Lackawanna State Park

Highlights

A polished northeastern Pennsylvania day ride with lake scenery, easy access, and just enough trail variety to feel curated.

Riding

The riding here has real identity. The horseback experience is gentler than the big state forests, but that is part of the appeal: it is approachable, attractive, and refreshingly simple to enjoy. In practical terms, the terrain profile listed as multi-use riding on park trails, with abington trail recommended for horseback use translates to a ride that can feel leisurely or quietly athletic depending on your route and pace. What makes it especially strong in a statewide guide is that it does not feel one-note. The scenery shifts enough to hold your attention, and the stronger viewpoints or landscape changes give the outing the kind of visual payoff riders remember.

Trailer parking

Trailer parking is available in the northeastern section of the park along Wallsville Road (PA 438).

Horse regulations

From a planning perspective, riders should treat this as a destination where good etiquette and current information matter. Use the multi-use trails open to horses, favor Abington Trail, and trailer only in approved parking areas along Wallsville Road. Across Pennsylvania, that also means leaving no trace, yielding graciously on shared routes, and checking for updates before every trip. The right mindset is simple: respect the land, respect the other users, and assume current postings take priority over old notes.

Getting here

Use 1839 Abington Rd, North Abington Township / Scranton outskirts, Pennsylvania as your planning anchor and build in a little extra time for a calm arrival. Trailer parking is available in the northeastern section of the park along Wallsville Road (PA 438). That extra preparation matters, because the first few minutes often decide whether the day feels rushed or beautifully under control. The smartest approach is simple: arrive early, tack up without hurry, and begin with a route in mind. When horse travel is handled well, arrival becomes part of the experience rather than a disruption.

Planning your visit

This is an ideal choice when you want a refined, day-ride feel near Scranton or the northern Poconos rather than a full backcountry commitment. It is also wise to travel with water, a basic first-aid kit, and downloaded or printed maps, because even familiar Pennsylvania riding areas can surprise you with spotty service or changing conditions. The simplest luxury move is to leave room in the day: ride without rushing, finish before you are chasing daylight, and give yourself time to enjoy the place properly.

Where to stay

Lackawanna has overnight facilities in the broader park complex, but not horse camping; equestrians generally use it as a well-organized haul-in destination. That actually supports the editorial tone well, because it lets the focus stay on the quality of the ride and on how elegantly the stop can be paired with surrounding towns or inns. Some destinations earn their place by being beautifully executed day rides, and this is one of them.