The largest lake in the Poconos. A dam, not a glacier.
Wallenpaupack is a reservoir, not a natural lake — built in 1926 by damming Wallenpaupack Creek for hydroelectric power, now 13 miles of shoreline that reads more engineered than glacial, and the largest lake in the Poconos for it.
Lake Wallenpaupack is a 5,700-acre reservoir in Pike and Wayne Counties, Pennsylvania, with 52 miles of shoreline and no single dominant town the way some lakes have — Hawley, at the north end, functions as the service hub with the grocery store, the brewery, and most of the restaurants. Lakeville and Greentown carry the south and west shores; Lake Ariel sits inland to the southwest. This reads as a family lake first: Claws 'N' Paws Wild Animal Park and Costa's Family Fun Park both sit a short drive from the water, and Palmyra Township Public Beach is the lake's one lifeguarded public swimming spot. Mangan Cove is the only free public boat launch; four fee-based Brookfield-owned launches cover the rest of the shoreline. About 45 minutes from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and two hours from New York City, it draws a heavier weekend crowd from the metro area than the more remote Adirondack or Maine lakes in this registry.
Color-coded by category. Toggle layers, search by name or town, tap a pin for the editorial.
Same restaurants, wineries, parks — re-sorted around what you're actually trying to do.
The questions travelers actually ask before they arrive. Direct answers, the way a friend would phrase them.
12+ answers →