Ricketts Glen State Park Campground
Camping here for many years and still love it here got it all camping trails water fall trail and lake.
4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Lackawanna State Park Campground's pet-friendly sites accommodate tent camping, RVs, cabins, and yurts with wooded surroundings providing natural shade and privacy. The campground maintains well-spaced sites throughout multiple loops, including a dedicated pet loop where dogs are welcome year-round. Pet owners must keep dogs leashed at all times and clean up after them, with waste stations available throughout the grounds. Clayton Park RV Escape and Keen Lake Resort Campground also welcome pets with designated areas for animal exercise. Campground bathhouses remain clean and well-maintained throughout the season, with most sites offering electric hookups. Dog-friendly campsites in the area sit within mature forest, offering a quiet setting well-suited to pets and their owners.
The extensive trail system surrounding Lackawanna State Park provides excellent opportunities for dog walking, with the lakeside path being particularly popular for pet exercise. Dogs must be leashed on all trails to protect wildlife and other visitors. The park's 198-acre lake offers water access, though pets are prohibited from swimming beaches and pool areas. Nearby Tobyhanna State Park Campground and Frances Slocum State Park Campground also feature pet-friendly camping options with similar trail access. Seasonal considerations affect pet comfort, with early spring and fall offering ideal temperatures for outdoor activities with dogs. Most campgrounds in the region enforce quiet hours that apply to barking dogs, with rangers monitoring compliance. Local veterinary services are available in Scranton, approximately 20 minutes from most camping areas.
"We didn’t have a view of the lake, instead we were in someone’s back yard lol. It wasn’t a big deal. The site was well maintained and flat which were the most important."
"I stayed on a lakeside electric/water site for 5 nights in August 2020. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. "
"Pets welcome"
"Nice lake for fishing . Reasonably priced breakfast on weekends . Great staff . Good utilities and clean bathrooms ."
"We took the short drive to Hawk Falls Trail and also completed the Orchard Trail Loop."
"The bathroom facilities were clean, the hiking in the area was gorgeous and pet friendly and I’m looking forward to going back"
Available this weekend
from $20 - $72 / night
"We had a fantastic first camping experience for the kids (and dogs). I have been camping across the country so I know what to look for. I would highly recommend this campground."
"Enjoyed walking the trails and wooded area but sprained my right ankle. So I was laid up for a few hours before I left."
"This campground was very nice and had so much hiking in and around it. They were very helpful with getting us a site since it was so last minute on a holiday weekend Will be visiting again"
from $30 - $100 / night
"Also saw RV sites that were very close to each other. Our tent site is perfect. An area of the lake is to swim and the other to fish in. Catch and release only. Lots of tress for great shade."
"The site itself isn't bad, a lot of woods to tuck into if you camp rite."
"Campground is based around kids, there’s a lot for them to do!"
from $17 / night
"Beautiful camping sites nestled in the trees along Wallenpaupack Lake. Bring a kayak and go out to the island and see if you can find any wild blueberries. Really enjoyed this camping trip."











Camping here for many years and still love it here got it all camping trails water fall trail and lake.
What a great place. So unique! Love the view, and a great experience! There are no hook ups, so be prepared but if you are looking for the dispersed camping experience you have found it. What a gem!
This is a large campground with a wide array of campsites so be careful attention when you book online, especially if you have a pet because some sites are not pet-friendly. Some are 50-amp full hook-up and some are primitive with no hook-ups.
There is a nice nature center with interesting interpretive exhibits and lots of informational brochures including ones about the hiking trails, bears, scat and tracks of local animals, and fishing. Our site was at the edge of the campground and backed up to Route 534 which resulted in a bit of road noise at our site. Other than the road noise the campground was pretty quiet and was not very crowded when we camped there in October.
Not all sites are level and we happened to book one that was not and we had to live with a slant for our stay. The roads in the park are gravel/dirt and since it rained the day we arrived the roads were a muddy mess which made the roads slippery and there were lots of potholes. Unfortunately, some campers were disrespectful and left bags of trash in the fire pit and scattered around their site which was totally unnecessary because there were dumpsters plenty of dumpsters in the campground. Since we camped at Hickory Run late in the season, there were no camp hosts and the trash never got picked up.
The campground is open from mid-April to mid-December; however, the shower facilities and dump station are not available after the third week of October so plan accordingly. We really like the hiking trails which are of varying degrees of difficulty and lengths. The Hawk Falls is a nice easy walk (1.4 miles round-trip) to a waterfall but is extremely popular so don’t think you will be admiring the falls alone. The parking lot at this trail head fills up fast so you better get there early if you want to get a spot.
You can enter the park from two different directions. If you have a big-rig, it is best to approach from the east side. We made the mistake of coming in from the west side as we dropped down from I-80 and came down 534 and the road was really windy with no shoulder. Luckily, there was very little traffic so we could go 10 mph and safely navigate the roads.
Be aware alcohol is not allowed in PA state parks. This park does allow hunting in certain sections of the park. The no-hunting areas are clearly marked with white no hunting signs on trees and you can also pick up a brochure from the office that designates hunting and no-hunting sections.
This is a hidden gem, as close to dispersed camping you can get with dirt, gravel roads, large stone fire pits, a amazing views with the added benefit of a five gallon jug of non potable water and very clean port-a-potties. The owner regularly patrols the site and makes sure everything is okay.
What a great campground! We stayed here on a recommendation from a friend after the Overland Expo. Great hiking trails and the falls were absolutely breathtaking. Truly enjoyed our stay and plan to return!
Stayed October 14 without reservations because website showed lots of availability. Office was closed (M-F 8-4) so submitted honor system envelope with cash and stayed at Site 041 on Carpenter loop. Shower building was a short walk and was spacious enough. Water temp didn’t quite reach hot but was warm enough.
Electric kept on tripping breaker.
Small campground with rude owner. Everything I asked about was putting her out. It was cheap though at $36 for water and electric with a military discount.
This clothing-optional campground has a highly toxic, intrusive, and vindictive environment. During my stay, the seasonal permanent residents('perms') subjected me to intense harassment, inappropriate sexual advances, and severe social retaliation/rumor-spreading when those advances were rejected. The situation escalated to the point where an employee had to intervene for my safety. Furthermore, despite management allowing my photo to be taken in costume at a party, I was intentionally blocked from the community group where the photos were posted, leaving me unable to monitor how my image was being used. Avoid this place if you value your privacy, personal boundaries, and safety.
I'll start by saying this is a site-specific review (C20). I booked using Campspot and didn't select my own site but put in the criteria for my rig (30ft TT plus truck) and got a 50A back-in spot. The site was big but abnormal. Between the picnic table placement and the trees, I ended up right around 50ft from the electric and water, and the water spigot was so low I could barely put on my camco filter. With the uneven dirt roads, I had to unhitch with my truck in a gigantic puddle (lol). The site was otherwise fine aside from my gate code not working on Day 2. As for the campground as a whole, I thought it was pretty unique place by the river that offered several good amenities and activities, like downstream river tubing, an arcade, bathroom/shower facilities, a small store, little trails, and more. I would say this place borders the more primitive side.
Archbald's campgrounds sit in the rolling Pocono foothills at elevations between 1,200 and 2,000 feet, creating varied terrain and microclimates across camping areas. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F during camping season, with higher humidity levels in July and August that can affect tent camping comfort. The area's mixed hardwood forests provide natural shade at most established campgrounds.
Lake activities: Keen Lake Resort Campground offers multiple water-based options for summer visitors. The large lake includes separate areas for fishing, swimming, and paddling with rental equipment available. Campers report the lake as a highlight: "We had SUPs and kayaks to take on the lake and our sites were right next to the boat launch. Each day we would paddle over to the swimming area on the lake. It was awesome," notes Shannon C.
Hiking options: Numerous trails of varying difficulty levels connect many campgrounds. Tobyhanna State Park Campground features a 5-mile lake circuit path that follows well-marked routes around the water. According to J K., "You can do a 5-mile hike around the lake along well-marked walk paths... The hike should last 1.5 to 2 hours for the average person."
Boulder field exploration: The unique geological formations at Hickory Run State Park Campground provide an unusual natural attraction not found elsewhere in the region. The massive field of rock formations draws visitors year-round. A reviewer notes: "The Boulder Fields are one of the coolest places I've ever visited, partially because they were so unexpected. Don't twist an ankle, but you can play hide and seek to an extent as there are small depressions in the fields."
Spacious waterfront sites: Many campers praise the lakeside camping options at Keen Lake Resort Campground. Emily Z. recommends specific site selection: "Get a site on the lake. You won't have a ton of privacy but you'll have space for your stuff. If you don't want to drive during your stay, camp on the side with the beach and pool."
Clean, modern facilities: Bathhouses and restroom buildings at dog friendly campgrounds near Archbald receive consistently positive reviews. Pickerel Point Campground earns high marks for maintenance: "Bathrooms were clean with nice hot showers," according to Kelly F., who also noted, "We had site 100 and amazing views of the water from our camper."
Wooded privacy: The mature forests provide natural separation between sites at many campgrounds. Hickory Run State Park gets positive mentions for site layout. Bridget D. explains: "The sites are large and many are somewhat private in terms of visual barriers... This is probably the largest, most well-kept public campground I have ever been to."
Bear awareness: Multiple campgrounds in the region have active black bear populations requiring specific food storage practices. At Tobyhanna State Park, Erik M. warns: "We were warned at check in that there have been a lot of bears in the area but never really thought that we would see one. As soon as we got to our site one came right up as we were setting up our tent. Do not leave any food out be sure to lock up everything in car."
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies widely throughout the region's pet-friendly camping areas. Frances Slocum State Park Campground offers reliable coverage (Verizon reported working well), while other campgrounds have limited or no service in certain areas.
Site variations: Campground layouts and site quality can vary significantly within the same park. Pickerel Point Campground user Alaina Z. advises: "Private lakeside walk-in sites... sites have nice sizable fire pits, but they are very tall. It's difficult to cook over them, and sitting around the campfire in the evening is a much less visually appealing experience than I'd like."
Kid-friendly amenities: Cherry Ridge Campsites and Lodging offers multiple activities designed specifically for younger campers. Beverly J. describes: "Multi site facility with many activities. Campfires permitted, fishing, row boat rental, bath house, dance hall. Country kitchen has breakfast and lunch on Saturday, breakfast only on Sunday."
Swimming options: Many area campgrounds feature swimming beaches, pools, or both. At Highland Campgrounds, Jennifer R. notes: "Whether it's nature and back roads, or wanting to have a dip in the pool and lay in the sun, this campground is the best of both worlds."
Playground access: Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Archbald include play structures. Tobyhanna State Park Campground features "a horse shoe pit, volleyball area and a little play area in the camping area," according to Erik M., with additional play facilities at the swimming area.
Electrical service reliability: Some campgrounds have older electrical infrastructure that may not support multiple high-draw appliances simultaneously. At Lackawanna State Park Campground, one RVer reported: "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region have uneven terrain. When visiting Hickory Run State Park, Shirley M. found: "We had a full hook-up site in the back loop, pet friendly part of the campground. The sites in this loop were spacious and more in an open area, but we were along a wooded area which gave us some shade."
Camp store convenience: Multiple dog-friendly campgrounds offer well-stocked stores. Emily Z. shares: "The store has a huge selection of necessities, so no need to worry about forgetting things. This is a great place to bring an RV."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Archbald, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Archbald, PA is Keen Lake Resort Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 29 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 131 dog-friendly camping locations near Archbald, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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