Colonel Denning State Park Campground, near Newville, Pennsylvania, is a cozy retreat that offers a blend of tranquility and outdoor adventure. With its walk-in sites and electric hookups, it’s a great choice for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle while still enjoying some modern conveniences.

The campground is known for its clean facilities, including well-maintained bathrooms and showers, which visitors appreciate after a day of hiking or exploring. Many campers have praised the spacious sites, particularly those near the water, where families can enjoy quality time together. As one happy camper noted, “We love the dog-friendly sites near the water; the kids and pups play all day!”

For outdoor enthusiasts, the surrounding area is packed with trails that cater to various skill levels. The Flat Rock Trail, in particular, offers a challenging hike with breathtaking views at the top, making it a must-try for those who enjoy a good trek. Plus, the nearby Michaux Forest expands your options for hiking and other outdoor activities.

While the campground is on the smaller side, it creates a peaceful atmosphere that many visitors cherish. Whether you’re planning a family getaway or a solo retreat, Colonel Denning State Park Campground has the charm and amenities to make your stay enjoyable.

Colonel Denning State Park, in north central Cumberland County, is in Doubling Gap, so named by the "S" turn where Blue Mountain doubles back on itself. This feature may be seen from the Doubling Gap Vista in adjacent Tuscarora State Forest. The park has 273 acres of woodland and a 3.5-acre lake.

Permit Conditions: 1. No more than one family unit or five unrelated persons per campsite. Other facilities are limited to the maximum occupancy for the facility (i.e. beds in cabins) for non-family guests. Note: Family Unit-Persons living under one household. 2. Occupant shall include at least one person 18 years of age or older. 3. Noise or conduct which could interfere with the sleep of other persons is prohibited between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. 4. Before vacating the facility/site, occupants shall clean and properly dispose of waste. 5. Visitors are permitted only between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. 6. This permit may not be assigned or transferred. 7. Alcoholic Beverages are prohibited. 8. Failure to abide by Pennsylvania State Park Rules and Regulations. 9. For cabins,/yurts/camping cottages removal of tables, beds or other furnishings from the facility are prohibited. 10. For cabins/yurts/camping cottages tents, camping trailers and recreation vehicles are not permitted in the area. 11. Pets are only permitte

Colonel Denning State Park Campground

Blain is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Blain is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Blain, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Blain

The Best Camping Near Blain, Pennsylvania

i love camping here. the camping area is closed summer 2018. but should be open next year after they finish their project on fixing the park to make it better. great swimming area and beach. pavilion's for picnics and parties. good fishing too you can also hike up to flat rock, beautiful overlook

Fixing it up!!

While the area is beautiful, we were not impressed with the campground. We have a small 19” travel trailer which was almost impossible to park due to very tight sites. Sites are almost on top of each other - we had a group of people with tents next to us that were basically on top of us. Not their fault...it was the size of the sites. Staff was not very helpful at checkin. It was relaxing being away but won’t be back. We did hear that they are remodeling campground so hopefully they provide more room for the sites

Not impressed

Amazing!!! Cleanest facilities of the year so far, amazing large flat sites, dog friendly and great stream right behind the sites. If you stay in lower sites you are near the water and will have to walk up a large hill to get to bathrooms. Trail head close to site and was a very difficult hike with amazing views!! Wide open area to swim that was very clean and well kept. Hope to revisit soon!

Favorite Park of the Season

Walk in sites have picnic table and fire ring. Tent pads are level and smooth. Showers and restrooms are close to sites. Strongly recommend...

Tent camping sites

We love it at Colonel Denning! Very quiet and small campground. We love the dog friendly sites near the water, the kids and pups play all day! We love how large site 15 is and that it is near the trail head. Bathhouse is very nice and clean.

One of our favorites 

We chose this campground based on the reviews from another Dyrt member and decided to give it a try. It did not disappoint. This is a smaller SP campground, just one loop and a few sites along a creek. The camp host was knowledgeable and friendly. We stayed in site 42, which was not the greatest layout (electric was on the wrong side of the site for our door and canopy to open to the fire ring), but our time there more than made up for it. The campground was very quiet in the loop (the creek sites tended to be a bit noisier) and the bathrooms were the absolute cleanest bathrooms we’ve seen in a state park. There were some great trails in the area. Our family of six made the trek up the Flat Rock Trail to the overlook. A six mile round trip with a 1200 ft climb. Spectacular views. The park rangers had an owl program on Friday night and ended up calling in several screech owls. Very cool to hear their eerie cries in the woods. There was also a chaplain who came around offering a Sunday morning church service at the amphitheater. All in all, we loved this campground and after making notes of some better laid out sites, we cant wait to return!

Amazing

We had a great time visiting the park! We stayed in site 28 which was a walk-in site, this was perfect for us since we wanted to be further away from people and the light from the bathroom/shower facility. The site was not far from our parking spot, maybe a hundred yards but there was a slight hill. There are even more isolated campsites further up the hill.

The park itself is definitely on the smaller side but packs in a lot. Lots of great trails and the beach would be great( close due to bacteria overgrowth) the michaux forest is 30 minutes away and has a lot more outdoor activities. 

Will stay here again in the future. 

Photos of Colonel Denning State Park Campground

Real photos from real campers