Lacawac Sanctuary Field Station and Environmental Education Center - Lake Ariel, PA
Lacawac Sanctuary Field Station and Environmental Education Center
Located in the heart of Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, the Lacawac Sanctuary Field Station and Environmental Education Center offers dog owners a unique opportunity to explore pet-friendly trails surrounded by the beauty of the Pocono Mountains. This nature sanctuary distinguishes itself with peaceful wooded areas, well-marked hiking trails, and stunning lake vistas, making it an ideal spot for dog-friendly hiking and outdoor adventures. While not a traditional dog park, the spacious property and gentle trails allow you and your dog to immerse yourselves in a serene, natural environment with abundant wildlife and blooming wildflowers.
Lacawac Sanctuary is renowned for its well-maintained, gentle-grade trails that make both short and long hikes possible by combining various loop routes. The park features clear signage, abundant wildlife sightings, and plenty of shade from the towering trees overhead. Visitors appreciate the plentiful parking, clean restrooms, and the tranquil atmosphere, perfect for those seeking a quieter alternative to busier public parks.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the sanctuary offers a range of well-marked hiking trails through diverse, scenic terrain.
- Is there parking available? Yes, there is ample parking for visitors to the sanctuary.
- Is the park muddy after it rains? There may be puddles and some mud on trails after rainfall, so appropriate footwear is recommended.
- Are there restrooms available for owners? Yes, there are restrooms available on-site for visitors.
- Is there shade or shelter available? Yes, the park offers plenty of shade from mature trees along the trails and around the grounds.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? Yes, the trails and grounds are well maintained and signage is clear for visitors.
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? The sanctuary requires dogs to remain on leash to protect local wildlife and the natural environment.
Reviews
LACAWAC WEDDING VENUE REVIEW- MOST MAGICAL DAY EVER!!!
We had our September wedding of 75 people at Lacawac in 2025. It was THE BEST DECISION EVER! Craig is so wonderful and lovely to work with! The site is BREATHTAKING!! There are so many spaces to hold the ceremony and reception. We had 75 people at the lake dock, and it was so pretty, and then we had our reception under their new fully covered, paved, and heated pavilion. Our whole wedding party stayed the weekend in the lodge, and it was so fun/great to have everyone on site the whole time. Everyone said it was the most unique wedding venue they had been to, and the money goes towards an amazing mission! The only thing is, I think other people recommended this, definitely have a wedding coordinator, as the space is GIANT and can confuse people. We went with Ester & Tye at Bissou and they were amazing! But Craig, the head of Lacawac, although not a wedding coordinator, was very great to work with, leading up to and helping tailor the space to your needs! Plenty of bathrooms and parking for people, and the amount of lodging they have onsite (for an extra fee) is such a great perk, to have everyone get to get ready and stay together. The whole place is TRULY MAGICAL!!
Very interesting sanctuary, lots of signage for trails but would not go too far out of your way
Very interesting sanctuary, lots of signage for trails but would not go too far out of your way
Very interesting sanctuary, lots of signage for trails but would not go too far out of your way
Lots of short really well marked trails with gentle grades, interesting nature facts along the way, and local history. You can string several trails together to take longer hikes. We saw a few deer, osprey, Kingfisher, herons, and other marsh and woodland birds. We experienced little to no bugs.
Lots of short really well marked trails with gentle grades, interesting nature facts along the way, and local history. You can string several trails together to take longer hikes. We saw a few deer, osprey, Kingfisher, herons, and other marsh and woodland birds. We experienced little to no bugs.
Lots of short really well marked trails with gentle grades, interesting nature facts along the way, and local history. You can string several trails together to take longer hikes. We saw a few deer, osprey, Kingfisher, herons, and other marsh and woodland birds. We experienced little to no bugs.
We’ve been here for a hike many times, it’s a peaceful and beautiful place to walk. On our way in we saw 3 pleated woodpeckers. Saw a monarch butterfly caterpillar on the milkweed in the flower garden.
We’ve been here for a hike many times, it’s a peaceful and beautiful place to walk. On our way in we saw 3 pleated woodpeckers. Saw a monarch butterfly caterpillar on the milkweed in the flower garden.
We stopped here on a Sunday in early June to do some outdoor exploring. I will start by saying I did have some bug spray but it wasn’t as effective as I would have liked. We weren’t really sure what to expect but we had hiking shoes with us so we wore them. There were some puddles and mud but it wasn’t bad. I guess there had been some rain. Just plan for that with appropriate footwear. I’ll never forget the time I saw someone hiking in adidas slides on a different trail. Not sure how that worked out for them but I have a good guess.
There are hiking maps at the visitor center. We went down the rhododendron trail and lake view trail and then back to the parking lot. I tracked a little over a mile in my watch. We saw some orange salamanders and a couple tiny frogs.
This was a nice property and a good stop despite the bugs. I just can’t get away from them.