Dog-Friendly Camping near Mount Wolf, PA

Dispersed camping near Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania sits at an elevation of approximately 390 feet in York County's rolling hills. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 85°F and winter lows reaching 25°F. Many Mount Wolf campgrounds remain open from April through October, though some like Cedar Lake Family Campground offer year-round accommodations.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Codorus State Park offers multiple fishing spots at Lake Marburg, which is stocked with trout seasonally. "The park has trails to the lake that were a nice walk. We drove to the public boat launch and rented a pontoon to take on the water. It was blue skies and 85 degrees out and the water felt great," notes Sarah L. who visited in July.

Heritage Rail Trail: River Rock Recreation provides direct access to this historic trail. "They provide a nice wooden picnic table underneath a shade tree. There's also a little 'living room' area near the kitchen and benches," shares James B. The campsite includes maps of nearby trails and scavenger hunts for exploring local landmarks.

Disc golf courses: With two 18-hole courses available at Gifford Pinchot State Park, disc golf enthusiasts have plenty of options. "Both areas have their own 18 hole disc golf course, but I will say: BEWARE of poison ivy!! We played the first 10 holes around the Conewago day use area and I was shocked at how much poison ivy we had to dodge," warns Danielle V. The Quaker Race course is described as "more wooded and hillier" than the flatter Conewago course.

What campers like

Private riverside camping: River Rock Recreation offers a unique experience where you rent the entire campground. "When my girlfriend and her son arrived they were met by the entire crew. She said they gave them a complete walk around of the site and were super friendly and helpful," reports James B. Kellyann M. adds, "If you sit by the river long enough you may see a barn owl fly by in the evening and back again in the morning. My boys spotted the nest while kayaking."

Farm animal interactions: Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm features a working farm where campers can interact with animals. "Got a kick out of the children playing with the kids (baby goats) pigs, goats, chickens, horses and even lamas. Plenty to see and learn. Perfect campground for the family," writes Robert M. Another camper adds, "We came amidst COVID-19, so the many activities and events this location usually holds are down, BUT there is still fun to be had here! We've enjoyed mini-golf, feeding the animals, 'hiking' through the cornfield, fishing, and campfires."

Seasonal activities: Most pet friendly camping areas near Mount Wolf offer special seasonal events. "We happened to be there on the weekend a magician came, my kids loved it," says Leanne B. about Thousand Trails Circle M. At Cedar Lake Family Campground, a reviewer notes, "This campground has it all, friendly staff, activities galore, cleanliness, & fun, fun, fun."

What you should know

Weather preparedness: The area can experience sudden thunderstorms in summer months. "A 1:00 AM thunder storm reminded me to never forget to use ALL the tie downs," warns a River Rock Recreation camper. Spring brings occasional flooding along riverfront sites.

Shooting range proximity: Pinch Pond Family Campground is located near an outdoor shooting range. "Nice campground but super loud bc of the trains. Bath houses are nice and clean. I would suggest making sure you aren't close to the tracks bc the trains run all night long!" advises Kit. Another camper mentions, "The only thing that is negative is that there is a shooting range right next door. It is pretty consistent from lunch to dinner."

Power plant noise: Some riverside camping areas experience industrial noise. A River Rock Recreation camper notes, "One of the major downfalls to camping here is that there is an electric plant directly across the river. It was loud on Friday night to the point where we were having to speak very loudly in order to hear each other."

Tips for camping with families

Playgrounds and swimming: Gifford Pinchot State Park offers excellent facilities for children. "We took our 3 yo camping for the first time here. He had so much fun. It was clean campground located in a State Park. Easy walk to the lake with a small beach," writes Julie Y. Another visitor mentions, "The LARGE beach area in the QR day use area is one of the nicest I've ever seen at a PA state park, with tons of picnic tables with grills, a playground, a volleyball court."

Tire swings and hammocks: Several campgrounds feature simple play structures that kids love. "If you wander around you will find a tire swing!" mentions a River Rock camper. Another adds, "The hammocks and kayaks were all cleaned by River Rock prior to our arrival as was the port a potty."

On-site animals: Cedar Lake Family Campground maintains a small petting area. "The animal area could stand a good cleaning, but my little one enjoyed them," notes Nate J. Thousand Trails Gettysburg Farm offers daily animal feeding times that children particularly enjoy.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Hersheypark Camping Resort requires careful site choice. "Sites were a bit close where we were but they had other sites that were more spread out," notes Ray L. Another camper adds, "It is a nice camp ground but the lower drive threw spots are packed together. Our 32' with slides just fit the sight and we had zero room for the truck."

Hookup availability: Most campgrounds near Mount Wolf provide water and electric hookups, but sewer connections vary. "We chose a pull through site for our 30 ft TT since we are newbies (our 4th trip). There is ample space between you and your rv neighbor and no real obstructions to park," reports a camper at Thousand Trails Hershey.

Leveling considerations: Some sites require significant leveling. Nate J. from Cedar Lake Family Campground comments, "Roads are narrow, but the sites are large and and level." At Pinch Pond, a camper mentions, "We got pretty lucky and were assigned one of the concrete pads that was pretty level."