Dispersed camping near Falls Creek, Pennsylvania provides several backcountry options throughout the Allegheny National Forest. The camping areas span across a mix of hardwood forest terrain with elevation changes between 1,300-2,000 feet. Seasonal road conditions vary dramatically with spring often bringing muddy access roads and fall offering drier, more navigable conditions.
What to do
Waterfall hiking: A 3/4-mile hike from Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite leads to Hector Falls with its 20-foot drop and interesting rock formations. According to Bob J., "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."
Wildlife observation: The forest contains multiple bear caves, requiring careful food storage. As one camper at Forestry Road notes: "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."
Fishing access: Red Mill Pond offers pond fishing, though recent visitors noted water quality issues. According to one reviewer, "The fishing looks pretty good, but I don't fish."
What campers like
Solitude and privacy: Most sites at Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite provide adequate separation from others. One camper shares, "I believe there are several dispersed spots along this road. This one was close enough to the road to feel safe but far enough away to have privacy."
Winter camping options: Despite cold conditions, sites remain accessible year-round. Ian B. mentions, "Super peaceful. It was freezing, quite literally, with nights in the low teens. The melting and refreezing had made the roads and surrounding trails a little slippery so I would be cautious if traveling alone."
Cell service availability: Unlike many forest locations, some sites offer connectivity. At Forestry Road, a camper reports: "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."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access roads frequently deteriorate, especially after rain. At Salmon Creek Dispersed, a visitor warns, "The road is out tho so dont take a big rig."
Off-season advantages: Spring and fall offer fewer crowds. One camper at Millstone Creek noted, "Tremendous solitude, but it was a Thursday night in late March and very cold. This was a great spot for my first dispersed camping experience."
Confusing trail markings: Gas line markers often serve as trail indicators. A visitor explains, "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."
Variable site quality: Maintenance levels differ between locations. One camper observed, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Tick prevention: Insect protection is essential with multiple reports of ticks. A family camper at Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite advises, "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."
Weekend noise consideration: Some sites experience more weekend activity. One visitor notes, "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."
Water resources: No potable water exists at any sites, requiring sufficient supply packing. A camper mentions, "A few dispersed spots on this road a bit overgrown but fine for setting up a tent."
Tips from RVers
Trailer-friendly spots: Several locations accommodate medium-sized trailers with some planning. An RVer at Clarion River Campground shares, "There are various large sized spots on both sides of the road. We were lucky to snag a spot on the side of the river-with our RV. We had direct River access!"
Level parking surfaces: Some sites offer better trailer positioning. A visitor notes, "Hard, fairly flat parking surface right off of paved road. Rock fire ring."
Local resupply options: Hardware stores and general merchandise are available within driving distance. One RVer explains, "Howe's ace hardware is about 10 miles away with a dollar general across the street. The site seeing is second to none."
