Where to set up camp?

Jcbisho1

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Apr 26, 2025
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Morgantown, WV
Recently I've been fishing SWPA since I'm only an hour from the Yough drainage, but I'm in the process of planning a weekend camping trip and exploring some new water. I'd like to try some of the spring creeks around State College and Carlisle, but I'm open to fishing freestone creeks with wild fish as well. If you were going to take a weekend and go fish somewhere in late May or early June, where would you camp at? I'm looking for areas with decent water and public access, not streams or fishing spots
 
Bald Eagle State Park is a good suggestion. Plus, bring some tackle to catch some crappie for dinner. That lake is just filled with em.
 
Within the Bald Eagle State Forest (different from the state park) there are lots of campsites. The areas of Poe Paddy (great access to Penns Creek) and Poe Valley (at the lake) have the typical state campground features.

There are also many primative sites (with fire rings and picnic tables) between the Cherry Run parking area and Woodward. The stone roads are in very good shape, I drive them regulary in my car.
 
For solitude, beauty, good local ppl…..any camp site in north central PA… although I saw more front plates than usual when I was there couple weeks ago.
 
Within the Bald Eagle State Forest (different from the state park) there are lots of campsites. The areas of Poe Paddy (great access to Penns Creek) and Poe Valley (at the lake) have the typical state campground features.

There are also many primative sites (with fire rings and picnic tables) between the Cherry Run parking area and Woodward. The stone roads are in very good shape, I drive them regulary in my car.
WG, are these new --- or have they been there a while? i was on Woodward Gap rd to Cherry run rd parking lot couple weeks ago ( late April to early May ) and noticed them for the 1st time. maybe since the trees were not as leafed out as my normal late may trips - i was able to see them this time. They were very nice big camp sites -- and agree, the gravel road was in great shape. its very remote and beautiful in there
 
WG, are these new --- or have they been there a while? i was on Woodward Gap rd to Cherry run rd parking lot couple weeks ago ( late April to early May ) and noticed them for the 1st time. maybe since the trees were not as leafed out as my normal late may trips - i was able to see them this time. They were very nice big camp sites -- and agree, the gravel road was in great shape. its very remote and beautiful in there
Nope, there for many years. In addition to the ones on the "main" road, there are lots of sites off of Old Mingle, Lick Hollow and Paddy Mountain Roads.

 
Well, NC PA is gorgeous, and lots of smaller water that fishes year round. The bigger water gets warm.

For late May/June, central PA's limestoners are a great bet, but largely a dawn and dusk game at that time a year, unless you get cloudy/drizzly weather. I do mean real early/late, for those who haven't done it just how late in the evening things really get going is a surprise to many. On a sunny day its often 10 minutes till too dark to see, and things are wild for 10-20 minutes.
 
WG, are these new --- or have they been there a while? i was on Woodward Gap rd to Cherry run rd parking lot couple weeks ago ( late April to early May ) and noticed them for the 1st time. maybe since the trees were not as leafed out as my normal late may trips - i was able to see them this time. They were very nice big camp sites -- and agree, the gravel road was in great shape. its very remote and beautiful in there
Since they started charging fees for the disbursed sites they put up all new shiny signs for the sites. I'm more than happy to pay for these sites though. They are nice and sure beat loud and crowded campgrounds.

I do seem to see more of them now too. They could have created more sites
 
Nope, there for many years. In addition to the ones on the "main" road, there are lots of sites off of Old Mingle, Lick Hollow and Paddy Mountain Roads.

I stayed at one at the top of Old Mingle last fall. It was a great site but the "road" getting up to it was pretty rough. I was in my 4Runner so I didn't have any issues but I definitely would not recommend taking a Honda Civic or anything without some beefier tires up there
 
All the advice posted so far relates to Centre County, which is where you'll have access to Penns, Spring Creek (including Fisherman's Paradise), Little Juniata, and Big Fishing Creek. Beware: Pennsylvania has about a million Fishing Creeks and nearly as many Spring Creeks, so make sure you have solid directions to the places you want to go.

I'll offer that if you want to fish Letort Spring Run, Big Spring, Yellow Breeches Creek, Falling Springs and other streams that form the core of the Limestone Legends book, a good jumping off point is Pine Grove Furnace State Park. It's on a reasonably good wild trout stream, Mountain Creek (another ubiquitous stream name), and within a few minutes of Big Spring, Breeches and Letort, and a little longer to Falling Springs.

Strictly speaking, I'd divide it into two separate trips: South Central and Center County. Letort, et al., are easily two hours from Centre County. If you're going in May or early June, hit Centre County. Any later and the big creeks (notably Penns) get a bit warm. Late June or later, I'd go with South Central.

You'll note most of the guys are focused on Centre in their comments, and for good reason: the fishing, and the outdoors experience in that territory are both better. South Central is solid fishing, but super crowded, and there's a lot of stockers (except in the Letort). It's well worth doing, though, because of the area's relationship to the history of fly fishing (probably second only to the Catskills).

Letort is almost exclusively wild brown trout and it flows through a fairly urban - suburban watershed. A great stream, but do not expect seclusion or a great outdoors experience.

Falling Springs is similar, though a bit more rural. It has wild rainbows and wild browns, and the open water in the lower reaches is heavily stocked.

Big Spring has wild brook, brown and rainbow (though not necessarily in the same sections), and flows through a largely rural - agricultural territory in the upper section, and a more small town urban setting in the lower (brown trout) area.

Yellow Breeches has a lot of wild browns, but you'll need to avoid the fly section if that's what you're after. It is among the most heavily stocked streams in the state, so no matter where you go, you're probably going to hit a mix of stocked and wild fish.

They're both good choices for extended trips. Regardless, enjoy yourself!
 
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