PA State Campgrounds - Hawk Mountain

[hacrowder]

Having newly purchased an '02 Bayside, we are looking for a place to camp in the Hawk Mountain area for the fall migration.  If anyone could offer some opinions on the different state (and private) campgrounds, that would be great.

Having previously been limited to tent camping, we have grown accustom to State Campgrounds (mostly in NY).  Wooded, and not densely populated, usually with some type of stream, river, or lake to do some exploring.

Thanks in advance.

[Jim K in PA]

Hello hacrowder, and welcome to the forum!  I am a relative newbie here, but have learned a lot from the great folks here.  Post some pictures of your new acquisition when you get a chance.

Although we live in PA, I can't help you with Hawk Mountain references, but I look forward to hearing what others might have to say.  We want to camp there too.  We drove through there not long ago.

We are heading out to Hickory Run over the Columbus Day weekend.

BTW, I drive through Great Meadows on my way to Hackettstown every day.  Great little valley.  Love the sod farms.

Have fun with your NTU PUP!

[goforit75]

Do a web search for the following:  Allentown KOA, Blue Rocks Campground, Mountian Springs Campground, Robin Hill.  One of these should fit the bill.

Rich

[cmack98]

I have stayed at Blue Rocks Campground for years....

We thought it was the best campground ever, but we just started going to other places and realize that it's not all its cracked up to be (Blue Rocks).  Not to totally diss the campground, but the shower facilities could use an update.  Thats our only complaint and we are going back there in October.  We usually only tented there, so this will be our first trip with the Pop Up.  

The thing with Blue Rocks is that its kinda right next to Hawk Mountain.  Blue Rocks has two hiking trails (the place really does cater to the tenter/hiker).  The Pinnacle and the Pulpit trails.  The Pinnacle trail is an easy/moderate hiking trail (I am 6ft tall and 300lbs and I can do the trail).  It ends up at a cliff up top.  Its amazing because you just sit up there and watch the numerous hawks just gliding with their wings open riding the wind drafts.

Plus blue rocks has a cool boulder field that is HUGE.....You can hear a river running underneath the rocks....

Blue Rocks is also right down the street from Cabelas store, its like 20 minutes away from Crystal Cave (if that).   Supposedly it's not far from Pottsville so you can tour the Yuengling Brewery also.

We like it there, but our only complaint is that the shower facilities aren't the nicest around.  You gotta pay like a quarter for 7 minutes (not bad).  But it's not as nice as some of the recent campgrounds we have visited.

We aren't keeping that from stopping us of going back, and hopefully you won't either.  

Even though they cater to tenters/hikers, I don't think you will have any problems with a pop up camper (big fifth wheels might have a problem navigating the CG, as it is an EXTREMELY WOODED SETTING, with some steep grades througout the CG.)

If I had some pictures I would share, however check out their website:

//www.bluerockscampground.com

Hope that kinda sorta helps....

[daldricht]

I noticed you have a Jeep Rubicon and wanted to know if you are able to haul your Viking - or do you use the Hemi?
I am thinking about buying a Jeep Wrangler and we have a 2002 Coleman Niagara Popup and have been told we would not be able to haul the popup behind it. We have the Ford 150 that is being used but was just curious if we could use either?
Thanks. Dave

[daldricht]

I just re-read one of the stories about various camp grounds and noticed there is nothing to tell any one where the camping area is located. Then I saw Pottsville - which would indicate the camping area on the eastern side of PA? If you think of it maybe we can all indicate a location - like western region, central, etc. We are very new to roaming around PA campgrounds and have no idea where most towns are.
We just visited a place called Sills Campground, Mohnton, PA - near Reading - and my first impression was the sites are way too close. With only a popup, parked between two massive RV's, we felt like we had New York skyscrapers on either side of us. It was not until mid-day Sunday when the RV's on either side of us packed and left that we saw what the rest of the campground looked like.
They do have cable and WiFi, bathrooms have been redone so they are clean but old, under new management and they are all very helpful. Great for families - seemed like lots for kids to do. The general store had a little of everything!

If you ever want to see "WONDERFUL" bathrooms, go to Gettysburg - Drummer Boy. The bathroom buildings contain a sink, toilet and shower unit all in one room and there were 6 of these bath units - and plenty of room to get dressed with wetting your socks.
The campground itself is close to a highway and we were there before the leaves had opened, but during tree season, the sound would be quieter. Spaces between some sites have large rock formations allowing you privacy from the next camping site - except for the kids climbing on them!

[cmack98]

Yeah I hear ya about not knowing where in the state of PA these campgrounds are...

I try to usually throw a link for the CG's website (if available) in my posts so that someone could click on it and get area info and all that....

We plan on hitting Gettysburg within the next few years (we have 18 month old boys, wanna wait till they get a little bit older until we go there).  Will check out the Drummer Boy place though.

Like I said, we loved Blue Rocks, and will continue to go back.  In speaking with the wife about upcoming camping trips, she just mentions that she wishes Blue Rocks had nicer bathrooms like the other CG's we've been to.

[hacrowder]

Thank you to those that have replied with suggestions.

I'm still interested in getting opinions/reviews on the PA State Campgrounds. I'm really interested in the actual peoples reviews/opinions (i.e. not what the websites themselves claim). If you've stayed at any of these, please let me know what you thought of it. (such as the information posted about Blue Rocks - which I was thinking about going to).

Also, do you find it necessary at this time of year to make a reservation? Or can you get sites rather easily?

The area that I'm talking about is Eastern PA, around the Hamburg area.

Oh yea, one more thing on the Blue Rocks.  Any sites in particular that you would suggest?

[cmack98]

I always made reservations when we went to Blue Rocks, because I knew what tent sites i specifically wanted....

So, if you were tent camping, I could help you out on some good sites....Pop Up wise, I have no clue where the best ones would be....We might be heading up there in October, not sure yet.  Until then, I won't have a clue what might be good....

[Jim K in PA]

I noticed you have a Jeep Rubicon and wanted to know if you are able to haul your Viking - or do you use the Hemi?
I am thinking about buying a Jeep Wrangler and we have a 2002 Coleman Niagara Popup and have been told we would not be able to haul the popup behind it. We have the Ford 150 that is being used but was just curious if we could use either?
Thanks. Dave

Hi Dave,

We used the Rubicon to tow a 1997 Dutchmen 1203 down to Camp Jeep this year.  It towed fine, but there are a couple of key reasons why.

First, ours is the Unlimited, which is the long wheel base model.  I am not sure what year or model Wrangler you are thinking of, but the only one that can tow more than 1500# is the Unlimited.  The longer wheelbase allows you to tow up to 3500#, but I have no intention of towing that much.  

Second, our Viking has a dry weight of about 1980# (with the A/C) and a max GVWR of 2700#.  That is well within the Unlimited's capacity and my comfort level.  I do not know what the weight of your Niagara is, but make sure it is well within the max towing limit of the Jeep.

We do intend to tow with both Jeeps, but we specifically shopped for a PUP that weighed within the the Rubicon's limits, since we go on wheeling trips where camping is part of the fun.

Hope this helps.

[hacrowder]

We went to Blue Rocks campground this past weekend.  I must say, that I was a bit disappointed.  I'm sure that it's partially my fault, but when I pulled in there, it was everything that I expected from a private campground, it had the appearance of being very busy (that doesn't mean just in people).  The staff were very friendly, but the recommended campsite, was very disappointing.  It was basically like a pull off on the main campground road.  Cars and people walking by all day/night.  It was very hilly (I had to find boulders to put under the jacks).  The water didn't work (well it worked, but the spout was leaking, so I didn't even turn it on), and the price was outrageous ($38), and on top of that, because of the wood advisory, I figured I'd buy it at the campground.  It was all kindling, and there wasn't really any meaty pieces to keep the fire going.  We made the best of it anyway.  
I was very impressed by the boulder field, unfortunately, it's not the best area for young children (that can't walk on those boulders).  The proximity to Hawk Mountain was nice, we were able to hike there both days, as the hike on the "Pulpit" trail was littered with the same boulders that made it difficult for younger children.
I think that if I were to return, I would drive around and look for a better spot rather then take their recommendation, and I would probably choose a site without the electric & water, as those were definitely the nicest sites.
If your looking for a place that is very tranquil, I don't think this is the place.  If you want amenities, and don't mind being too close to your neighbor, then I'd say it's a perfectly good place, that offers a lot of exploring, and good location.

[wavemaker]

I used to go to mtn. springs years ago... im talking about 30 years ago, when my dad took us. im even suprised to see it in here... it used to be realy fun for kids, i can remember the rodeos being there.. they were alot of fun...
i can also remember going to ringing rocks, im gonna have to look it up on the net...

[goforit75]

I used to go to mtn. springs years ago... im talking about 30 years ago, when my dad took us. im even suprised to see it in here... it used to be realy fun for kids, i can remember the rodeos being there.. they were alot of fun...
i can also remember going to ringing rocks, im gonna have to look it up on the net...

wavemaker,

I to used to camp at Mtn. Springs...and remember both the rodeo and the demolition derby,  by the way they still have the rodeo two or three times a year.