Moosic Lake State Park
🏆🏆🏆🏆 Anthracite Lake — Small mountain lake in the Pocono Mountains — in the heart of Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal region, which fueled the Industrial Revolution
Moosic Lake State Park is a small mountain lake park in Lackawanna County — in the heart of northeastern Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal region. This region produced the hard coal that fueled America’s Industrial Revolution — anthracite burns hotter and cleaner than bituminous coal, making it the preferred fuel for iron smelting and home heating. By 1900, the anthracite region around Scranton and Wilkes-Barre was one of the most industrialized areas in the world. The industry’s decline left behind a scarred landscape — but nature has been reclaiming the old mines for decades.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Lackawanna County, PA (Poconos!) |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Industry | Anthracite fueled Industrial Revolution! |
| Recovery | Nature reclaiming old mines! |
About Moosic Lake
Moosic Lake State Park in Lackawanna County provides day-use recreation on a scenic mountain lake in the Moosic Mountains northeast of Scranton. The name derives from a Lenape word for “elk” — these mountains were elk habitat before European settlement. The park sits in the anthracite coal region — once the energy capital of America, where hard coal powered the Industrial Revolution.
Things to Do
Fishing for bass, pickerel, and panfish, swimming at the beach, hiking, picnicking, and exploring the former anthracite coal region that fueled 19th-century American industry.
Insider Tips
Pocono retreat: Moosic Lake offers quiet lakeside recreation in the Poconos — a natural spring-fed lake surrounded by forest. Pro tip: The Poconos have been a vacation destination since the 1800s — the mountains’ proximity to Philadelphia and New York made them a honeymoon and resort capital. Anthracite region: The surrounding area was once the heart of Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal region — the hard coal that heated American homes for a century.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: Swimming and fishing. Fall: Pocono foliage. Spring: Fishing and quiet lake walks. Winter: Ice fishing and nearby skiing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is anthracite coal?
Anthracite is hard coal — the highest grade of coal with the most carbon and least impurities. Northeastern Pennsylvania’s anthracite region produced the coal that heated American cities from 1820-1950. The industry employed 180,000+ miners (many immigrants) and shaped the region’s culture. Anthracite mining declined as oil and gas replaced coal for heating.
