Just ten miles north of Scranton, Lackawanna State Park feels farther away than it is. The bustle of the city quickly gives way to forest, open sky, and the quiet presence of a broad lake.
We came to discover the park in October when autumn had begun painting the surrounding hills in shades of red, gold, and orange. There was something about the combination of colorful woods and still water that made it easy to forget how close we were to the city.
Sometimes the most memorable places aren’t the ones that demand your attention. They are the ones that quietly hold it.
The lake is the centerpiece
Water changes everything
At the heart of Lackawanna State Park lies Lackawanna Lake, a broad stretch of water surrounded by forest and rolling hills. When we visited in October, the lake was remarkably calm, reflecting the reds, golds, and oranges of the autumn foliage along its shores.
At nearly 200 acres, Lackawanna Lake is large enough to give the park a sense of openness while still feeling embraced by the surrounding woods. From the shoreline, the opposite hills seemed to frame the water, creating a scene that felt surprisingly removed from the nearby city.
The lake is also where much of the park’s activity comes together. Boaters move across the water, anglers find quiet places to cast a line, and trails lead through the woods along its shores. Yet on our visit, it was the peacefulness of the lake that stayed with us.
There was little reason to hurry. We could simply watch the reflections shift across the still water and take in the colors surrounding it.
Sometimes a lake does more than provide a view. It gives a place its sense of peace.
A campground in the woods
A place to settle in
One of the things we appreciated about Lackawanna State Park was how naturally the campground fit into the surrounding landscape. The campsites are tucked among the trees, making the campground feel less like a place set apart from the park and more like another way to experience it.
For RVers, the campground offers a variety of options including electric and full-hookup sites along with non-electric camping. Some pads can accommodate RVs up to 48 feet long, making it suitable for larger rigs as well as smaller RVs and traditional campers.
When we visited in October, the changing leaves added another layer of color to the wooded setting. With the lake nearby, it was easy to settle into camp and enjoy the feeling of being surrounded by the park.
That is part of the appeal of camping at Lackawanna. The campground puts you close to the lake, trails, and woods, making it easy to step outside and become part of the landscape.
For us, it was a comfortable place to slow down and enjoy the quieter side of the park.
The land has a story
Before there was a state park
Long before Lackawanna Lake existed, people were already traveling through this landscape. An Indigenous trail followed what became Route 407, connecting the Lackawanna Valley with New York State. In the early 1800s, settlers followed the route, establishing farms and small communities along the way.
The area grew with the Philadelphia and Great Bend Turnpike, built along the old trail in the 1820s. Taverns, stores, mills, and other businesses followed, turning the area into a working rural community.
There was a livelier side to life here, too. In 1898, local farmers organized the Maitland Fair and Driving Park Association. For about a dozen years, annual fairs and horse races brought crowds to the area. The former racecourse was located where the park campground now stands near the Woodland Ponds Trail.
It is an interesting connection to discover while camping here. The quiet woods and campsites we see today occupy land that once echoed with the sound of horses and the excitement of race days.
The landscape has changed considerably but its history remains beneath the peaceful setting we experience today.
Creating Lackawanna Lake
From farmland to state park
The land took another turn in the early 1900s when the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad purchased 13 farms with plans to build a reservoir. The project was never completed and the land eventually returned to agricultural use.
In 1946, Scranton coal operator Robert Moffat purchased the property and rented it to families who worked for his coal company. Two decades later, its future changed again.
In 1968, Pennsylvania purchased 600 acres and began transforming the land into a state park. A dam was built on the South Branch of Tunkhannock Creek, creating the lake that would become the centerpiece of the park.
Lackawanna State Park was dedicated in 1972 and the campground opened three years later. Land that had been farms, a proposed railroad reservoir, and a horse-racing track had become a place for people to camp and enjoy the outdoors.
Looking across Lackawanna Lake today, it is easy to see only the peaceful water and surrounding forest. But the lake is relatively young compared with the land around it. Its creation marked a new chapter in the story of this place.
Follow the trails
Into the forest and beyond the lake
Lackawanna State Park has more than 18 miles of trails winding through the forests and along the lake. Some are easy walks while others are shared by hikers, mountain bikers, and other trail users. Together, they provide a chance to experience the landscape beyond the shoreline.
In October, the changing leaves brought color deep into the woods while fallen leaves softened the paths beneath our feet. The farther we wandered from the campground and lake, the quieter the park became.
Some trails follow the water while others lead through forests, streams, and wetlands. You don’t have to hike far to appreciate the difference. Even a short walk changes your perspective as the lake disappears behind the trees and the sounds of the campground fade.
For us, walking the trails was less about reaching a destination than discovering a quieter side of Lackawanna State Park.
More than a summer lake
A park that invites you outside
Lackawanna Lake may be especially inviting in summer when boaters, swimmers, and anglers take advantage of the water but the park offers more than summer recreation. Its combination of lake and forest makes it a place to enjoy the outdoors in many ways and throughout the year.
Boating and fishing are popular on the lake while the beach provides swimming during the warmer months. Mountain bikers can explore the multi-use trails and picnic areas along the shoreline make it easy to spend an afternoon outdoors.
When we visited in October, most of the summer activity had quieted. The cooler air, fall colors, and calm water created a different experience—one centered less on recreation and more on simply being outside.
You can come with a plan to fish, hike, bike, or spend the day on the water but you don’t have to. Sometimes the best way to experience Lackawanna is to find a quiet place and let the landscape do the entertaining.
The meeting of two streams
The meaning behind the name
There is something fitting about the name Lackawanna. The word comes from an American Indian language and means “the meeting of two streams.” It is an appropriate name for a park whose story is so closely tied to water.
The park’s watershed gathers water from numerous tributaries that eventually flow into Lackawanna Lake. What appears from the shoreline to be one broad, quiet body of water is actually the gathering place for many smaller streams flowing through the surrounding landscape.
After spending time here, the name took on a little more meaning. We had watched the lake reflect the colors of autumn, followed trails through the woods, and settled into a campground that was once a horse-racing track. All of it was connected by the landscape and, ultimately, by its water.
Lackawanna isn’t a place of dramatic spectacle. Its appeal comes together quietly, much like the streams that flow toward the lake.
And sometimes, when the water is still and autumn colors are reflected across its surface, this is more than enough.
A quiet place to stay awhile
Sometimes quiet is enough
Lackawanna State Park reminded me that a memorable place doesn’t have to be dramatic. Sometimes it is a calm lake reflecting autumn colors, a trail through the woods, or a campsite where you can sit quietly and watch the day unfold.
We came to discover a state park and found something simpler—a place that made us want to slow down, stay awhile, and enjoy where we were.
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Editor’s note
This article was originally published in September 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. Conditions, access, and amenities may change over time, so please verify current details before planning your trip.
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