Camping near Blain, Pennsylvania offers opportunities in the Tuscarora State Forest region with elevations ranging from 700 to 2,100 feet. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures typically reaching the 80s while spring and fall camping provides cooler conditions in the 50-70°F range. Access to several campgrounds requires navigation on unpaved forest roads that can become muddy after rainfall.
What to do
Hiking Flat Rock Trail: At Pine Grove Furnace State Park, hikers can tackle the challenging six-mile round trip with 1,200 foot elevation gain. "A six mile round trip with a 1200 ft climb. Spectacular views. The park rangers had an owl program on Friday night and ended up calling in several screech owls," notes Nate & Erika L.
Fishing the Juniata River: Buttonwood Campground provides direct access to river fishing with multiple riverside sites. "Great place for fishing, tubing or just getting wet. Campground has many activities for kids," writes Gary C. The campground also offers shuttle services for tubing activities during summer months.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds maintain swimming areas, though water quality varies seasonally. "The pool here is top notch and it's good for fishing but the hiking isn't super great. We did have a nice bat spotting walk with a Ranger," reports Christopher E. about Little Buffalo State Park.
Appalachian Trail access: The region includes sections of the Appalachian Trail with trail access points at multiple campgrounds. The area around Pine Grove Furnace marks the halfway point of the entire AT. "You may even bump into a through hiker excited to chat," mentions one visitor.
What campers like
Clean bathroom facilities: Colonel Denning State Park receives consistent praise for maintenance standards. "Amazing!!! Cleanest facilities of the year so far, amazing large flat sites, dog friendly and great stream right behind the sites," writes Casey L. Campers frequently note the clean facilities as a standout feature.
Stream access: Sites positioned along creeks provide popular natural features. "We had site 28 which was a walk-in site, this was perfect for us since we wanted to be further away from people and the light from the bathroom/shower facility," explains Tiff T. about their Colonel Denning experience. Several campgrounds offer creek or streamside sites.
Well-maintained grounds: Paradise Stream Family Campground receives recognition for its upkeep. "This campground doesn't cut corners and the attention to details makes all the difference. So many great site options depending on your needs/preferences," notes Melissa. The campground provides different site configurations based on camper preferences.
Remote experiences: Fowlers Hollow State Park offers quieter camping with fewer amenities. "The campground is extremely quiet and peaceful, probably one of the most remote PA state parks we've been to. The walk-to side was pretty empty while the camper side was fairly full," describes a camper.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds in the region require advance reservations, particularly during summer months. The Pennsylvania State Park reservation system opens 11 months in advance with holiday weekends booking quickly.
Walk-in site considerations: Several parks feature walk-in tent sites requiring gear transport from parking areas. "The site was not far from our parking spot, maybe a hundred yards but there was a slight hill. There are even more isolated campsites further up the hill," notes a visitor at Colonel Denning.
Site spacing variations: Buttonwood Campground and others have variable site spacing. "The campground is divided by a local road and has 2 different feels. The lower section is right by the river with several riverfront sites and many river view sites," explains Bryan S. Research specific loop characteristics when selecting a site.
Seasonal closures: Some campgrounds reduce operations or close completely during winter months. "We visited this park in December so it was pretty closed down. We arrived once the sun had gone down and the park was poorly lit and nearly impossible to navigate," reports Sarah C. about Caledonia State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Dogwood Acres Campground offers structured recreation. "Very family oriented. Very nice off leash fenced dog park," mentions Coffee&Camping T. Most campgrounds provide playgrounds, but additional recreation options vary significantly.
Swimming access considerations: Many campgrounds charge additional fees for swimming facilities. "Only downfall is we have smaller children and we could not bike from the campground to the pool, it was too far and the hill to get back was too big for them to ride up. Pool was great once you got there," explains Paula R. about Little Buffalo State Park.
Weekend activity schedules: Established campgrounds typically organize weekend programming. "The park rangers had an owl program on Friday night and ended up calling in several screech owls. Very cool to hear their eerie cries in the woods. There was also a chaplain who came around offering a Sunday morning church service at the amphitheater," shares Nate & Erika L.
Insects and wildlife: Prepare for seasonal insect activity, including ticks and chiggers. "Went to front gate and got a much more isolated tent spot. Then I left and woke up with a serious case of chigger bites," reports Scott B. from Gifford Pinchot State Park. Tick prevention is especially important during spring and summer months.
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Caledonia State Park Campground and others offer variable hookup options. "We have a small 19" travel trailer which was almost impossible to park due to very tight sites," notes Shirley M. Many campgrounds feature both primitive and full-hookup sites in different loops.
Fresh water access: Several campgrounds require filling tanks before setting up. "If traveling in an RV you will need to fill your fresh water tank as each site does not have water hook up," advises Adam P. State parks typically provide centralized water access points rather than individual site connections.
Dump station locations: Consider dump station placement when selecting campgrounds. "The dump was up on the other side so had to pull a U turn, luckily our camper was small enough to make the turn," shares Jen R. about Paradise Stream Family Campground. Some facilities have limited maneuvering space around dump stations.
Site leveling challenges: Terrain in the region creates leveling issues at some campgrounds. Sites are frequently described as "mostly level" with occasional slope challenges, particularly on tent pads. Bringing additional leveling blocks is recommended for RV campers.
