About the Park
Frances Slocum State Park, spanning 1,035 in Luzerne County, features a horseshoe-shaped lake, covering 165-acres, renowned for boating and fishing. The park boasts diverse wildlife, numerous hiking and mountain biking trails, and a spacious day-use area for picnics amid the scenic forests.
The park is open year-round, from sunrise to sunset, with specific hours for the park office. Various facilities like the pool and overnight areas have designated seasons and hours, available at the park office.
The Patrick J. Solano Environmental Education Center, near Frances Slocum Lake, offers exhibits on indigenous people and park ecology, hosting programs from March to November. Natural, cultural, historical, and recreational programs are also led by an environmental educator seasonally.
Photo by Mike Coach
For hiking enthusiasts, the park offers trails of varying difficulty levels. The Bluebird Trail is an easy out-and-back trail, exploring fields and mixed forest. The Buck Trail, a more challenging connector trail, meanders through stone walls, old fields, and pine stands. Campground trail, a moderately difficult loop trail, provides a peaceful woods experience.
For those seeking a challenge, the Deer Trail, with its 3.2 miles of diverse woodlands, is the most difficult option. Other trails like the Doe Trail, Frances Slocum Trail, Hilltop Loop Trail, Lake Shore Trail Larch Tree Trail, Maconquah Trail, and Upper Deer Trail offer a range of difficulty levels, from easy to more demanding.
Parking and Trail Access
The park is conveniently situated, merely five miles from Dallas and a short ten-mile drive from Wilkes-Barre. To reach the park from Exit 170B of I-81, head north on PA 309 for 7.2 miles. Subsequently, make a right (east) turn onto Carverton Rd and proceed for 4.2 miles. Take a left (north) onto West 8th St, covering 1.3 miles. Finally, turn left (west) onto Mt. Olivet Rd, and after driving one mile, you’ll find the park entrance on the left.
Information and Maps courtesy of PA DCNR
