Best Dispersed Camping near Clarion, PA

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Clarion, PA (7)

    Camper-submitted photo from Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite
    Camper-submitted photo from Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite
    Camper-submitted photo from Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite
    Camper-submitted photo from Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite
    Camper-submitted photo from Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite
    Camper-submitted photo from Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite
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      Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
      Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
      Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
      Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
      Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
      Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
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        4. Salmon Creek Dispersed

        1 Review
        15 Saves
        Marienville, Pennsylvania

        Dispersed foot traffic and primitive tent camping within the Forests is allowed almost anywhere, unless otherwise posted closed and/or "No Camping". Downloadable Guidelines (pdf): https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd503142.pdf

        Occupancy and Use All dispersed sites are available on a first come, first served basis. At least one person must occupy a campsite during the first night Equipment left unattended for more than 24 hours is subject to removal by the Forest Service Camping or leaving camping equipment (such as, but not limited to tents, camper trailers and/or tarps) is allowed in the same location for up to 14 days. After 14 days the camp and equipment MUST be moved off of Forest Service System lands. Excavations are limited to those required to make safe campfire rings and sanitary pit toilets. Any excavation will be re-leveled prior to vacating your campsite. Do not put nails in picnic tables, or other government property.

        • Pets
        • Fires
        • Dispersed
        Camper-submitted photo from Red Mill Pond
        Camper-submitted photo from Red Mill Pond
        Camper-submitted photo from Red Mill Pond
        Camper-submitted photo from Red Mill Pond
        Camper-submitted photo from Red Mill Pond
        Camper-submitted photo from Red Mill Pond

        5. Red Mill Pond

        4 Reviews
        9 Photos
        65 Saves
        Ridgway, Pennsylvania

        Red Mill Pond camping area is a dispersed camping area located along a trout stream. There are no facilities.

        Dispersed camping is permitted in the Red Mill Pond area and along FR 143.

        Occupancy and Use: Sites are first-come, first-served. Sites cannot be “reserved” by leaving equipment on the site. All sites must be occupied the first night and in each 24 hour period afterwards. Sites may be occupied for 14 days in a 30-day period. After 14 days, visitors must leave the Allegheny National Forest until the 30th day has passed.

        Campfires are permitted as long as fires are maintained in a fire ring and fully extinguished when leaving. Wood that is dead and down on the ground is available for use at the site. Standing dead trees should be left for wildlife habitat. Wood cannot be taken from the site without a firewood permit. Please do not bring wood from home – wood from outside the 4-county National Forest area is not permitted, to prevent the spread of insects and forest diseases. Do not chop or saw on live trees.

        Sanitation: All trash must be packed out. Do not place in fire ring to burn. Partially burned trash attracts wildlife and may make the site hazardous to future campers. Body waste should be buried in a shallow pit off-site. Pack out toilet paper, sanitary products, and diapers.

        Parking: Vehicles may not be more than 50 feet from a hard road. Please park on the spur provided if one exists.

        • Pets
        • Fires
        • Dispersed
        • Alcohol
        • No image available
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          Showing results 1-7 of 7 campgrounds

          Recent Dispersed Reviews in Clarion

          23 Reviews of 7 Clarion Campgrounds


          • Todd H.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite
            Oct. 13, 2024

            Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite

            Dispersed with a vehicle

            This is my first time dispersed camping and the spot is nice for a first go. Was able to drive in which I why I chose this area. Currently finish up the night and once the fire dies down I’ll head to bed. As some one has mentioned the only real downside is the road near by, but the traffic is at a minimum.

          • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Red Mill Pond
            Oct. 6, 2024

            Red Mill Pond

            Nice disbursed spot

            Came in on a Sunday afternoon and nobody was there. Several hunters drove past but no other campers.

            There is no vaulted toilet at this site any more. Repeated vandalism resulted in its closure.

            Overall a nice secluded camping spot.

          • Eliezera M.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
            Aug. 28, 2024

            Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite

            Quiet little campground

            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 right now!

          • Ian B.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
            Aug. 26, 2024

            Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite

            Nice, peaceful and free

            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.

          • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Millstone Creek Campground
            Aug. 11, 2024

            Millstone Creek Campground

            Camping by the river

            Many disbursed spots along the river over several miles. Size od camping spots ranges from large open fields with fire pits to spots on the shoulder of the road

            We came in on a Saturday and found one of the road side sites open. Not much traffic and very friendly people in the area.

            The river was basically brown like pudding the only signs of life were insects. While a very beautiful area, the river was king of yucky looking.

          • Anne W.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite
            Apr. 10, 2024

            Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite

            Nice site, close to road and super muddy

            We stayed here in March, so there weren’t leaves back on the trees yet which meant we could see the road (and the road could see us). Not a huge deal, just not very private. It was also extremely muddy. Not bad on the main track in and out but swampy everywhere else. Overall it’s a nice spot if you’re passing through but not groundbreaking

          • Brittney W.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite
            Sep. 27, 2023

            Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite

            Relaxing and remote!

            Great little roadside campsite to get away. We spent the night during a tropical storm and got the pleasure of hearing the rain on the tent out in this peaceful spot!

          • GThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Red Mill Pond
            Aug. 28, 2023

            Red Mill Pond

            Plenty of space for a van

            Pro: There was a pond, campfire rings, and a big spot to maneuver a van. Neutral: No amenities Con: the road in was bumpy with a lot of pot holes

          • Mieszko M.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Red Mill Pond
            Aug. 8, 2023

            Red Mill Pond

            Good place for one night

            Been there with camper van No facilities, only some fireplaces. Good for a short stay, quiet

          • Mystic S.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
            May. 16, 2023

            Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite

            Pretty goof spot! Easy to find

            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!!

          • Aliza  N.
            Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
            Jun. 26, 2022

            Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite

            Free dispersed camping in the Allegheny

            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.

          • Ian H.
            Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
            May. 23, 2022

            Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite

            A slice of Allegheny Heaven

            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.

          • Bob J.
            Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
            Sep. 1, 2021

            Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite

            Comes as advertised! Really nice spot!

            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.

          • Matt J.
            Camper-submitted photo from Red Mill Pond
            Aug. 20, 2021

            Red Mill Pond

            Dispersed, remote...and ill-kept

            Missed the words "dispersed" and "no facilities" on the USFS website... Fire circles are falling apart, there's effectively no signage, and I had the bad luck to show up after a substantial rainstorm rolled through, and both ground and grass were soaked. I bailed on this camp. If your liking for EXTREMELY rustic car camping, there's a mood for it, but it doesn't seem to be worth backpacking in, and I wouldn't recommend car camping under most circumstances. The fishing looks pretty good, but i don't fish.

          • Mark M.
            Camper-submitted photo from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite
            Oct. 20, 2020

            Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite

            Beautiful fall

            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.



          Guide to Clarion

          Discover the beauty of nature with dispersed camping near Clarion, Pennsylvania. This area offers a variety of spots for those looking to escape into the wilderness without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.

          Tips for free and dispersed camping near Clarion, Pennsylvania

          • When visiting Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite, be prepared for minimal amenities, as there are no drinking water or electric hookups available.
          • If you're traveling with pets, Salmon Creek Dispersed welcomes furry friends, making it a great choice for pet owners.
          • For those seeking a more secluded experience, Millstone Creek Campground offers numerous dispersed spots along the river, providing a peaceful retreat.

          Activities to enjoy while free camping near Clarion

          • Hiking enthusiasts will appreciate the trails near Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite, which also offers great opportunities for biking.
          • Fishing is a popular activity at Red Mill Pond, where you can enjoy the tranquility of the water while casting a line.
          • For those who enjoy a bit of adventure, FR437 dispersed campsite is conveniently located near a makeshift shooting range, adding an exciting twist to your camping experience.

          Dispersed campers should check out Loleta Road Dispersed

          • This spot is ideal for first-time dispersed campers, as it allows for easy vehicle access while still providing a taste of the great outdoors.
          • Although the nearby road may be visible, the low traffic ensures a peaceful atmosphere, perfect for unwinding after a long day of exploring.
          • Campers have noted the beauty of the area, especially during inclement weather, making it a unique experience to listen to the rain while nestled in your tent.

          Frequently Asked Questions

          • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Clarion, PA?

            According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Clarion, PA is Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite with a 4.5-star rating from 8 reviews.

          • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Clarion, PA?

            TheDyrt.com has all 7 dispersed camping locations near Clarion, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.