Best Dispersed Camping in Pennsylvania
Dispersed camping opportunities can be found throughout Pennsylvania's public forest lands, primarily concentrated in the northern regions along forest service roads. Forestry Road and Loleta Road offer accessible primitive sites with established fire rings but no facilities. These areas feature gravel access roads that most vehicles can navigate during dry conditions, though several visitors note roads become muddy and challenging after rainfall. The Old Logger's Path provides hike-in backcountry sites for those seeking more seclusion, while the area near Salmon Creek requires careful navigation as "the road is out so don't take a big rig," according to one camper.
Most dispersed sites in Pennsylvania's forests permit campfires and allow pets, but bring all necessary supplies as drinking water, toilets and trash facilities are not available. The Allegheny National Forest region contains several popular dispersed camping areas where visitors report "big open spots with established fire rings." Wildlife is prevalent throughout these camping areas, with one camper noting, "there's black bears that live in the several caves in the area... be sure to pack up all food and trash at night." Cell service is spotty but often available at higher elevations, particularly near the Forestry Road sites where some campers report intermittent WiFi connectivity.
