Now that winter is here, it’s time to start planning a trip to the mountains. When you think about the winter, it’s natural to also think about spending some time in the mountains, warm next to a fire and enjoying the outdoors. For some of us, we love going down the side of a mountain over and over again. It’s a thrill to go down these trails. However, if you prefer something slightly more gentle then let us at Ledges Hotel suggest trying out one of the local cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails the next time you are here.
Here in the Hawley area, there are two main places where you can enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. The first is Promised Land State Park. This area is simply gorgeous in any time of year but can be particularly peaceful in the winter. The entire park is about 3,000 acres in total and is surrounded by 12,464 acres of Delaware State Forest. When there isn’t snow on the ground, be sure to check out their trails. There are 50 miles of trails for you to choose from and are usually well groomed and there are plenty of signs. When you do choose to go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the trails at Promised Land State Park. However, the Bruce Lake Natural Area and Conservation Island are said to have the best trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. If you didn’t bring your own gear then don’t worry as you can rent some from the park office. Be sure to call ahead and get all of the details.
The next area where you can enjoy a fun day cross-country skiing and snowshoeing is at the Delaware Water Gap. We have mentioned this area many times as it is perfect in all seasons. There is always something to do at the Delaware Water Gap, even if there isn’t snow on the ground. You can go kayaking and hiking in the warmer months and there is always biking. Many people enjoy the Delaware Water Gap area in every season so it’s no wonder why there will be many people on the cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. There are a total of 4 cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails available at the Delaware Water Gap, two are in Pennsylvania and the other two are in nearby New Jersey. The two in Pennsylvania are the McDade Trail, which is the longest trail at around 30 miles, and the other is the Slateford Trail. Be sure to have a look at the trail page on the Delaware Water Gap’s site so you can see where you will find these trails, how long they are, their difficulty rating, and lastly, some of the neat features you might see while you are out. If you are unsure if the trail conditions, then be sure to call their dispatch number to find out more information.
As you can see, it can be a winter wonderland here in the Pocono Mountains not only for mountain skiers but for those who love to go on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails too. When you do decide to come to our area, consider staying with us at Ledges Hotel. Our beautiful and modern hotel has a spectacular view of the gorge as well as surrounding areas. Be sure to learn about the history of the hotel before you come! We have accommodations for all group sizes from economy sized rooms to 2 bedroom suites perfect for friends. Before you come, consider adding on breakfast at our sister property The Settlers Inn or a dinner with us at Glass in one of our packages. Contact us today and let us help you plan a fun cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trip in the Pocono Mountains.
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