Members with information/experience/interest in Pennsylvania State Forests for off pavement travel/dispersed camping

[DevilDodge]

Off pavement travel/dispersed camping Rothrock and Bald Eagle State Forest in Pennsylvania.

Not going to be as spectacular as some, just a 2 day one night trip with my son.(age 7) Starting in Rothrock and headed to Bald Eagle where we we will spend the night. Vehicle will be a 2015 RAM 2500 Tradesman. Camping in a ground tent. Can not wait to go. Got the permit and the gas in the...

www.overlandbound.com

The thread for the trip.

All packed up.

 

[Ri_T_chie B]

Hey everyone, I randomly came across this forum. I’m also a philly guy and travel a bit outside the area.
always down for exploring and adventure. If anyone has a trip planned or planning one, I’d be sure to tag along if possible!!

 

[DevilDodge]

 

[DevilDodge]

Purple Lizard finished their new edition of the Moshannon/Quehanna map.

Just ordered mine. Can not wait for it to get here.

 

[DevilDodge]

Just got confirmation from Purple Lizard. Cooks Forest map will be done this fall. And they are actively doing a Tuscarora Forest map.
This is great news as these are also areas we frequent

 

[DevilDodge]

 

[DevilDodge]

State Gamelands are open from now til February

 

[Wawa Skittletits]

State Gamelands are open from now til February

To add detail to this..

State Game Lands

The Game Commission owns and manages nearly 1.5 million acres of state game lands throughout the Commonwealth.

www.pgc.pa.gov

and to remind which state forest roads are/will be open and for how long..

Roads Opened for Deer Season

 

[Girdurloins]

Wow, thanks for the forest road map status link! Now I don’t have to play Russian roulette. It never occurred to me there was a list somewhere.

 

[Shokgoblr]

State Gamelands are open from now til February

Some will stay open through Spring Turkey Season too. This is Guerilla Camping season ;)

 

[OverlandZJ]

View attachment 169011

I'll have to pick this up, i'd like to find some dispersed out by the Elk herd..

Son and i heading out tomorrow am. Unsure where i'll end up right now, probably outside Leetonia (Tioga) but but we need to find some better sites, hopefully on some type of water.

Considered BESF and #47 is available till friday.. maybe start there and then north.. i'v never visited BESF.

 

[DevilDodge]

There are dispersed sites down Medix Run up by Benezette. But the fisherman really like them. Some really good fishing there.

We were going that way this weekend to see the Elk...but now not sure what the plans are.

 

[OverlandZJ]

^ Thank You for that, i'll have to keep that in mind. We do fish the Pine Creek on occasion so it's of interest to us.

Looks like a Thursday am departure now..

 

[DevilDodge]

@OverlandZJ

 

[OverlandZJ]

Thanks @DevilDodge, my son and i left Wednesday am, ended up in Tioga SF for two nights. Then found a new site that we moved to on Friday, more scenic and open than most site's in the area that was just outside Tioga. Eagle nesting on the ridge and saw her fly a few times over the next two days. On a loop road so not much traffic..

Not a very good pic, the colors were more vibrant and just about to peak.

My son and his GF are looking to get out again soon, believe they will be going to check out the Medix Run sites you graciously shared.

 

[DevilDodge]

Awesome. I was thinking about driving up to Medix Run tonight...but it ia pouring rain and a heavy fog.

Awesome you got out and the Eagle kept watch.

Man I love Pennsylvania.

 

[DevilDodge]

So...we drove up last night. Spur of the moment on a whim.

Filled the truck up with gas at the Snappy's at the Bald eagle Exit of 99. I had .25 cents off a gallon.

30 gallons later we took off.

Headed up 350 to 53 in Phillipsburg. Then went left onto Deer Creek road in Morrisdale.

Followed that up to. Were we hit dirt road.

We then took Wilson Switch Road and followed it to Medix Run Grade. And of course...to my surprise...all the motorized camping sites were empty. Had I assumed that I could have got this trip on the road sooner and got good pics of them.

But it was dark as we drove by.

We then went into the town of Medix Run and then to Benezette and up to the viewing areas.

As we went out the forest roads we saw 62 or 64 deer...i counted 64 my son said 62 lol.

We got to see 2 Bull Elk. One in a farmer's field and one at the viewing area.

My darn cell phone would not take a clear pic.

The leaves are changing fast. Man do I love PA in the fall

 

[Shokgoblr]

I went out to Loyalsock for a quick overnight this past weekend. The weather was perfect- until 2am when a cloud sat on us and just made everything WET. We took our new kitten out for her first time.

 

[PennStateTaco]

Will be tracking this thread too. Awesome info being shared here by @DevilDodge

 

[DevilDodge]