ftwildernessguy
<font color=green>I have a linen closet at home fu
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2003
- Messages
- 6,586
FWGirl, Mickey the Wonder Beagle and I just returned from a long weekend at Hickory Run State Park in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. This was a first in many ways - the first camping trip in the new Outback, our first camping trip at Hickory Run, and our first camping trip in a PA state park.
For those who have never visited PA, it is a large state covered by low mountains and lots of forests. A playground for outdoors types. I have always been somewhat reluctant, however, to try state park camping. I've heard all kinds of bad reports - noisy, crowded, poor facilities, etc. For the shakedown cruise, however, I opted for a long weekend at a recommended park about an hour from our abode. I chose this weekend since it was before memorial day, and I figured most people would be going next weekend and avoid this one. I made reservations for 3 nights at a total cost of 87 bucks! Wow. The bad side - no water or sewer hookups. But since we were interested in testing the new trailer out, I wanted to use the holding tanks anyway.
Pennsylvania is trying to convert most of its government services to online, and the state park reservation system is no exception. I really think Disney could learn a few things about this. It's painless and quick. After inputing some info re. the size of trailer and needs, you are offered a map of campsites and a list of availble sites that meet your needs. In other words, you pick your site and print out your reservation with the actual site number assigned. Sweet. I needed a pet site with 30 amp service for a 30 foot trailer and got site 217.
The campground was great! Wooded, level sites, large sites...the only drawback was the age of the campground making sites somewhat tight to get into. I managed the Outback okay, but I saw some guys with larger units circling the place trying to find a site that would work for them. This is not a campground for the big boys, and I only saw 2 small Class A's the whole weekend. In fact, our 210rs was one of the larger trailers in the place. Most campers were popups or tenters, with a few hardsides and a couple hybrids, maybe 3 Class C's and a couple A's. I only saw one fiver - a small older one driven by a small old guy.
Here are some pictures:
The comfort station was pretty clean, with actual hot showers. I have spent a lot more for a campground with much worse facilities.
Campers were quiet, considerate. The pet owners were actually good about cleaning up after their pets! Amazing. PA has just started allowing pets in campgrounds over the last few years, so maybe word just hasn't gotten around yet, but I didn't see any leavings in the pet loop at all. You are allowed to take your dog anyplace except swimming areas as long as they are on a leash.
Bears are frequent visitors, but we didn't see any - much to my disappointment but FWGirl's joy. She walked around with a bear bell on most of the time.
Weather was good, food was good, read a lot, napped some, took the beagle on a lot of walks. Good trip overall. I would recommend this campground if you are interested in spending a little time in the Pocono region of PA.
Oh, here is a picture of me at the campground:
For those who have never visited PA, it is a large state covered by low mountains and lots of forests. A playground for outdoors types. I have always been somewhat reluctant, however, to try state park camping. I've heard all kinds of bad reports - noisy, crowded, poor facilities, etc. For the shakedown cruise, however, I opted for a long weekend at a recommended park about an hour from our abode. I chose this weekend since it was before memorial day, and I figured most people would be going next weekend and avoid this one. I made reservations for 3 nights at a total cost of 87 bucks! Wow. The bad side - no water or sewer hookups. But since we were interested in testing the new trailer out, I wanted to use the holding tanks anyway.
Pennsylvania is trying to convert most of its government services to online, and the state park reservation system is no exception. I really think Disney could learn a few things about this. It's painless and quick. After inputing some info re. the size of trailer and needs, you are offered a map of campsites and a list of availble sites that meet your needs. In other words, you pick your site and print out your reservation with the actual site number assigned. Sweet. I needed a pet site with 30 amp service for a 30 foot trailer and got site 217.
The campground was great! Wooded, level sites, large sites...the only drawback was the age of the campground making sites somewhat tight to get into. I managed the Outback okay, but I saw some guys with larger units circling the place trying to find a site that would work for them. This is not a campground for the big boys, and I only saw 2 small Class A's the whole weekend. In fact, our 210rs was one of the larger trailers in the place. Most campers were popups or tenters, with a few hardsides and a couple hybrids, maybe 3 Class C's and a couple A's. I only saw one fiver - a small older one driven by a small old guy.
Here are some pictures:
The comfort station was pretty clean, with actual hot showers. I have spent a lot more for a campground with much worse facilities.
Campers were quiet, considerate. The pet owners were actually good about cleaning up after their pets! Amazing. PA has just started allowing pets in campgrounds over the last few years, so maybe word just hasn't gotten around yet, but I didn't see any leavings in the pet loop at all. You are allowed to take your dog anyplace except swimming areas as long as they are on a leash.
Bears are frequent visitors, but we didn't see any - much to my disappointment but FWGirl's joy. She walked around with a bear bell on most of the time.
Weather was good, food was good, read a lot, napped some, took the beagle on a lot of walks. Good trip overall. I would recommend this campground if you are interested in spending a little time in the Pocono region of PA.
Oh, here is a picture of me at the campground:
and from I can see of it , the area looks very inviting. Thats the nice thing about most state parks,,lots of woods and foilage.
