Cabin rental options near Woodbury, Pennsylvania provide comfortable accommodations in Pennsylvania's second-highest mountain region. Elevations range between 1,000-3,000 feet, creating cooler summer temperatures that average 10-15°F below surrounding valleys. Winter cabin stays often see temperatures below freezing from December through February, with seasonal closures at some facilities during severe weather.
What to do
Lake activities: fishing and boating: At Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA at Four Seasons, guests have convenient lake access for fishing. "Raystown Lake has multiple access areas that are probably 15-20 minutes away - we fished at Tautman Run and Aitch - both were accessible and had lots of bluegill to steal our worms," notes one visitor.
Mountain biking: expansive trail system: The Allegrippis Trail system offers over 30 miles of dedicated mountain biking trails near Seven Points. "The mtb trails begin just above the upper camp loops and provide a full day of fast flowing singletrack," according to a frequent visitor. Ridge Camp offers the closest access to trail heads.
Seasonal events: themed weekends: Cabin rentals at Friendship Village Campground include special events throughout the season. "We stayed during Bigfoot weekend. It was super fun as our family likes bigfoot fun. We started out Friday night getting the offered $12 bbq plate that included pork burnt ends, beans and potato salad that were 'oh it's so good'."
What campers like
Secluded mountain sites: Blue Knob State Park Campground offers cabins and camping at higher elevations. "Blue Knob State Park might be my favorite place to camp in Western PA. It sits on the flanks of the second highest peak in the state. The hiking here is really spectacular with lots of scenery, overlooks, and side trails that extend many miles out into state forest lands."
Beach access: Many visitors appreciate the swimming areas at Cowans Gap State Park Campground. "One of our favorites! campground sits right on a gorgeous lake. Lots of fishing options including boats you can rent. A walking trail wraps around the whole lake. There's lots of hiking trails, a real sand beach and swimming area, pedal boat and canoe rentals."
Shower facilities: Newer cabin rental locations feature recently updated bathroom facilities. At Raystown Lake/Saxton KOA, "They have remodeled the bathrooms/showers (3 of the 4 look brand new), and the pool has been crystal clear." This provides cabin guests without private bathrooms convenient access to clean facilities.
What you should know
Site terrain considerations: Many cabin and tent sites in this region require navigation of sloping terrain. At Shawnee State Park Campground, "I heeded the advice of other reviewers warning that many sites were not level and did not reserve ahead of time. Most of the non-electric sites were decidedly not level but many of the FHU and electric sites were fairly level."
Seasonal weather patterns: Mountain cabin rentals experience frequent weather changes. "Clouds blowing east from the Midwest tend to break on the mountains here at Blue Knob, so short little bursts of rainfall are frequent, and they don't always show up on weather apps. Come prepared for short rain showers, chilly air even in the summer."
Firewood availability: Several campgrounds provide firewood on-site, though quality varies. "Camp wood at the entrance is $5 and is tiny; our biggest piece was a foot long, 4 inches wide and 2 inches thick! It was okay to start a fire, but we went into the woods and picked up dead wood that we cut into manageable logs."
Tips for camping with families
Activity scheduling: Friendship Village Campground offers family-focused programming. "On Saturday was rock painting and then bingo and ended the night with a DJ dance party. The pavilion where all those activities happened were right next to our site (22 with the doggie den). Then Sunday we had pancakes and later a visit from RayCEP which is an education program that PA DNCR provides."
Pool access: Multiple cabin rental facilities offer swimming pools as alternatives to lake swimming. "There are two pools at each end of the campground and they are very well-maintained and have lifeguard supervision. The pool hours are a little later than most campgrounds as they open at 11 through the week and 12 on Sunday."
Playground options: Trough Creek State Park Campground provides basic recreation facilities. "Loved this campground. We wanted to be close to Raystown Lake. Trough is quiet and small. It's really great if you're looking for a spot to 'rough' it (not really, but closer than most!) with the kids. Awesome sites. Lots of nature."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: For larger RVs at Shawnee State Park, site details matter. "We have a 32 foot trailer. The site we were assigned was easily accessed and had a nice view of the campground. However, as we drove through the rest of the RV park area we noted that many of the sites had very awkward back-in approaches that did not provide sufficient area to maneuver a large rig into them."
Campground layout: Seven Points features several distinct camping areas with varying terrain. "We took a drive around through the other six campgrounds and decided Point was our favorite, but obviously crowded because it is right on the lake. Senoia camp was tied with Ridge, but only the lower portion. Once you go up the hill to sites above #231, it gets very steep."
Seasonal considerations: Many RV sites close during winter months. Most cabin rentals remain open year-round with varying amenities. Blue Knob sites experience "chillier than surrounding areas due to being on the mountain." Winter cabin stays should include additional blankets and cold-weather preparation.
