Clear Creek State Park and Tionesta Recreation Area offer wilderness camping opportunities for visitors to western Pennsylvania's forested terrain. The region sits on the Allegheny Plateau at elevations between 1,200-1,500 feet, creating distinct microclimates with cool summer evenings even when days reach the 80s. Most campgrounds in this area maintain seasonal operations from April through October, with limited or no services during winter months.
What to do
Wilderness hiking trails: Clear Creek State Park Campground provides direct access to multiple hiking paths suitable for all skill levels. "There are multiple hiking trails leaving the campground. There is a general store just 5min from the park, plus multiple private firewood options on the road in," notes Britt B. The park offers regular nature programs too, with "movies on an outdoor screen, regular nature talks and walks and has an onsite museum."
Fly fishing opportunities: Local streams and rivers contain native trout populations that attract anglers. Minister Creek Campground offers access to "some of the scrappiest brook trout I have fished for," according to Brannon M. Another visitor mentions, "Great fly fishing in the area and the hiking is beautiful! Great loop trail ranging from a few miles to 7 miles depending on the loop, starts right behind the campground!"
Disc golf courses: Several campgrounds maintain disc golf courses through wooded areas. Oil Creek Family Campground features "a 27-hole disc golf course (recently expanded from 18 hole) primarily in the woods near and around the campground property," while other visitors specifically mention enjoying the course, stating "My favorite was the disc golf. Their course is really nice!"
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Two Mile Run County Park receives praise for its site layout. "When staying at two mile you will find the sites are separated by trees and offer you your own little private area," notes John S. Another camper adds, "Every site has plenty of room. Campground overall is quiet. And most if not all of the full hookups are pull throughs."
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness consistently ranks high in reviews. Chapman State Park maintains "excellent restroom/shower facilities" according to Ethan G., while another visitor notes the "heated/cooled indoor real bathrooms and shower rooms." A first-time camper shared: "It was my wife's first time tent camping and the cleanliness of the campground really helped her want to camp again."
Creek-side camping spots: Multiple campgrounds offer direct water access. Tionesta Recreation Area Campground features "beautiful level sites, spaced nicely apart, full hook ups, with big picnic tables and fire rings with multi-tiered grate. We had sites #46 and 48 right above the creek surrounded by tall trees," according to Lauren R. Another visitor mentioned this location is "close to everything you need but yet peaceful quiet nature on lake creek & river."
What you should know
Limited cell service: Many camping areas have minimal connectivity. Sara at Clear Creek notes: "None of the major carriers have service here, but I needed to 'get away' for the night so it was perfect." At Chapman State Park, most visitors report only getting Verizon service, with other carriers having little to no reception.
Seasonal operation times: Most campgrounds operate from mid-April through October, though specific dates vary. Two Mile Run County Park operates year-round but with reduced services in winter. Chapman State Park runs "mid-April to mid-December," while Minister Creek's limited primitive camping is available "April to December."
Alcohol restrictions: Several state park campgrounds prohibit alcohol consumption. At Clear Creek State Park, one camper warns: "Don't get caught boozing. They're pretty strict." This regulation applies to most Pennsylvania state parks, while private campgrounds typically allow alcohol consumption with reasonable behavior.
Tips for camping with families
Playground accessibility: Rvino - Campers Paradise maintains play areas for children. "The playground is conveniently located. The swimming pool is always cold but feels great on a nice hot day," notes Ashley S. The campground has undergone recent improvements, with a visitor reporting: "New for summer 2023 is a newly redone swimming pool."
Water activities for children: Several campgrounds provide swimming areas. At Clear Creek State Park, "There is a designated swimming beach with sand. Clear Creek runs through the campground and is a perfect spot for a BBQ or Picnic," according to Britt B. For fishing opportunities, "The Clarion is a crystal clear, shallow, rock bottom river perfect for a cool off, fishing or kayaking."
Educational programs: Nature education programs operate throughout summer months. Chapman State Park offers "regular nature talks and walks" while Clear Creek maintains a nature museum where "Ranger Susanne is a really great teacher" for kids interested in learning about local ecosystems.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Several campgrounds require equipment for leveling. At Clear Creek State Park, Isaac R. advises: "Its a nice place, great creek and woods. Most of the spots will require leveling blocks." Tionesta Recreation Area campers report "Sites were fairly level no issues with power fluctuations and sewer worked great!"
Hookup distances: At some campgrounds, utility connections may be distant from parking areas. According to one visitor at Kalyumet Campground: "Our only complaint would be the site we were in (11) and others next to it were quite far from the water and cable hookups. I ended up having to run 60ft of water hose and 50ft of cable in order to get a connection."
Size accommodations: While most campgrounds accept larger RVs, specific loop roads and site lengths vary. Tionesta Recreation Area works well for big rigs with "site 100 being one of the most spacious sites." However, the same visitor warns, "After watching a 40' 5th wheel struggle to back into site 113, we decided this site is not a good choice for rigs over 35 feet or for someone with below-average backing abilities."
