The woodland region surrounding Karthaus, Pennsylvania features several cabin accommodations within state parks at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 2,300 feet. These Pennsylvania Wilds cabins experience distinct seasons with temperatures often 5-10 degrees cooler than nearby valleys. Winter cabin stays typically require snow preparedness as several parks remain operational during colder months.
What to do
Hiking trails for all levels: Parker Dam State Park offers numerous well-maintained trails for hikers of various abilities. "Grew up going here. Day trips or weekend getaways-it was always a nice time. Love hopping the rocks at the spillway, hiking, looking for crayfish, and swimming in the dam," notes one Parker Dam State Park Campground visitor.
Star-gazing opportunities: The region's limited light pollution makes for excellent night sky viewing. "We stayed at site 78 on the Sycamore loop at the end of April in a tent... Each site has a fire ring and a hook to hang food from small animals," explains a camper at Russell P Letterman Campground.
Fishing in mountain waters: The local streams and lakes provide excellent fishing opportunities throughout the cabin season. "We had a wonderful weekend! The lake has good trout fishing and the beach area offers a nice place for a relaxing summer retreat," writes a visitor at Parker Dam State Park.
Wildlife observation: Multiple cabins in the region offer chances to spot native wildlife. "We loved it here! Very beautiful, nice hiking trails and a beautiful lake. Clean grounds and bath houses," shares a guest at Russell P Letterman Campground.
What campers like
Peaceful lakeside settings: Many cabins near Karthaus provide access to scenic water features. "Very nice park in a wooded setting. Hosts are very helpful, small store with essentials at a reasonable price. Sites are well spaced and gravel. Nice fishing pond (catch and release)," mentions a visitor at Woodland Campground.
Spacious campsites: Campers appreciate the room between cabin sites at many locations. "Great camping area stop a mountain...nice unique lake that is incredibly dark in color. Lilly pads abound with great flowers," notes a guest at Black Moshannon State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms and shower houses enhance the cabin experience. "Our site had a blacktop driveway, a very small amount of gravel, and a ton of mud. There was standing water toward the back of our site... Bathrooms are clean and the showers are delightfully warm," shares a Russell P Letterman Campground visitor.
Winter cabin options: Several parks offer year-round cabin rentals. "Ole Bull is always one of our go to campgrounds! The sites are spread out so your comfortable and your neighbors are always nice and willing to talk or lend a hand. Bathrooms were clean as always," writes a visitor at Ole Bull State Park Campground.
What you should know
Cabin booking timeframes: Reserve popular cabins near Karthaus well in advance, especially for peak seasons. "Make a reservation way ahead of your date as this campground is very popular and sites book early. It has sites to accommodate any R.V. and lot of tent sites," advises a Black Moshannon State Park visitor.
Bring your own supplies: Cabin amenities vary significantly between parks. "We had a great Father me Day weekend here. Great hiking trails, the beach is great for kids, good fishing, and close to the Benezette Elk Viewing Area," explains a Parker Dam State Park visitor.
Limited connectivity: Many cabins have minimal cell service and internet access. "This is one of our favorite campgrounds. Not a whole lot around but hiking and fishing. Beautiful streams. Clean campground," notes an Ole Bull State Park visitor.
Weather preparedness: Mountain cabin temperatures can fluctuate dramatically. "This trip was chilly at night, but gorgeous weather during the day. Bathroom/shower houses are a bit outdated, but clean. We had a full hook up site," shares a Parker Dam State Park guest.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly swimming areas: Several parks offer safe swimming options for families with children. "It's a beautiful place to visit. Has some good fishing hiking camping. Great area to take long drives. Even if we're not staying there we usually ride over just enjoy the beautiful sights," explains a visitor at Lyman Run State Park Campground.
Playgrounds and recreation: Many cabin areas include dedicated play spaces. "Great place for the family. We love staying at crooked run campground. Has a beach on the lake. Affordable boat rentals. Bmx track for kids," shares a visitor at Crooked Run Campground.
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer ranger programs and nature lessons. "The park also runs a ton of classes for different things like fly fishing, hiking, etc," notes a Black Moshannon State Park visitor.
Cabin selection for families: Choose cabins with appropriate space and amenities for family needs. "We used the group tent sites for our Girl Scout weekend. It was a fun weekend. We participated in the Outdoors for Everyone event," writes a Crooked Run Campground visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: RV cabin sites vary in levelness and accessibility. "Very nice state park in PA. Huge lake for water sports, scenic trails, small dirt bike oval track," notes a Crooked Run Campground visitor.
Utility hookups at cabin sites: Check specific cabin locations for available hookups. "Real nice park that can get pretty busy on weekends. We arrived on a Thursday and, in advance, reserved one of the few remaining sites. Never used their facilities, but they looked nice," shares a Parker Dam State Park visitor.
Off-season advantages: Consider spring or fall cabin rentals when parks are less crowded. "We decided to go mid October due to a new moon and a trip to Cherry Springs to see the stars! Ole Bull was just a short drive from Cherry Springs and they had everything we needed," explains an Ole Bull State Park visitor.
Road access considerations: Some cabin areas have challenging access roads. "Our first night we had a couple hundred pound bear climb the tree outside of the cabin. Park personnel came around and monitored the bear until it came down and left. It was spectacular!!!" describes an Ole Bull State Park visitor.
