Off pavement travel/dispersed camping in Pennsylvania. Or anywhere

[devildodge]

The same area with the day use map. Easy to see which is better. But free is free...lol.

 

[AngelPhoenix]

You did, I didn't realize Poe was part of Bald Eagle, no wonder peeps here love this park haha. I also found a small campground down near York, Codorus state park, seemed like a nice beginner's venue, as it were.

I know they will be crowded but July is when I can get out to them so that's what I'm shooting for. Gonna rent for my first camper tow, make sure I figure out what the heck I'm doing and what exactly I'm getting into before going all in haha.

Thanks!

 

[ferraiolo1]

Vista was prime Sunday. As were the tree tops.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[devildodge]

You did, I didn't realize Poe was part of Bald Eagle, no wonder peeps here love this park haha. I also found a small campground down near York, Codorus state park, seemed like a nice beginner's venue, as it were.

I know they will be crowded but July is when I can get out to them so that's what I'm shooting for. Gonna rent for my first camper tow, make sure I figure out what the heck I'm doing and what exactly I'm getting into before going all in haha.

Thanks!

I have never been to Codorus. That area is a bit outside my usual roam.

Little Buffalo and Colonel Denning are kinda in between. They are great campgrounds too

Check out Fowlers Hollow if you want a great small campground as well

 

[TSL]

My 9 year old and I were meandering around the Gifford Pinchot National Forest ( Pacific NW, Washington State, Mt St Helens, Mt Adams area ), breaking in the new truck and we came on our first opportunity to do a bit of more serious off-roading, but I chickened out ! The 9 yr old in his wisdom was sure we could do it, but with a grand total of 1200 miles of truck driving experience in my lifetime so far I decided "discretion was the better part of valor"
So we came on a washed out culvert. The approach into it wasn't too bad, but the climb back out of it was quite steep with quite an acute angle where the washed out bank met the road grade again. I was concerned about (a) the front of the truck plowing into that bank before the front wheels climbed enough ( approach angle issues ) and (b) getting high centered if the bottom of the truck hit the bank before the rear wheels started to lift out. I know I've got skid plates on the Rebel, but I wasn't quite ready to start bashing them up !
We were 6+ miles from the nearest paved road, which was a little-traveled road anyway so I didn't really want to get stranded, even though we had camping gear and food and water on hand.
Also, as you'll see in the pictures, a Forest Service rig had attempted to come through the culvert. He got through all right, but clearly did some damage on the way. The truck was abandoned there, no sign of the Forest Service guy. I guess he radioed for help and some-one came got him. I think my Rebel has better ground clearance than that Chevvy 2500 work truck, but even so, not having a radio on hand and not wanting to break my new truck, we turned around and re-routed.
Thoughts on whether we could have made it through successfully ? I guess it might be hard to judge just from the pics. The little guy is 4' 8" for scale.

 

[devildodge]

Just wanted to share this, since I have talked with a few here about it.

Pennsylvania free motorized camping is no longer free.

The sites are being turned over to Reserve America for reservations.

 

[TSL]

Just wanted to share this, since I have talked with a few here about it.

Pennsylvania free motorized camping is no longer free.

The sites are being turned over to Reserve America for reservations.

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That stinks ! While I'm not impacted by that specific change ( I'm in Oregon ), in general, the the move to reservation only I find just takes the fun and spontaneity out of camping, it turns into an "online rat-race" to get a site. Mt Rainier National Park is one of our favorite spots to go and it so hard to grab a site there. They release them in blocks some months ahead and they just disappear overnight. It feels like people must sit up till midnight to jump on it and book a site within minutes of it becoming available.
I'm getting more interested in dispersed camping as a result. Now that I'm a truck owner I'm discovering the added flexibility in all sorts of little areas ( eg tail gate = built in picnic bench ! )

 

[devildodge]

That stinks ! While I'm not impacted by that specific change ( I'm in Oregon ), in general, the the move to reservation only I find just takes the fun and spontaneity out of camping, it turns into an "online rat-race" to get a site. Mt Rainier National Park is one of our favorite spots to go and it so hard to grab a site there. They release them in blocks some months ahead and they just disappear overnight. It feels like people must sit up till midnight to jump on it and book a site within minutes of it becoming available.
I'm getting more interested in dispersed camping as a result. Now that I'm a truck owner I'm discovering the added flexibility in all sorts of little areas ( eg tail gate = built in picnic bench ! )

Allegheny National Forest here in Pennsylvania is still first come first serve for dispersed camping and are still free. Some of the campgrounds in the forest are fee based and a reservation though.

So we still got places to go.

And, actually, the new system will make a weekend trip easier to plan than the current setup...so there is good with the bad.

 

[devildodge]

And a truck is such a great platform

We Stayed right in the truck for a spontaneous weekend if sun set chasing ,night sky watching, sun rise waiting a few weeks ago.

What a great time.




It was clear skies for the sunset at another Vista. We watched the clouds roll in to block the sunrise...but still a beautiful place to wake up.

 

[Threesuns1]

Found a new interest from an old hobby.

On our trip to Fowler's Hollow (which isn't in Bald Eagle State Forest) I got interested in how you can backpack camp in State Forests.

Been to Bald Eagle State Forest numerous times. But just going to the different state parks.

Well, looking for places to get offroad in PA is hard, as most land is private or gamelands. All the private land seems to have been bought with free gates and posted signs and gamelands do not allow vehicles(except certain roads during hunting season).

So with this Google search

Google Search

I have begun a new plan for my trucks.

Anxious to hear if any one hear has been through here.

Have you tried the Pennsylvania Turn Pike? I've been on logging roads smoother than that highway.

 

[devildodge]

Got some new tires for Pennsylvania Forest Adventuring

 

[devildodge]

Went for some dirt road therapy this weekend.

Tried out a new app for hunting/outdoorsman and compared it to my other map app.

We also scouted for deer season and, although my phone sucks for pictures, found a big ole boy lurking just down the road from the game lands.

Really liking the new tires. We are getting our first winter weather today. Anxious to see how they work on slick roads. They have done well in a rainstorm, so I am confident.

 

[ayoslickxd]

i think imma need to just meet up with you and follow

 

[devildodge]

It is SNOWING!!!

Wish I had time to go to the forest. At elevation we might have a good bit.

 

[devildodge]

Did some dirt road therapy.

Boy was it foggy above 2000 ft.

Nothing better than a drive through the forest to brighten the day

 

[Jeffjad]

Did some dirt road therapy.

Boy was it foggy above 2000 ft.

Nothing better than a drive through the forest to brighten the dayView attachment 144756View attachment 144757View attachment 144758View attachment 144759View attachment 144760View attachment 144761View attachment 144762View attachment 144763

So jealous. I need some dirt road therapy myself lol.

 

[devildodge]

The gates are open for hunting. So, we headed out to adventure.

I love seeing the open gates

 

[JerryBsizzle]

Great weekend of dispersed camping in Kisatchie National Forest (Louisiana). Only a couple poser shots. My dads Rebel bonus pic.

 

[devildodge]

We spent the night in Moshannon. Snow coverage was very odd. Some places had 8 inches in one spot, then bare right ahead of it.

Was a great night of adventuring. Ran into an unmarked gate at the fire tower we wanted to watch sunset at...but we got there too late anyways.

We even had to clear some trees from the road. Interestingly, from recent trips to the forest, only one can was found.

PFA