Central Pennsylvania's camping region near Jersey Mills sits among the Allegheny Mountains at elevations between 700-1,900 feet. The area contains several wilderness tracts with mixed hardwood forests and mountain streams. Camping options range from primitive sites to full-service RV campgrounds with variable cell service throughout the mountain valleys.
What to do
Hiking to canyon overlooks: At Leonard Harrison State Park Campground, visitors can access the Pine Creek Gorge viewpoints and trails. "The Turkey Path Trail takes you down into the canyon. It is a mile or so and pretty steep, but well maintained. Portions are steps. There are a few waterfalls to view on the way down," notes one camper.
Kayaking and fishing: Multiple water recreation opportunities exist near local campgrounds. "There is a lake for swimming, kayaking and fishing. Minutes away from Big Pine Creek and additional swimming, boating and fishing opportunity," reports a visitor to Little Pine State Park Campground.
Cycling rail trails: The Pine Creek Rail Trail provides excellent biking opportunities. "A world class rails to trails biking and hiking trails has numerous access points close by," mentions a camper at Little Pine State Park. Another visitor adds, "If you're a cyclist- definitely ride the nearby paved Pine Creek Trail. My husband rode a century on his own on Fathers Day while here."
What campers like
Spacious wooded sites: Many Primitive Camping Area at Bald Eagle State Park visitors appreciate the site layout. "The rustic campground has some parking sites, but we are most fond of the sites with a short walk in. Usually they're very private," notes one camper. Another adds, "Sites are clean, flat and spread out. You can see everyone but you don't feel like you are on top of one another."
Clean facilities: Canyon Country Campground receives positive reviews for maintenance. "The campground was neat, clean and quiet. The owners were extremely helpful concerning the Pa. Grand Canyon, where to go, the trails, etc," states one visitor. This campground also offers unique access points: "A mile walk to the rim of the canyon! Very dog friendly with a tower you can walk up to enjoy the view."
Wildlife viewing: The region offers opportunities to observe native species. At Hyner Run State Park Campground, a camper noted, "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 natural environment attracts diverse wildlife including eagles at Bald Eagle State Park, where visitors "usually rent a boat and swim and watch the eagles all day."
What you should know
Weather considerations: The Pennsylvania mountain climate affects camping conditions. At Stony Fork Creek Campground, a visitor noted: "The area we selected was not busy. The ground was grassy and level. We had shade and woods behind us."
Wildlife safety: Be aware of native wildlife. "The only downside to the area is the quantity of timber rattle snakes that we encountered, one at our site and one in the woods nearby. Something to keep in mind if you have pets or small children," reported a camper at Hyner Run State Park.
Connectivity limitations: Cell service is variable throughout the region. One camper at Stony Fork Creek Campground noted: "No cell service and WiFi isn't reliable if that's what you need or are looking for."
Seasonal campground access: Most smaller campgrounds have limited operating seasons. Little Pine State Park operates "from early April through mid-December," while Leonard Harrison State Park Campground runs "from 2nd Friday April to 3rd Sunday October."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several Holiday Pines Campground locations feature child-friendly amenities. At Little Pine State Park, a visitor mentioned, "The campsite we were at was very large probably better for a trailer but we enjoyed the space with our tent. We stayed at site 3 which was across the drive from a bathhouse which also had a shower."
Swimming options: Water recreation spots for families exist throughout the region. At Leonard Harrison State Park, one camper noted: "The campground is a simple loop of 28 sites. 19 are non-electric and 9 are electric. Sites are spacious and easy to back in to."
Educational activities: Ranger programs provide learning opportunities. "We discovered one of the evening talks about the eagles nesting in the park and the ranger set up binoculars for us to try and see the nest," shared a visitor to Bald Eagle State Park.
Kid-friendly biking: Several campgrounds offer safe cycling routes. "The kids had fun riding the bikes around the loop and taking the short cuts cut in around the loop. We had fun walking to the foot bridge to go fishing," reported a family at Bald Eagle State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When booking RV campgrounds near Jersey Mills, Pennsylvania, carefully review site layouts. At Splash Magic RV Resort, a camper noted: "Sites were SUPER tight. We were packed in like sardines. We had a site right on the river which was absolutely beautiful. Navigating to the site itself definitely tests your skills when you have a total rig length of 52'."
Utility reliability: Check hookup specifications before booking. "Electric ran below 110 volts the entire weekend and the water had a brownish tint to it. It was a VERY hot weekend so I should mention that everyone had their air running," reported one RVer at Splash Magic.
Road conditions: Access roads can present challenges for larger rigs. At Bald Eagle State Park, a camper advised: "Roads were a little narrow but manageable. Power pole was in rough shape but worked." Another visitor noted: "The distance between spots was good."
