Community Corner

The Best Places To Camp, Glamp, And Get Into The Wild Across PA

There is no shortage of campsites, stunning hikes, cabins, huts, yurts and more in Pennsylvania.

PENNSYLVANIA — Springtime is here, and the wilds of Pennsylvania are blooming. Social distancing comes naturally in the woods, and taking the family out into the countryside is the quickest way to responsibly forget the pandemic exists.

Miles of trails, lakes, mountains, forests and more are spread across the commonwealth, and accessing them is easier than you'd think.

Accommodations

Camping

Find out what's happening in Abingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Good old-fashioned camping is available at around 70 state parks across Pennsylvania. Most of these sites can and must be booked ahead of time, especially in the busy spring and summer seasons.

State park campgrounds offer various levels of amenities, ranging from showers, bathrooms, grills, and RV hookups, to simpler and rustic sites with little more than a port-a-potty and running water.

Find out what's happening in Abingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In the north-central part of the state, camping options abound at Allegheny National Forest. There are developed campgrounds within the park, and dispersed camping is permitted anywhere more than 100 feet from a roadway.

Campsites are typically $5 to $15 to book for the night, depending on where and what time of the season. Full list of campsites in Pennsylvania State Parks.

Cabins

For those who don't find camping appealing, the Pennsylvania state park system has dozens of locations with cheap cabin rentals.

These are broken down by the state into "camping cottages" and "deluxe cottages" with varying levels of amenities. Deluxe cabins have electricity, air, a refrigerator and basic cooking facilities.

More basic cabins are little more than a wooden shed with cots. In either case, you'll probably need to bring your own bedding.

Some of the more distinctive and high-end options include places such as Bald Eagle State Park, which has a Nature Inn run by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The 16-room inn is nestled in the heart of the state park and touts itself as the "number one eco-lodge in the nation."

Cabins range in price from $15 to $20 on the low end to around $100 for the more luxurious options.

Cabin rental options in Pennsylvania State Parks.

Yurts

If you're looking for something in between the luxury of a cabin and roughing it on the forest floor, yurts are the way to go.

Yurts are walled tents, usually on a raised platform. In Pennsylvania, they include electric heat, outlets, stovetops, refrigerators, fire rings and bunk beds.

Canine capacity

Dogs are allowed in state parks, and often they can even stay overnight.

And the state is expanding these offerings. More than 130 new campsites at six different state parks will officially be "pet-friendly" by 2022.

RELATED: PA State Parks Opening More Campsites For Pets

Various rules apply to pets at state campgrounds. Only two are allowed at a time. Leashing is required, barking must be kept to a minimum, and all waste must be properly disposed of.

Highlights

The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania

Pine Creek Gorge on the Allegheny Plateau is sometimes referred to as the "Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania" for its sweeping views and majestic, leafy valleys. Colton State Park and Little Pine State Park are nearby and offer camping, while much of the region is protected as part of Tioga State Forest.

Dark sky hotspot

Farther north and farther west up in Potter County, Cherry State Park is famous for the breadth of the Milky Way that can be seen at night. The Milky Way itself casts a "shadow" that is visible due to unique conditions and the remoteness of the park. It was named an International Dark Sky Park in 2007, the first in Pennsylvania. It lies 4.5 hours from Philadelphia and 3.5 hours from Pittsburgh.

Delaware Water Gap

Operated by the National Park Service along the New Jersey and Pennsylvania border near Stroudsburg, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offers dozens of trails, cliffs with broad vistas, creeks and streams that run through hills and mountains, and numerous famous waterfalls.

Wildlife safety

Spring and early summer are ideal times to look out for Pennsylvania's diverse array of wildlife. Black bears are found throughout the state and start to become active in the spring months.

The National Park Service offers the following tips for what to do if you see a black bear:

  • Remain watchful.
  • Do not approach it.
  • Do not allow the bear to approach you.
  • If your presence causes the bear to change its behavior (stops feeding, changes its travel direction, watches you, etc.) you are too close.
  • Being too close may promote aggressive behavior from the bear such as running toward you, making loud noises, or swatting the ground. The bear is demanding more space. Don't run, but slowly back away, watching the bear. Increase the distance between you and the bear. The bear will probably do the same.
  • If a bear persistently follows or approaches you, without vocalizing, or paw swatting, Change your direction.
  • If the bear continues to follow you, stand your ground.
  • If the bear gets closer, talk loudly or shout at it.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here