Best Dispersed Camping near Cresco, PA

Dispersed camping near Cresco, Pennsylvania centers primarily on several primitive sites in the surrounding Delaware Water Gap region. Thunder Swamp Trailhead offers free camping with a permit requirement, while Appalachian Trail designated campsites provide hike-in options for backpackers. Additional dispersed camping can be found at Bake Oven Knob and Hickok Brook across the nearby New York and New Jersey state lines. These areas typically allow primitive camping with minimal facilities on public lands managed by state forest services and the National Park Service.

Access to most dispersed sites requires careful navigation of rough terrain. Thunder Swamp Trailhead features a gravel parking lot suitable for overnight stays, though no formal amenities exist. The road to Hickok Brook contains large potholes requiring high-clearance vehicles, as one camper noted: "The road is very rough with huge potholes so good clearance is a must." Most sites lack drinking water, restrooms, or established fire rings. Campers should prepare for self-sufficient stays and check current regulations, as some areas like the Appalachian Trail sites prohibit ground fires.

These primitive camping areas attract hikers and those seeking quiet natural settings. The Appalachian Trail campsites provide strategic overnight points for section hikers, with one camper describing them as offering "plenty of space" with "secluded spots" and bear boxes available. Bake Oven Knob serves dual purposes as both an overnight spot and access point to hiking trails, with "a really lovely; short and rocky" hike to a scenic overlook. Hickok Brook features lakeside tent sites that one visitor described as "beautiful but buggy." Most locations remain relatively uncrowded except during peak seasons and holiday weekends, providing genuine backcountry experiences within reasonable proximity to Cresco.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Cresco, Pennsylvania (5)

    1. Thunder Swamp Trailhead

    2 Reviews
    Unity House, PA
    10 miles

    "Trailhead parking was chill for a night. No trouble. Tons of hiking. Went down Saw Creek trail to a marsh."

    "Plenty of shade. No one bothered me."

    2. Appalachian Trail- Designated Backpacker Campsite 2

    2 Reviews
    Shawnee on Delaware, PA
    15 miles
    Website

    "I gave the site only four stars because there's no water nearby, and the views are only mediocre."

    "We had thought there was a shelter (there isn’t) but it was fine. No ground fires. No Water (nearest is sunfish pound- easy hike about a 1 round trip). Great views!"

    3. Hickok Brook

    2 Reviews
    Barryville, NY
    32 miles

    "I drove in thinking that there would be flat places to park a very rugged camper in my full ton diesel pickup. The road is very rough with huge potholes so good clearance is a must."

    "Where I originally camped was not a spot, according to Ranger. Had to move next to the lake. Need a permit on NY state land. Contact Rangers office of whatever county."

    4. Bake Oven Knob

    1 Review
    Andreas, PA
    37 miles

    "This spot is both part of the Appalachian Trail and a day hiking area for the Bake Oven Knob, which is a high point on the Blue Mountain ridge of the Appalachian Mountains near Germansville, Pennsylvania"

Show More
Showing results 1-5 of 5 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Cresco, PA

7 Photos of 5 Cresco Campgrounds


Dispersed Camping Reviews near Cresco, PA

4 Reviews of 5 Cresco Campgrounds


  • R
    Jul. 12, 2017

    Appalachian Trail- Designated Backpacker Campsite 2

    Small but kind of your only option

    I gave the site only four stars because there's no water nearby, and the views are only mediocre. Also it's a little on the small and sloped side for tent camping, but I was in a hammock and it was a great place for that!

    That being said, as you enter the Worthington State Forest there are signs and hand painted maps indicating that this is the only place you can sleep in the forest. So if this is your timing, this is where you'll be sleeping! The site itself is unmarked when you come to it, but it's the only pretty obvious camping spot on the trail so it's not hard to find.

    Stock up on water at the Dunnfield creek natural area, or wait until Sunfish pond. There are lots of signs around Sunfish pond itself that there's no camping allowed.

  • Corey
    Jun. 17, 2024

    Hickok Brook

    Beautiful but buggy lakeside tent sites

    I drove in thinking that there would be flat places to park a very rugged camper in my full ton diesel pickup. The road is very rough with huge potholes so good clearance is a must. It's not a good spot for car camping but you could conceivably drive up to the spots and pull off the road to put up a small tent somewhere. Very gorgeous but not rv friendly.

  • Katharine T.
    May. 31, 2022

    Appalachian Trail- Designated Backpacker Campsite 2

    Perfect balance of community and space

    We stayed here during our section hike through the DWG on the AT. There’s plenty of space. We camped nearer to others but there are secluded spots too. We’ll maintained w bear boxes provided. Good trees for hammocking. We had thought there was a shelter (there isn’t) but it was fine. No ground fires. No Water (nearest is sunfish pound- easy hike about a 1 round trip). Great views!

  • GThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 26, 2024

    Hickok Brook

    Small, don't blink you'll miss it.

    There are only 3 spots where we are. No motor vehicles beyond where I'm camping. Bring everything with you. It's a hike back to town... there is a small town 10 minutes away. Eldred, NY. Really is a nice quiet place. It's Labor Day weekend, see how many people try to cram in to the very limited camping area. Where I originally camped was not a spot, according to Ranger. Had to move next to the lake. Need a permit on NY state land. Contact Rangers office of whatever county.


Guide to Cresco

Dispersed camping opportunities near Cresco, Pennsylvania extend beyond the Delaware Water Gap region to include multiple state forests and public lands. Sites typically sit at elevations between 800-1,600 feet with forested terrain dominating the landscape. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing from November through March, making summer and fall the primary camping seasons.

What to do

Day hiking trails: Bake Oven Knob provides access to both overnight camping and hiking opportunities. "This spot is both part of the Appalachian Trail and a day hiking area for the Bake Oven Knob, which is a high point on the Blue Mountain ridge of the Appalachian Mountains near Germansville, Pennsylvania," notes camper Dani T. at Bake Oven Knob.

Overnight backpacking: For section hikers on the Appalachian Trail, designated campsites offer strategic overnight points. Katharine T. mentions, "We stayed here during our section hike through the DWG on the AT. There's plenty of space. We camped nearer to others but there are secluded spots too. We'll maintained w bear boxes provided. Good trees for hammocking."

Waterside camping: Some primitive sites offer lakeside camping opportunities. At Hickok Brook, camper Gregg T. shares, "There are only 3 spots where we are. No motor vehicles beyond where I'm camping. Bring everything with you. It's a hike back to town... there is a small town 10 minutes away. Eldred, NY."

What campers like

Quiet surroundings: The remote nature of dispersed sites provides peaceful camping experiences. At Thunder Swamp Trailhead, Benjamin H. describes it as "a gravel parking lot. Plenty of shade. No one bothered me."

Free camping options: Budget-conscious travelers can find no-cost camping. Jason R. reports about Thunder Swamp Trailhead: "Trailhead parking was chill for a night. No trouble. Tons of hiking. Went down Saw Creek trail to a marsh."

Scenic viewpoints: Multiple camping areas provide access to mountain vistas. Dani T. notes of Bake Oven Knob, "The hike to the overlook is really lovely; short and rocky."

What you should know

Permit requirements: Some areas require permits for overnight stays. At Hickok Brook, Gregg T. advises: "Where I originally camped was not a spot, according to Ranger. Had to move next to the lake. Need a permit on NY state land. Contact Rangers office of whatever county."

Limited facilities: Most dispersed camping near Cresco lacks basic amenities. When planning to visit Appalachian Trail- Designated Backpacker Campsite 2, Renee Z. cautions: "I gave the site only four stars because there's no water nearby, and the views are only mediocre. Also it's a little on the small and sloped side for tent camping."

Fire restrictions: Fire regulations vary by site. Katharine T. mentions at the Appalachian Trail campsite: "No ground fires. No Water (nearest is sunfish pound- easy hike about a 1 round trip)."

Tips for camping with families

Water planning: Families must bring all water or have filtration systems. Renee Z. advises: "Stock up on water at the Dunnfield creek natural area, or wait until Sunfish pond. There are lots of signs around Sunfish pond itself that there's no camping allowed."

Space considerations: Some sites offer more room for family setups than others. Katharine T. notes that the Appalachian Trail campsites provide "plenty of space. We camped nearer to others but there are secluded spots too."

Limited access points: Family-accessible camping requires planning. Corey from Hickok Brook warns: "The road is very rough with huge potholes so good clearance is a must. It's not a good spot for car camping but you could conceivably drive up to the spots and pull off the road to put up a small tent somewhere."

Tips from RVers

Vehicle clearance issues: Most dispersed camping areas have rough access roads. Corey at Hickok Brook explains: "I drove in thinking that there would be flat places to park a very rugged camper in my full ton diesel pickup. The road is very rough with huge potholes so good clearance is a must. It's not a good spot for car camping."

Parking lot options: Some trailhead parking areas permit overnight stays. Dani T. shares about Bake Oven Knob: "I've overnighted in my van here a bunch, no problems. There are two large lots. You can park and sleep, or hike in and find a place for a tent."

Seasonal considerations: Holiday weekends can limit availability. Gregg T. observed at Hickok Brook: "It's Labor Day weekend, see how many people try to cram in to the very limited camping area."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Cresco, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Cresco, PA is Thunder Swamp Trailhead with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 5 dispersed camping locations near Cresco, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.