Cabins near New Germantown, Pennsylvania sit at elevations ranging from 650 to 1,200 feet in the ridge and valley region of the Appalachian Mountains. The area experiences distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter lows frequently dipping below freezing. Most woodland cabin sites remain open from April through October, with limited year-round options requiring advance planning.
What to do
Hike the Appalachian Trail sections: Pine Grove Furnace State Park Campground offers direct access to the AT, which passes through the park at its halfway point. "This is one of my favorite places to camp! There is No shortage in trees here! You will have plenty of room to set up! Tons of shade. Paved roads for bike rides! Tons of wonderful trails to explore! Make sure you take a hike on the AT and then up to Pole Steeple for a great view," writes one camper.
Explore the Iron Furnace heritage: The area features historic iron furnaces that operated in the 19th century. "The Park also has an old iron furnace (hence the name) with historical information about it. There is an Appalachian trail museum, which was very neat to check out, and the old Ironmaster's Mansion serves as a hostel and event venue," notes a visitor to Pine Grove Furnace State Park Campground.
Boating and water recreation: Multiple lakes provide water recreation options, with boat rentals available at several parks. At Cowans Gap State Park Campground, "The lake was beautiful. There's a beach and swimming area. There's a little viewing area/dock with information on the bald eagles and osprey that live there. They have a little concession stand that sold drinks, French fries and some other snacks."
What campers like
Lake access and swimming beaches: The large lakes are major attractions for families seeking water recreation. "Great park. Clean bath houses. Great park for Families! This park was definitely on point. Great amenities, incredibly friendly staff and camp host, two lakes to swim/fish/boat in, lots of trails to bike or hike on," notes a visitor to Pine Grove Furnace State Park.
Mountain biking trail networks: The region offers extensive trail networks for mountain biking enthusiasts. At Seven Points Campground, "the Allegrippis Trail system and from the entrance of the camp loop there is a trail head! The mtb trails begin just above the upper camp loops and provide a full day of fast flowing singletrack."
Wine and local food options: Several campgrounds offer unique food and beverage options. "They have a wine barn on site with different beverages including wine slushes! Very well taken care of campground," reports a visitor to Buttonwood Campground. Another notes, "One very important fact is they have a permanent stand for the Juniata Valley Winery onsite, which is open every weekend. Try the wine slushies!!"
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most cabin sites book quickly during peak months. At Little Buffalo State Park Campground, "You can book your site on line and go straight to your site! no check in required. If you are passing through and there are sites you can sign in by the honor envelops!"
Site configurations vary widely: Cabin sites have significant differences in terrain and layout. "We stayed in site 236 which was spacious, private, and with a nice breeze! The whole campground has 6 loops, 2 with waterfront sites. Ridge, Meadow, and Valley seem less shaded. Point and Senoia have lots of shaded spots," explains a camper at Seven Points.
Water and electric access: Electric hookups are common, but water access varies by site. "Most sites have electric but no water at the site! There is water available in the campground loop and actually tasted good enough to use for hydration needs during our rides," mentions a visitor to Seven Points.
Tips for camping with families
Best swimming options: Several parks offer family-friendly swimming areas with amenities. "The pool here is top notch and it's good for fishing but the hiking isn't super great. We did have a nice bat spotting walk with a Ranger when we were there and there's an interesting historic mill you can tour," notes a visitor to Little Buffalo State Park.
Playground accessibility: Campgrounds have varying playground locations and quality. At Dogwood Acres Campground, "Nice playground with a small basketball court. They were then able to utilize the facilities so the kids could swim and play together."
Kid-friendly activities: Many sites offer scheduled activities for children. "This campground had it all! There was laser tag, playground, jump pillow, pedal carts! This campground is very fun. Campground is clean and very well maintained. Tubing down the river is so fun and the highlight of a stay here," explains a visitor to Buttonwood Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Select sites based on rig size and layout requirements. "Our site was a premium site that included a gas grill. Luckily, no one booked the cabins behind us that weekend or it would have been rather loud as the sites were close together even for a premium site," warns a visitor to Dogwood Acres Campground.
Dump station access: Multi-lane dump stations make the process easier at larger campgrounds. "From the time we arrived and filled up the fresh water tank at the ultra-cool 4 lane dump station, I knew we were in for a great weekend. The signage was very well marked and the fresh water spigot was more like a little tank, super-solid, clean and modern," mentions a camper at Seven Points.
Leveling considerations: Sites vary in levelness, affecting setup time. "We pulled into Ridge Camp and drove a little bit down a hill to our site. One backup attempt into the site and it was perfectly level...that was definitely a first for us. Our pad was limestone and very flat and level, so setting out our rugs was easy and comfortable underneath our feet."
