The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon region surrounding Jersey Mills features heavily forested hills with elevations ranging from 700 to 1,900 feet, creating distinct microclimates that impact camping conditions. Primitive camping sites near Jersey Mills, Pennsylvania typically close by mid-December, with only select locations remaining open year-round. Cell service throughout the area is unreliable, with stronger signals on ridgetops and minimal to no reception in valleys.
What to do
Tubing and kayaking on Pine Creek: Pettecote Junction Campground provides direct water access with rental options. "The location of PJC is perfect for fishing, floating/kayaking, and biking/hiking the rails to trail. The office has biking/tubing/boating rentals for its campers," notes one visitor.
Winter camping: Ole Bull State Park Campground remains open throughout winter months. "We went on a weekday and it wasn't crowded but I've heard on the weekends it gets packed," mentions a summer visitor, but winter offers much more solitude with significantly fewer campers.
Star gazing: Cherry Springs State Park, about 27 miles from Jersey Mills, offers extraordinary night sky viewing. "I woke up in the middle of the night to the bright beautiful stars. The campground is beautiful and we had a great view of the sunset," shares a camper at Cherry Springs State Park Campground.
Hiking the Mid-State Trail: This long-distance trail passes directly through several camping areas. A camper at Little Pine State Park Campground notes, "The Mid State hiking trail comes right through the Campground and there are numerous other trails within the park."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds in the area maintain exceptionally clean bathrooms and shower facilities. At Leonard Harrison State Park, campers appreciate "nice & clean restrooms and shower areas. And a larger room that's perfect for camping families with little ones so you can shower & use the restroom all in a one single, larger secure room."
Creek-side sites: Ravensburg State Park receives praise for its positioning along a stream. "It's very peaceful! They're adding more sites so the campground sites are getting smaller. They also have a restaurant (a bit pricey) and a store which is very convenient," explains a visitor.
Private tent camping: For those seeking more seclusion, Ravensburg State Park Campground offers hidden tent sites. "There are bushes and trees between the sites and it feels very private. Sometimes it can feel too secluded but the park ranger drives through a number of times. They are always very friendly."
Wildlife viewing: Campers consistently report diverse wildlife sightings. "We stayed at site 8 which is creekside. It was a large, beautiful site and the sound of the burbling water lulled us to sleep every night. The only downside to the area is the quantity of timber rattle snakes that we encountered," warns a visitor at Hyner Run State Park Campground.
What you should know
Limited services: Most camping areas have minimal amenities. "This is very rustic with electric options which is nice. The campsite we were at was very large probably better for a trailer but we enjoyed the space with our tent," reports a camper at Little Pine State Park.
Honor system firewood: Many campgrounds offer firewood through self-service systems. "Firewood is available 24 hours on the honor system for $6 per bundle," notes a camper at Ole Bull State Park, providing a specific price point for planning purposes.
Reservation requirements: Most sites need advance booking, especially during peak seasons. A visitor at Pettecote Junction Campground explains, "We have been coming to this area for years and this is the first time we were lucky to snag a site for a Holiday weekend. We won't stay anywhere else from now on."
Bug preparedness: The region's streams and humid conditions create significant insect activity. "It was extremely buggy when we went. Our dogs wouldn't come out of the camper because there was no relief," cautions a Little Pine State Park visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature child-friendly play areas. At Happy Acres Resort, "Playground was huge with multiple playsets suitable for all ages. Bathrooms/showers were clean and well kept. There was a basketball court, shuffleboard and carpet pool that you could borrow equipment for."
Swimming options: From creeks to designated swimming areas, water activities abound. "There is a lake for swimming, kayaking and fishing. Minutes away from Big Pine Creek and additional swimming, boating and fishing opportunity," explains a Little Pine State Park visitor.
Wildlife awareness: Educate children about local wildlife, including snakes. "It was the height of rattle snake season. A site near ours and very close to the playground had a rattler under their camper. A little too close for comfort," warns a camper at Little Pine State Park.
Off-season advantages: Consider camping during shoulder seasons. "We went during a full moon so didn't get the most out of it, but it was still beautiful. Plenty of space. Easy areas to walk if you have difficulty and can't go uphill, or struggle with balance and stability," explains a visitor to Cherry Springs State Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric-only sites are common in the region. A Little Pine visitor shares, "Electric only but water fill up is in convenient locations. Dump station is provided. Well maintained and clean."
Site selection: Campgrounds vary widely in privacy and layout. At Ole Bull State Park Campground, "The campsites are flat, some in full shade and others out in the open. Electric sites are available with water access to fill tanks but no water hookups."
Access roads: Some campgrounds have challenging approach roads. "It's a bit of a drive to Primitive Campground on not so good road, but worth it, I think," notes a camper discussing Bald Eagle State Park's remote camping area.
Corner sites: When possible, request corner locations for additional space. At Happy Acres Resort, one RVer reported, "We ended up getting a corner site right on the edge of a hill looking down on the main office and playground. It was perfect."
