Paddling Promised Land Lake – Spring 2012

Spring fever hit me in the Poconos yesterday. After a strangely mild (for Northeast PA that is) winter, I am anxious for real spring to begin.

Cloudy skies, warm and brisk breeze, frigid water: adds up to a great day to paddle around Promised Land Lake in my kayak.

Pike County’s Promised Land State Park covers about 3,000 acres and is part of the Delaware State Forest.  There are two lakes in Promised Land –  Promised Land Lake is 422 acres in size and the Lower Lake is 173 acres.  The Commonwealth of PA purchased the land that is now the state park in 1902 and the reclamation of the land from repeated clear-cutting of the timber began.  During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps to help put jobless Americans to work. Starting in 1933, the CCC began work on what is now Promised Land State Park, planting trees and building roads, trails, & recreational facilities.  The stone bridge in the video is part of the CCC’s handiwork!

Today Promised Land is one of the many treasures we have in Pike County. The lakes are clean and inviting.  Why not give paddling a try?  Or hike on one of the many trails in the Delaware State Forest?  Put down the iPhone and turn off Netflix, just for an afternoon…and breathe in the beauty of Northeast PA and renew your spirit.  It’s been a long…something.  Not really winter…but whatever it was, it’s behind us.  Embrace Spring 2012, and embrace Pike County’s abundant natural areas.  Enjoy!