The Minisink Hills area sits at approximately 400 feet above sea level in the eastern Pocono Mountains, with hiking trails often traversing steep elevation changes of 800-1,200 feet. Winter camping can be challenging with temperatures regularly dropping below freezing from November through March, though several campgrounds remain open year-round for hardy outdoor enthusiasts seeking seclusion from the summer crowds.
What to do
Wildlife viewing at wolf preserve: Located adjacent to Camp Taylor Campground, the Lakota Wolf Preserve offers discounted tours for campers with scheduled viewing times twice daily on weekends. "We especially enjoied seeing the wolves-- it was really neat and definetly a draw to the area (you can hike from the campsite to the preserve)," notes Molly G., who gave the experience 4 stars.
Kayaking on the Delaware: Many campsites near Minisink Hills, Pennsylvania offer direct river access for small watercraft. At Driftstone Campground, kayak rentals are available on-site. Kathy G. from Camp Taylor explains, "The swimming pond is pleasant and great to cool off in... There are great trails to hike to right from the campground as well as the Wolf Preserve."
Winter activities: For those seeking off-season camping options, some areas remain open with specific winter amenities. "This was my second visit in the cold months. Sites have electric but no water. Spigot close by. Heated cozy bathhouse with clean showers," explains Mara S. about Pickerel Point Campground, adding that the park offers "many hiking trails and ice fishing."
What campers like
Waterfront sites: Many campers appreciate having direct water access from their sites. At Pickerel Point Campground, Nancy L. shares, "My favorite site does [allow pets], plus I can launch my kayak right from there!" Kelly F. adds, "We had site 100 and amazing views of the water from our camper."
Privacy between sites: The level of privacy varies significantly between campgrounds. A Jenny Jump State Forest visitor notes, "The camp sites are nicely laid out to ensure privacy. This park is high up on a mountain and affords lovely views." At Cranberry Run, Sarah L. reports, "All the sites we saw were nice and level and all shaded."
Cleanliness of facilities: Many reviewers comment on well-maintained shower and bathroom facilities. As Kathy G. from Camp Taylor mentions, "The bathrooms/showers are clean and well maintained." At Otter Lake Camp Resort, facilities receive consistent praise: "Very shaded sites. Bathhouse all around that were clean, spots around Lake."
What you should know
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult entrance roads. Jim G. warns about Delaware Water Gap KOA: "No complaints and was pleasantly surprised they have programs for kids. Can never go wrong here." Another camper at Cranberry Run cautions, "The driveway is a little hairy- steep with crushed stone on top of pavement. Which led to some tire slippage on the way up with our setup."
Seasonal limitations: Many facilities close during winter months. Campgrounds like Mountain Vista operate from May to October only, while Timothy Lake South has a similar schedule. A few, like Delaware Water Gap KOA, remain open year-round but with limited amenities.
Noise considerations: Highway noise affects some otherwise peaceful locations. At Jenny Jump State Forest, Jocelyn G. notes, "My only complaint is that the noise from the highway was quite loud at night." Several campers at Worthington mentioned occasional noise issues with weekend parties.
Tips for camping with families
Best campgrounds for kids: Otter Lake Camp Resort receives top marks for family amenities. "Otter lake has every amenity imaginable super clean swimming beach beautiful lake with boat rentals available. Tons of activities for kids and adults," shares Erik M. Nicole S. adds, "Beautiful Lake with fishing & boating, pools indoor and outdoor, great playgrounds, great biking even a trail around the like."
Kid-friendly activities: Several campgrounds offer organized programs for younger campers. "The camp is set up nicely for primitive camping and you are able to hike out straight from the campsite," says Ethan K. about Jenny Jump State Forest. At Timothy Lake South, Ashley O. reports, "My kids explored the playground and found it sufficient."
Educational opportunities: Some campgrounds offer learning experiences for children. "The Conservation Walk on the island is short, easy, and beautiful. Well-marked," shares Alaina Z. about Pickerel Point. At Camp Taylor, the wolf preserve provides educational tours that appeal to children and adults alike.
Tips from RVers
Site selection advice: RV sites vary significantly in size and privacy. At Mountain Vista Campground, "Sites are large in most cases. All have fire pit and picnic table, some have bbq grill too," according to Robert M. At Driftstone, Kathy G. recommends, "The sites along the river would be my first choice, but if you have children, being near the playground might be a good selection as well."
Hookup considerations: Full hookup availability varies by campground. As Jim G. notes about Timothy Lake South, "The site was level with good power and water." At Delaware Water Gap KOA, "We had full hookups (20/30/50 amp, water & sewer). There's no cable but we were able to pickup about 6 channels with our digital antenna."
Cell service challenges: Remote locations often have connectivity issues. At Pickerel Point, Mara S. mentions, "The only negative is that I had almost no cell reception with Verizon." Don C. reports at Timothy Lake South, "Cell service is ok. Verizon is 25 down 10 up. Tmobile is unusable."
