Sweet Summer Sparkling at Lake Frances - Nescopeck State Park

Some weekends are made for adventure and some, for quiet time. Good friends, a blanket and sunshine in your eyes. Lake Frances is perfect for that or whatever you want to make of it.

I took a friend and got cerulean summer perfection. The sun-filled day made a scintillating sapphire jewel of Lake Frances. Its 9 acres nestled within the woodsy setting of Nescopeck State Park and charmed us at a glance.

Right now the adjacent entrance is under construction with the roadway bridge and lake parking lot blocked off. Not a problem though—we just parked in the front lot and took a short trail to the lake. Empty picnic areas begged for attention as we passed by, but our goal was to head around the lake trail and do…as little as possible.

The well traveled trail circles the lake and is packed with popular fishing holes and rest stops, so it’s easy to find one to call your own. It’s not a long walk either. Grassy. Smooth and shady. Inviting on a hazy day. We found a little sun-dappled glade and made it ours for the afternoon. As a steady stream of people breezed by, we hardly cared to notice as the dancing clouds and dazzling water took us away.

If you’re up for more adventure it is there for the asking. There are 19 miles of park trails to discover, many just off Honeyhole Road (which is accessible from Drums or White Haven). And the honeysuckle there let me tell you creates a perfumed paradise of a ride in late spring! Don’t miss that incredible, and oh yes edible, treat if you get the chance to visit in full bloom.

The park is also used for hunting and dog training, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and all kinds of fascinating educational programs that are worth exploring.

For us it was simply a day to be lazy. Enjoy that sweet feeling of summer. Forget anything or anyone involving effort. Lake Frances delivered all the peaceful easy feeling we were looking for and then some. Your peace is still waiting.