Best Tent Camping: Pennsylvania: Your Car-Camping Guide to Scenic Beauty, the Sounds of Nature, and an Escape from Civilization

By Matt Willen

Between the state's two major population centers, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania offers the outdoor enthusiast thousands of square miles of hills, forests, and rivers to pursue a variety of outdoor activities--hiking, bicycling, skiing, fishing, boating, and camping.

Best Tent Camping: Pennsylvania by author Matt Willen provides a guide to the 50 best places in the state to pitch a tent and spend the night--without being bothered by the noise of loud portable stereos, large recreational vehicles, and crowds. In addition to providing campers with essential information about each campground (including season, rates, facilities, and how to reserve a site), the guide identifies the best sites at the best campgrounds, offers information on exciting day trips, suggests hikes and activities accessible from the campgrounds, and describes the flora and fauna campers might encounter on a trip.

From the Pocono Mountain region to the Allegheny National Forest, the Laurel Highlands to the suburbs of Philadelphia, Best Tent Camping: Pennsylvania is an indispensable guide for the person who likes to sleep in a tent not far from the convenience of the car.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press
• Release date: Sep 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781634040136

Book preview

Pennsylvania Campground Locator Map

PENNSYLVANIA MAP KEY

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA

1Asaph Run Picnic Area Campground

2Colton Point State Park Campground

3Delaware State Forest: Snow Hill Campsites

4Dingmans Campground

5Frances Slocum State Park Campground

6Lackawanna State Park Campground

7Leonard Harrison State Park Campground

8Promised Land State Park: Deerfield Campground

9Promised Land State Park: Pines Campground

10 Ravensburg State Park Campground

11 Ricketts Glen State Park Campground

12 Salt Springs State Park Campground

13 Sylvania Country Lodging Campground

14 Tobyhanna State Park Campground

15 Worlds End State Park Campground

NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA

16 Breakneck Campground

17 Chapman State Park Campground

18 Dewdrop Recreation Area Campground

19 Hearts Content Recreation Area Campground

20 Loleta Recreation Area Campground

21 Minister Creek Recreation Area Campground

22 Sinnemahoning State Park Campground

23 Sizerville State Park Campground

24 Tracy Ridge Recreation Area Campground

25 Twin Lakes Recreation Area Campground

26 Willow Bay Recreation Area Campground

SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA

27 Bald Eagle State Park: Rustic Campground

28 Codorus State Park: Timberdoodle Roughin’ It Tenting Area

29 Colonel Denning State Park Campground

30 Fowlers Hollow State Park Campground

31 French Creek State Park Campground

32 Greenwood Furnace State Park Campground

33 Hibernia County Park Campground

34 Hickory Run State Park Campground

35 Lancaster County Central Park: Mill Creek Campground

36 Locust Lake State Park Campground

37 Michaux State Forest: District Road Area Campsites

38 Penn-Roosevelt State Park Campground

39 Pine Grove Furnace State Park: Charcoal Hearth Campground

40 Poe Paddy State Park Campground

41 Reeds Gap State Park Campground

SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA

42 Black Moshannon State Park Campground

43 Blue Knob State Park Campground

44 Forbes State Forest: Motorized Campsites

45 Keystone State Park Campground

46 Ohiopyle State Park: Kentuck Campground

47 Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

48 Raystown Lake: Susquehannock Campground

49 Trough Creek State Park Campground

50 Yough Lake Campground at Tub Run

OTHER TITLES IN THIS SERIES

Alabama

Arizona

The Carolinas

Colorado

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Kentucky

Maryland

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri and the Ozarks

Montana

New England

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York State

Northern California

Ohio

Oregon

Southern Appalachian and Smoky Mountains

Southern California

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

:: For Jackson and Ian

Best Tent Camping: Pennsylvania

Copyright © 2017 by Matt Willen

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

Published by Menasha Ridge Press

Distributed by Publishers Group West

Second edition, first printing

Project editor: Ritchey Halphen

Cover design: Scott McGrew

Cover photo: Jon Bilous/Alamy Stock Photo

Interior photos: Matt Willen, except as noted

Cartography: Mitch Burns, Tommy Hertzel, and Steve Jones

Text design: Annie Long; typesetting and layout: Miles Parsons

Copyeditor: Kerry J. Smith

Proofreader: Vanessa Lynn Rusch

Indexer: Sylvia Coates

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Willen, Matthew, author.

Title: Best tent camping. Pennsylvania : your car-camping guide to scenic beauty, the sounds of nature, and an escape from civilization / Matt Willen.

Description: Second Edition. | Birmingham, Alabama : Menasha Ridge Press, [2016] | Distributed by Publishers Group West—T.p. verso. | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016035249 | ISBN 9781634040129 (paperback) | ISBN 9781634040136 (e-book)

Subjects: LCSH: Camping—Pennsylvania—Guidebooks. | Campsites, facilities, etc.— Pennsylvania—Directories. | Pennsylvania—Guidebooks.

Classification: LCC GV191.42.P4 W55 2016 | DDC 917.4806/8—dc23

LC record available at lccn.loc.gov/2016035249

MENASHA RIDGE PRESS

An imprint of AdventureKEEN

2204 First Ave. S., Suite 102

Birmingham, Alabama 35233

800-443-7227, fax [phone]

Visit menasharidge.com for a complete list of our books and for ordering information. Contact us at our website, at facebook.com/menasharidge, or at twitter.com/menasharidge with questions or comments. To find out more about who we are and what we’re doing, visit blog.menasharidge.com.

CONTENTS

Pennsylvania Overview Map

Pennsylvania Map Key

Best Campgrounds

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

:: NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA

1Asaph Run Picnic Area Campground

2Colton Point State Park Campground

3Delaware State Forest: Snow Hill Campsites

4Dingmans Campground

5Frances Slocum State Park Campground

6Lackawanna State Park Campground

7Leonard Harrison State Park Campground

8Promised Land State Park: Deerfield Campground

9Promised Land State Park: Pines Campground

10 Ravensburg State Park Campground

11 Ricketts Glen State Park Campground

12 Salt Springs State Park Campground

13 Sylvania Country Lodging Campground

14 Tobyhanna State Park Campground

15 Worlds End State Park Campground

:: NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA

16 Breakneck Campground

17 Chapman State Park Campground

18 Dewdrop Recreation Area Campground

19 Hearts Content Recreation Area Campground

20 Loleta Recreation Area Campground

21 Minister Creek Recreation Area Campground

22 Sinnemahoning State Park Campground

23 Sizerville State Park Campground

24 Tracy Ridge Recreation Area Campground

25 Twin Lakes Recreation Area Campground

26 Willow Bay Recreation Area Campground

:: SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA

27 Bald Eagle State Park: Rustic Campground

28 Codorus State Park: Timberdoodle Roughin’ It Tenting Area

29 Colonel Denning State Park Campground

30 Fowlers Hollow State Park Campground

31 French Creek State Park Campground

32 Greenwood Furnace State Park Campground

33 Hibernia County Park Campground

34 Hickory Run State Park Campground

35 Lancaster County Central Park: Mill Creek Campground

36 Locust Lake State Park Campground

37 Michaux State Forest: District Road Area Campsites

38 Penn-Roosevelt State Park Campground

39 Pine Grove Furnace State Park: Charcoal Hearth Campground

40 Poe Paddy State Park Campground

41 Reeds Gap State Park Campground

:: SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA

42 Black Moshannon State Park Campground

43 Blue Knob State Park Campground

44 Forbes State Forest: Motorized Campsites

45 Keystone State Park Campground

46 Ohiopyle State Park: Kentuck Campground

47 Raccoon Creek State Park Campground

48 Raystown Lake: Susquehannock Campground

49 Trough Creek State Park Campground

50 Yough Lake Campground at Tub Run

Appendix A: Camping-Equipment Checklist

Appendix B: Sources of Information

Appendix C: Suggested Reading and Reference

About the Author

Map Legend

BEST CAMPGROUNDS

:: BEST FOR BOATING

4Dingmans Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

5Frances Slocum State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

6Lackawanna State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

8Promised Land State Park: Deerfield Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

9Promised Land State Park: Pines Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

13 Sylvania Country Lodging Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

15 Worlds End State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

16 Breakneck Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

18 Dewdrop Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

21 Minister Creek Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

26 Willow Bay Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

27 Bald Eagle State Park: Rustic Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

28 Codorus State Park: Timberdoodle Roughin’ It Tenting Area SE PENNSYLVANIA

36 Locust Lake State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

42 Black Moshannon State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

45 Keystone State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

46 Ohiopyle State Park: Kentuck Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

47 Raccoon Creek State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

48 Raystown Lake: Susquehannock Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

50 Yough Lake Campground at Tub Run SW PENNSYLVANIA

:: BEST FOR FAMILIES

1Asaph Run Picnic Area Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

4Dingmans Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

5Frances Slocum State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

6Lackawanna State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

7Leonard Harrison State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

9Promised Land State Park: Pines Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

11 Ricketts Glen State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

12 Salt Springs State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

13 Sylvania Country Lodging Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

14 Tobyhanna State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

25 Twin Lakes Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

28 Codorus State Park: Timberdoodle Roughin’ It Tenting Area SE PENNSYLVANIA

29 Colonel Denning State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

31 French Creek State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

32 Greenwood Furnace State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

33 Hibernia County Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

34 Hickory Run State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

35 Lancaster County Central Park: Mill Creek Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

39 Pine Grove Furnace State Park: Charcoal Hearth Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

42 Black Moshannon State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

43 Blue Knob State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

45 Keystone State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

47 Raccoon Creek State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

:: BEST FOR FISHING

1Asaph Run Picnic Area Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

8Promised Land State Park: Deerfield Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

9Promised Land State Park: Pines Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

15 Worlds End State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

16 Breakneck Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

17 Chapman State Park Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

18 Dewdrop Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

21 Minister Creek Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

22 Sinnemahoning State Park Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

26 Willow Bay Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

27 Bald Eagle State Park: Rustic Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

28 Codorus State Park: Timberdoodle Roughin’ It Tenting Area SE PENNSYLVANIA

31 French Creek State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

32 Greenwood Furnace State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

36 Locust Lake State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

40 Poe Paddy State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

45 Keystone State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

47 Raccoon Creek State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

48 Raystown Lake: Susquehannock Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

50 Yough Lake Campground at Tub Run SW PENNSYLVANIA

:: BEST FOR HIKING

2Colton Point State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

7Leonard Harrison State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

11 Ricketts Glen State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

15 Worlds End State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

16 Breakneck Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

19 Hearts Content Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

20 Loleta Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

21 Minister Creek Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

24 Tracy Ridge Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

29 Colonel Denning State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

30 Fowlers Hollow State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

31 French Creek State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

34 Hickory Run State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

37 Michaux State Forest: District Road Area Campsites SE PENNSYLVANIA

38 Penn-Roosevelt State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

39 Pine Grove Furnace State Park: Charcoal Hearth Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

42 Black Moshannon State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

44 Forbes State Forest: Motorized Campsites SW PENNSYLVANIA

46 Ohiopyle State Park: Kentuck Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

49 Trough Creek State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

:: BEST FOR PEACE AND QUIET

3Delaware State Forest: Snow Hill Campsites NE PENNSYLVANIA

5Frances Slocum State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

13 Sylvania Country Lodging Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

15 Worlds End State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

17 Chapman State Park Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

19 Hearts Content Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

20 Loleta Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

23 Sizerville State Park Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

24 Tracy Ridge Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

27 Bald Eagle State Park: Rustic Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

30 Fowlers Hollow State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

37 Michaux State Forest: District Road Area Campsites SE PENNSYLVANIA

38 Penn-Roosevelt State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

41 Reeds Gap State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

44 Forbes State Forest: Motorized Campsites SW PENNSYLVANIA

:: BEST FOR SCENERY

1Asaph Run Picnic Area Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

2Colton Point State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

8Promised Land State Park: Deerfield Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

9Promised Land State Park: Pines Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

10 Ravensburg State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

11 Ricketts Glen State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

13 Sylvania Country Lodging Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

14 Tobyhanna State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

15 Worlds End State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

18 Dewdrop Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

19 Hearts Content Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

20 Loleta Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

22 Sinnemahoning State Park Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

23 Sizerville State Park Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

34 Hickory Run State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

40 Poe Paddy State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

42 Black Moshannon State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

46 Ohiopyle State Park: Kentuck Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

49 Trough Creek State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

:: BEST FOR STARGAZING

3Delaware State Forest: Snow Hill Campsites NE PENNSYLVANIA

11 Ricketts Glen State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

19 Hearts Content Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

25 Twin Lakes Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

30 Fowlers Hollow State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

33 Hibernia County Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

35 Lancaster County Central Park: Mill Creek Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

43 Blue Knob State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

:: BEST ACCESS TO SWIMMING

6Lackawanna State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

8Promised Land State Park: Deerfield Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

9Promised Land State Park: Pines Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

20 Loleta Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

28 Codorus State Park: Timberdoodle Roughin’ It Tenting Area SE PENNSYLVANIA

29 Colonel Denning State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

31 French Creek State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

32 Greenwood Furnace State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

35 Lancaster County Central Park: Mill Creek Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

36 Locust Lake State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

42 Black Moshannon State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

43 Blue Knob State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

47 Raccoon Creek State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

48 Raystown Lake: Susquehannock Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

:: BEST FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING

3Delaware State Forest: Snow Hill Campsites NE PENNSYLVANIA

4Dingmans Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

7Leonard Harrison State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

8Promised Land State Park: Deerfield Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

9Promised Land State Park: Pines Campground NEPENNSYLVANIA

10 Ravensburg State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

11 Ricketts Glen State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

14 Tobyhanna State Park Campground NE PENNSYLVANIA

19 Hearts Content Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

22 Sinnemahoning State Park Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

23 Sizerville State Park Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

24 Tracy Ridge Recreation Area Campground NW PENNSYLVANIA

29 Colonel Denning State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

30 Fowlers Hollow State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

41 Reeds Gap State Park Campground SE PENNSYLVANIA

49 Trough Creek State Park Campground SW PENNSYLVANIA

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank and acknowledge the following people whose assistance helped make the completion of this project possible: all of the folks at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources office in Harrisburg who provided me with loads of information, maps, and brochures and availed me of their knowledge of Pennsylvania state parks, along with the employees and volunteers at the state parks, county parks, Army Corps of Engineers, and US Forest Service who endured my endless questions about where to camp, what to do, and who goes where, when, and why.

Several individuals were particularly helpful: Robin Madison and Rob Lewis at Hibernia County Park, David Yelle at Ohiopyle State Park, Sarah Dippold at Raccoon Creek State Park, Alicia Palmer at Raystown Lake, Dian Varner at Greenwood Furnace State Park, Ray and Von Miller, John and Jane McKay, Peggy J. Heichel at Tioga State Forest, Tim Dugan at Delaware State Forest, Debra Adelman with the Friends of Salt Springs Park, and Katie Pritts at Forbes State Forest. To all the others whose names I haven’t included—thank you.

As I am still learning, putting one of these books together requires the assistance of many people, each of whom plays a hugely important role. I appreciate the efforts of all of those at Menasha Ridge Press and AdventureKEEN who have helped make this and my other projects possible: Molly Merkle, Tim Jackson, Tanya Sylvan, Ritchey Halphen, Scott McGrew, Annie Long, Kerry Smith, Vanessa Rusch, Sylvia Coates, and the entire editorial and marketing staff.

Many thanks are due to those friends and family members who encouraged me and accompanied me on my excursions. I especially want to thank Cynthia Kasales and Roger Daub, whose support makes it possible for me to spend time in the field working on this project and similar projects, and my sons, Jackson and Ian, who accompanied me on several trips and helped remind me of what really is wonderful about spending time in the woods.

PREFACE

Let me begin with a story. I recently took a long drive around Pennsylvania, checking out new campgrounds to include in the second edition of this book and revisiting campgrounds that I also included in the first edition but haven’t visited in some years. Before I left for this trip, I did a bunch of research online and found a campground with features that suggested to me that it might be ideal for this book. The main campground loop was small. Although it didn’t have a tent-camping area, it had no electric hookups, so I thought that RVs would stay away. The loop was right next to a large lake. And it was located in a part of the state that seemed under-represented in the first edition of the book. I was pretty excited to check it out, and I had my hopes set quite high that it would be a great place to pitch a tent for a few nights. This particular campground was well off of my main route—a good 45 miles and more than an hour of driving—but it looked very promising, so I went out of my way to visit.

When I got there, I discovered that it was just a bunch of sites spread out in a grassy field, essentially in the backyard of a residential neighborhood. There were concrete slabs, there was no privacy, the sites were right on top of one another, and the place just had a bleak atmosphere to it. I was so disappointed, especially after having driven so far off-route to check it out. When I was driving on to the next campsite, I thought to myself, Boy, that was really awful. I would hate to have booked a site there, with all of these high hopes for a pretty spot and a great weekend, only to show up at that place. That would be worse, much worse, than getting rained on all weekend.

It is my hope with writing this book that my readers won’t have to go through that experience. Few things are more disappointing than driving for several hours with high hopes based on information gleaned from the Internet, only to have those hopes dashed by the reality of the situation. I like to think that I’ve endured the unpleasantness of that experience so you don’t have to.

I’ve visited a lot of campsites throughout the state over the years, and I’ve pared the list down so that I can, to the best of my ability, provide you with a guide to the best tent camping Pennsylvania has to offer. I’ve tried to provide the most accurate descriptions I can about what to expect when you get to a campground described here. Doing so includes explaining what you’ll find when you get to the campground, the park’s or the region’s recreational