RE: Please Help w/info on Canyon Country CG in PA.

[Cheryl]

 
We are making plans to camp in the Grand Canyon area of Pennsylvania in July and wonder if any one on the board has camped in the area. What CGs are recommended and what area attractions are " Must See" ? Any info will be much appreciated.
 Cheryl

[MTNDAVE]

 Cheryl
Howdy Cheryl,
 
 Well,  the PA grand Canyon is an favorite and annual visits to area for us.  We can t seem to get enough and tend to go twice a year to camp and do day trips too.  Already planning up this years trips.
 
 I could go on forever but to start I ll be brief and you are welcome to contact me directly for more detailed info, links and pictures.
 
 At the upper end of the Canyon are 2 State Parks and several private campgrounds.  Leonard Harrison & Colton Point State Parks.  Both are on the Upper Rim of the Canyon and offer outstanding views of the Canyon.  If I remember correctly Colton Point is dry camping only.  
 
 There are several hiking trail systems including a direct, but strenous climb down (and back up) to the canyon floor from Leonard Harrison side.  On the Colton Park side the Wesr Rim trail pass by the camp area and offers some great hiking and vistas.
 
 The Canyon floor area offers a very different world ad we are partial to being down there.  A premier Rails-to-Trails travels from Ansonia south to almost Jersey Shore.  Currently anout 50-60 miles.  Access is limited at the upper end but it s a great ride/walk in.  You will have to drive from your camp to get access to bike the trail.  The spring canoe/kayak/raft season is looking good too with all the snow we have had.  And if you fish, Pine Creek is famous.
 
 I have done and tired myself of the Upper Canyon/Rim/State Park thing.
 
 We now go to the lower/less deep end of the Canyon at Cedar Run.  We stay in a private campground that is right on the bike trail (only one with this kind of access) and on the Canyon floor.  We also can sit right in camp along Pine Creek and watch Bald Eagles and Osprey almost daily fish the creek.  They have resident Bald Eagles and the DW is a big birder.  Had the opportunity to participate in an Eagle release several years ago up there.
 
 I m an Explorer at heart and the Canyon area and vast surrounding State Forest area offers biking & hiking trails of all kinds, several Ghost towns and old Lumber/CCC camp areas, great fishing, lots of History and more.  Even have some Geocaching sites up that way.
 
 See, I told you I could go on & on.  Actually we are considering looking for a cabin in the area or maybe moving closer.  We used to live about an hour away and miss it.
 
 A WARNING *** Late June & July are traditionally " BLACK FLY  season and those critters have teeth and draw blood.  Ruined our last mid summer visit and now we go Spring and Fall.
 
 I ll sht up now so - Drop me a line and I ll get you some more info if you would like.
 
 
 
 

[MTNDAVE]

 Cheryl
I was at work earlier and could not access my PA Grand Canyon/Pine Creek list.
 Now that I m home here s my short list.  I hope the links show up all right.
 
 Pennsylvania Grand Canyon ? Favorite Helpful Links
 
 
 
 ** Leonard Harrison State Park (Upper Canyon ? Rim/East Side) The more popular side of the canyon and closest to Historic Wellsboro, PA.
 
 http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/leon.htm
 
 ** Colton Point State Park (Upper Canyon ? Rim/West Side) ? I think this is dry camping only.
 
 http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/colton.htm
 
 ** Canyon Country Campground (Upper Canyon on Rim) Private campground.  Not a favorite of mine but they have some good links.
 
 http://www.campinpa.com/
 
 ** Pettecote Junction Campground (Lower Canyon/creek side) Our current personal favorite.  Nice mix of seasonal and non-seasonal sites.  I would say the facilities rate towards average with some room for improvement.  The sites are roomy and the direct access to Pine Creek, Rails-to-Trails and ALL the State Forests have to offer, more than make up for any short comings.  Quiet, clean and reasonably priced and nice folks too.
 
 http://www.pettecotejunction.com/
 
 ** Tioga County (Lots of good links)
 
 http://www.visittiogapa.com/
 
 ** Pine Creek Outfitters (Good links & info in here too)
 
 http://www.pinecrk.com/
 
 ** Slate Run ? Gateway to a fisherman?s dream (Lower Canyon)
 
 http://www.slaterun.com/index.html
 
 
 
 

[Cheryl]

 Cheryl
Hi Dave,
 Thankyou so much for the info. Why is Canyon Country CG not one of your favorites? They are one of the only CGs I could find online that had full hookups.
 June and July are actually the only time we have to vacation but you ve said the black flies are bad so maybe we ll have to pick another location. Thanks again for the quick response.
 Cheryl

[MTNDAVE]

 Cheryl
Cheryl,
 
 Canyon Country is not that bad, I just personally found it a bit cramped for campsite size and a bit noisey.  
 
 The plus side is that they are close to the Rim and they have a fairly short connecting trail to Leonard Harrison SP and all their trails and Overlooks.
 
 Also there is a little Zoo just down the road from the campground (nice for the kiddies) and just up the road is a tall (110 ft.) steel observation tower that provides a birds eye view of the canyon.
 
 There are many other private campgrounds in the area but don t seem to advertise much.  In scouting around I found that most were primarily seasonal and not too convient to the Canyon.
 
 As for the Black Flies.  Sorry, I didn t mean to discourage you.  I just hate the buggers.
 
 Mostly it is a short hatch that is at the end of June / beginning of July and I think it s mostly down on the Canyon floor area near the water.  
 
 Don t get discouraged (especially on my account) as this is a GREAT vacation spot and the whole family will ENJOY and want to come back.

[Cheryl]

 Cheryl
Thankyou again Dave,
 I think you ve saved my sanity. I ve put in a lot of hours trying to find a nice place for our small group of friends to camp that would interest most in the group (most of us have college age kids so we can now vacation where we want to!) and didn t rellish starting over in another part of the country. We re looking predominately at the later part of July so hopefully the blackfly population will be at a minimum. Thanks for taking the time to help me out.
 Cheryl

[whitestar505]

 Cheryl
Doing some research on the parks there, they look very nice. Sure would like to hear back on your trip and camp grounds. You will be off the beatten path.