Prince Gallitzin State Park's Crooked Run Campground features pet-friendly accommodation options across multiple camping loops at 1,600 feet elevation. The campground has a variety of site types ranging from wooded tent sites to level RV pads with electric hookups. Winter temperatures in the Ebensburg area typically drop to the mid-20s while summer daytime highs average in the upper-70s with moderate humidity levels, making spring through fall ideal for glamping close to Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.
What to do
BMX Track for kids: Crooked Run Campground offers a BMX track that provides entertainment for children. According to Jackie W., "Great place for kids! We love staying at crooked run campground. Has a beach on the lake. Affordable boat rentals. Bmx track for kids."
Mushroom hunting along trails: The woodland trails surrounding Prince Gallitzin State Park provide opportunities to spot diverse mushroom varieties during spring and fall. Resa B. notes, "Friendly crew, helpful staff. So many trails so little time."
Mountain biking on Allegrippis Trails: The extensive Seven Points Campground connects directly to the IMBA-standard Allegrippis Trail system. According to Travis S., "The mtb trails begin just above the upper camp loops and provide a full day of fast flowing singletrack."
Pontoon boat exploration: The marina at Lake Raystown rents pontoon boats for day trips exploring the lake's coves. Alyssa H. shares, "We rented a pontoon boat for one afternoon and explored the lake, which was awesome."
What campers like
Private island camping: Some sites at Yellow Creek State Park offer a unique island camping experience. Abigail explains, "The private island is a beautiful campsite and has enough room for several tents. There's plenty of trees on the island so there are plenty of sticks to find for fires."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the well-maintained bathhouses. Nicole F. states, "We used the group tent sites for our Girl Scout weekend. The site was clean, decently level area for tents, accessible to potable water and bathrooms with showers."
Creek access for kids: Sites along the creek at Mirror Lake provide natural water play areas for children. According to Mathew H., "A lot of their sites are along a small creek which the kids play in and can float down. Site 26 is our favorite. It has a huge back yard and easy access to the creek."
Lake views from campsites: Several loops at Prince Gallitzin offer views of Glendale Lake. Steve A. remarks, "Really like the layout here, and the k9s love it. We couldn't see the lake from the camper, but in the woods we could see the lake and the camper from the same spot."
What you should know
Site selection matters: Campground layouts vary significantly with some sites positioned on slopes. At Laurel Hill State Park, Kate D. advises, "Sites can be a bit small or awkward for campers. Our neighbor had a bit of a rough time accessing our shared electric box and we had to put our tent right on the edge because the rest of the campsite was a little muddy and there were roots sticking up."
Reservation timing: Book well in advance for premium lakeside sites during summer weekends. At Seven Points, Tim J. shares, "We liked this campground so much that I tried booking for our last seasonal weekend in October, but there was nothing in Ridge or Point."
Quiet hours enforcement: Rules about noise are strictly monitored at most state park campgrounds. Joseph S. notes about Keystone State Park, "Quiet hours and parking are strictly enforced."
Highway noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience road noise despite their natural settings. Aaron S. points out at Friendship Village, "The only thing we didn't like was all of the road noise. This campground is located by 2 major highways and truck traffic and Jake brake are constant all night long."
Tips for camping with families
Yurt accommodations: For an upscale glamping experience near Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, consider booking a yurt. Laura shares about Yellow Creek State Park's cabins, "We stayed in 3 of the cabins for 4 days at Yellow Creek State Park. It was beautiful. Right on the water, clean, and private access to the lake. Dog friendly cabins were available."
Seasonal activities: Campgrounds often schedule family-oriented weekend events. Christopher R. mentions at Friendship Village, "The property had a movie showing in their barn on Saturday night (Despicable Me) and they also seem to schedule a lot of live entertainment, mostly Bluegrass."
Playground locations: Check campground maps for play equipment before booking your site. Christopher R. adds, "In my opinion, the best sites to stay at if you have kids are sites 145-171 as those are right beside the jumping pillow, playground and gaga ball pit."
Swimming options: Many campgrounds offer both lake beaches and pools. Tasha M. explains, "The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds, enjoyed ice cream and went fishing. Can't wait to come back in the summer."
Tips from RVers
Dump station design: The facilities at Seven Points feature an efficient multi-lane dump station. Tim J. notes, "We pulled into Ridge Camp (RCAM on Recreation.gov) and drove a little bit down a hill to our site. One backup attempt into the site and (according to our LevelMatePRO app) it was perfectly level...that was definitely a first for us."
Site leveling considerations: State park sites often require leveling blocks. Lee D. observes at Shawnee State Park, "I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. A Monday in mid-October had many open sites."
Power hookup locations: At some campgrounds, utility placement requires planning. Erik E. advises about Laurel Hill, "The electrical hookups are not played out well like an expensive RV park with the shared power post on the entrance side of the camper. You may want to have an extension for your power cable."
Waterfront site access: Some premium lakefront sites have specific features. Mathew H. shares, "Site 26 is our favorite. It has a huge back yard and easy access to the creek."
