Outdoor Spring Fun in the Endless Mountains

Discover the NEPA Countryside with These Outdoor Activities in the Endless Mountains

Spring is full of excitement in the Endless Mountains of NEPA. The forests come back to life, welcoming visitors to our scenic parks and trails. Spring snowmelt and April showers feed the roaring waterfalls of Ricketts Glen State Park and the Loyalsock State Forest. Soon, the flowers will reach full bloom, and family farms will reopen for season. With so much to see and do, you can’t help but catch a bit of spring fever.

Just a short drive from Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, the Endless Mountains offer the perfect little escape. Hop in the car, follow the country roads, and enjoy the spring sunshine with these outdoor activities.

See the Tulips at Brown Hill Farms

Visitors stroll among rows of colorful tulips at Brown Hill Farms in Tunkhannock, PA. — Visitors explore rows of colorful tulips at Brown Hill Farms in Tunkhannock, PA. Photo courtesy of Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau.

Spring will be in full bloom at Brown Hill Farms, a fifth-generation family farm near Tunkhannock. During tulip season, their fields are filled with over 500,000 flowers. Visitors can stroll through the endless rows of tulips and pick their own bouquets. Make sure to bring a camera because you’ll find plenty of photo opportunities and fun props.

Yellow and white tulips at Brown Hill Farms in Tunkhannock, PA. — Brown Hill Farms, Tunkhannock, PA. Photo Ccourtesy of Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau.

Plan to spend the afternoon because Brown Hill Farms also offers play areas for the kids, a farm store, and tasty homemade treats. And you can’t miss the adorable animals—spring always brings baby sheep and goats!

Brown Hill Farms typically opens for tulip season in late April or early May, depending on Mother Nature. Check their Facebook page for updates and hours.

Go Fishing

A fisherman casts a fly into Loyalsock Creek in Sullivan County, PA. — Fishing on Loyalsock Creek. Photo By: Richard Liebert.

Trout season opens on April 4. 2026, and our rural creeks and streams offer plenty of fishing holes. South Branch Tunkhannock Creek, which flows through the Factoryville area, is a well-known spot for trout fishing. Spring is also prime time to visit the Loyalsock Creek and its feeder streams, which are especially popular for fly fishing. Both creeks have sections for the Keystone Select Stocked Trout Waters program, which releases older, larger trout.

A young girl casts a line into Tunkhannock Creek in Factoryville, PA. — Fishing on Tunkhannock Creek in Factoryville, PA. Photo By: Patrick Tully.

Anglers can also cast a line at our area’s lakes and ponds. Lake Winola and Lake Carey are two of the larger lakes in the area. For spectacular scenery, try the cool mountain waters of Lake Jean at Ricketts Glen State Park. If you’re searching for a peaceful, quiet spot, check out our smaller lakes, like Hunters Lake near Eagles Mere and Oxbow Lake near Nicholson.

Go Birdwatching

A bird perched on a branch in the forest. — Photo By: Colleen Kenia.

Nature preserves offer wonderful opportunities to watch wildlife, especially as many birds migrate back to NEPA for spring and start building their nests. Davis Crossing Preserve near Lake Winola boasts a mix of forests and wetlands, providing an ideal habitat for birds. Easy trails surround the preserve, and a viewing area overlooks the pond.

A sign marking the entrance of Mokoma Conservancy in Laporte, PA. — Mokoma Conservancy in Laporte, PA. Photo courtesy of Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau.

The Mokoma Conservancy near Laporte protects precious habitat at the Conklin Run and Elklick Wilderness Areas. Among the beautiful, forested trails, they have a special area dedicated to threatened golden-winged warblers.

Not far from the Mokoma Conservancy, the Loyalsock Foundation’s Summit Loop Trail is another birdwatching destination. This gentle, one-mile trail is recognized as an eBird Hot Spot by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

A bald eagle rests on a pine branch in the forest. — A bald eagle perched in the forest. Photo By: Deb Kintner.

Bald eagles also call the Endless Mountains home. The best place to spot them is along the Susquehanna River. Visit Vosburg Neck State Park near Tunkhannock for a glimpse of a nesting pair, which reside across the river from the boat launch.

Take a Kayaking Trip

A group of kayakers launches from a beach on the Susquehanna River in Falls, PA. — Photo By: Susquehanna Kayak and Canoe Rentals.

After a long winter, we’re eager to get back on the water! Enjoy the warmer days with a kayaking trip down the Susquehanna River, named the 2023 Pennsylvania River of the Year. Outfitters like Susquehanna Kayak & Canoe Rentals in Falls and Endless Mountain Outfitters in Sugar Run can provide boat rentals, gear, and shuttle services. These companies offer a variety of daily trips, from short, family-friendly paddles to full-day adventures.

Kayaks beached on the shore of the Susquehanna River in Sugar Run, PA. — Photo By: Endless Mountain Outfitters.

Both outfitters are currently accepting 2026 bookings. Daily kayak trips typically run from May through October depending on river conditions.

Plan an Adventure in the Endless Mountains

There are still miles of trails, acres of public lands, and dozens of small towns to explore! Check out our new visitors guide for all things Endless Mountains. You can request a free copy or download a digital version online.