Rothrock State Forest forms the scenic backdrop for pet friendly camping near Port Matilda, Pennsylvania, with elevations reaching 2,100 feet and dense stands of oak, maple and pine trees. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping months. Campsites range from primitive roadside spots to established campgrounds with electrical hookups.
What to do
Hiking through deep forests: Penn Roosevelt State Park offers year-round tent camping in a secluded setting. "A quiet, peaceful campground. The area has lots of hikes to offer including the Alan Seeger State Forest, Midstate Trail and several others," notes Denise D., highlighting the natural surroundings.
Mountain biking on premier trails: Seven Points Campground at Raystown Lake provides access to the Allegrippis Trail system. "The mtb trails begin just above the upper camp loops and provide a full day of fast flowing singletrack," explains Travis S., who appreciates the proximity to these IMBA-standard built trails.
Swimming in clean waters: During summer months, visitors can enjoy the beach at Crooked Run Campground. Jackie W. mentions, "Great place for kids! We love staying at crooked run campground. Has a beach on the lake. Affordable boat rentals. Bmx track for kids."
What campers like
Private, secluded sites: At Greenwood Furnace State Park, campers enjoy separation between sites. "We stayed at one of two walk-in sites at Greenwood. The highlights were a spacious camp site, nice bathrooms, little light pollution (we saw the Milky Way!) and hearing screech owls at night," shares Ann P.
Clean, modern facilities: The Russell P Letterman Campground at Bald Eagle State Park maintains well-kept bathhouses. Cheryl W. reports, "The sites are very spacious with a picnic table and fire rings and are easy to back into even with a rig as big as ours."
Historical features: "Very interesting history of the old furnaces. Gorgeous park - very PA-scenic!" says Melanie Z. about Greenwood Furnace State Park, referring to the iron furnace remnants that provide educational opportunities during your stay.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Some campgrounds offer a genuine disconnect. Diane T. notes about Greenwood Furnace: "There is little to no phone service here and it's not super close to town, so come prepared."
Seasonal differences: At Black Moshannon State Park, the water conditions change throughout the year. Clay P. observed, "Great camping area stop a mountain...nice unique lake that is incredibly dark in color. Lilly pads abound with great flowers."
Site selection matters: At Bellefonte-State College KOA, location within the campground affects your experience. Joel A. advises, "I did not like the complete openness of the park, the sites are stepped up a hill so there is really no privacy. The trail up the hill is large gravel and treacherous on a bicycle."
Tips for camping with families
Educational programming: Black Moshannon State Park offers organized activities. Lisa L. explains, "The park also runs a ton of classes for different things like fly fishing, hiking, etc."
Recreation variety: Bald Eagle State Park provides multiple options for families. "Great place to camp, fish, kayak, boat, bike and hike. Our kids loved the freedom of riding their bike and exploring the park with other kids who were camping," shares Jamie M.
Playground access: Consider which loops have play areas when booking. About Seven Points, Tim J. notes, "With the many bike trails in Seven Points, there were a lot of adult mountain bike riders... Each loop has a playground and bathhouse."
Tips from RVers
Water pressure challenges: At Bellefonte-State College KOA, check your site's utilities. Gayle B. cautions, "Then there was the water pressure… or lack of water pressure. Saying it trickled out would be generous."
Level sites: Seven Points offers particularly flat spots. Tim J. found that "according to our LevelMatePRO app) it was perfectly level...that was definitely a first for us."
Road navigation: Access to some sites can be challenging. Sandi G. warns about Black Moshannon, "Our only trouble was our GPS brought us in the most difficult way. We suggest avoiding heading south from I80 on Casanova road."
Scout
