joe k
I live in the NJ/PA area and am in search of a new wilderness camping area. In south jersey, Wharton State Forest offers some of the only sites where you actually have to hike/canoe 1-3 miles to get to the campsite. This is a nice woodsy area but lacks a good swimming lake (great for woodsy day hikes while camping though). North of Trenton is Round Valley Reservoir - my favorite so far. A 3-5 mile hike or slightly shorter canoe and you almost feel completely alone with a whole lake to yourself.
I am in search of another campsite in the NJ/PA area that requires a hike (helps to weed out some of the "cheaters"... ie. little kids... and increases the "away from civilization" feeling) but also leaves you with a nice view or nice place to swim and feel alone for a couple of days/nights. Preferably, I would prefer to have a campsite that is not immediately next to another and is at least somewhat away from civilization.
Anything in the Eastern PA/NJ area?
Does anybody know of a good place along the Appalachian Trail in the PA/NJ area where a good 2-3 day camping trip can take place? Having a campfire is a major part of camping but I have heard that they are only allowed in certain areas on the AT. Ideally, I'd like to find an area within a 1-4 mile hike to leave the tent for a couple of nights where a fire can be built.
Answer
The only WILDERNESS areas in PA are in the Allegheny National Forest. There is also the Great Swamp NWR and Brigantine Wilderness, also managed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
There are several Natural and Wild areas in the Delaware State Forest (PA) but most of them are off limits for camping. You can check the state bureau of forestry website for more info. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/index.aspx
There are plenty of good backpacking trails in Eastern PA, but none of them are in a Wilderness area. Better opportunities for remote camping and backpacking exist in the central part of the state. There is the Old Loggers Path and the Loyalsock Trail as well a World's End State Park. Most of the state parks and trails such as The Horseshoe Trail and Thunder Swamp can be very congested due to their closeness to the Philly/NJ border. In short, don't count on finding anything remote east of the Susquehanna River. Hickory Run, Promised Land, Beltzville, and Rickett's Glen State Parks are usually very crowded during peak camping season.
Similarly, the AT in Pennsylvania largely crosses state game lands (no camping at all), state forest lands (usually no fires), private lands, and easements given to the ATC/NPS by private individuals. Due to relocations and weather conditions, fire restrictions change often. The current AT Guidebook for PA will give fairly accurate info, but you could hike in 7 miles to a campsite or shelter only to find that the property owners or the state has posted a fire restriction. The section from PA-183 to Swatara Gap is fairly remote. I've hiked it several times and usually only run into a handful of other hikers. The only places I've ever found crowded are the areas inside the Delaware Water Gap and around the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, but I've hiked the entire state several times and can honestly say I've never had the feeling of remoteness. You can almost always see lights from towns and on quiet nights can hear cars and noise from down in the valleys.
If you want to find a good swimming hole check here:
http://www.swimmingholes.org
Some places listed there have camping areas.
Personally, I'd head up to the Adirondacks or Vermont. There are many more remote areas to camp and lots of great swimming holes. So save up a few more PTO or Vacation days and spend a few more hours in the car. It's worth it.
The only WILDERNESS areas in PA are in the Allegheny National Forest. There is also the Great Swamp NWR and Brigantine Wilderness, also managed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
There are several Natural and Wild areas in the Delaware State Forest (PA) but most of them are off limits for camping. You can check the state bureau of forestry website for more info. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/index.aspx
There are plenty of good backpacking trails in Eastern PA, but none of them are in a Wilderness area. Better opportunities for remote camping and backpacking exist in the central part of the state. There is the Old Loggers Path and the Loyalsock Trail as well a World's End State Park. Most of the state parks and trails such as The Horseshoe Trail and Thunder Swamp can be very congested due to their closeness to the Philly/NJ border. In short, don't count on finding anything remote east of the Susquehanna River. Hickory Run, Promised Land, Beltzville, and Rickett's Glen State Parks are usually very crowded during peak camping season.
Similarly, the AT in Pennsylvania largely crosses state game lands (no camping at all), state forest lands (usually no fires), private lands, and easements given to the ATC/NPS by private individuals. Due to relocations and weather conditions, fire restrictions change often. The current AT Guidebook for PA will give fairly accurate info, but you could hike in 7 miles to a campsite or shelter only to find that the property owners or the state has posted a fire restriction. The section from PA-183 to Swatara Gap is fairly remote. I've hiked it several times and usually only run into a handful of other hikers. The only places I've ever found crowded are the areas inside the Delaware Water Gap and around the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, but I've hiked the entire state several times and can honestly say I've never had the feeling of remoteness. You can almost always see lights from towns and on quiet nights can hear cars and noise from down in the valleys.
If you want to find a good swimming hole check here:
http://www.swimmingholes.org
Some places listed there have camping areas.
Personally, I'd head up to the Adirondacks or Vermont. There are many more remote areas to camp and lots of great swimming holes. So save up a few more PTO or Vacation days and spend a few more hours in the car. It's worth it.
HELP Going to camp in 20 minutes! Quick easy questions?
Q. 1. Should I wear my volleyball shirt (one from my high school team that said bulldog volleyball)? Would that be like flashy to wear a volleyball shirt at camp? Should I wear something else?
2. Is it weird to use a backpack for a bag? I don't have a duffle :(
3. How do I make friends?
2. Is it weird to use a backpack for a bag? I don't have a duffle :(
3. How do I make friends?
Answer
1) If it is an old jersey, I prob wouldn't wear that. If it is just a team logoed t-shirt, go for it. Bring multiple shirts incase you sweat through the first.
2) backpack is fine.
3) Focus on learning as much as you can at camp, but be willing to approach people and talk. Find a warm up buddy to start with. Then introduce yourself to whom ever you will be doing drills with.
At a camp, they might do a brief team building exercise such as name games, so think of your favorite ice cream and favorite color ahead of time!
1) If it is an old jersey, I prob wouldn't wear that. If it is just a team logoed t-shirt, go for it. Bring multiple shirts incase you sweat through the first.
2) backpack is fine.
3) Focus on learning as much as you can at camp, but be willing to approach people and talk. Find a warm up buddy to start with. Then introduce yourself to whom ever you will be doing drills with.
At a camp, they might do a brief team building exercise such as name games, so think of your favorite ice cream and favorite color ahead of time!
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Title Post: Any good wilderness camping sites in NJ or PA?
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Rating: 95% based on 981 ratings. 4,6 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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