Gouldsboro State Park

About Gouldsboro State Park

It covers 2,800 acres of land, including 250 acres on Gouldsboro Lake (nearby Tobyhanna State Park), and is one of the largest state parks in Pennsylvania.

The name Gouldsboro comes from Jay Gould (1836 - 1892), after whom the village is named north of the park. Gould, who was born in New York, acquired a very large fortune, which by 1892 comprised ten percent of all German railways. One of those railroad lines he owned was the Erie-Lackawanna, which runs parallel to the park's eastern border. It is now part of Pennsylvania State Park, the largest and second largest national park in Pennsylvania.

Gould co-owned the Erie-Lackawanna, one of the largest railroad lines in the United States, and a number of other railroad lines. The raw hides, brought to Gouldsboro from Australia and the Western United States, were transported by rail from Thornhurst on a plank road in two horse-drawn carriages each weighing several tons, and then taken to the coast on horseback. During the summer months, the sandy beach of the park is open from June to October, except for a few days in August and September.

The 250-acre Gouldsboro Lake has 50 seasonal berths, which require a state parking permit, which is available at most state parking offices. All motor boats must have a boat registration in the respective state, and all non-motorized boats must have one of the following boat registrations in each state. You swim at your own risk, but the lake is open to the public for swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking and other activities.

Gouldsboro State Park is like any other national park in New Jersey, with wooded picnic areas, hiking trails, picnic areas and lots of picnic tables and benches.

Picnic pavilions are not reserved, but can be reserved up to 11 months in advance, and picnics are permitted all year round.

The double flame indicates a change of direction at the intersection of the two paths, and a double flame in the middle of a path signals the beginning of a new path, making hiking challenging but also rewarding.

Children should be accompanied by an adult and hiking shoes should be worn by at least one adult and one child under 5 years of age.

Motor vehicles are not allowed on the trails, except for snowmobiles on designated trails. A large circular trail along the day - utilisation area connects with the main hiking trail at the northern end of the park and follows a large loop around the lake.

There are several very rocky sections, but there is a short, steep climb to the highest point of the park and a steep descent back. This section is followed by a series of steep descents, although there are no steep climbs, just a few steep drops and some very narrow sections.

Part of the trail runs along the Prospect Rock Trail, a flat, wide trail parallel to the 380, lined with a series of steep descents and some very narrow sections of rocky terrain.

The entrance to the park is located at the northern end of Prospect Rock Trail, south of Prospect Park Road, on the east side of Route 380.