The area, nestled between the rural Endless Mountains and the northern Pocono Mountains, features wide stretches of green space punctuated by a line of bustling towns throughout the Lackawanna River Valley. The area, roughly 20 miles northeast of Scranton, maintains a convenient city connection while offering a slightly quieter pace of life.
Most of the action in Up Valley tends to follow the Lackawanna River along the eastern border. Towns like Blakely, Peckville, Eynon and Archbald carry urban spillover from Greater Scranton. You’ll find great pizza, local wineries and a famous glacial pothole. The quieter, residential communities of Jermyn and Mayfield offer relaxation at Aylesworth Park and some of the region’s best wings. The Dick & Nancy Eales Nature Preserve on Moosic Mountain in Jessup offers some of the finest valley views around.
You can hop on and off the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail all over the Up Valley for a peaceful stroll or bike ride. Then, be sure to head into Carbondale, Up Valley’s largest city, for a stay at the famous Hotel Anthracite and fine dining at Kol Grill. And if you’re looking to put in some real miles, the scenic D&H Rail Trail runs from Simpson all the way to the New York border.
Known For:
Merli Sarnoski Park
Lackawanna River Heritage Trail
D&H Rail-Trail
Small, close-knit communities
Archbald Pothole State Park
Local wineries
Dick & Nancy Eales Nature Preserve
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A Peak into Up Valley’s Past
The Up Valley grew into one of the region’s major gateways into the rugged northern Pocono Mountains. Many of the boroughs like Archbald, Blakely and Jermyn spawned from the massive flood of European immigrants that made their way to Northeastern Pennsylvania in search of better lives and employment in the coal mines, steel mills and on the railroad. In the early 19th century, Carbondale cemented itself as a lynchpin of the exploding coal industry with the D&H Gravity Railroad.
Did you Know?
The first commercial railroad in America got its start in Carbondale in 1829. The Delaware & Hudson Gravity Railroad shipped freshly-mined Wyoming Valley anthracite across the Pocono Mountains from Carbondale to Honesdale. From there, it was loaded on canal barges and sailed off to New York City and beyond, fueling America’s industrial revolution.
