Best Tent Camping near Wilcox, PA

Tent camping near Wilcox, Pennsylvania provides access to several primitive and established sites within the Allegheny National Forest region. Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite and Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite offer free, tent-friendly camping options with established fire rings and walk-in access. Patterson State Park Campground, located near Coudersport, provides a small but reliable tent campground with basic amenities. For those seeking a more unique experience, Private Island with Paddle Moor Co. offers boat-in tent camping on a secluded island setting.

Most primitive tent campsites in the area require self-sufficiency, as amenities are limited. Forestry Road and Loleta Road dispersed sites have no drinking water, toilets, or trash services. Campers must pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. Patterson State Park does provide drinking water via a manual pump and basic vault toilets. Fire rings are available at most sites, and firewood can be gathered at the dispersed locations. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with frequent rain reported by multiple campers, making waterproof gear essential for tent camping in this region.

The backcountry tent camping experience around Wilcox offers notable solitude and natural features. According to reviews, Forestry Road Dispersed sites provide access to Hector Falls, approximately a 2-mile hike from the camping area. One visitor noted, "There are multiple spots along the main forest road. Some you can drive your car in and tuck it back. Other spots you can't take your car at all." Wildlife awareness is important, as black bears inhabit the area. A camper reported, "There's black bears that live in the several caves in the area... Definitely be sure to pack up all food and trash at night." Walk-in tent sites along logging roads offer greater privacy for those willing to carry their gear a short distance from parking areas.

Best Tent Sites Near Wilcox, Pennsylvania (17)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Wilcox, PA

5 Photos of 17 Wilcox Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Wilcox, PA

502 Reviews of 17 Wilcox Campgrounds


  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2022

    Hearts Content Recreation Area

    Great quiet little campground

    Very nice quiet small wooded campground. No hookups, about 3-4 fresh water spigots, 1 dump station and dumpster. Water pressure was very low and took a while to fill tank. 26 various sized sites, some large with plenty of space for our 22 foot tow behind and truck + some for extra vehicles. Other smaller sites for tents or vans. Self serve ice $2 wood $10. Vault toilets. Fire rings and picnic table at each site. AT&T spotty 0-1 bars. Host camper. Quiet time 10pm-6am. 1 Xlarge site for groups.

  • Bill  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2020

    Hearts Content Recreation Area

    Simple and serene

    Hearts Content is best described as a way station. The sites are nestled within a grove of immense pines. Some are large enough for large RV’s . There are no showers. Bathrooms are vault toilets. Two of the sites include Adirondack type shelters. A picnic table and fire ring are within each site. I used this site as a staging area to explore Allegheny National Forest for a week. Used a camp shower. The closest town is Warren, PA. Firewood is available at the camp host site. Across the road is an hiking area with picnic tables and the like.

  • Mary S.
    Sep. 24, 2018

    Quaker Area — Allegany State Park State Park

    This is a great vacation area.....spend a week!

    Did you know this is NY's largest state campground? We stopped here on a rainy night, but what we saw convinced me we need to return. I know this campground is a vacation destination for families in western NY.

    Cain Hollow is in the Quaker Run area which includes Quaker Lake. There is another campground in the Red House Area, and there are also lots of cabins. This is definitely a 4 seasons park - hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing....

    I was able to take photos of a few sites the next morning. You can see that sites are private and you're definitely in the woods. There are food storage boxes at all campsites because you're in bear country.

  • Danielle S.
    Apr. 16, 2019

    Minister Creek Campground

    Small, rustic, gorgeous

    We stayed here July 2018 and found a quiet campsite by the creek. It had been quite rainy and some of the sites were wet and muddy, but for $12, I couldn't complain. While there is an outhouse, it is simply a couple of toilets (bring a lantern or wear a headlamp). Arrive early to get a prime spot, and take advantage of the hiking trails (a bug net for your head will help in the summer as the gnats and deer flies are distracting). Looking forward to staying again.

  • Bill  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2018

    Hearts Content Recreation Area

    Minimal offering for maximum relaxing

    This campground is within Allegheny National Forest near the town of Warren and Tidouette. The sites are few but spacious. Good for car camping, though I’m sure a smaller RVcould get by. Each site has a fire ring. Two sites have Adirondack type shelters. The night sky is promising but light pollution from Warren inhibits a truly awesome night sky. There is a vault toilet. No showers. No water either. Bring what you need! The closest town is about 30 minutes away. Lots of critter life. My dogs loved it here. We spent all days exploring the nearby trails and creeks. Price was cheap. No frills but a quiet respite for sure.

  • D
    Oct. 21, 2021

    Kelly Pines Campground

    Off the grid, lots to explore!

    This equestrian campground also has 2 non-equestrian sites, one which is reservable. There is no potable water but there is a river and a non-potable pump. There is a permanent toilet usually stocked with TP. Carry out all garbage. No electrical hookups.

    Traditional camp sites have space for multiple tents and 2 cars. Each has a picnic table and a fire pit with moveable cooking surface. We’ve never had an issue with bears or other wildlife where food and trash are concerned but we store in the cars at night to be safe. The area is usually damp so don’t count in being able to find much dry wood - we stop before driving in for wood.

    Trails galore! Mushrooms everywhere! Quiet and no cellular to distract.

  • Mary H.
    Jun. 13, 2019

    Upper Campground — Kettle Creek State Park

    Upper campground: Rustic, remote, restful

    The upper campground has a rustic feel, beautiful views and is a great location for wildlife encounters. While it has some amenities (electric on a few RV sites; scullery area near the pit toilets; showers available at lower campground), these grounds are away from the bustle of the outside world. We are tent campers, and without the need for hookup and never having been there, we reserved site 45--but do not recommend it for its challenging slope. When a loud, disrespectful family set up nearby that first night for a long weekend, we spoke with the camp host (helpful, amenable Jim), who suggested we ask about site 71, the most removed of all the sites. Went to the camp office and obtained it for the rest of our week-long stay--and it was perfect. (While it had a hookup that we didn't need/use, we did pay extra for it--but well worth the seclusion.) Super quiet back there and totally private. Some of the rustic tent sites looked lovely, too (did not note best site numbers; sorry), but we cannot recommend #71 enough. If you're an RV camper, however, the sites with the vista views overlooking the reservoir are amazing, if not somewhat close together. 

    We wanted to encounter wildlife; went looking for it and found it! Everything seemed to be about an hour or more away on winding roads, but that was okay; love the meandering. We went to:  

    • Hyner View (gorgeous vistas -- and also came across a mama rattlesnake sunning on a back road and took photos from the safety of our car!); 
    • Pine Creek Gorge (Leonard Harrison State Park) more amazing views; 
    • Benezette to find elk (wild herd at dusk on Winslow Hill, complete with mama and baby--then three buck sauntering through town!); and 
    • lovely nearby Kettle Creek Vista. We also saw a few elk and lots of deer as we drove along the river's edge over the Leidy Bridge. 

    Pennsylvania is gorgeous!

    We also enjoyed meeting Julie at the Lock Haven Visitors' Center and had our only meal out at Deb's in Cross Fork. For ice cream treats (a weakness): Ice Shack near Lock Haven; Old Bull Cafe in Benezette; the kiosk at the top of Pine Creek Gorge. 

    A very restful, quiet week in early June was just what we needed, and Kettle Creek State Park Upper Campground was wonderful.

  • Britt B.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Clear Creek State Park Campground

    Pennsylvania Favorite!

    A Pennsylvania favorite, Clear Creek State Park is a beautifully maintained, scenic park, right on the Clarion River in the Clear Creek State Park. The Park offers movies on an outdoor screen, regular nature talks and walks and has an onsite museum. The park has tent sites, RV sites and cabins. Clear Creek runs through the campground and is a perfect spot for a BBQ or Picnic. It also has a designated swimming beach with sand. There are multiple hiking trails leaving the campground. There is a general store just 5min from the park, plus multiple private firewood options on the road in. The park also sells firewood bundles. The Clarion is a crystal clear, shallow, rock bottom river perfect for a cool off, fishing or kayaking. There are two kayaking/tubing companies in Cook Forest to hire watercraft to float the river. Both floats don’t go as high as Clear Creek State Park so you won’t float past the campground, with the longest being 9 miles. The facilities are always clean, with large shower areas and always fully stocked with tissue. All sites have fire rings with adjustable grills. The best un-powered RV site is site 40– private and waterfront. The best powered-RV site is 39– private and waterfront. There are also two very private tent sites that are waterfront(classified as Kayak In tent sites) numbered CR-001& CR-002. Both waterfront, shaded with fire rings. Excellent tent sites! Note you can only book them for 1 night at a time. No phone reception at this one! They welcome furry friends at selected sites!

  • Travis S.
    Jun. 30, 2020

    Dewdrop

    Spacious

    Campsite layouts are non traditional with large driveways and often times the tables and fire rings are below the driveway.  With this layout you get more privacy with very few sites having and overlapping with other sites. Pitching a tent was easy on the driveway and fairly level. Some sites had large high sided fire rings which take away from the fireside relaxation of a shorter camp chair. 

    Bathrooms and shower house was below the standards of many of PA State Parks which we regard as the benchmark for campgrounds at reasonable prices. 

    Boating and biking all accessible from the grounds. No need to drive to the trails at Jakes Rocks.


Guide to Wilcox

Tent campsites near Wilcox, Pennsylvania sit within the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains at elevations between 1,500-2,000 feet. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing from November through March, with summer highs averaging in the 70s. The region experiences significant rainfall throughout the year, with storms often developing quickly in the afternoon hours during summer camping season.

What to do

Hike to seasonal waterfalls: Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite provides access to several waterfall hikes. One camper noted, "There's a really cool place called Hector Falls. The trailhead is about a mile down the road from this spot. It's about 3/4 a mile hike into the woods. The falls are really cool to look at, and has some cool rock formations."

Winter camping adventures: The Allegheny National Forest region offers year-round primitive camping options. At Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite, one camper shared, "Super peaceful. It was freezing, quite literally, with nights in the low teens. The melting and refreezing had made the roads and surrounding trails a little slippery so I would be cautious if traveling alone."

Follow gas line trails: The natural gas reserves in the area create unique hiking opportunities. A visitor to the area explained, "Apparently the entire area is a natural gas reserve, so there are these blue and orange posts signifying gas lines, those are actually the hiking trails. They don't look like normal trail heads."

Island camping experience: For a unique camping trip, consider booking the boat-in sites at Private Island w/ Paddle Moor Co. One visitor shared, "The island has cleared trails to get to the campsite which seem to be maintained very well and on a regular basis... The option to have lights on or off was also a joy. When it was dark (pitch black) you could see all the fireflies."

What campers like

Primitive seclusion: Many tent campsites near Wilcox offer genuine backcountry experiences. A camper at Loleta Road Dispersed Campsite said, "This one was close enough to the road to feel safe but far enough away to have privacy."

Weather adventures: Campers often appreciate the unique weather experiences. At Loleta Road, a camper shared, "We spent the night during a tropical storm and got the pleasure of hearing the rain on the tent out in this peaceful spot!"

Vehicle accessibility options: The area offers a mix of drive-in and walk-in camping. A visitor noted, "Living in a van looking for spots to stay this wasn't a bad one at all, good bit off the road, couple trails."

Cell service availability: Despite the remote feeling, many sites maintain connectivity. A camper reported, "There is spotty cell service through the forest, usually you can walk around for a couple minutes and find some. I managed to get an average of 3-4 bars of 5g every day."

What you should know

Winter road conditions: Ice and snow can make access challenging during winter months. A winter camper warned, "The melting and refreezing had made the roads and surrounding trails a little slippery so I would be cautious if traveling alone."

Seasonal vegetation growth: Some dispersed sites become overgrown during summer. A camper at Patterson State Park Campground noted, "Way too grown in as of August. Didn't end up staying here. May be a good spot in the fall once the grass dies."

Navigation challenges: Finding some sites can be difficult without good directions. A visitor reported, "A little hard to find, decided not to stay. On the same road as hector falls."

Limited amenities: Primitive camping sites require proper preparation. At Patterson State Park, a camper explained, "It has a take it with you waste management plan that really helped us all think differently about packaging and some of the choices we make."

Tips for camping with families

Consider low-traffic campgrounds: Some lesser-known camping areas offer ideal family environments. At Patterson State Park, a visitor shared, "One of the best features and why we will definitely be back is that at any given time you may have the whole park to yourself. If you are camping with children this can be a plus!"

Look for campgrounds with play space: Open areas give kids room to explore safely. A camper noted, "They will have plenty of room to play, and it is a poke-stop."

Plan for frequent rain: The Allegheny region receives significant rainfall year-round. A camper at Firefly Acres advised, "It rains a lot so keep your slip-ons near the door. Great hiking/biking."

Wildlife awareness with children: Teaching kids about local wildlife is important. A visitor cautioned, "If you don't mind roughing it a bit, it's really quite nice. Sites are first come first serve and there is a bit of day traffic to get to Hector Falls. Which is a nice little 2 mile hike. Some good exploring. Bring tick/bug spray. Found several on my boys and me."

Tips from RVers

RV site availability: Several forest roads accommodate smaller RVs and trailers. One RVer at Bova Cottages — Allegany State Park shared, "I have a 25 foot travel trailer. I found numerous spots on SF-160. It rains a lot so keep your slip-ons near the door."

Cell service for working RVers: Some remote sites still offer connectivity. A camper mentioned, "The spot next to the hiking trail has WiFi 70% of the time."

Weather preparedness: The frequent rain can impact RV camping experiences. An RVer advised, "I would give this a 5 star if it didn't rain so much."

Local resupply options: RVers should note available services. One camper explained, "Howe's ace hardware is about 10 miles away with a dollar general across the street."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wilcox, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wilcox, PA is Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite with a 4-star rating from 11 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Wilcox, PA?

TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Wilcox, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.