The Top 5 Things to Do in the Summer When Staying at Hilltop

Summer is a good season to be in the Upper Delaware Valley. Hilltop sits in Beach Lake, in the northern Poconos, with the Delaware River five minutes away and the Catskills the next range north. Narrowsburg, the nearest town, is three miles away on the river.

From a day on the water to a slow walk in the woods, here are our five favorite things to do from Hilltop in summer. The activities page has everything else nearby, with driving times.

1. Raft or kayak the Delaware

There is no better way to spend a hot afternoon than on the river. Five minutes from Hilltop, Lander’s River Trips in Narrowsburg has six-person rafts for big groups and single kayaks for small ones. It is the favorite thing to do here in summer.

Bring sunscreen, plenty of water and something to eat, and let the river set the pace.

The Delaware River from the air, a road bridge crossing it between wooded hills, with green islands in the channel and fields along one bank — The Upper Delaware, a few miles from the hill.

2. Walk Hilltop’s Enchanted Forest Trail

You don’t have to leave the property for this one. The Enchanted Forest Trail runs 4 miles through Hilltop’s 130 private acres, with picnic areas and plenty of wildlife along the way. There are two loops: an easy one of a mile and a half, marked with red tree markers, and a moderate one of two and a half miles, marked with yellow.

It is the right length for a coffee walk in the morning or a stroll before dinner, and dogs are welcome on it, on a leash. Wear proper shoes.

A timber trail post with a hanging lantern and an arrow sign pointing down a grassy path into summer woods, red and yellow trail markers on the post — Red markers for the easy loop, yellow for the moderate one.

3. Get out on Lake Wallenpaupack

Twenty-five minutes from Hilltop, Lake Wallenpaupack is the third largest lake in Pennsylvania, with 52 miles of shoreline and over 5,700 acres of water. There are boats and jet skis to rent, parasailing, water skiing, guided pontoon tours, and restaurants all the way round.

Rent a boat: Pine Crest Marina has everything from pontoons to speedboats. A pontoon is an easy way for a family or a group of friends to spend the afternoon on the water.
Take a sunset cruise: a slower way to see the lake as the day ends.

4. Visit the Narrowsburg farmers’ market

On Saturdays in season, Narrowsburg’s farmers’ market runs from 10am to 1pm, rain or shine, five minutes from Hilltop. Go for whatever is fresh that week, and stock up for a cookout back at your building: every building has a gas grill, and the propane is supplied.

While you are in town, Narrowsburg has two coffee shops, a lot of restaurants, Big Eddy Brewery, two wine stores, boutiques and a supermarket.

Two people with coffee cups walking along a sidewalk past shopfronts and planters of orange flowers, flags on the posts and wooded hills at the end of the street — Narrowsburg, three miles from Hilltop.

5. Dinner in Narrowsburg, starting with La Cigogne

End the day at La Cigogne, a French bistro in Narrowsburg. It is one of several good places to eat in town: The Heron, Bar Veloce, and Big Eddy Brewing and SmokD BBQ are on our list too. On a summer weekend, it is worth booking a table ahead.

If you want to go further, there are restaurants in Honesdale and Hawley, twenty minutes away, and in Callicoon, twenty-five. The activities page lists the ones we recommend.

Back on the hill

Summer at Hilltop is not only about going out. The Castle has three outdoor pools in its courtyard, the Mansion has an outdoor salt-water pool beside a covered gazebo, and the Farmhouse has a heated indoor pool for the days the weather turns; each comes with its own building. In the evening there are fire pits at the Castle, the Mansion and the Farmhouse, and once it is dark, look up: you are a long way from the bright lights of the city, and the stars are abundant.

Whether you spend the day on the river or in the woods, Hilltop is a good place to come back to.