Living in the Northern Poconos
Thornhurst, PA: Rural Living at the Edge of Pinchot State Forest
Thornhurst PA is a small rural township on the Pocono Plateau in Lackawanna County, the kind of place where your closest neighbor might be a stand of hemlocks. If you want quiet, trees, and room to breathe within a couple of hours of metro life, it belongs on your list.
Pinchot State Forest is the main draw
Most of what makes Thornhurst, PA appealing comes down to one thing: it sits at the edge of Pinchot State Forest. The forest covers roughly 50,000 acres spread across several northeastern Pennsylvania counties, and at close to 13,000 acres, the Thornhurst Tract is its largest single piece at close. In short: that is a lot of public land in your backyard.
Things to do in Thornhurst: Waterfalls, Winter Trails & Outdoor Appreciation
- Hiking. The Pinchot Trail is a roughly 23 mile orange-blazed loop you can take as a short walk or an overnight backpacking trip. A road bisects the loop, so you can split it into shorter northern and southern sections.
- Waterfalls. Choke Creek Falls is reachable on foot from the Choke Creek Trail and stays quiet most of the year.
- Fishing and hunting. Painter Creek and the surrounding waters draw anglers, and there are seasonal state hunting areas.
- Camping. Primitive, permit-based sites for people who want the real back-to-nature version.
- Winter. Designated snowmobile and cross-country ski trails once the snow sets in.
A quick note on the name
Trivia time: the forest was not always called Pinchot. In fact, for many years it was the Lackawanna State Forest, and it was later renamed for Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service and a two-term Pennsylvania governor. If the name rings a bell, his summer estate, Grey Towers, is over in Pike County (Milford).
What living here actually feels like
Thornhurst is rural in the real sense. You drive for groceries, you keep an eye on the weather in winter, and the loudest thing most mornings is the birds. Owners here run the full range, from year-round residents to weekend people escaping New York, New Jersey, or Philadelphia. Actually, the seasons do a lot of the entertaining: leaf-peeping drives and hikes in fall, snow sports in winter, trout streams and long evenings in summer.
If you have a dog, the trails sell themselves.
Nearby towns and the practical stuff
Thornhurst feels tucked away, but the essentials are only a short drive away.
Closest towns:
- Blakeslee, about 15 minutes. Restaurants, gas, groceries, and quick access to I-80.
- Mount Pocono, about 20 minutes. Shopping, restaurants, and services.
- Moscow and Daleville, about 25 minutes. Groceries, dining, and more services.
Hospitals, roughly 40 minutes: Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono, Geisinger Community Medical Center, Moses Taylor Hospital, and Regional Hospital of Scranton.
Groceries and shopping: Ahart’s Market in Blakeslee, Weis Markets in Mount Pocono, ShopRite in Daleville, Walmart Supercenter in Mount Pocono, and The Crossings Premium Outlets in Tannersville.
A few local restaurants:
- Murphy’s Loft (Blakeslee), casual American.
- Robert Christians (Blakeslee), steak and seafood.
- Jubilee Restaurant (Pocono Pines), family-owned diner fare.
- Murph’s Hideaway (Pocono Lake), Irish tavern and comfort food.
- Dutchman Tavern (Clifton Township), American with a deep beer list.
- Highbridge House (Springbrook Township), casual American.
Most of what you need sits fifteen to thirty minutes out, which is a trade most Thornhurst owners are happy to make for a quiet, rural lifestyle.
Common questions about Thornhurst, PA
Where is Thornhurst, PA?
Thornhurst is a rural township in Lackawanna County, on the Pocono Plateau in northeastern Pennsylvania. It sits at the edge of Pinchot State Forest, roughly fifteen to twenty-five minutes from Blakeslee, Mount Pocono, and Daleville.
What is there to do in Thornhurst?
Most of the activity is outdoors and centered on Pinchot State Forest. Therefore, popular activities include hiking the Pinchot Trail, fishing, seasonal hunting, primitive camping, and snowmobiling or cross-country skiing in winter. Additionally, the broader Poconos, Hawley, and Honesdale are a reasonable drive for dining, shopping, and events.
Is Thornhurst a good place for a second home?
It depends on what you want. Thornhurst suits buyers looking for privacy, woods, and a quiet pace rather than lakefront or resort amenities. If that is the lifestyle you are after, within a couple of hours of metro living, it is worth a closer look.
A note on the details: trail mileage, forest acreage, business hours, and which restaurants are open all shift over time. Treat the specifics here as a starting point and confirm anything you are counting on before you go.
Thinking about Thornhurst?
Whether you are weighing a full-time move, a weekend place, or just trying to figure out which corner of the Poconos fits, I am glad to help you sort through it. No pressure, just straight answers. Browse current homes for sale in Thornhurst here.
About the author
Karen Rice
Karen Rice of Keller Williams Real Estate has been a full-time Realtor since 2007. She specializes in luxury, lakefront, waterfront, and vacation home sales in the Lake Wallenpaupack, Lake Ariel, and the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Questions about a specific property or community? Message Karen.
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