Jamison, Pennsylvania sits within the Allegheny Plateau region where elevations range from 1,000 to 2,000 feet above sea level. Campgrounds in this area experience distinct seasons with colorful fall foliage from late September through mid-October. Winter closures affect most private campgrounds from November through March, while state parks maintain limited year-round camping operations.
What to do
Hiking the canyon trails: The Turkey Path at Leonard Harrison State Park Campground offers a challenging descent into Pine Creek Gorge. "The Turkey Path Trail takes you down into the gorge onto the Pine Creek Rail Trail and along the creek. It's a very well maintained trail, so don't be deterred by all the doomsday signage, it's very doable, albeit steep on the way back up," notes one visitor.
Wildlife viewing: The region around Hicks Run provides excellent opportunities for elk viewing. "Saw 2 elk 100 ft from campground. It was nice," reports one camper. The area near Benezette is particularly known for elk herding, especially during fall bugling season.
Water recreation: Pine Creek offers fishing, kayaking, and swimming opportunities. Kettle Creek State Park allows campers to fish directly from sites. "Fish right from your site and in most cases it's easy to launch your kayak also. The kids go below the overflow and swim, just watch for snakes!" warns a regular visitor to Upper Campground.
What campers like
Natural seclusion: Austin Campground provides a peaceful setting between mountains. "Campground was tucked away between two mountains and sat next to a creek. Staff was friendly. Plenty of camp sites," notes one camper. The location serves as a good base for exploring regional attractions.
Clean facilities: Upper Campground maintains well-kept shower houses. "The shower houses have always been the cleanest and best maintained of any state park we have been too!" states one repeat visitor. Similar attention to cleanliness appears consistent at several campgrounds throughout the region.
Spacious sites: Riverview Campsites in Benezette offers generous camping areas. "Campsites were very large. Pulled our 23 ft and 32 ft campers sideways across the sites," reports a camper who stayed at sites 36 and 37. Site size varies significantly between campgrounds, with state parks typically offering more room between sites than private RV parks.
What you should know
Connectivity challenges: Cell service throughout the region remains inconsistent. "You're down in a hollow, so not the best reception," mentions a visitor at Hicks Run. Several campgrounds in mountainous areas report similar connectivity issues, particularly in state forests and remote locations.
Reservation essentials: The limited number of sites at most campgrounds fills quickly during peak seasons. Leonard Harrison has just 28 sites total with only 9 offering electrical hookups. "On Wednesday and Thursday nights there were about 5 sites that were taken. By Friday they were all full," notes a Labor Day weekend camper.
Site terrain considerations: At High Pines RV Park, the terrain can present challenges for certain sites. "Our site only had 30a power. Most seem to be that way. Looks like some updates are on the way," reports one camper. Many campgrounds in the region have a mix of level and sloped sites due to the hilly terrain.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: High Pines RV Park offers recreational facilities for children. "They do have a game room that offers free games for the kids along with a playground and basketball court," notes a family camper. Several state park campgrounds also maintain playground equipment within their camping loops.
Swimming options: Natural swimming holes provide cooling opportunities during summer months. "There is a swimming hole in the small creek that's great! Kids loved it!" shares a visitor at Hicks Run. These natural water features often lack lifeguards, requiring parental supervision.
Educational opportunities: The Leonard Harrison visitor center provides learning experiences for children. "It also had a new nature center that my kids enjoyed," mentions a family of four visiting the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon area. Several state parks offer junior ranger programs during summer months.
Tips from RVers
Electrical limitations: Many RV parks in the Jamison, Pennsylvania area operate with 30-amp service rather than 50-amp. "We went for fall activities in the area. Our site only had 30a power. Most seem to be that way," notes a camper at High Pines RV Park, suggesting that air conditioning use may be restricted during summer visits.
Site selection strategy: Campgrounds with tiered layouts require careful consideration for larger rigs. "We stayed in a site with electric and it was really pleasant. On Friday night the place filled up and we realize that the electric sites were pretty tightly packed. We could see that the sites in the trees without electric were more widely spaced," advises an Upper Campground visitor.
Water access planning: Most RV parks Jamison, Pennsylvania visitors frequent have water hookups, but their availability varies by campground and loop. Riverview Campsites requires some planning: "Only one shower house in the mountain view entrance so it would be a short drive if you do not use your camper bathroom."
