Swimsuit photo created by jcomp
Let’s be honest the weather is hot, and people are looking for a way to cool down. While tourists might have the cash for waterparks, many locals don’t. Well, we have the answer, here are the best places to swim for free in Poconos.
Here is a compiled list personally curated from the staff at Pocono Update. Parental Guidance (PG) followed by the minimum age required without guidance:
Beltzville Park | Lehighton, PA | 3,002 Acres | PG < 12
Beltzville State Park is a 3,002-acre settlement in the southern foothills of the Poconos, right in Lehighton, PA. According to the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR), Pohopoco Creek is one of the area’s best trout streams, feeding into the 949-acre Beltzville Lake. This destination is a hotspot for tourists and locals and even a stop for migrating waterfowl, boaters, and anglers. The state park has a sandy beach, picnic pavilions, and coal grills. Beltzville Park is a great place to bring friends and family. There are lifeguards, but when they are absent, you must swim at your own risk. Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult when lifeguards are off duty.
Location: 2950 Pohopoco Dr.Lehighton, Pennsylvania 18235
Hours: 8 am-sunset | Lifeguards are on duty from 11 am-7 am
Phone: 610-377-0045
Brodhead Creek Park | East Stroudsburg, PA | 30 Acres | PG < 12
Brodhead Creek Park might be the place for you if you want to go somewhere unique compared to your average state park, with a sand beach, according to DCNR. This swimming spot is a more nature-centered environment, smack-dab in the middle of the woods. Water levels and swim ability will vary depending on location, but this park has something for everyone, even the kids. Some spots are shallow enough that kids can walk through without worry. You can set up chairs, blankets, and music and hang out where the crowd is. Or you can take a short walk for some privacy and enjoy your part of the stream. This park even has a pavilion you can grill at if you want to make a day out of it. You can even fish here if you have your license.
Location: 4002 North 5th St East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Hours: 7am-8pm
Tobyhanna State Park | Tobyhanna, PA | 5,440-acre park/170-acre Lake
This scenic stop located in Monroe and near Wayne counties in northeast, PA, includes a 5,440-acre park filled with trails, long and short. Plenty of seating is available in the form of picnic tables and even benches. With a beach and free entry, Tobyhanna State Park is a place for locals to relax and have fun. Tobyhanna is an American Indian word meaning “a stream whose banks are fringed with alder,” according to DCNR. You can even find old artillery shells in and around the lake, varying from 3-24 inches in length and 1.25-6 inches in diameter. Please be wary of these shells as they are rusty, do not attempt to pick up, remove, or relocate them and contact state park officials if you see one.
Location:114 Campground Rd Tobyhanna, PA 18466-0387
Hours: Sunrise-Sunset
Phone: 570-894-8336
Manager: Lee Dillon
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