Big Pocono State Park
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| Big Pocono State Park, Pennsylvania, USA | |
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| Location: | Monroe County, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nearest city: | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 1,306 acres (5.29 km²) |
| Established: | 1954 |
| Governing body: | Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
Big Pocono State Park is a state park located in Monroe County, Pennsylvania in northeastern Pennsylvania. The park's 1,306 acres are situated on the peak and the slopes of Camelback Mountain and are maintained jointly by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Camelback Ski Coroporation.
From the summit of the mountain, one has a view of vast portions of eastern Pennsylvania as well as parts of New Jersey and New York. A 1.4 mile paved drive around the summit provides visitors with a view in all directions.
The park closes for the winter seven days following the end of deer season in December and reopens as conditions permit in the spring.
[edit] History
The land on which Big Pocono State Park is situated was owned by Henry S. Cattell at the turn of the 20th century. Knowing of the fondness that others in the area shared with him for the view that the summit provided, Cattell constructed a stone cabin there in 1908. For many years the cabin was left unlocked so that anyone who wished to use it as a shelter, could.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission purchased the land in 1928, 12 years following the death of Cattell. In 1950, the state leased a portion of the land on the north slope to Big Pocono Skiing, Inc., for commercial development. The company was later renamed the Camelback Ski Corporation, and the facility is now a major ski resort.
In 1953, the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters (now the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) acquired a 1,306-acre portion of state game lands, which comprised the land that was purchased by the Game Commission, including the ski area lease, and the area immediately around the summit.
Big Pocono State Park opened to the public in 1954, following the construction of facilities and the scenic driver around the summit. The Cattell Cabin served as a park office and a nature museum for many years.
[edit] Facilities and recreation
Big Pocono State Park offers a hiking trail system that consists of seven miles of interconnecting trails. The trails are of varying terrain and grade, and park officials caution inexperienced hikers to inquire at the park office before attempting the steep and rocky North Trail.
In addition to the hiking trails, there is also a three-mile horseback riding trail. The trailhead is near the entrance of the park, on the west end.
Three picnic areas with a total of 50 tables are situated within the park. The picnic area adjacent to Cattell Cabin has tables in an open setting, and the east and south picnic areas are in a wooded setting.
The Camelback Ski Area, located on the north slope, boasts the largest skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing facility in the Pocono Mountains. The facility has 33 trails, 13 lifts, two terrain parks, detatchable quads, a halfpipe, night skiing and 100% snowmaking. The ski area also operates the Cameltop restaurant, which is located near the summit and is open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.
Hunting is permitted in designated areas of the park during hunting seasons.
