The Delaware Water Gap area near Nazareth, Pennsylvania sits at elevations ranging from 400 to 1,600 feet, creating varied camping environments with temperature swings of 15-20 degrees between valleys and ridges. Most camping cabins around Nazareth remain open April through October, with several private facilities extending their season through November. Winter cabin availability is limited to a handful of year-round operations offering heated accommodations.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: At Hickory Run State Park, the Hawk Falls and Shades of Death trails offer accessible hiking options even with dogs. According to one camper, "We found the 2 trails we hiked - Hawk Falls and Shades of Death trails - where were rated 'more difficult' were not bad to hike at all. We hiked both with your 2 large dogs. Both of these trails had a creek and waterfalls."
Visit wolf sanctuary: Camp Taylor Campground offers a unique wildlife experience with the Lakota Wolf Preserve located on-site. "There are moments by the fire you can hear them howl in the distance. It's one of our favorite places to camp," shares a visitor. Tours leave directly from the campground twice daily on weekends, with discounted rates for campers.
Rock exploration: Ringing Rocks Family Campground provides easy access to the nearby Ringing Rocks County Park. A visitor notes, "We went to Ringing Rocks county park and the kids were having so much fun making music they didn't want to leave." Bring a hammer to strike the unusual rock formations that produce metallic sounds when hit.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Mountainview Campground, campsites offer uncommon separation in the woods. One camper describes, "Campsites are a good distance from each other. Plenty of open field as well as wooded areas." Another visitor notes their "site was fully private (could not see or hear neighbors)" and mentions "campsites are either in thick, wooded areas, or in open fields."
Waterfront camping: Spruce Run Recreation Area offers sites directly on the reservoir. A camper shares, "Our site was on the water and it was really nice. A duck visited us every morning." Another camper reports, "The sites are large, many have nice mix of sun and shade. You can launch your kayak easily from the shore."
Wildlife encounters: The camping cabins near Nazareth, Pennsylvania often provide unexpected wildlife viewing opportunities. At Mountainview Campground, one visitor recalls, "Only shortly after we settled into our tent did we hear foxes fighting right outside our tent, the snorts of deer, and there were bats right above us all night making noise!"
What you should know
Reservation timing: Cabin availability varies significantly by season, with most state parks requiring bookings 3-6 months in advance for summer weekends. Private campgrounds like Camp Taylor Campground fill quickly for holiday weekends, particularly for their limited cabins and "glamping" tents.
Quiet hour enforcement: Camp rules are strictly enforced at many locations, especially regarding noise. A Camp Taylor visitor notes, "Unlike many other campgrounds we've been to, they are very good about actually enforcing the quiet hours at night, so you can have an actual peaceful and quiet night around the campfire."
Firewood restrictions: Most cabin rental facilities near Nazareth restrict outside firewood to prevent the spread of invasive species. At Camp Taylor, "You have to buy their wood you can't bring any in, they are trying to keep the lantern flies away. $5 bundle for 7 pieces."
Bathroom conditions: Bathroom quality varies widely between facilities. One camper at Hickory Run State Park Campground reported, "The bathroom and showers were clean and adequate." However, at Spruce Run, a visitor warned, "The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. I thought with COVID they were cleaning them more, but for the entire weekend, someone's #2 remained all over the toilet, floor, and corner wall."
Tips for camping with families
Large group sites: Colonial Woods Family Resort accommodates family reunions with group camping areas. One visitor shared, "We had a group site which was perfect for 6 campers. We went on Father's Day weekend and they had nice arts and crafts for the kids to do for dad."
Structured activities: Many facilities offer organized events for children. A visitor to Mountain Vista Campground mentions, "They have many different activities(pool/arcade games/movie nights/ and more)," while another notes they "found the facilities to be clean and in working order. Following appropriate health and safety protocols as well."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer water recreation for families. At Camp Taylor, "The swimming pond is pleasant and great to cool off in," according to one visitor, while Colonial Woods features both a regular pool and a separate splash pool for toddlers that's "clean with a lifeguard on duty at all times."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: When booking at Allentown KOA, request creek-side sites for natural ambiance. "We had a nice pull-through site and enjoyed our stay. Nice stream running through camp," shares one RVer, while another mentions, "My site was a super convenient pull-through site... The gravel site was level, so I didn't even have to unhook from my truck."
Tree clearance issues: At several campgrounds, low-hanging branches pose hazards for larger rigs. One Colonial Woods visitor warned, "The roads are very narrow, pretty sizable boulders on both sides, trees are very low and need to be trimmed (almost took my ac out with a huge limb)."
Dump station access: Plan departure times around dump station traffic. A visitor to Spruce Run notes, "They do a great job of mowing the grass on the sites, and if you need to, you can go and request if they could cut your grass if it's too long."
