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Best Tent Camping near West Finley, PA

255 Reviews

The Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail corridor near West Finley, Pennsylvania offers several tent-only camping options for hikers and cyclists. Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run and Dravo's Landing Campground provide free primitive tent camping directly accessible from the trail. These walk-in tent sites are positioned along the Youghiogheny River, approximately 15-25 miles east of West Finley, making them popular stops for through-hikers and weekend tent campers seeking riverside locations.

Most tent campsites in this region feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. The Round Bottom area includes four raised tent pads, two Adirondack shelters, vault toilets, and fire rings, but lacks reliable potable water. According to reviews, campers should filter water from the nearby river or carry supplies from the last town. Dravo's Landing offers similar facilities with picnic tables and fire pits. Both locations maintain level, grassy areas where additional tents can be pitched when designated sites are full. Standard Forest Service pit toilets are available but may have inconsistent maintenance during peak seasons.

Tent camping experiences along the GAP Trail combine accessibility with a sense of remoteness. One visitor noted that "the only people you will see are the ones who've biked, boated, or walked in," highlighting the secluded nature of these backcountry tent camping areas. The Youghiogheny River provides opportunities for cooling off after a day on the trail, with easy access points from most campsites. Campers frequently mention train noise as the primary drawback, with one reviewer advising: "Bring good earplugs if you hope to sleep." Wildlife encounters are common, particularly with raccoons that target unsecured food. During weekdays, especially in shoulder seasons, tent campers often find these sites nearly empty, offering a peaceful overnight experience despite their proximity to the trail.

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Best Tent Sites Near West Finley, Pennsylvania (14)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near West Finley, PA

9 Photos of 14 West Finley Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near West Finley, PA

255 Reviews of 14 West Finley Campgrounds

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 28, 2018

    Lamping Homestead Recreation Area

    Simple, Quiet, Beautiful!

    Just a few miles from the Ohio Covered Bridge Scenic Highway, this lovely tent-only campground offers a pleasant get away. There are 6 spacious “walk-in” campsites, a small pond, and vault toilets. Each site had a picnic table and campfire ring, but there is no privacy between sites. There is no water available, other than the pond, so plan accordingly. The group picnic area is great for bigger families or groups, with a campfire ring, grills and a covered picnic area.    

    The area is great for hiking, with the North Country Trail going right by the campground, cycling through the rolling hills of the backroads, and canoeing on the Little Muskingum River.

    The closest town is Woodsfield, OH, about 13 miles from this campground and has most of the supplies you may need.

    More Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/wayne/recarea/?recid=6214

  • Shannon G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 16, 2022

    Tomlinson Run State Park Campground

    Camping in the trees

    Electric Site 37 - pad is pretty level, plenty for our small camper and truck, on a slight hill to get to fire ring but lots of space to spread out. You could tent but not really a flat spot. We were near the non-electric cul de sac and a neighbor right across but not on top of each other. Trees are everywhere and wonderful during the fall season. We had a big night of rain and with the wind it dried up pretty quickly.

    Camp store - small, not a lot in it but may be end of the season items only. Mostly shirts and mugs and very little snack food. The camp store staff were all very friendly and helpful and the store has limited WiFi if you stood in the right spot. There is a laundry room available there as well.

    Dump station- 2 way and potable water on the other side of it. The only place to drop your trash too.

    Trails - lots of trails to choose from. Some were pretty easy some were a little hilly. My favorite was the fern trail - lots of ferns and a very pretty stream. Hiking poles are recommended especially if it rains.

    Playground - is available for kids and a huge shelter house too.

    Firewood is $6 a bundle and burns well, no slab cut.

    Water - have to go up to entrance as the water spouts are still shut off.

    Showers - in womens the shower on the left never got warm, other two were fine. There are 4 flush toilets.

  • Danielle S.
    Apr. 16, 2021

    Hidden Hollow Campground — Fernwood State Forest

    Can't beat free, but caveats abound.

    This tiny gem of a campground is actually quite decent. Each site is furnished with a small fire ring and picnic table. The fire rings do not have a grill grate. The pit toilets in the restroom are "fragrant" when you enter the women's side of the building but not so terribly that they can't be used. My friend did gag upon entering the men's room. There are designated wastewater areas to dump grey water, but you'll have to bring your own water for drinking, washing, etc. There are no electric hookups.

    As others have mentioned, there is a gun range nearby and you can hear occasional firing. Helicopter traffic at night was a slight distraction from the otherwise quiet night I spent here.

    There is an easy orange-blazed trail behind site 10 but as of this writing, a there are several downed trees blocking the trail a good distance in.

    I'd definitely stay again.

    5/3/2021 Edited to add:. Well, our second stay here is decidedly less positive. We are at site 9 this time. No fire ring here. The women's bathroom is filthy and it made me gag (there is feces all over one toilet seat and the other smells so bad that I just peed in the woods). It's turkey season so lots of noise in the woods.

  • Olivia M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2019

    Coopers Rock State Forest

    Beautiful Mountains

    We often do dispersed, leave no trace, primitive camping throughout the state forest. There are wonderful, well maintained trails throughout. If you want to dive into nature within a 30 minute drive from Morgantown, this is your place to go. Take the scenic hike to raven’s rock for views that will not disappoint.

  • Aloma O.
    Sep. 5, 2022

    Tappan Lake Park Campground

    Needs accurate website for bookings

    Booked 2 sites online using website. Upon getting to our sites the numbers listed on the site posts did not match the numbers on the site map used for booking. Section 4. Seasonal campers verified the campground constantly changes site numbers around.. It is very misleading. Should not offer booking online or should make sure all online booking locations have the site numbers and pictures accurate. The site we had was NOT the one pictured on the map online. Very small, muddy, and could not even have a fire on it. Got lucky no one was across from us. We used that site to build a fire. Make sure you don't forget anything or need gas, not much around.

  • Danielle S.
    Apr. 16, 2019

    Coopers Rock State Forest

    Go all the way up the hill

    We stayed here 9/2018 at site #10 and can't wait to return. There is a small campground just by the entrance that has a small store and electric sites with RV hookups. Site 10 was at the campground at the top of the hill, sparsely populated, and had beautiful views beyond the trees. There were toilets and drinking water, but no electricity.  The bathrooms do not have lighting so bring a headlamp or flashlight. Each site had a fire ring and a picnic table. Trails were well maintained, but be warned that the overlook is crowded.

  • Emily S.
    Jun. 1, 2017

    Hidden Hollow Campground — Fernwood State Forest

    Free!

    Spent the first camping trip of the summer here on Memorial Day weekend and it was a beautiful spot. There are a number of sites set up in a circle, the initial sites are better suited for RVs while the sites along the back of the loop are flatter and can accommodate a tent. This was our first car camping in an actual campground experience in a while - our last few trips were all backcountry sites - and it felt very luxurious. The campground is situated near shooting ranges so the gunfire lasts late into the evening and begins early in the morning disrupting the serenity a bit.

    The best part - it's free! Just register at the box. There are vault toilets and each site has a fire ring, picnic table, garbage cans, and there are spots to dump waste water. It's very well-organized and well maintained.

  • K
    Jun. 25, 2021

    Jefferson Lake State Park Campground

    Quiet and Beautiful

    This smaller campground has a mix of equestrian sites and tent/RV sites. There are no showers, but the vault toilets were cleaned thoroughly ever morning. You need to be careful when booking, especially if you are trying to pitch a tent, as some sites are quite sloped. Our site was huge and right next to the water spigot.

  • Dave V.
    Aug. 1, 2020

    Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run

    Great Hike/Bike Camping Area on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail

    Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run is a free camping area directly on the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail around Mile 99 (East of West Newton roughly 15 miles).  For those not familiar with the GAP Trail, it is a Rails-to-Trails initiative that travels from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD…meandering through numerous Trail Towns that were former thriving railroad towns at the end of the 1800's.

    Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run can only be accessed by the GAP Trail, which means on foot or bicycle…or paddlers on the Youghioheny River. Being positioned directly off the GAP Trail grants easy access to those traveling the trail. 

    Amenities:

    • Raised Tent pads (4)
    • Vault Toilet
    • Adirondack Shelters (2)
    • Firepits
    • Picnic tables

    No potable water…there is hand pump but the water was discolored.  It is a short walk down a trail to the river's edge, where I filtered water for drinking.

    There is plenty of grassy area for scores of tents in this area.   So if you are not fortunate enough to secure one of the two Shelters or tent pads, you can still set up a tent in the nicely mowed areas, which are still level.

    We were bikepacking the GAP Trail east from Pittsburgh and arrived on a Sunday evening mid-June. We secured the only open Adirondack Shelter and were able to set up our tent inside, along with keeping our bicycles inside and out of the elements. Which made it wonderfully convenient when it started to rain. Sites and shelters are first come, first served.

    Usually the vault toilets along this trail are clean, maintained and stocked…but on this visit, piles of trash were inside likely from an overly busy weekend.

    The only negative was the train traffic on the opposite side of the River…it is loud when they rumble through. If you don't sleep with ear-plugs, you will wish you had.

    Bicycle traffic was fairly light during the week, so not only did you have the GAP Trail mostly to oneself, the camping areas were either sparsely filled or empty. Although, things just did start opening up from the Covid-19 shutdown.

    Apart from the train noise during sleeping hours, Round Bottom Camping Area is very peaceful and though you can still visually see the GAP Trail, you are not disturbed by passing cyclists.

Guide to West Finley

Discover the beauty of tent camping near West Finley, Pennsylvania, where lush landscapes and serene environments await outdoor enthusiasts.

Tent campers should check out Laurel Highlands Hemp Cannabis Farm

  • This unique campground offers a cannabis-friendly atmosphere with amenities like drinking water and picnic tables, perfect for a relaxing getaway. Laurel Highlands Hemp Cannabis Farm.
  • Enjoy the picturesque views of the surrounding mountains while participating in activities like Toke With A Goat Yoga on Friday nights.
  • With options for tent camping, glamping, and yurts, there's something for everyone at this well-reviewed site.

Explore the natural beauty at Dravo's Landing Campground

  • Located along the Youghiogheny River, this campground is a great spot for those biking the GAP trail, offering free camping and ample space for tents. Dravo's Landing Campground.
  • The site features fire pits and a free wood pile, making it easy to enjoy cozy campfires under the stars.
  • Be prepared for some nighttime train noise, which adds a unique charm to the camping experience.

Tips for tent camping near West Finley

  • For a more remote experience, consider the Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run, which is accessible only via the GAP Trail and offers a peaceful setting for tent camping. Round Bottom Camping Area at Slush Run.
  • Bring your own water, as the campground has a hand pump that may not provide potable water, but the nearby river is perfect for filtering.
  • Keep in mind that train traffic can be loud at night, so packing earplugs is advisable for a restful sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near West Finley, PA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near West Finley, PA is Laurel Highlands Hemp Cannabis Farm with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 14 tent camping locations near West Finley, PA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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