Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro

Gouldsboro State Park Gouldsboro State Park is located in Monroe and Wayne counties in northeastern Pennsylvania. The 2,800 acre park includes the 250-acre Gouldsboro Lake. Recreational Opportunities at Both Parks SWIMMING: The sand beach at each park is open from late-May to mid-September, 8:00 AM to sunset. Swim at your own risk. Please follow posted rules. Directions The park entrance is one-half mile south of the village of Gouldsboro on PA 507. PA 507 intersects with I-380 at Exit 13 two miles south of the park entrance, and with I-84, 13 miles north of the park entrance. GPS DD: Lat. 41.22934 Long. -75.46340 FISHING: Common fish in Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro lakes are bass, pickerel, yellow perch, catfish, and sunfish. Tobyhanna Lake also has stocked brook and brown trout. Gouldsboro Lake has walleye and crappie. An ADA accessible fishing pier is available at each park. ICE SAFETY: Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, make sure ice is at least 4” thick for a single user and 7” thick for a small group. Always carry safety equipment. Jay Gould The name Gouldsboro comes from the village north of the park that was named for Jay Gould (1836-1892). A native of New York, Gould acquired a large fortune that, by 1892, included ownership of ten percent of all railroad track in the country. One railroad he owned was the Erie-Lackawanna. This rail line parallels the eastern boundary of the park and is now a part of the Steamtown National Historic Site railroad excursion route between Scranton and Pocono Summit. Gould was a co-owner of a leather tannery at Thornhurst, a small village 9.5 miles west of Gouldsboro. Raw hides shipped from Australia and the western United States came to Gouldsboro by railroad, then were taken in two-ton loads by horse-drawn wagons over a plank road to Thornhurst for tanning. In an Emergency Call 911 and contact a park employee. Directions to the nearest hospital are posted on bulletin boards. NEAREST HOSPITAL Geisinger Community Medical Center 1800 Mulberry Street Scranton, PA 18510 570-703-8000 ICE FISHING: Both lakes are popular ice fishing spots. ICE SKATING: Ice skating is available as natural conditions permit. HUNTING AND FIREARMS: Most of Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro state parks are open to hunting, trapping, and the training of dogs during established seasons. Common game species are white-tailed deer, black bear, squirrel, and turkey. Furbearers include beaver, muskrat, mink, fox, coyote, and raccoon. Hunting is also permitted in nearby State Game Lands 127 and 312. Hunting woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, is prohibited. Dog training is only permitted from the day following Labor Day through March 31 in designated hunting areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission rules and regulations apply. Contact the park office for ADA accessible hunting information. Use extreme caution with firearms at all times. Other visitors use the park during hunting seasons. Firearms and archery equipment used for hunting may be uncased and ready for use only in authorized hunting areas during Nearby Attractions Information on nearby attractions is available from the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, 800-POCONOS. www.poconomountians.com Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro state parks are in the famous Pocono Mountain resort area. Nearby attractions include: Lake Wallenpaupack, one of the largest manmade lakes in Pennsylvania; State Game Lands 127 and 312; Big Pocono State Park at the top of Camelback Mountain, which features a view of three states and a ski area; and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. BOATING: electric motors only The 170-acre Tobyhanna Lake has 78 overnight mooring spaces, and the 250-acre Gouldsboro Lake has 50 overnight mooring spaces. These seasonal spaces require a mooring permit, which is available at Tobyhanna State Park’s office. Both lakes have boat rentals. Rowboats, kayaks, paddle boats, canoes, and electric motor boats are available daily from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day, except in inclement weather. Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launch permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks, available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. PICNICKING: Picnic areas with picnic tables and charcoal grills are available at both Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro state parks. Picnicking is permitted throughout the year from sunrise to sunset. At Tobyhanna State Park a small playfield is near Lot 4 and a playground can be found near the swimming beach. An ADA accessible picnic pavilion with electricity is in Lot 1 and may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. If unreserved, the picnic pavilion is available on a firstcome, first-served basis. An ADA accessible picnic pavilion with electric in Lot 3 at Gouldsboro State Park may be reserved up to 11 months in advance. If unreserved, the picnic pavilion is available on a first-come, first-served basis. MOUNTAIN BIKING: In Gouldsboro State Park, mountain biking on Old 611 and Old Entrance Road Trail begins in the day use area. In Tobyhanna State Park, Lakeside Trail circles the lake and borders the Black Bear and Bender Swamps Natural Area. ICE INDUSTRY: From about 1900 to 1936, Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro lakes were the site of active ice industries. The ice was cut from the lakes during the winter and stored in large barn-like structures. During the rest of the year, the Tobyhanna State Park is in scenic Monroe and Wayne counties in northeastern Pennsylvania. The 5,440-acre park includes the 170-acre Tobyhanna Lake. Tobyhanna is derived from an American Indian word meaning “a stream whose banks are fringed with alder.” The rugged terrain of Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro state parks makes for challenging but rewarding hiking. All trails are blazed. Double blazes indicate a change of direction or a trail junction. Directions The park entrance is 2.1 miles north of the community of Tobyhanna on PA 423. PA 423 intersects with I-380, 2.5 miles south of the park entrance. The park can also be reached from I-84 via PA 507, PA 191 and PA 423, a total distance of 11.4 miles. GPS DD: Lat. 41.20736 Long. -75.39643 Recreational Opportunities SNOWMOBILING: Tobyhanna State Park provides a one-way snowmobile trail 5.1 miles in length that runs counterclockwise on Lakeside Trail. The trail begins at Lot 1, which has heated restrooms, parking, and unloading space. Conditions permitting, snowmobiles may be operated only on the designated, one-way trail from the day after the last day of deer regular firearm season in December until April 1. Operators and passengers must follow the PA Snowmobile Law. Please remember to respect the environment and the rights of others. Snowmobiles are prohibited in Gouldsboro State Park. ORGANIZED GROUP TENTING: Five rustic sites are available in Tobyhanna State Park. Sites One to Four accommodate up to 20 people. Site Five accommodates up to 40 people. All sites can be combined to accommodate up to 120 people. The area is adjacent to Parking Lot 4 and is open year round. It has vault toilets and a hand operated water pump. Follow these rules for a safe hike: • An adult should accompany children. • Be sure to wear hiking boots. • Motor vehicles are prohibited on trails, except snowmobiles are permitted on Lakeside Trail at Tobyhanna State Park. TRAILS AT GOULDSBORO STATE PARK Old Entrance Trail: 1.8 miles, easiest hiking This trail transects the Gouldsboro day use area, connecting Prospect Rock Trail and Old Route 611. Access the trail from any of the day use parking areas. Old Route 611: 3.8 miles, easiest hiking Beginning at the southern end of Old Entrance Trail, this flat, wide trail runs along the western side of Gouldsboro State Park, paralleling I-380. This trail is excellent for hiking, bicycling, and cross-country skiing. and no one should hike the trail alone. Be prepared to ‘rock hop’ and cross a few wet areas. This trail follows the border of the Black Bear and Bender Swamps Natural Area, passing through several other wetlands and boulder fields created by the last glacial period. Prospect Rock Trail: 2.9 miles, more difficult hiking This trail begins at the northern end of Old Entrance Trail and connects with the northern end of Old Route 611. It has several very rocky sections. TRAILS IN BOTH PARKS Frank Gantz Trail: 3.2 miles, most difficult hiking Frank Gantz Trail connects Tobyhanna State Park’s Lakeside Trail with the south day use parking lot in Gouldsboro State Park. Children should not hike this trail without adult supervision. Special care should be taken when crossing PA 4013 (Tobyhanna Road). This is a demanding trail with many areas where ‘rock hopping’ is necessary. Good hiking boots are essential for a pleasant and safe hike. Allow at least three hours for a round trip. TRAILS AT TOBYHANNA STATE PARK Lakeside Trail: 5.1 miles, easiest hiking This improved trail has a hardened base for hiking and bicycling in summer and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in winter. Allow at least 2.5 hours to complete the entire trail around Tobyhanna Lake. Range Trail: 3.3 miles, more difficult hiking A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro State Parks Caution: Please Read Visitors using more remote and undeveloped areas of Tobyhanna State Park should be aware that they could encounter old, unexploded artillery shells. Three types of shells have been found in the park. The largest projectile is 18 to 24 inches in length and about 6 inches in diameter. The medium projectile is 2.5 inches in diameter and from 10 to 14 inches in length. The smallest projectile is 3 inches long and 1.25 inches in diameter. Shells are found in severely rusted condition without any recognizable markings or imprints. Their overall appearance is that of a pointed cylinder of rusted steel. Visitors encountering such items should not touch, attempt to move, or otherwise disturb the items, and should call the park office to report the location to insure proper disposal. State Park Natural Area The Black Bear and Bender Swamps Natural Area is made up of acidic shrub swamps totaling 1,600 acres. Openings through the trees contain sphagnum moss and rare plants and animals. Black Bear and Bender Swamps will be maintained in a natural condition by allowing physical and biological processes to operate, usually without direct human intervention. In an Emergency Call 911 and contact a park employee. Directions to the nearest hospital are posted on bulletin boards and at the park office. NEAREST HOSPITAL Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono Medical Center 206 East Brown Street East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 570-421-4000  Tell us about your hike at: It is a 6.6-mile walk from the trailhead on Lakeside Trail to PA 196 and back. Allow three hours for this trip. Range Trail is a demanding hike and should not be attempted without the proper hiking footwear. An adult should accompany children History The landscape of the area is broad, flat, and swampy mixed with low hills covered with a northern hardwood forest. Common tree species are beech, birch, and maple. This landscape affected the settlement and industries of the area. Tobyhanna State Park Hiking: 20 Miles of Trails Reservations Make online reservations at www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. hunting seasons. In areas not open to hunting or during nonhunting seasons, firearms and archery equipment shall be kept in the owner’s vehicle or enclosed trailer. Exceptions include: law enforcement officers and individuals with a valid Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms are authorized to carry a firearm concealed on their person while they are within a state park. CAMPING: A 140-site campground is open from the second Friday in April to the third Sunday in October. For an additional fee, 26 sites offer 30-amp and 50-amp electric service. Pets are permitted at specific sites for a fee. Flush toilets, showers, and water spigots are provided in a central location. A playground is provided for children. Trailers and motor homes may use a sanitary dump station located between the park office and the campground entrance. Due to the high elevation of nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, campers should be prepared for cool nighttime temperatures, even during the summer months. Access for People with Disabilities This symbol indicates facilities and activities that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible for people with disabilities. This publication text is available in alternative formats. If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit. Protect and Preserve Our Parks Please make your visit safe and enjoyable. Obey all posted rules and regulations and respect fellow visitors and the resources of the park. • Be prepared and bring the proper equipment. Natural areas may possess hazards. Your personal safety and that of your family are your responsibility. For More Information Contact: Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro State Parks 114 Campground Road Tobyhanna, PA 18466-0387 570-894-8336 email: tobyhannasp@pa.gov GPS DD: Lat. 41.20736 Long. -75.39643 An Equal Opportunity Employer Information and Reservations Make online reservations at: www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. www.visitPAparks.com Printed on recycled paper visitPAparks 2018 • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. • Because uncontrolled pets may chase wildlife or frighten visitors, pets must be controlled and attended at all times and on a leash, caged or crated. Pets are prohibited in swimming areas. Wildlife Watching ice was added to railroad boxcars hauling fresh produce and meats destined for east coast cities. Boxcar loads of ice were also shipped to cities for use in family iceboxes. During the summer when ice usage peaked, up to 150 boxcar loads per day shipped out of the Tobyhanna, Gouldsboro, and Klondike (near Gouldsboro) plants. Some ice was even shipped to Florida for use in hospitals. LAND ACQUISITION: In 1912, the federal government acquired the land that became the Tobyhanna Military Reservation. During World War I, 1914-1918, the Army used the reservation as a tank and ambulance corps training center and the National Guard used it as an artillery-training center. From 1918 to 1931, the reservation was used for artillery training. In the early 1930s, the reservation housed Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees. From 1937 to 1941, the reservation served as an artillery training center for West Point cadets. During World War II, the reservation housed German prisoners-of-war. From 1946 to 1948, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers used the reservation. In 1948, the War Assets Administration took control of the property and in April of 1949, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania received a title to most of the 26,000 acres, with the remaining area operated as the Tobyhanna Army Depot. Of the land acquired, about two-thirds of the area was made into State Game Lands 127, and the remaining one-third was used to create both Gouldsboro and Tobyhanna state parks. Tobyhanna State Park opened to the public in 1949, complete with parking areas, swimming beach, boat rental and boat launching site, water supply, and sanitary facilities. The camping area was added in 1959. The former Department of Forests and Waters (DFW) subsequently acquired additional properties, and in 1956, the former Pennsylvania Fish Commission (PFC) purchased Gouldsboro Lake and land not included in the larger government tract. In 1958, the DFW and the PFC agreed to combine the area owned by both agencies into a single recreational site. Gouldsboro State Park opened to the public in 1958. In 2004, the lake and land owned by the PA Fish and Boat Commission was transferred to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro state parks are in the Pocono Plateau, a rugged highland with rocky soil, nutrient-poor bogs, dark evergreen forests, and a diversity of animals and plants. About 20,000 years ago, a giant sheet of ice at least one mile thick covered the area. Evidence of the glacier is the very rocky soil that is called glacial till and the abundance of bogs. Much of the park is characterized by sphagnum moss bogs, evergreen trees, and thin, moist, rocky soil. Blackburnian warbler, red-breasted nuthatch, and northern waterthrush are common to this habitat. In the spring, spotted and Jefferson salamanders and wood frogs migrate to the bogs to breed. Interesting plants like the carnivorous pitcher plant, cotton grass, and many sedges inhabit the bogs. Yellow bladderwort is a carnivorous plant that lives in some of the bogs and in Tobyhanna Lake. Sacks on the underwater portion of the plant trap tiny aquatic animals. Due to logging, large portions of the forest have regrown with a mix of deciduous trees like American beech, many species of oak, and red maple. American redstart, red-eyed vireo, and Louisiana waterthrush are birds common to these forests. In early May, before any trees have leaves, the serviceberry trees flower. In mid-June, the plentiful mountain laurel blooms, followed in late-June to early-July by the rhododendron. In mid-July, the highbush blueberries bear fruit, providing a feast for bears and birds. Black bears are common in the park. This omnivore eats plants, grasses, berries, and occasionally meat. Unfortunately, bears find human food to be nearly irresistible. Keep food in the trunk of a car or in a camper. Please observe wildlife from a safe distance. Black bears normally avoid people, but bears dependent on eating human food can become aggressive when people get between them and food. If this situation occurs, make loud noises like yelling, honking a car horn, or banging a pot. Notify a park employee if you have difficulties with a bear. Never approach a bear and be especially wary of mother bears and cubs. American black bear Feeding wildlife is prohibited. Feeding raccoons, squirrels, or chipmunks may expose you to the threat of rabies. Feeding Canada geese at the swimming areas results in large quantities of fecal droppings, which is offensive to park visitors. 210 0 00 00 21 21 80 es 00 40 00 21 80 2100 21 00 Lin sion 20 21 mis 0 60 20 Run 202 0 202 2020 0 00 20 0 19 4 1960 2040 2000 194 STATE GAME 60 er LANDS 127 ess Dr 20 20 19 2100 208 20 40 19 60 Cr. han na Tob y 194 0 Lake side 1920 0 196 20 20 2020 Tra ns 1940 Drive 20 00 Tr . 0 198 1980 0 20 20 198 0 0 198 20 0 Jim Rang e 0 198 1980 2040 Tobyhanna 1940 1900 19 i) 5M (2.7 2080 20 20 Pow er Road 80 19 80 18 20 60 19 20 19 Ca b in 19 20 60 18 Cross ys Ke To I-80, 6 Mi. 20 2100 80 80 0 194 19 0 192 00 19 19 60 Lake 20 20 2040 Roa 1900 To Mt. Pocono, 4 Mi. Echo d 1960 0 206 1980 2000 2060 00 80 20 2080 0 00 1/2 MILE 20 611 192 19 0 1/4 196 1880 ler mm Hu 1/2 423 2040 0 0 18 n Ru Exit 8 2000 1780 1840 1820 80 19 1 KILOMETER 2020 20 19 M 0 190 TOBYHANNA 1/2 0 k Ru n 1/2 Cree 0 illp No on .1 d 192 0 6 19 1960 Fram e 204 0 196 2000 ce 2040 0 194 i) Tra il 1980 1940 1960 1920 0 202 8M (1. 1880 40 1860 1840 1760 2080 00 . Dr 1840 . Dr 188 0 ild 19 20 2020 192 1880 0 20 0 19 200 lew 1900 2020 2100 Id Lot 4 Lake Carobeth 0 18 State Park Natural Area CONTOURS ARE ON 20 FT. INTERVALS Lot 3 423 2000 1980 ch st Ea 188 1760 Beach 2 Lot 2 nna 380 1820 State Park Hunting 040 Tobyh a 0 State Park No Hunting od wo 0 180 0 2120 Playfield Br an 00 8 17 80 80 0 19 1860 19 20 198 198 Exit 8 0 side 2020 0 0 182 190 1880 20 Historic Site 182 40 1 20 19 19 Sanitary Dump Station 0 20 1940 960 0 Dr. 80 210 Tobyhanna Lake Lake 2060 0 Boat Launch 1900 60 0 19 60 19 Boat Rental Organized Group Tenting 21 0 194 20 19 196 ENLARGEMENT OF TOBYHANNA DAY USE AREA Run 0 1960 Camping Singer 196 1880 Ice Skating Ov erlook 40 0 13 80 19 423 Kn o w Lot 1 40 40 210 20 Dam 1980 19 Swimming Beach See Enlargement (Bottom Right) SR Picnic Pavilion 0 2 1920 Snowmobiling 202 1960 2000 0 00 et 20 196 Cross-country Skiing Recommended an STATE GAME LANDS 127 rap Pa . Tr 2060 Hiking Trail ke La de 1980 0 60 00 Multi-use Trail: Hiking, Mountain Biking 00 21 21 20 TRAIL INFORMATION na h by To 60 60 20 210 2140 80 19 19 L 0 196 0 2040 2000 00 00 00 20 i es ak 19 2080 1960 11 d6 80 20 19 Picnicking 0 e Tr. 20 0 208 20 20 60 19 0 200 1960 Oakes Swamp 216 2180 60 1960 60 2200 20 Ol 20 19 940 1 1 Water 2100 40 20 40 21 2020 TOBYHANNA STATE PARK Lot 5 dg 2060 20 Run 2120 0 200 Bri 2000 Run 20 19 0 88 200 00 20 0 U.S. Military Reservation Tobyhanna Army Depot Showerhouse/Restrooms 1820 1800 0 0 Lot 4 1900 Unpaved Road Pole 202 2040 00 1880 Gate Parking Paved 200 80 20 1780 a nn ha by . To Cr 1980 19 Recycling/Trash 2040 19 40 00 2040 190 0 20 a Tr 2000 194 0 19 18 Mi ) 423 80 Palen Swamp 19 0 0 1840 (3 .2 2020 4 19 1960 20 Run l ai Tr ith Sm 0 202 40 19 2060 80 60 Dressing Area 80 19 2040 19 6 19 4 19 Play Area 200 20 0 z nt Ga il 2000 2060 Black Bear Swamp 2020 20 40 Bender Swamp To I-84, 9.5 Mi. 80 2100 20 40 19 0 Vault Restrooms 80 198 k Fran 2020 ) 1940 2 19 Modern Restrooms 20 20 19 1940 00 20 i) Mi 0 208 60 20 0 200 192 0 40 M .8 196 Park Office Blue Symbols Mean ADA Accessible Public Phone WAYNE CO UNTY MONROE CO UNTY 0 194 0 19 20 20 60 20 60 ( 3 .2 Tra il 60 20 0 212 0 BLACK BEAR & BENDER SWAMPS NATURAL AREA 19 tz 80 20 20 0 20 (3 1940 00 19 Gouldsboro Lake Lot 3 80 0 1940 n Frank G a 1980 ENLARGEMENT OF GOULDSBORO DAY USE AREA Lot 2 21 2040 200 d Ol 20 Lot 1 dge 2020 See Enlargement (Left) 1920 11 1920 n tra En 2060 21 1900 d6 Ol 00 19 0 60 19 380 Sw am p 0 0 196 1960 n Ru 188 0 190 19 0 2040 1940 60 19 Lake 80 18 1880 0 200 Dam (5 M i) 1880 0 GOULDSBORO STATE PARK Swamp Fritz 206 80 198 19 Kistler 19 20 Tr. Gouldsboro 00 60 60 20 0 0 1 Lake Watawga 194 40 19 0 92 os Pr Exit 13 19 80 40 19 t 00 19 19 c pe 0 182 ( 40 13 0 60 19 80 196 60 18 N Pep ri Rock i) 2.9 M 20 00 380 SR 1980 Trail 0 202 2000 1940 2180 0 212 19 O ld E n tra n ce To Scranton, 15 Mi. 2040 2120 19 C W KAW AY NE 1920 190 0 1880 182 0 178 0 Leh ig Riv h er L A 19 STATE GAME LANDS 312 40 20 40 20 0 2120 20 19 1900 206 2080 19 1840 196 2100 2020 208 0 178 0 1960 TOBYHANNA & GOULDSBORO STATE PARKS 2040 40 19 60 507 1980 1900 60 19 0 507 00 21 1920 18 186 To Angels, 1 Mi. 2120 20 18 1820 6 17 1920 60 2000 Snag Pond Westend Pond 0 194 COUNTY COUNTY 18 1960 19 A 00 1940 2000 To PA 196, 4 Mi. 0 190 1900 435 20 19 40 N AN 1840 18 To PA 307, 1 Mi. & Moscow, 5 Mi. 0 210 To Mt. Pocono, 4 Mi. Rev. 12/14/18