Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite, near Ludlow, Pennsylvania, is a solid choice for those seeking a rustic camping experience in the heart of the Allegheny National Forest. This location offers a no-frills setup where you can pitch a tent or park your RV, all while enjoying the great outdoors without the hassle of reservations or permits.

The area is known for its spacious sites, complete with established fire rings, making it perfect for cozy campfires under the stars. Visitors have mentioned the quiet atmosphere, occasionally broken by the distant sound of a train, which adds a unique charm to the experience. As one camper noted, “This spot is a boondocker’s delight!” 

While you won't find any amenities like drinking water or toilets here, the natural beauty is a major draw. The surrounding forest is enchanting, with plenty of trails to explore, including a nearby hike to Hector Falls, which is just a mile down the road. Keep an eye out for wildlife, as black bears roam the area, so be sure to secure your food and trash at night.

If you're up for a little adventure, the roads leading to the campsite are in good condition, allowing most vehicles to access the area without issue. Just remember to pack your rain gear, as the weather can be unpredictable. Whether you're looking to unwind or explore, Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite offers a straightforward and enjoyable camping experience.

Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite

Ludlow is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Ludlow campgrounds just for you. Find the best campgrounds near Ludlow, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

Ludlow

The Best Camping Near Ludlow, Pennsylvania

A few dispersed spots on this road  a bit overgrown but fine for setting up a tent

Decent spot

I have a 25 foot travel trailer. I found numerous spots on SF-160. It rains a lot so keep your slip-ons near the door. Great hiking/biking. The spot next to the hiking trail has WiFi 70% of the time. I would give this a 5 star if it didn’t rain so much. Howe’s ace hardware is about 10 miles away with a dollar general across the street. The site seeing is second to none. The forest is enchanting.  To get here, take Hwy 6 just east of Warren.  Turn left on Kinzua road. Go about 8 miles. Stop at the Kinzua dam about 5 miles in. Turn right.  Go about a mile and a half, turn right towards Jakes Rocks. When you come to a T, turn left (Jakes Rocks turn right). Start looking for a site. The last site on SF 160 has weekend partiers. They knock off at 11pm and are far enough away from the next site that they aren’t a nuisance. I know, I stayed there a week. Once set up, make sure you hike and drive back to Jakes Rocks. Beautiful views and drive. 

Beautiful fall

The spot I stayed is right on the marker.  There are multiple spots along the main forest road. Some you can drive your car in and tuck it back. Other spots you cant take your car at all.   There are tons of logging roads that split off the main forest road. They mostly have gates that say "Logging road, no public motor vehicles allowed" but they also say "Foot travel is welcome" I went down a few of these roads and almost always found a few spots that would be great places to set up camp if you are willing to walk a little bit from your car. There is a really cool place called Hector Falls. The trailhead is about a mile down the road from this spot. It's about 3/4 a mile hike into the woods. The falls are really cool to look at, and has some cool rock formations. Be careful the cliffs are about a 20 ft straight drop. Other than that this spot is not a bad spot at all. Fire wood can be found all around.

Comes as advertised! Really nice spot!

This spot is a boondocker’s delight! Big open spots with established fire rings. Quiet except for the distant rumble of a train passing the town down in the valley. The road is definitely hidden behind the town of Ludlow but we were able to find it at 2am after a long drive from cape cod. 

A slice of Allegheny Heaven

We camp in a lot of primitive dispersed camping, but finding a spot like this in the east is challenging! So for that…YAY, we love it. But, it’s not perfect. The road is behind the town of Ludlow (or Sheffield depending on which direction you are coming from). From Ludlow take the “Scenic Dr” and it turns into the forestry road. Lots of pull offs off this main road and you could prob find some more private ones if you explored the smaller dirt roads off the main forestry road. No services here obvi since it’s primitive camping. Road is in good condition and most any car would have no problem driving down it. 

Free dispersed camping in the Allegheny 

Sometimes I read other people's reviews, and I just don't understand how we went to the same spot. This place is fine. Easy enough to find (found it first try without ever once wondering where am i). 

Apparently the entire area is a natural gas reserve, so there are these blue and orange posts signifying gas lines, those are actually the hiking trails. They don't look like normal trail heads. There is spotty cell service through the forest, usually you can walk around for a couple minutes and find some. I managed to get an average of 3-4 bars of 5g every day.

So!! My car battery died while I was out there, the company that helped me jump start found me with no problems, they do it a lot. So that's cool! 

Also... there's black bears that live in the several caves in the area. I was meditating in my car one evening and a bear stood up and pushed against my window. Definitely be sure to pack up all food and trash at night. The bears are skittish, but they will find you if there's food in you camp!!

Pretty goof spot! Easy to find

If you don’t mind roughing it a bit, it’s really quite nice. Sites are first come first serve and there is a bit of day traffic to get to Hector Falls. Which is a nice little 2 mile hike. Some good exploring. Bring tick/bug spray. Found several on my boys and me. 

Nice, peaceful and free

I have a 25-foot travel trailer and found several suitable spots on SF-160. Since it rains frequently here, keep your slip-on shoes handy near the door. This area offers great hiking and biking opportunities. The campsite next to the hiking trail has WiFi about 70% of the time. Experience [duck life](https://duck-life4.com) right now!

Photos of Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite

Real photos from real campers