Best Tent Camping near Lenhartsville, PA
Tent camping options near Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania include several established sites along the Appalachian Trail and within nearby parks. Shambala at Mystic Hollow offers creekside tent sites approximately 15 minutes from Lenhartsville, while the Lehigh Gap area provides multiple primitive tent camping locations along the AT with varying degrees of access and amenities. Mauch Chunk Lake Park in Jim Thorpe, located about 30 miles north, offers more developed tent camping with lakeside options.
Most primitive tent sites in the region require hikers to pack in their own water and supplies, particularly along the Appalachian Trail sections near Lehigh Gap. The AT Ridge Campground and AT Overlook Campground feature basic stone fire rings but no amenities like water, trash service, or toilets. At Riverview Park Campground, each tent site includes a picnic table and fire pit, with toilet facilities available along the road. For those seeking more amenities, Mauch Chunk Lake Park provides drinking water, showers, and trash disposal, making it suitable for campers preferring some conveniences.
The terrain at tent sites varies significantly throughout the region. The primitive AT sites near Lehigh Gap sit on ridge tops with views of the surrounding valley. One camper noted that the AT Overlook Campground is "the best campsite option on this section of the AT" where you can "set up your tent to have a view of the valley right from your door." Several Appalachian Trail tent sites feature pine needle-covered ground, creating natural padding for tents, while others have more rocky terrain requiring careful tent placement. Tent campers frequenting Mauch Chunk Lake Park enjoy direct lake access for kayaking and swimming. A recent review mentioned that campers should "recommend extra padding for tenters" at Mauch Chunk due to exposed tree roots and rocks at many sites.
