Summer in Pocono Pines: Lakes, Trails and Long Evenings

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Summer is the Poconos at full volume. The lakes are warm, Camelback's trails are open top to bottom, and the evenings stay light well past eight. It's the busiest season here for good reason.

This is what we tell guests, kept general rather than pinned to one summer's calendar.

On the water

Bradys Lake is 12 minutes away and the easy answer. Kayaking, fishing, and trails around the shore that are best walked early before the day heats up. Local outfitters rent kayaks through the season.

Kalahari Waterpark is 14 minutes out and becomes a daily destination for families with kids. Two pieces of advice: go on a weekday if you possibly can, and book cabanas well ahead if you want one. The outdoor pools and lazy river open for the season and are a genuine change from the indoor park.

Tobyhanna State Park, 15 minutes, runs summer nature programming — guided wildflower walks, evening bat-watching, and junior ranger sessions midweek that work well for younger kids.

Trails and mountains

Early mornings are the move. By midday in July the lower trails get warm and busy.

Delaware Water Gap is 30 minutes south, and Mount Tammany is still the headline hike — steep, but the view over the river valley earns it. Start early and carry more water than feels necessary.

Camelback Mountain at 20 minutes opens everything in summer. The lift-served downhill mountain biking is the draw for anyone who rides, but there are gentler cross-country routes too, plus the mountain coaster, zip lines and treetop courses.

Racing

Pocono Raceway is 11 minutes from the chalet, and the NASCAR Cup Series weekend is the biggest event on the local calendar. The atmosphere around the Tricky Triangle during race week is worth experiencing even if you don't follow racing.

If you're here that weekend: book restaurants early, and expect traffic on the approach roads.

Eating

• The Frogtown Chophouse, Canadensis — our top recommendation for a special dinner. Deck dining opens for summer, and the steaks and local trout are the reason to go.
• Murphy's Loft — best wings in the area, live music on weekend evenings, and a beer garden that gets busy on Fridays.
• Sarah Street Grill, Stroudsburg — farm-to-table, menu moves with what's in season. About 25 minutes.
• Callie's Candy Kitchen, Mountainhome — fudge and old-fashioned candy, and the obvious stop for s'mores supplies.

Markets and days out

The Pocono Mountains Farmers Market runs Saturdays in Swiftwater. Summer brings the first sweet corn and local berries, which is worth planning a breakfast around.

Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm in Stroudsburg runs 1800s farm-life demonstration weekends through the summer — genuinely good with kids, and not boring for adults.

The Pocono Environmental Education Center near the Water Gap runs evening wildlife programs and stargazing. The skies here are darker than most people expect, and that's the best way to use them.

Evenings

Mount Airy Casino, 20 minutes, has live entertainment most weekends — tribute acts and comedy, plus restaurants if you just want dinner and a show. The Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg runs outdoor concerts in its pavilion through the warm months.

Summer at the chalet

The evenings are the thing. Temperatures drop into a range that makes the hot tub genuinely pleasant rather than an act of endurance, and fireflies come through the forest after dusk. The firepit stays comfortable most nights.

The sauna surprises people in summer — a short session followed by cool night air is better than it sounds, and the long days mean the ski lift chair swing stays usable until late.

The game loft covers the afternoon thunderstorms that roll through, and the kitchen handles whatever you bring back from the market. Dinner on the deck with forest views is what most guests end up doing every night.

Slanted Stone Chalet sleeps eight across three bedrooms plus a bunk room, with a hot tub, Finnish barrel sauna, game loft and stone firepit, twelve minutes from Bradys Lake.

Summer weekends book out earliest of any season. Book your stay direct and use code INSIDER10 for 10% off.