Muddy Paws in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania
- Luie Boone
- Apr 25
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 28
This vacation destination is a part of our first series of blog posts titled Pooches Polite.
Have you ever thought about how far you walk with your dog? Did you know that just 15 minutes a day adds up to enough steps to cross the entire United States in your dog’s lifetime? With all that walking, maybe it's time to trade sidewalks for forest trails, and familiar streets for something a little wilder.
Do you want to know the perfect place to do just that? Well, it'd be the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania!
This natural playground is perfect for humans and their four-legged explorers. Your canine companion can scale lush hills, sniff through green ravines, and follow lakeside trails for miles—all without ever losing sight of the water. From canoeing through winding rivers to lakeside lounging, the Pocono Mountains with its 150 lakes and 170 miles of waterways is a splash-filled haven for adventurous pups and their humans.
If your pup is anything like our boy, Luie Boone, they're going to be trying to cannonball into every body of water they see, no matter how dirty and smelly it might make them. And, dang, they can get quite smelly.
Are you itching to explore storybook-style villages? Well, look no further than the gorgeous towns scattered throughout the Pocono Mountains. Jim Thorpe, Milford, Stroudsburg, Delaware Water Gap, Hawley, Honesdale, Moscow, Tannersville, Mount Pocono, Lake Harmony, Bushkill, Gouldsboro, Dingmans Ferry, and Cresco—wow, that's a mouthful. Each one of these towns offers its personal touch of regional charm, cozy shops, timeless appeal, and pup-welcoming vibes. In fact, these incredible local gems truly capture the heart of the Poconos and are the perfect spots to wander, relax, and soak up some small-town magic!
So what are you waiting for? Stop considering and just do it. Your Pocono adventure with your best friend awaits!
Paws Rest Here
Luie Boone paw-selected this perfect vacation rental for your stay at The Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania! Check it out below!
Rental Name: Hemlock House
This rental has 4 bedrooms with 6 beds and 3.5 baths.
Photos courtesy of Go to Poconos Rentals
It features the following amenities:
Deck with plush furnishings and a view overlooking the State Forest
Hot tub
Large, wooded lot with firepit, where you can enjoy sitting around with your pooch (Luie Boone wants to remind you, "Don't forget the marshmellows!")
Pecks Pond is across the street; it is an area well known for spectacular waterfalls
What does Luie Boone think of this rental? He woofed:
Welcome to Hemlock House, from Luie Boone's point of view! Hemlock House is the ultimate place to bring your humans when vacationing in the Poconos! It’s a sniff-and-zoom paradise, with adventures waiting inside and outside! Let’s start with the inside: the house is BIG! With over 4200 sq ft and a cozy movie theater, there is no shortage of places to curl up with my humans. There are two kitchens. Yeah, you heard me right. There's seriously TWO kitchens! That’s double the chances of something tasty falling on the floor... or right into my mouth. Heads up, groceries and restaurants are 15 to 20 minutes away, but trust me, the kitchens will have everything you'll ever need. But, if you don't have something, the Pickerel Inn General Store is just 2 miles down the road. That's quick ride with the windows down for me. Gotta get in all the sniffs I can! And then, there is the outside! Acres and acres and acres of land for me to explore! Trees, trails, fresh smells—and it's EVERYWHERE. I can chase leaves for hours, and I am sure there is at least one pesky squirrel to dash after! A rabbit will do, too. Pecks Pond, a cannonball-ready lake, is just across the street and nearby there are big splashing waterfalls, such as Dingmans Falls. If your dog isn’t dragging you to Hemlock House after hearing this, are you even listening? Trust me, I know what I'm barking about. It gets four paws up from me, because it’s got all the essentials: snacks, snuggles, smells, and squirrels to chase.
Paws Venture Here
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Your canine companion can join you at this park, which features 40 miles of the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi. It also provides great opportunities for hiking, paddling, fishing, and picnicking. We'd probably catch Luie Boone's snout in the picnic basket, sniffing out his next snack!
Kittatinny Canoes
At Kittatinny Canoes, you can bring your furry friend on river trips. Dogs must wear a life vest when on the river! Luie Boone would only be spotted in his cool camo life vest.
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
This is an old-style, diesel-powered train, with passenger coaches from the 1920s. It will bring you and Fido on a 16-mile roundtrip train ride through the Lehigh Gorge State Park. Check out those views and imagine all the smells to sniff!
North Pocono Trails
Enjoy the over 10 miles of hiking woodland trails and mountain streams with your pal at North Pocono Trails!
Gouldsboro State Park
This recreational area offers 7.25 miles of trails to hike with your best buddy.
Big Pocono State Park
Rover is welcome at this 1,306-acre recreation area, which features the beautiful slopes of Camelback Mountain and scenic views of three different states.
Delaware State Forest
Take your doggo for a walk in the Delaware State Forest—a forest that is characteristic of the Pocono region, with remote glacial lakes and bogs rich with plants, wildlife, and scenic beauty. The forest spans 80,056 acres with tons of trails, acres of natural areas, and several beautiful vistas.
Tom X Pub
This pub has a “bacon policy," offering pups a strip of bacon and a bowl of water. Human guests can enjoy items like the award-winning chili, signature burgers, and jumbo chicken wings. If you're feeling particularly sweet, Luie Boone thinks you should drop a couple crumbs on the floor for your pooch.
Luie Boone's Pet Peeve about
The Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania
There's just so much to love about this vacation destination, but there's one thing that's got Luie Boone's leash in a twist. He woofed:
Let me tell about Automobile Deer Dodging. Yeah, that's a thing. A very serious thing, in fact. In the Poconos, deer aren’t just part of the landscape—they own it. They strut into the road like it’s their personal runway. I swear, some of them don’t even blink when they see a car coming. They just stop, stare into the headlights, and dare us to hit the brakes. Honestly, it's impressive, but also pretty terrifying. As a loyal pup who cares deeply about my human’s safety, my snack supply, and the life of the deer (even if they are a little reckless and stupid), I will be prepared. If I see a deer, I will alert with a bark, a growl, or a shriek, depending on how close we are to impact. I really don't want to hit a deer! So, if you’re driving through the Poconos, stay sharp, drive slow, and never underestimate the deer’s ability to just not care.
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