Cabin camping near St. Marys, Pennsylvania offers access to the Pennsylvania Wilds region, where elevations range from 1,000 to 2,300 feet and summer temperatures typically reach the mid-80s with cooler evenings in the 60s. Winter camping options remain available at several locations, with temperatures often dropping below freezing from December through February, requiring proper preparation for cold-weather stays.
What to do
Elk viewing excursions: Parker Dam State Park Campground provides a strategic base camp for wildlife observation. Located about 30 minutes from Benezette, visitors report high success rates with elk sightings. "We loved it here!! First time here. Very spacious site with full hook up. #76 Next to camp host who were terrific. Deer came up to campsite every morning. Came to do some elk viewing. About 30-40 min drive to Benezette," notes Shirley M. from Parker Dam State Park Campground.
Waterfront activities: Clear Creek State Park offers direct access to the Clarion River for fishing, kayaking, and swimming. "Lovely park and campground on the Clarion River. Lots of space for long walks, and there are trailheads right at the campground if you want to get to explore. I took the dogs on the Truby Trail," says Sara from Clear Creek State Park Campground.
Reservoir exploration: Kiasutha Recreation Area provides access to the Allegheny Reservoir with multiple water access points. "Our campsite was waterfront and beautiful, but the majority were just a wooded setting. They all seemed decently spaced apart, or at least felt that way because they had trees between," reports Casey L. The recreation area includes "a large beach area for swimming" and "boat launch and dock," according to Sam H.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Red Bridge Recreation Area offers well-separated camping spots. "Very nice campground with some huge old trees. Large sites, good privacy between, mostly full out partial shade. Trees for hammocks. Very quiet at night. No road noise," explains Gary G. from Red Bridge Recreation Area.
Clean facilities: High Pines RV Park maintains their grounds and amenities to high standards. "What a beautiful campground with the sweetest owners, Jack and Debbie! Our 3 night stay was just not long enough. We will definitely be back!" shares Lisa S. from High Pines RV Park.
Wildlife encounters: Multiple campgrounds offer opportunities to observe native wildlife right from your campsite. At Austin Campground, one visitor reported: "We camped over Columbus weekend and got to see gorgeous fall leaves, brilliant night skies, and lots of elk right around the campground plus a bear that took a walk through the campground one evening," according to Kate A.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds in the region have spotty connectivity. At Clear Creek State Park, "None of the major carriers have service here," according to Sara. This is common throughout the Pennsylvania Wilds region, so download maps and information before arrival.
Seasonal challenges: Weather can impact camping experiences year-round. Simon B. Elliott State Park can present difficulties in wet conditions: "The ground was swampy the only dry places are the gravel pads in the sites. I wouldn't tent camp here," warns Chuck M. from Simon B. Elliott State Park.
Reservation windows: For peak seasons, especially summer weekends, reservations should be made well in advance. At Cook Forest State Park, a visitor noted camping there for "12th Memorial Weekend spent at this campground" and advised others to "book 8-9 months out for this particular weekend."
Tips for camping with families
Look for playgrounds: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. High Pines RV Park provides "a game room that offers free games for the kids along with a playground and basketball court," according to Nick O.
Beach access for swimming: Kiasutha Recreation Area features "a large beach area for swimming" that makes it ideal for families with children who want to cool off during summer months.
Educational opportunities: Austin Campground serves as an excellent base for family learning experiences. "We used this as our base camp to visit the Pa Grand Canyon, Benezette for the Elk Bugleing, Moshannon State Park, Austin Dam Site," shares Linda S., highlighting multiple educational destinations within driving distance.
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: At Cook Forest State Park Campground & Cabins, RVers find varying levels of accessibility. "Sites are fairly large and rather quiet. You will not be disappointed staying here," notes Mark S. The campground offers "235 sites, many with electric. Most seem pretty level and big rig friendly," according to Gary P.
Hookup availability: Parker Dam State Park has expanded its services for RVers. "The campground has added many full hookup sites and there are also cabins available also. Nice clean sites," reports J K., making it suitable for longer stays.
Level and accessibility: East Branch Campground presents some challenges for RVers. "Nice camping but not many sites and hilly," notes Tee J. Another visitor mentioned, "Make sure there is a site available" and described it as a "Nice quiet & small campground on a hillside. Loved how remote this location was, but be prepared to be a billy goat when trekking to the restroom no matter your site location."
