Shavertown, Pennsylvania camping cabins sit at approximately 1,000 feet elevation in the Northeastern Pennsylvania highlands. The region experiences cold winters with average January temperatures below freezing and mild summers with July averages in the mid-70s. Weather patterns can change rapidly in these mountains, where many camping facilities maintain operating seasons from April through October due to seasonal conditions.
What to do
Waterfall hikes: 3-7 miles round-trip. At Ricketts Glen State Park Campground, visitors can explore 22 named waterfalls. "The biggest draw to this state park is the 22 waterfalls! We saw 18 of them on a four-mile moderate hike, but if you want to see the additional four, you could make it a seven-mile hike. The trails are very well marked," notes Lee D.
Boulder Field exploration: 30-minute drive. The unusual rock formation at Hickory Run State Park Campground spans 16 acres and features thousands of red sandstone boulders. "The Boulder Fields are one of the coolest places I've ever visited, partially because they were so unexpected. Don't twist an ankle, but you can play hide and seek to an extent as there are small depressions in the fields," shares Amber A.
Lake activities: swimming, fishing, boating. Tobyhanna State Park offers a 170-acre lake with designated swimming areas and boat rentals. "You can swim in the lake in the summer or do a 5-mile hike around the lake along well-marked walk paths. The hike should last 1.5 to 2 hours for the average person," explains J K.
What campers like
Privacy variations between campgrounds. Lackawanna State Park Campground features a relatively new camping loop. "Stayed in the fairly new ledges loop that are all full hookup sites. Nice large sites, beautiful area, friendly rangers," reports cheryl M. Campsite privacy varies widely across the region's parks.
Year-round access at select parks. Worlds End State Park Campground maintains winter operations. "We had the pleasure of renting a cabin at World's End State Park for the first time in February 2016. We were immediately in love with the babbling river that ran right beside our cabin. On cold days and nights we could stay warm under our roof covered front porch fireplace and still enjoy being outside," describes Christine D.
Small family-owned alternatives. Highland Campgrounds provides a more intimate camping experience than state parks. "Whether it's nature and back roads, or wanting to have a dip in the pool and lay in the sun, this campground is the best of both worlds. Great prices and deals. Office is clean and a combined country store with fresh produce in the outdoor fridge and bug spray and essentials in the office area," says Jennifer R.
What you should know
Bear activity varies by location. Bear encounters happen regularly at several parks. At Tobyhanna State Park, "We were warned at check in that there have been a lot of bears in the area but never really thought that we would see one. As soon as we got to our site one came right up as we were setting up our tent. Do not leave any food out be sure to lock up everything in car," warns Erik M.
Cell service limitations. Many cabins near Shavertown are in cellular dead zones. At Cozy Creek Family Campground, limited connectivity is common. "Many pretty tent sites right on the creek. The drawbacks- The seasonals that seem to be there year round are all pipeline workers. So their diesel trucks start up around 6am. Also, the road in (Vacation lane) is dirt, rough and narrow," reports April L.
Bathroom facilities vary considerably. Some parks have limited bathroom facilities compared to the number of campsites. At Tobyhanna, "Bathrooms were immaculate even had a family bathroom," notes Erik M., while at other campgrounds, visitors mentioned portable toilets as the only option in certain camping loops.
Tips for camping with families
Off-peak reservations: 3-5 months advance booking. School holiday periods fill quickly at family-friendly campgrounds. At Keen Lake Resort Campground, activities keep children engaged. "They have activity coordinators that make sure there is something to do for all ages every hour of the day! The security is great and patrol to make sure quiet hours are quiet to be courtiers to other campers that want quiet time," explains Mike H.
Playground access: varies by park. Some campgrounds have playgrounds directly in camping loops while others require driving. "The campground has great playgrounds, several well-marked trails, and functional (if dirty and rustic) restrooms and showers. The visitors center boasts the most modern updates and a truly lovely interactive museum displaying the history and current wildlife of the park," mentions Shayna at Hickory Run.
Noise considerations: weekday vs. weekend stays. Campground atmosphere changes dramatically between weekdays and weekends, especially during summer. Family-oriented parks often have scheduled activities that can create noise. One visitor to Red Rock Mountain Campground noted, "Quiet hours are not enforced, there were kids running around screaming well after midnight which was annoying because we were waking up for a sunrise hike at Ricketts Glen."
Tips from RVers
Water hookup distances: bring extra-long hoses. At Moyers Grove Campground, "Be advised that there was no cell service or internet for AT&T users. (Verizon did have some service.) Also, there is no cable and our antennae was unable to pick up any TV channels. Make sure you have a LONG water hose. We actually had to buy a 50 foot hose in the camp store to accommodate the distance to the spigot," advises Becca U.
Electrical reliability concerns. Some older campgrounds have electrical systems that struggle with modern RV demands. One camper at Lackawanna State Park reported, "Two electric hookups would trip the 50 amp circuit breaker on any load about 30 amps, which means the hookups are old and unmaintained."
Site levelness varies widely. Many campgrounds in the mountainous terrain require significant leveling. A Ricketts Glen visitor noted, "Our full hookup site was large with table and fire ring, and required some leveling. Not much shade in the full hookup loop, so was happy to have electricity for A/C."
