Trip Advice - State Parks within Bald Eagle State Forest (PA)

**n8jones418** · 08-08-2018, 03:32

I’m doing some light planning for a Labor Day weekend trip to the Bald Eagle State Forest area of PA, and could use some help from people who have been there.

Poe Paddy State Park
Reed Gap State Park
Poe Valley State Park
Bald Eagle State Park

I plan to base camp in one of the above State Parks, with a preference given to the smaller two (Reed Gap and Poe Paddy). During the day we will do some road/gravel bicycle riding, maybe some mountain biking, and some day hikes.

Questions:
1. Does anyone have experience hanging in these places? Is the tree situation good for 1-2 hammocks?
2. Does anyone have any preference or a favorite park of those listed?
3. Any specific campsites you’d recommend?
4. Any other campgrounds you’d recommend as well?

Thanks all, I’m trying to do as much recon as I can before the weekend, but the PA State Park pages and tiny pictures only help so much.

**n8jones418** · 08-09-2018, 03:22

Bumping this up, as I could use the help. Anyone have experience staying in any of the referenced parks? I see they are near the Midstate Trail.

**n8jones418** · 08-15-2018, 08:08

Last bump and then I'll go look elsewhere

I guess no one camps in the Bald Eagle State Forest...

**Pennsy Camp and Canoe** · 08-15-2018, 10:43

sorry, I'm closer to the Allegheny National Forest, where I can camp for free with little regulation, I don't get to the State forests. Please follow up with what you find, I'd be interested in trying them and would appreciate your experience.

**n8jones418** · 08-15-2018, 10:53

Originally Posted by Pennsy Camp and Canoe

sorry, I'm closer to the Allegheny National Forest, where I can camp for free with little regulation, I don't get to the State forests. Please follow up with what you find, I'd be interested in trying them and would appreciate your experience.

Will do, we have the weekend booked (Camping in a State Park, but will spend time in the State Forest)

**JeepinPete** · 08-21-2018, 19:21

Sorry I didn't see this earlier. My family went camping at Reed's Gap in April. Nice quiet little campground, plenty of trees for hanging. Avoid sites 1,2, and 3, they are on top of one another. The other sites are well spread out.

There is a creek than runs through the campground, some decent trout fishing ealier in the year. Not sure whether it hold them year round or not.

Pete

**JeepinPete** · 08-21-2018, 19:22

And BTW, also from Q-town...

Pete

**KBr00ks** · 08-21-2018, 22:50

I have done a fair amount of mountain biking there -- it's tough but awesome. MTB Project has good info on trail choices: https://www.mtbproject.com/directory...e-state-forest
There are a lot of gravel/dirt roads, too.

As far as camping there, I never have, but would love to. Seems to be plenty of tree choices in general, but then again I haven't scoped out the official campsites.

Let us know how it goes!

**n8jones418** · 08-22-2018, 03:24

I appreciate the responses from everyone!

We plan to base-camp at Poe Paddy State Park, because it was more central to the biking roures I mapped out. I will report back fully after Labor Day.

JeepinPete - I thought Reeds Gap looked like a good place, but it was just a bit too far away from the planned activities. I will keep it in mind for future trips (when camping and fishing are the only things on the agenda). Thanks for the recommendations on specific camp sites, you know how hard it is to pick a site based on tiny pictures...