Poconos (Waterfalls/Ski), Pennsylvania
4-Day Itinerary for Teen Families
“Waterfalls, Boulders & Mountain Air: 4 Days in the Poconos”
The Poconos in summer trade snow for spray — waterfalls thunder through green-black forest, glacial boulders bake warm in the afternoon sun, and the mountain that draws skiers in January turns into a playground of chairlifts and cool ridge air. This is a trip built for teens who want a little adrenaline and parents who want a little quiet, with just enough drive time between stops to argue about the radio.
At a Glance
Highlights
- Mist and thunder at Bushkill Falls' 100-foot main cascade
- Boulder-hopping across Hickory Run's glacial Boulder Field
- Scenic chairlift rides over Camelback Mountain's summer trails
- Golden-hour shots from the Delaware Water Gap overlook
- Casual pizza and deli stops that satisfy every teen palate
- Early-morning trailheads with no one else around
- Easy pacing that mixes hikes with lodge downtime
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1: Settling In on the Mountain
A gentle first day exploring Camelback Mountain's summer side, with light walking (under 2 miles) and low-key pacing to ease into mountain time.
The lift creaks upward and the valley falls away beneath your boots — forested ridges layered blue-green to the horizon, the air thinning just enough to feel like an adventure. In summer, Camelback trades snow for scenic chairlift rides, mountain coaster runs, and hiking trails that wind through pine and birch. Arrive by 9am and the parking lot is still half-empty; by midday, families with strollers and teens on the coaster line stack up fast.
Ease into the trip with a slow mountain morning — the chairlift ride alone resets everyone's internal clock, cool air rushing past as the resort's summer trails and coaster tracks appear below. Teens will gravitate toward the mountain coaster; parents can post up at an overlook bench and just breathe.
Keep the afternoon unstructured — wander the base village, let teens grab a snack independently, and consider a short rest back at the lodge before dinner. This is a day for acclimating, not covering ground.
Dinner at Cameltop wraps up the day with generous, no-fuss portions — the kind of meal that tastes better after a day outdoors. Aim to eat by 6:30–7pm, in keeping with the area's early dinner rhythm, then let the evening wind down early.
Day 2: Chasing Mist at Bushkill Falls
A moderate hiking day (around 3 miles total) through Bushkill Falls' cascade trails, with cooler forest air offsetting summer heat.
The trail drops you into a world of ferns and moss before you even hear the falls — then the roar builds, and suddenly the main 100-foot cascade is thundering below the bridge, mist drifting up to cool your face. Eight falls total wind through the property, from dramatic plunges to hidden veils barely wider than a doorway. Arrive by 8:30am and the bridge overlook is quiet enough to hear individual splashes; by 11am, it's shoulder-to-shoulder with families.
The falls are the whole morning here, and they earn it — layered cascades, cool mist, and a trail system that rewards patience with quieter, hidden viewpoints the farther you wander from the entrance.
After lunch, keep the pace easy — this is a good afternoon for teens to explore a shorter loop independently while parents rest at a bench near the main overlook, or simply head back toward lodging for pool time or downtime.
Keep dinner casual and early, ideally back near lodging, letting the sound of the falls fade into a quieter evening — an early night sets up tomorrow's more physically demanding boulder-field day.
Day 3: Boulders, Glaciers, and Forest Silence
A moderately active day (roughly 3–4 miles) exploring Hickory Run's Boulder Field and forest trails, best tackled in the cooler morning hours.
The Boulder Field arrives almost without warning — 16,000 acres of quiet forest suddenly opening into a moss-flecked sea of glacial rock, the boulders stacked and tumbled like a landscape frozen mid-motion. It's a favorite with teens for the boulder-hopping alone, while the surrounding forest trails offer a slower, shaded contrast. Arrive by 8:30am for cool air and near-empty trails; by late morning, weekend crowds start filtering in.
This is the day's centerpiece — the Boulder Field is unlike anything else on the trip, and letting teens scramble across the stones (carefully, with good shoes) tends to be a trip highlight in itself.
With no mapped dining nearby, plan to pack a picnic lunch or eat before/after the park — the forest setting makes for a nice spot to rest under tree cover once the sun climbs higher. Keep the early afternoon light, maybe a shaded stretch of trail or simply resting before the drive back.
With no evening stop planned in this cluster, treat tonight as a wind-down — a relaxed dinner back near lodging and an early night, since Boulder Field days tend to tire everyone out more than expected.
Day 4: Last Light on the Mountain
A lighter closing day revisiting Camelback's mountain views or easing into departure, with minimal walking (under 2 miles).
One last ride up the mountain, this time with the easy familiarity of a place you've come to know — the same ridgelines, the same hush of wind at altitude, but a different mood now that departure is close. Arrive early, before the day-trippers, for a final quiet look over the layered hills before packing up.
Keep this final morning unhurried — one more chairlift ride or a slow wander around the base village, savoring the mountain air before the trip winds down.
After lunch, use the early afternoon for packing and any last-minute souvenir stops near the resort village, keeping the pace light ahead of travel.
With travel typically filling the evening, keep plans simple — grab snacks for the road and let the trip close the way it started: unhurried, with mountain views fading in the rearview mirror.
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