The leaves are making their move. The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau expects peak color Oct. 10 to 17 in the central zone, which includes northern Monroe, and Oct. 20 to 28 in southern Monroe. Right now the central zone is at about 65 percent color and the south is closer to 30 percent. With a sunny Saturday ahead, here are our five picks for Monroe County overlooks.
The summit of Camelback Mountain gives you views across three states. Travel company Exoticca ranked it Pennsylvania’s top fall viewpoint and tenth in the nation in a survey of 3,012 travelers, according to MyChesCo. The park is open sunrise to sunset and closes in early December. The road up is steep, so take it slow.
Camelback Rd, Tannersville, PA 18372A roadside pull-off with far-reaching views of the eastern Poconos, Big Pocono State Park and Camelback Mountain, and on a clear day you can see into New Jersey and New York, which is the one view some of our locals could do without. Saturday’s forecast should deliver.
Knob Rd, Mount Pocono, PA 18344An easy pull-off along Route 611 in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, near the ruins of the old Kittatinny House and Water Gap House hotels. Southern Monroe is not expected to peak until Oct. 20 to 28, and it is only about 30 percent there now, so this weekend you will catch it early and next weekend or the one after is the better bet.
Route 611, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, PA 18327A 2.8-mile loop to a small overlook with views of the Pocono Plateau and ridges including Spruce Mountain and Skytop’s West Mountain. It is open dawn to dusk. The gate is usually locked, so park along Route 191, and there are no facilities.
Route 191, Barrett Township (near Mountainhome), PA 18342Chairlift rides run $10 per person this weekend during the Pocono Food Truck Festival, so you can see the leaves from above and then go find a funnel cake.
401 Hollow Rd, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301Roads and trails can close without notice, so check before you go.
