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Tent campsites in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area near Paupack, Pennsylvania offer diverse primitive camping experiences, particularly along the Delaware River. Namanock Island and Sandyston Boat In Campsites provide tent-only options accessible solely by water, requiring canoes or kayaks for access. These sites, maintained by the National Park Service, operate on a first-come, first-served basis and are designed for overnight river travelers continuing downstream to other primitive tent locations.
Most walk-in tent sites in this region feature basic fire rings and limited amenities, with campers needing to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. Sites typically accommodate 1-6 tents depending on location, with larger group areas at Rivers Bend Group Campground. The terrain consists primarily of natural clearings with forest duff or riverside rocks. Access to most primitive tent campgrounds requires careful planning, as many are boat-in only from designated river access points. The National Park Service maintains these backcountry tent locations with specific usage rules, including one-night stay limits at island sites.
Delaware Water Gap tent camping provides exceptional seclusion, especially at water-accessible sites like Hornbeck's River Campsites and Alosa Boat In Campsites. Tent campers find riverside locations with natural surroundings and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. At Steam Mill Campground in nearby Stokes State Forest, walk-in tent sites offer access to hiking trails, including connections to the Appalachian Trail. Many locations provide strategic access to waterfalls, historic sites, and multi-day paddling routes. Primitive toilet facilities exist at some locations, though many require campers to handle waste disposal themselves. A review mentioned, "Namanock has never provided a bad stay, regardless of storms, cold, hot, or what not, the campsite is always eager to provide you with a great night. It is almost always spotless, rarely will you even have to cross paths with other humans while staying here."
"There is a ten dollar fee per day to park your car so bring cash as the parking area is not always manned and you’ll have to leave the fee in an envelope that is available just past the entrance."
"They are a first come, first camped, set up, but I have not once in 6 years, (multiple trips per year), ever found anyone in the site ahead of me."
"This camping site is a set of 6 sites on the New Jersey border maintained by the National Park Service."
"There is no public road access to the campsite. Secondly, the site is maintained by the NPS,(National Park Service) within the DWGNRA, (Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area)."
"Campsite is flat, grassy, some rocks to avoid, one tree in center, large fire ring, picnic table, short walk to the pit toilet, short walk to the water spigot that is always running and ice cold, short"
"Fire rings don't seem centered on their cement bases, but other than being aware of the edges as a tripping hazard this is not an issue -- no worse than any other rock or root. "
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Four outhouses centrally locates and a pump well that did not work. Quiet surrounding. To your right down a small hill is the flat brook that funnels out into a large “U” bend of the Delaware river."
from $100 / night
Check Availability"This is the first time we decided to forgo tent camping and reserve a shelter at a state park. We had a much better experience than we were expecting!"
"It is set up nicely for primitive camping and you are able to hike out straight from the campsite(which is always a plus!). Theres a great look out point as well."
from $16 / night
Check Availability"The only site on the PA side of the at the start of the S-bend in Zone 4 - great to have no neighbors, though we could hear some noise across the water from the 6 Peters sites on the other side. "
from $16 / night
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TravelerThis is a great campsite right on the river. There are 5 different sites all nicely marked out. Each has its own fire ring. There is also a central area with a big fire ring for everyone to get together. Bear boxes at each site for food storage.
LegendThis park is technically a “state park” because the land for it was donated to the state for public use. However, once the state became the official stewards, there werent funds in the state budget to maintain it as a park. A lical group, the Friends of Salt Springs, stepped up and offered to maintain the park with funds raised by their group. The result is a small but unique property open to the public for day use (picnicking and hiking and fishing) along with 2 small rustic campgrounds. One campground has a large open mowed grassy meadow with level sites for car camping or small campers, no hookups are available but each site has a fire ring and picnic table. On the other side of the parks trout stream are seven secluded primitive hike-in tent sites along with three basic camper cabins. The Friends of Salt Springs makes a good effort to maintain these two rustic campgrounds, however it seems there isnt a ranger on site at night so a camper said the meadow campground can get a little noisy some nights. The hike in sites are relatively quiet and secluded though, and are positioned nicely along the stream, one site actually adjacent to a good swimming hole.
The camper cabins are basic with bunks, bring all your own gear. They are fairly new and have electricity but no water or heat.
On the grounds in the day use area are picnic spits, a pavilion, and an activity barn. When I was there, the barn was featuring a local quilt show.
The special aspect of this park are the hiking trails through old growth hemlock forest, said to be the largest hemlocks in Pennsylvania. The trout stream also cascades through some some waterfalls, and there are gorges with unique geology.
There is a village nearby with limited supplies, you may want to stock up on groceries before heading out to this somewhat remote park. There is, however, a local brewery, plus an odd coffee shop featuring both donuts and ammo, an unusual combination…..
RangerThis is the first time we decided to forgo tent camping and reserve a shelter at a state park. We had a much better experience than we were expecting! The "shelter" is what we would describe as a "cabin"; four walls, a roof, locking door, locking windows, large picture frame front window, four beds(two bunks), a wood burning stove, and a porch. Even compared to our glamping this was luxury!!
There are eight shelters at Jenny Jump State Park. Shelter 2 is a minute walk from the restroom with sink/shower and water. Shelters 7 & 8 are even closer while 4 & 5 are the furthest, may an extra 5 minutes walk? The dead end means there isn't too much traffic, though the road is right there so you can wave to the other campers heading to the restroom or for hikes. There is a trail head at one of the parking lots. During the day the parking lots filled up and there was some overflow parking for day-hikers across the road. We got to see their dogs, so that was a bonus for us! Otherwise, this shelter is not situated too close to the other shelters and feels very private.
We brought battery-powered lights since there is no electricity. There were coat hooks and a built-in shelf for our snacks, games, and other supplies. There was a picnic table and benches inside. We brought camping chairs for relaxing on the porch. We spent most of our time on the porch; cooking, chatting, and crafting while enjoying the sunshine and breeze.
Oh, this shelter is wheelchair accessible. Some of the others are not.
ScoutMy dog and I stayed for 2 nights in the rustic tenting area. We were the only campers Wednesday & Thursday. The family camp area features spaces (small areas for either RV campers or tents and cars) with a picnic table and fire ring and water (some have electricity). They also have shared facilities such as bathrooms and showers. However, they seemed a little too cramped fir me and I wasn’t looking for opportunities to socialize, so the remote tent site was my choice. The tent sites do not have water or electric, but do have picnic tables, a fire ring and share one large outhouse with clean pit toilets. There are 5 sites and they can accommodate (shared) multiple tent set ups. Also you need to park your vehicle in a designated lot which is very close to the sites. There are multiple easy hiking and biking trails that are well marked. A lake for fishing and a small sandy beach with a picnic area for families (unfortunately no dogs are allowed on the beach). There are 2 boat launch areas (one for the campers, and another for gen. public) which also has a boat rental business (dogs are allowed). There are black bears in the park so do not leave food out and dispose of all trash in the appropriate dumpsters.
RangerI would definitely recommend this campsite to anyone wanting a beautiful, remote setting, but with all of the conveniences that the campgrounds offer. Anyone from a beginner to an expert would enjoy Stokes. Whether it be just a short, relaxing weekend trip or an adventure-packed week long trip, this place has the potential to be whatever you make it.
Pros:
Has the perfect balance of feeling secluded without feeling completely alone in the middle of nowhere; the campsite we were specifically on was just far enough to be remote-feeling and fully private with trees surrounding it
Cute little pond right on the campgrounds
Our site had a fire ring, a picnic table, and a large sturdy pole with a hook for your lantern/mesh dry bag/etc
Even, rocky, yet soft enough ground to sleep on, many trees available for hammock camping
There was a huge, nasty storm one night that we stayed there, with terrible downpour and flash flood warnings, our site was elevated and did not get flooded
A lot of firewood and kindling in the area to be gathered, or you can buy firewood right from the office
Lots of stuff to do in the area for nature-lovers and outdoors-enthusiasts (Hiking trails, fishing/fly-fishing, sightseeing, mountain-biking, kayaking/paddle-boarding (rentals in the area if you do not own), hunting, swimming, horseback riding, waterfall-hunting, bird/wildlife watching (there are hawks, rabbits, owls, deer, toads, snakes, turtles, frogs, foxes, bats, salamanders, many interesting bugs, beavers, and bears in the area, you never know what you will see), lots of beautiful brooks and streams throughout the entire park, many awesome remote areas to set up your hammock and relax) Whoever said that there wasn't much to do here is just either not an outdoors person or straight up lying!
Water and dumpsters are within walking distance, or if you are not up to walking you can just take a short drive to fill up and dispose of your trash
There are outhouses scattered around, or if you are really needing a clean restroom where you can wash your hands, the park office's restroom is always open and very clean
Can be buggy at night time however, I was pleasantly surprised to have experienced zero mosquito bites and ZERO ticks on ourselves and even our dog (however she did have a leech on her from playing in the brook all day). We moderately used bug spray on ourselves and the dog had her flea and tick topical on.
Beautiful view of the stars on a clear night (Which can be breathtaking especially to city folk or those that cannot see stars from their homes)
Cons:
Can hear the traffic from 206, but generally gets much quieter at night
Campsites are close enough that you may occasionally hear other groups if they are being very loud (We were next to a group campsite that had a very noisy party crowd, but could really only hear them at their loudest, and we weren't bothered)
Tent sites are located just off the dirt road where people travel to get to their sites, which means other campers' cars will occasionally pass right through your area. If this bothers you, be sure to book a site as far back as possible. Ex: Site T137 should have no vehicle traffic but your own and is the most remote of that area
Water fill stations can be a bit busy at certain times
Our fire ring rack was bent, but luckily we came prepared with our own rack to place on top of it and it worked out
Lots of poison ivy in the area, if you are not immune to it be very mindful of where you are stepping!
Our neighbor warned us that they got a flat tire after arriving at their campsite, and after searching their site found a bunch of nails almost intentionally thrown about. It's not the park's fault and the rangers were made aware of it. Carefully check your site after arriving for anything out of place and report to the office if necessary to keep these campsites safe and enjoyable.
Points of interest nearby the campsite:
Big Flat Brook - A beautiful babbling brook that runs all throughout the area. Has great fly fishing for stocked rainbow trout. Access to the brook was only a short but beautiful hike north from our site through some thistle fields and woodlands.
Buttermilk falls (Tallest waterfall in NJ), Tillman Ravine, Dingmans Ferry/Falls, and my personal favorite, Silver Spray Falls - Multiple gorgeous waterfalls and ravines just waiting to be explored, all within ~15-20 min by car. I definitely recommend checking them out while you are camping here especially if you live far away from the area.
Sunrise Mountain and Rattlesnake Mountain - Catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset on top of Sunrise Mountain, which is a pleasant, scenic car ride directly to the top where there is a small parking lot, a smelly outhouse, and a nice picnic table area with a great view. Rattlesnake Mountain is a part of the Appalachian Trail and is somewhat barren towards the top which makes for excellent views. Like its name, it's not uncommon to see many snakes in the area, rattlesnakes tend to hang out on the top and sunbathe on the rocks. Keep your pets on a leash and have a stick handy just in case, however, they will leave you alone if you keep your distance.
Lake Ashroe, Stony Lake, Lake Ocquittunk - Many lakes for multiple activities in the area such as fishing (trout stocked waters), kayaking, swimming (Stony lake has a beach area with lifeguards, restrooms, and picnic areas. Check their website for more info.)
Horseback riding - A few great horseback riding places nearby, some offering trail rides through the beautiful park.
Appalachian Trail - The widely-known Appalachian Trail, the longest hiking-only trail in the world, that runs all the way from Maine to Georgia goes right through this area. You may run into very interesting people from all over who are thru-hiking the AT.
PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR VISIT. LEAVE NO TRACE. KEEP OUR PARKS BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU.
TravelerWe recently stayed at site 3 at the campground at High Point State Park in NJ. It was our first time there, and we were surprised at how nice it was.
There are about 40 to 50 sites around Sawmill Lake. Many of these sites , like ours, are walk in sites (about a 50 yard walk) that sit lakeside. The sites were large and spread out, and we felt like we had a good amount of privacy.
Our site had a picnic table, and a fire ring with a cooking grate. Although, we didn't have one, we saw some sites had tent platforms
There are a few sites that sit higher up, and further from the lake, for RV and or car campers not looking to walk to there site. These had less privacy because they sit close to the road.
The bathrooms with flush toilets were ok when we were there. There are water spigots around the campground, but there are no showers or sinks. It's noted that there is no camp store at the campground, and the closest grocery was about 1/2 hour away, so come prepared. They did sell firewood at the park headquarters , which is about 10 minutes away from the campground.
It was pretty buggy (including ticks), so don't forget your deep woods.
ScoutBig sites with 30 amp service available for RVs and trailers. Each site has a large picnic table and a fire ring with an adjustable grate. The pull-through sites don’t offer much in the way of privacy, but that’s the trade off for convenience. There are two potable water spigots in the campground. The bathhouse offers warm showers, 2 dishwashing sinks, and a coin-operated washer and dryer. The facilities are kept very clean. On the weekends it can get pretty crowded, so it tends to be louder at night then, but the camp hosts and the rangers do a good job of enforcing quiet hours. Access points to several trails are very near the campground. As with all PA state parks, alcohol is prohibited. The park doesn’t have a camp store, however, there is a small general store on Route 390 (The Lake Store) just north of the park that would have any essentials you may have forgotten, as well as ice for your cooler.
RangerMy first time camping at High Point State Park, Sawmill Area, September 2019. I chose a campsite close to the restrooms and water spigot. It turned out to be very secluded, minus the foot traffic to the restroom at all hours. The campsite is mostly gravel so the platform is necessary. There are no trees for hammocking, so I made the best of it with the platform and my car. There was also not a lot of shade during the day. I moved my chair around to chase the shade. It was hot during the day and chilly at night.
Campground is close hiking trails and the High Point Monument(20min drive).
Each campsite has a firepit/ring, picnic table, and lantern hook. Campsite sells fire wood. Clean bathrooms with flush toilets, no sinks, no showers, no bad smell.
GuidePros: -beautiful new bathrooms -private lakeside walk-in sites -beavers! Far away but exciting nonetheless -the Conservation Walk on the island is short, easy, and beautiful. Well-marked.
Cons: -chunky bluestone gravel on the sites, so bring a sleeping pad! -has a beach but it's not much to look at -sites have nice sizable fire pits, but they are very tall. It's difficult to cook over them, and sitting around the campfire in the evening is a much less visually appealing experience than I'd like
We stayed in site 157. Accessible via a path from the designated parking space to the site about 2 minute walk. Lakeside, but visibility not great due to vegetation. All sites have little trails down to the water.
Site 174 by the road and less private, but prettily overhung by evergreens.
The cabins look very nice inside.
Tent campsites near Paupack, Pennsylvania are scattered throughout state forests and along waterways in the Pocono Mountains region. The area sits at approximately 1,300 feet elevation and experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-80°F during peak camping months. Many primitive sites remain accessible through mid-October when fall foliage creates dense canopies of red and orange above campsites.
Waterfall hiking: 15-minute walk from Hornbeck's sites to Hornbeck Creek waterfall via the McDade Trail. "After pitching your tent, a short walk upriver on the trail will bring you to the Dingman's Campground, whose store has ice cream and cold drinks and to Hornbeck Creek waterfall trail," notes Ross R. in a Hornbeck's River Boat In Campsites review.
Packrafting trips: 4-mile route from Milford Beach to Namanock Island. "I have now taken my packraft to the island twice and have had a fantastic trip each time! The sites are maintained by the NPS and are available on a first come first served basis," explains Derek W., who recommends starting early in the day to secure a spot.
Trail connections: Access Appalachian Trail from several campgrounds. At Steam Mill Campground, "The campground is along the Blue Loop trail, providing either an easy walk along the stream or an easy/moderate hike that connects to the AT with views at Sunrise Mountain. I made a fairly easy 9-mile loop," reports Kristan V.
Isolation on river islands: Campers value the seclusion of water-accessible sites. "Once night falls the absence of light sources beyond your camp remind you that you are truly alone in the wilderness," writes John B. about Sandyston Boat In Campsites.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region offers abundant animal sightings. "Lots of nature and animal sounds day and night, saw deer, doves, robins, woodpeckers, quail(?), chipmunks, squirrels, skunk(?), and heard frogs," notes Dwight D. about Steam Mill Campground.
Night sky visibility: Without light pollution, stars are exceptionally visible. "The camp site is VERY spacious, we have used 5 tents at one time here, 6 or more boats, and when you add the main campfire as well as the couple minor fires through-out the camp that were burning, there was no feel of crowding at all," describes one camper at Namanock Island.
Bear safety protocols required: Bears are active throughout the camping areas. "There are bears in this area, and while I've not seen one in the campground, I have seen them on the trails while staying here. I store my food in my car overnight and toss garbage bags in the dumpster nightly as well," advises Kristan V.
Island camping time limits: Most river sites have one-night stay restrictions. "People found camping at this site that are not on a river trip or that are camped at the site for longer than one day can expect to receive hefty fines from the NPS," warns John B. in a Namanock Island review.
Water level fluctuations affect access: River sites can be challenging to reach during certain seasons. "Due to fluctuating water levels all of the islands that are used for camping have a cut wall cliff style approach, but these sites have a very steep and above average height to the shoreline making unloading both more tiring and more of a hazard than I prefer," explains a Sandyston Boat In Campsites review.
Group sites available: Larger families should consider designated group areas. "Large field with multiple group campsites with bearboxes, fire pit and garbage cans at each site. Four outhouses centrally locates and a pump well that did not work," writes Christopher W. about Rivers Bend Group Campground.
Shelter options for beginners: State forest cabins provide comfort for families new to camping. At Jenny Jump State Forest, "The 'shelter' is what we would describe as a 'cabin'; four walls, a roof, locking door, locking windows, large picture frame front window, four beds (two bunks), a wood burning stove, and a porch. Even compared to our glamping this was luxury!!" shares Dwight D.
Off-peak timing reduces crowds: Weekday trips significantly increase site availability. "I have only ever gone during the week so I have not had any issue securing one of the four available sites but would recommend getting their earlier if you intend to go during the weekend," advises a Namanock Island reviewer.
Site selection for tent campers with vehicles: Choose campgrounds with flat, clear tent sites close to parking. "The sites are hit or miss in terms of comfort, some have large, flat, clear spaces for multiple tents, some you have to wedge a tent to avoid rocks," warns Seth K. about Jenny Jump State Forest.
Supply run planning: No stores exist near many primitive camping areas. "The only problem we encountered was that there wasn't a store close by for ice or other essentials, although the main office does sell firewood. They close at 4pm, though, so be sure to get there before then!" advises Kelsey K.
Boat-in sites with emergency access: Some primitive river sites have emergency road access. At Alosa Boat In Campsites, "There is an emergency pick up/access road available as well with contact from the park. Reservations are required for this site," notes Stephanie S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Paupack, PA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Paupack, PA is Namanock Island — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area with a 4.9-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Paupack, PA?
TheDyrt.com has all 49 tent camping locations near Paupack, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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