Cabin camping near Hopewell, Pennsylvania offers experiences from basic shelter to modern lodging across Raystown Lake's 8,300 acres of water and surrounding forest landscapes. The area sits in the ridge-and-valley region of the Appalachians, with elevations ranging from approximately 760 to 2,300 feet. Late spring through early fall typically sees temperatures between 65-85°F, though mountain locations like Blue Knob can be 5-10 degrees cooler than surrounding valleys.
What to do
Water activities at Raystown Lake: The 30-mile long lake provides extensive opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. Lake Raystown Resort offers watercraft rentals at their marina. "This campground offers tent sites, RV Sites, cabins and hotel accommodation. The campground is relatively flat and on the shore of Lake Raystown. There is a boat hire place located on the grounds that hires pontoon boats and jet skis in season," notes Britt B.
Mountain biking on Allegrippis Trails: The trail system near Seven Points provides over 36 miles of purpose-built mountain bike trails. "The mtb trails begin just above the upper camp loops and provide a full day of fast flowing singletrack," writes Travis S. These IMBA-rated trails accommodate beginners to advanced riders with interconnected loops of varying difficulty.
Scenic overlooks and dam visits: Multiple viewpoints around Raystown Lake offer photography opportunities. "We drove into Huntingdon and found signs to two outlooks which had spectacular views. One was Ridenour Overlook and the other Hawn's Overlook which were accessed from the same parking lot. Ridenour overlooked the Raystown dam which led us to see that we could drive to the top of the dam and have another great view," reports Laure D.
What campers like
Well-maintained facilities: Campers consistently mention clean bathrooms, showers, and common areas. At Cowans Gap State Park Campground, "Bathrooms are clean and hot showers. Bathrooms and showers were very clean. Firewood always available. Easy access to dump station," notes Tom R. The park maintains accessible amenities throughout the camping season.
Lake access and views: Waterfront cabin options provide direct lake access at several properties. Raystown Lake / Saxton KOA receives praise for its lake proximity and views. One visitor described site 22 as "a deluxe patio back in site with a patio, 4 nice Adirondack chairs, a double glider, a weber propane grill and built in fire pit AND a dog fence just for that site."
Quiet natural settings: Multiple campgrounds offer peaceful environments away from urban noise. Trough Creek State Park Campground delivers secluded experiences with "Breathtaking views and hiking trails. Our quiet escape was 2 nights and incredibly gorgeous scenery," according to Gabbie D.
What you should know
Cabin equipment limitations: Most cabins require you bring your own supplies. Friendship Village Campground offers cabin options but minimal furnishings. "The office staff was extremely friendly and you can tell that this is a family owned and religious-based campground. The campground is quite spread out through the property with sites ranging from primitive campsites to full hook up big rig sites," notes Christopher R.
Reservation timing: For waterfront sites or holiday weekends, book 6-12 months in advance. "We wanted a waterfront site but even trying to reserve the first day we could for this weekend, they were all taken. So we stayed in Senoia loop in site 236 which was spacious, private, and with a nice breeze," explains Laure D.
Campsite terrain variations: Sites at many parks have significant elevation changes that affect setup. At Shawnee State Park Campground, a visitor noted: "Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level, and we did not have a problem finding one. Some sites have gravel pads that were level and vary in length from 20' to 115'."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated children's recreation facilities. Friendship Village Campground includes multiple play areas. "This campground is very clean and family friendly. they have mini golf, fishing, and special events on weekends," notes Heidi K. Another visitor added, "Went camping here for the first time this weekend. Although it was the off season there was still tons to do. The kids played mini golf, jumped on the pillow, played on multiple playgrounds, enjoyed ice cream and went fishing."
Swimming beach access: Designated swimming areas with sandy beaches provide safe water play. Cowans Gap State Park Campground features "a nice small lake within walking distance along with a beach. Nice sand beach and swimming area, pedal boat and canoe rentals. You wont be disappointed!" according to Beth C.
Special events programming: Check campground calendars for scheduled activities. Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA hosts themed weekends: "We stayed during Bigfoot weekend. It was super fun as our family likes bigfoot fun. We started out Friday night getting the offered $12 bbq plate that included pork burnt ends, beans and potato salad that were 'oh it's so good'. On Saturday was rock painting and then bingo and ended the night with a DJ dance party."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for leveling: Research site topography before booking. At Blue Knob State Park Campground, "Site 5 was slightly sloped. It's listed as tent-only because there isn't really a parking spote for campers, we just parked on the grass. The site across the gravel road felt closer than the sites on either side," reports Laura.
Utility hookups vary: Check each cabin or site for specific amenities. "Seven Points campground is encompassed by multiple locations in the Seven points area. Senoia campground is a beautiful campground with waterfront and wooded camping areas for tents and rv/pull behind," explains Kristen H. The varying loops offer different levels of hookups.
Off-grid preparation: Limited cell service affects many campgrounds. At Cowans Gap, "You are totally off the grid as far as cell, WiFi, and TV signal. Be prepared to be out of communication during your stay," advises Judy H. Battery backups and downloaded maps are recommended.
