Camp Sites in Pa

I have to second Hickory Run. We LOVE it there. There have always been bears there, but don't let that deter you - just use common sense and you'll be fine. They have trails that start INside the campground, so you don't need to get in your car to find a trailhead once you've set up camp, but nearby Boulder Field is incredible, and there's another trail with a small waterfall that we always drove to (forget the name, but it's lush with rhododendron).

Ricketts Glen is a haul, but I would love to go there someday - I hear it's incredibly beautiful.

Definitely check the PA CNR website and use their park locator. You'll find the "real camping" will take you farther from home, but to us, it's worth it to NOT be piled up on top of other campers, or worse, be stuck surrounded by RVs with tvs/ac/generators running all night long. Not fun when you're in a tent, trying to enjoy nature. (Most state parks allow RVs and tents, but try to stick with the ones that have tent only sections, for your own peace and relaxation - HR has that).

French Creek was a real disappointment to us - closer to home, great activities, but that's where we were crammed in with the RVs.

ANother suggestion, since you like camping/hiking: check out geocaching. It's addictive: www.geocaching.com It'll get the family out and about and keep you to one piece of electronic gadgetry: a hand-held GPS receiver.

I 2nd the suggestions of other posters. Hickory Run and Ricketts Glen are 2 fabulous places. Enjoy!

We've been going to Blue Rocks campground for years. It's near some nature parks, there's a pool, activities, etc. Small towns nearby with Crystal Caverns & Cabela's store is right down the road. You can check it out here: www.bluerockscampground.com

There is a website that lists all of the campsites and cabins that you can rent. The cabins look fun for young kids. Bring marshmellows!

Enjoy.

Hi K.,

We took our 4 kids (11, 9 yr old twins, and 6) to Ricketts Glen State Park last fall is it was AWESOME!! Such a gorgeous trail to hike along a series of waterfalls, clean camp ground, nice bathrooms, we loved it. We camped in the "small loop" which was very nice, but didn't see the Big Loop. You can cancel your reservations if you know its going to rain and get 1/2 your $ back (its 20$ per night). I think you have to book 2 nights. There seesm to be lots available if you book a week day. Btw, you have to bring your own wood...

Have fun!

Meg

I am just crazy for camping. Started camping when I was about 4 or 5, so I've been camping 42 years now. PA is a great place to camp. How far do you want to drive, and do you want to camp on weekends or mid-week? My fave PA camping location is Ricketts Glenn State Park. It's way up in Sullivan County above Wilkes-Barre and well worth the ride. It books solid on weekends, so I suggest mid-week camping there. Ricketts Glenn has a great lake with islands to explore. You can bring your own canoe or kayak or rent one. There is also fantastic hiking, with the Falls Trail being my favorite day hike anywhere. It's a 2-1/2 mile loop and has 22 waterfalls. It's gorgeous, but it's very steep, with a 1000-foot climb and 1000-foot descent over the course of the loop. I see lots of 5 and 7 year olds making this trip. However, you need to know that they need very close supervision because of the narrow high trail. The possibility of falling has to be taken seriously. My teenagers have done this hike on their own, while I've stayed back to swim and paddle in the lake, and you might enjoy that.

Hickory Run State Park is another great location with a lake, great hiking ("Shades of Death" trail sounds ominous but is really a nice walk.) Boulder Field is also fun to explore. However, due to campers being sloppy about food storage in recent years, the bears are very active in the campground. Rangers are enforcing strict food storage regulations.

Check out the PA state parks website http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/
Other parks that might appeal to you are Promised Land, French Creek (close to Philly and has a large pool), World's End, Pine Furnace or Caledonia (Appalachian Trail access). Another FABULOUS park is Black Moshannon State Park, but it's quite a ride from Philly and is west of State College, PA. But they have great trails, a lake, swimming area, and great ranger programs and events.