Solo camping advice

R

RH1

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My apologizes in advance if im posting in the wrong place.
I really want to do a solo camping and fishing trip into the PA mountains but not sure where to begin planning this. I only know the area where we set up for short bow hunts in the mountains around Ridgeway but cannot remember anywhere up there that had streams. I would like to go for a couple nights where I can fly fish, catch some trout and enjoy some alone time. I would really like to be remote, throw up a small tent and enjoy the outdoors. Can anyone offer me some tips, locations or advice for this?
thanks in advance guys!
Ron
 
There are plenty of places in ncpa to hike in somewhere a few miles, set up camp and fish.
 
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The Hammersley Wild Area is truly a spectacular place, but my best advice would be to have somebody join you if you're going to camp up in there. It really is in the middle of nowhere, and if you got hurt, not having someone to help you could end badly.

I'm being somewhat hypocritical, because I have fished the Hammersley solo many times when I was younger and dumber, but never camped alone there. Too many things could potentially go wrong. A fall, a snake bite, broken leg/ankle, ect. There are a lot of bears in that region too, but they pose almost no threat at all. Just take a partner and you'll have a trip to remember.
 
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RH1 said:
Thanks, I'm trying to narrow it down to a few places so that I can begin planning
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Well pick a state forest out of Tiadaghton, sproul and susquehannock. Use the pfbc streams map to filter class a and wilderness streams. Find an area to hike to and set up camp where you can fish for a day or 2. Unless you pick more of a mediumish maimstream, you will probably want to pick one that has fishable tributaries.

Feel free to use other resources like dcnr maps. There are some that show gated roads and generally when they open. Several streams have roads along them that are rarely open and would provide a good option for you.
 
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lycoflyfisher said:
Well pick a state forest out of Tiadaghton, sproul and susquehannock. Use the pfbc streams map to filter class a and wilderness streams. Find an area to hike to and set up camp where you can fish for a day or 2. Unless you pick more of a mediumish maimstream, you will probably want to pick one that has fishable tributaries.

Feel free to use other resources like dcbr maps. There are some that show gated roads and generally when they open. Several streams have roads along them that are rarely open and would provide a good option for you.
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Yep, I'd be looking for a second (or third) order stream with natural reproduction on a large tract of state or national forest. You're not likely to get a lot of specific locations or stream names here. But you should be able to select a good spot using the suggested method.

Screenshot_20260402-070936.png
 
lycoflyfisher said:
Well pick a state forest out of Tiadaghton, sproul and susquehannock. Use the pfbc streams map to filter class a and wilderness streams. Find an area to hike to and set up camp where you can fish for a day or 2. Unless you pick more of a mediumish maimstream, you will probably want to pick one that has fishable tributaries.

Feel free to use other resources like dcbr maps. There are some that show gated roads and generally when they open. Several streams have roads along them that are rarely open and would provide a good option for you.
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This is awesome advice! Thank you sir I appreciate it
 
Are you looking to car camp and use that as a base or backpack? Either way, NC PA has plenty of places to do both.

For a number of years, I car camped along Kinzua Creek in ANF, during opening day week and fished that and surrounding streams.

I also maintain a stretch of trail in the HWA, so I'll be on the lookout for you if you go solo. It is remote, there are definitely rattlesnakes but I maintain trail solo most of the time - chainsaw, Rogue Hoe, brushcutter, machete, so one can visit there solo and return, most of the time
🙂
 
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Just look at state forest maps. Purple Lizards are great if they have the area you're looking for. If you want the remote experience, NC PA is where you're going to want to go. Figuring this out won't be hard. Follow trails like the Susquehannock, Donut Hole, etc, and you'll find places. I've done lots and lots of backpacking and camping, and I know others on PAFF have, too.

There is a lot of public land in PA, and you've got lots of options.
 
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salmonoid said:
Are you looking to car camp and use that as a base or backpack? Either way, NC PA has plenty of places to do both.

For a number of years, I car camped along Kinzua Creek in ANF, during opening day week and fished that and surrounding streams.

I also maintain a stretch of trail in the HWA, so I'll be on the lookout for you if you go solo. It is remote, there are definitely rattlesnakes but I maintain trail solo most of the time - chainsaw, Rogue Hoe, brushcutter, machete, so one can visit there solo and return, most of the time
🙂
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Im open to either. My plan was to make a short hike in ( maybe a mile or so ) and set up camp. But if I found the right spot to car camp away from others that would be great also
 
salmonoid said:
Are you looking to car camp and use that as a base or backpack? Either way, NC PA has plenty of places to do both.

For a number of years, I car camped along Kinzua Creek in ANF, during opening day week and fished that and surrounding streams.

I also maintain a stretch of trail in the HWA, so I'll be on the lookout for you if you go solo. It is remote, there are definitely rattlesnakes but I maintain trail solo most of the time - chainsaw, Rogue Hoe, brushcutter, machete, so one can visit there solo and return, most of the time
🙂
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👍 I bet you didn’t fish in Kinzua Creek down near its mouth though. The fishing in the creek used to be pretty good there. 😃
 
Also consider checking out nearby SGLs for places to fish off the beaten path up there.

I think many of the SGL roads will be opened for spring gobbler season soon, til sometime in May. Those open roads might cut some travel time to some great fishing holes. Make sure to check the SGL GIS site to check on a particular area on when the roads are open there. Be aware of the turkey hunters if you are out during that time; also the SGL 'roads' vary, some are just two tracks and pretty rough!

Joe
 
Just note that legally you are not allowed to camp on State Game Lands. You can fish, hike and walk through, but camping is not permitted. I have camped on SGLs before during backpacking trips, however, but that was in a very minimalistic way. Hang my hammock, zero fire, sleep, get up, and leave. I left zero signs of there being a campsite.
 
mt_flyfisher said:
👍 I bet you didn’t fish in Kinzua Creek down near its mouth though. The fishing in the creek used to be pretty good there. 😃
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A number of the past years in the fall, with water being really low in the reservoir, you could almost fish it at the mouth!
 
jifigz said:
Just note that legally you are not allowed to camp on State Game Lands. You can fish, hike and walk through, but camping is not permitted. I have camped on SGLs before during backpacking trips, however, but that was in a very minimalistic way. Hang my hammock, zero fire, sleep, get up, and leave. I left zero signs of there being a campsite.
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Unless you're an AT thruhiker, then SGL camping is permitted; ergo, become a permanent AT thruhiker? But that kind of limits the streams you can fish. Stealth camped once on a SGL, large group, we definitely left a trace and had a fire. We were out of options and ran out of daylight.
 
salmonoid said:
Unless you're an AT thruhiker, then SGL camping is permitted; ergo, become a permanent AT thruhiker? But that kind of limits the streams you can fish. Stealth camped once on a SGL, large group, we definitely left a trace and had a fire. We were out of options and ran out of daylight.
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Yeah, it happens. Chances of getting in trouble are virtually nil, and I don't think it's a huge deal if done responsibly, but ....
 
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