Please be considerate of those who will use this state park after you. To help ensure your safety and pleasure, please observe the rules and regulations, which are applicable to state parks, environmental education centers, state park preserves, conservation areas, and natural areas, and waters under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks.
Rules and regulations are posted at park offices, campgrounds, and cabin areas as well as other selected locations and must be observed by all guests and their visitors.
Pets: Pets are welcome at certain state parks and must be leashed or in a cage or crate. Pets must be attended and under the physical control of the owner at all times. Pets are not permitted in swimming areas, inside buildings, in camping areas other than designated campsites and overnight areas like cabins and group tenting areas, or in any area designated as an area closed to pets. Owners should clean up after their pets.
There are special regulations and exceptions for dogs being used by a person engaged in hunting or dog training and guide dogs.
Alcohol: Possessing, selling, or consuming alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
Campfires: Fires are only permitted in fire rings and grills and must be extinguished when unattended.
Weapons: Possessing an uncased device, or uncasing a device, including a firearm, archery equipment or slingshot, that is capable of discharging or propelling a projectile is prohibited. Such items may be present only when cased and in the owner's vehicle or trailer with proper permits/licensing to carry.
Hunting: Prohibited except for the following: the activity takes place during a hunting season as established by the PA Game Commission; in an area designated for hunting; and the person engaging in the activity is licensed by the Game Commission to hunt and is engaged in hunting in accordance with the Game and Wildlife Code.
Swimming: Weather permitting, swimming is available in state parks that have beaches and pools from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. When lifeguards are unavailable at beaches, open swimming is in effect at some parks with beaches for those who wish to swim at their own risk only at beaches that are posted for open swimming. Some parks extend the open swim season through September.
Collecting: The following activities are prohibited: cutting, picking, digging, damaging or removing, in whole or in part, a living or dead tree, shrub or plant; damaging, defacing, cutting or removing rock, shale, sand, clay, soil or other mineral product, natural object or material; and removing or disturbing an historical or archeological artifact, relic or object. The following activities are permitted: gathering edible fruits, nuts, berries and fungi, in reasonable amounts, for one's own personal or family consumption (this does not apply to wild plants listed as threatened, endangered, rare or vulnerable); and gathering dead and down wood for use within the state park in a fireplace, grill, stove or other facility designated for campfires.
Motor Vehicles: Park roads are public roads. All vehicles are subject to license and safety requirements and regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. ATVs are not permitted in PA State Parks.
Noise Levels: Please be considerate of guests who are visiting state parks for a quiet, natural experience. You cannot disturb the sleep of others between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. In addition, excessive noises that are likely to annoy or disturb people are prohibited.
Visitors in Overnight Areas: Visitors are welcome from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Cancellation/Transfer Policy (Applies to all Reservable Facilities) Changes to an online reservation must be made by calling the Pennsylvania State Parks Reservation Center at 1-888-PA-PARKS (1-888-727-2757) (Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time). Cancellations can be handled via the internet under My Account or by calling the call center. Cancellations made up to close of business 7 days prior to your scheduled arrival date will incur a $10 cancellation fee. If you cancel 6 days or less prior to the arrival date, you will forfeit the first night’s fee or $75, whichever is the lesser amount. There is a $10 fee assessed for all changes made to your reservation, except adding nights to the reservation. Changes to a reservation can be made at the call center, but not via the Internet. Any cancellation or change on the day of arrival must be made through the state park that you have the reservation with.
Things to Know about Camping
Minimum Stay: A two-night minimum stay is required for Saturday night reservations. Customer reservations for a Saturday night must also include a Friday or Sunday night. Campers may stay in a state park campground for up to 14 consecutive nights from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During the remainder of the year, you may camp for 21 consecutive days at selected campgrounds. After camping the maximum limit, camping equipment must be removed and not returned for 48 hours.
Occupancy: Site occupancy is limited to one family unit (persons living under one household) or one non-family unit limited to five persons per site, including one responsible individual 18 years of age or older.
Check-In: Check-in time is 3 p.m. on the first day of the rental period.
Check-Out: Checkout time is 3 p.m. on your scheduled day of departure.
Hook-ups and Amenities: All sites have a grill and a picnic table. Some sites offer electrical hook ups, ranging from 20 amps up to 50 amps. Modern campgrounds have comfort stations with hot showers, flush toilets and electrical outlets that are conveniently located. Rustic campgrounds typically have vault toilets and no showers. Most campgrounds have dump stations that are available for customer use during their stay.
Visitors: Visitors are welcome from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Pets: Pennsylvania State Parks allows up to two pets in designated campsites within 25 state park campgrounds. Other state parks will continue to prohibit pets in overnight areas. Specific pet camping guidelines govern this program and can be found on the www.visitPAparks.com.
Campgrounds Allowing Pets : There is a $2 charge per night for one or two pets. This fee will be used to cover the added maintenance and program costs at participating parks. No more than two non-caged pets are allowed to stay on any one campsite. Pets are permitted in the designated walking areas and the area behind the owner’s campsite. Pets are not permitted in the swimming areas, inside buildings, or in non-pet designated areas of the campground. They must be on a leash or in a cage and no more than 2 pets per campsite. Pets cannot be left unattended unless secured in the camper’s sleeping unit. The pet must display a license, if required by the home state, and have a current rabies vaccination. You may be asked to show proof of these to park personnel, such as papers and tags.
Things to Know about Camping Cottages
Minimum Stay: A two-night minimum stay is required with advance reservations. If customers shorten their reservation upon arrival to one night the second night will not be refunded. However, some state parks may accept walk-ins for one night.
Occupancy: Customers may stay in a state park camping cottage for up to 14 consecutive nights from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During the remainder of the year customers may stay for 21 consecutive days. After staying the maximum limit, customers must vacate the camping cottage and not return for 48 hours.
Check-In: Check-in on arrival day is 3 p. m.
Check-Out: On departure day, check out is required no later than 10 a.m. A late fee may be charged after 10 a.m. unless the Park Manager grants a checkout extension.
Furnishings: Camping cottages have wooden walls and floors, windows, electric lights and outlets, and a porch. There are no appliances or bathrooms inside. Camping cottages may or may not be located within the campground. Restrooms and showers are nearby.
Pets: Pets are not permitted in camping cottages.
Things to Know about Cabins and Yurts
Minimum Stay: The summer season rental period begins the second Friday in June to the day before the third Friday in August. During this time all cabins must be rented for a one-week period (7 days), with the arrival day being a Friday. All other cabin rental periods are considered off-season and cabins may be rented for a minimum of two (2) days, up to a maximum of 14 consecutive days.
Restrictions: With each phone call, customers can reserve an unlimited number of cabins as long as they have all of the information for each cabin reservation. One person cannot use the same name to reserve more than one cabin for the same date. The following information is required for each reservation: name, phone number, address, number of people and check-in and checkout date.
Occupancy: Cabin occupancy is limited to one family unit (persons living under one household) or one non-family unit limited to the number of beds in that cabin, including one responsible individual 18 years of age or older.
Furnishings: Cabins have minimal furnishings. Please bring bed linens, towels, dishes, pots, pans, dinnerware, a first aid kit and an ax for splitting wood. Those staying in rustic cabins also need to bring a container to carry water into the cabin. There are a few one of kind cabins that have additional items and are noted under the site description when selecting that cabin.
Modern cabin offers carpeting, electric heat, bedrooms, living room/dining room, bathroom and kitchen. The rustic cabins do not have indoor plumbing, but feature a refrigerator; fireplace, wood stove or gas heater for heat; and gas or electric kitchen stove.
Pets: Pets are not permitted in cabins or yurts.
Things to Know about Pavilions and Picnic Groves
Occupancy: Customers are not restricted to the seating capacity for each pavilion. However, no additional accommodations will be made to seat people beyond what the capacity is designated.
Check In: Pavilions and picnic groves are open from sunrise or when the gates open, until sunset.
Things to Know about Accessibility
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is committed to making facilities and programs accessible to everyone. Most of the reservable facilities have sites that meet the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards
Most campgrounds have campsites that offer significant accessibility, but do not comply with ADA standards. Contact the park office directly to see if the Bureau of State Parks can meet your needs.
If you need an accommodations to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks: 888-PA-PARKS (voice) 888-537-7294 (TTY) 711 (AT&T Relay Services
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