolitan area is The STroudsburg / East Stroudsburg area. There are small municipalities which are scattered throughout the area. The Poconos now serves as a commuter community for the Northern New Jersey and new York City. The commute often takes as much as 2 hours each way due to distance and traffic. Because the region has a scattered transit infrastructure of Cabs, busses and commuter bus lines that transport workers to New York City.

 

Poconos Geography

The Pocono Mountains is a vaguely defined area encompassing Carbon , Monroe , Pike , and Wayne Counties of Pennsylvania, as well as portions of neighboring counties such as Susquehanna , Luzerne , and Lackawanna . The region of Northampton County from the Slate Belt northwards is also sometimes included. In total, the Poconos encompasses over 2,500 square miles. The Poconos are mountainous, geologically a southwestern extension of the Catskills . The Poconos' highest summit, Elk Hill's North Knob, reaches 2,693 feet (821 m), while its lowest elevation is 350 feet (107 m) in Pike County.

The Delaware River flows through the Pocono Mountains and gives the region its name, from a Native American term roughly translating to "stream between two mountains." The Lehigh and Lackawaxen Rivers also flow through the region, totaling about 170 miles (270 km) of waterways. The Pocono Mountains are also home to some 150 lakes and many waterfalls , such as those in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area of Monroe County and Ricketts Glen State Park in northwestern Luzerne County .

 

Poconos Recreation

 

The popularity of the Pocono Mountains as a summer retreat began at the dawn of the 20th century when Philadelphia Quakers started the resorts of Buck Hill Falls and Pocono Manor , and later in the 1920s, Skytop .

The Poconos is a well-known outdoor recreation destination for visitors around the northeast, especially from New York City and Philadelphia . Primary attractions are centered around the region's diverse natural offerings. The Poconos encompasses the Delaware State Forest, including six designated natual areas, seven state parks, seventeen state game lands, and one national park: The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area . The Poconos is also home to Summer Camps, such as Camp Pocono Ridge and Goose Pond Scout Reservation near Lake Ariel. The Poconos is and has been Pennsylvania's most popular tourist destination. The region contains over 80% of the state's resorts. These resorts earn 1.5 billion dollars in gross revenues and employ 18,000 workers. The region is also a popular winter destination.State parks offer snowmobile trails, snowshoeing, and eagle watching. Popular summer activities include whitewater rafting and canoeing down the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers, camping and hiking, water parks, and smaller attractions such as Claws N Paws Wild Animal Park , Kittatinny Rafting & Paintball, Houdini Museum and others. Another popular recreation activity growing around the Poconos is disc golf . Currently there are several disc golf courses located around the Poconos. Other outdoor activities, particularly golf , are also popular options.

Another attraction is Pocono Raceway , a major automobile racetrack, which is home to two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, the Pocono 500 in June, and the Pennsylvania 500 in August. It also serves as a racing school and motorcycle track.

The Poconos is a major resort destination with new additions such as Great Wolf Lodge for families, a resurrection of Mount Airy as a gaming (slots) and golf resort, the famous Ceasars Pocono Resorts with heart-shaped and champagne whirlpool baths for two (couples only) and a retreat known as Woodloch Pines that has added a spa facility.

Poconos Casinos

A proposal to license a gambling casino with slot machines in Monroe County was approved in 2007 and the casino at Mount Airy Lodge is now open to the public.

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area is another site for slots and OTB, and a proposed facility in the Allentown area is scheduled to open in the near future.

Skiing in the Poconos

Numerous ski resorts in and around the Poconos offer some of the closest and most accessible skiing to the major populated areas of Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC areas. The largest an often consided to be the best of these ski resorts is Camelback.

• The Poconos offer conveniently located skiing, and many areas also offer night skiing. Many Pocono ski resorts cater to both winter and transform themselves into water parks for summer visitors. Downhill skiing is also offered at resort-hotel properties (such as Skytop Lodge) where guests can use the facilities as part of their stay.