Switchback Books

Switchback Books opened in 2016 in one of Pennsylvania's most scenic small towns, quickly becoming a must-visit destination for the tourists who flock to Jim Thorpe's Victorian streetscapes and mountain trails. Named after the famous Switchback Gravity Railroad that once carried coal through the Lehigh Gorge, the store celebrates the region's natural beauty and storied past. The nature writing section is superb, ranging from Thoreau and Muir to contemporary environmental journalism, while the outdoor adventure shelves cater to hikers, cyclists, and paddlers exploring the nearby trails and rivers. A small cafe in the back serves hot drinks and baked goods, providing a welcome rest stop for visitors in any season. Owner Ellen Hartley, a Poconos native, has filled the local history section with hard-to-find titles about the coal region, the Lenape people, and the railroad era that put Jim Thorpe on the map.