Best Tent Camping near Loyalhanna, PA
Tent campsites near Loyalhanna, Pennsylvania range from free hiker-biker sites along the Great Allegheny Passage Trail to established campgrounds with basic facilities in the surrounding Laurel Highlands region. Dravo's Landing Campground offers free tent camping with fire pits and picnic tables along the Youghiogheny River, while Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run provides raised tent pads and Adirondack shelters for hikers and cyclists. Both locations are primarily accessible by foot or bicycle, making them ideal for backpackers and bikepacking enthusiasts.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature pit toilets but limited potable water, requiring campers to filter water from nearby sources or carry their own supply. The Roundbottom Hiker-Biker Campground on the GAP Trail maintains vault toilets and several lean-to structures, though the well water is reportedly non-potable. Fire rings and picnic tables are common at established sites, with some locations like Dravo's Landing providing free firewood maintained by local volunteer groups. Train noise affects several campgrounds along the GAP Trail corridor, with one review noting, "It's not the train horn but the number of turns in the track and the squealing breaks that keep you up." Overnight campers should bring earplugs for uninterrupted sleep.
The primitive tent camping experience in this area offers excellent river access and connections to long-distance trails. At higher elevations in Laurel Ridge State Park, eight different camping areas serve backpackers along the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, though reservations are required for these rustic sites. A review from The Dyrt described the park as having "several dramatic overlooks out over valleys to the east," making it worthwhile for scenic tent camping despite basic amenities. The region's tent campgrounds typically remain uncrowded during weekdays, with most traffic coming from through-hikers and cyclists rather than weekend car campers. Sites positioned directly on the GAP Trail provide convenient access points for multi-day journeys, while those seeking more seclusion can find tent sites further into the wooded areas of the Laurel Highlands.
