Weiser State Forest

Open — Open for reservations through December 30, 2025. Closed for the season starting January 1, 2026. State forest roads do not receive winter maintenance and are not plowed during winter months.

About

Weiser State Forest encompasses over 30,000 acres across 16 tracts in eastern Pennsylvania's ridge-and-valley region. Named for frontier diplomat Conrad Weiser, the forest provides diverse recreation opportunities including camping, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, hunting, and fishing. The Roaring Creek Tract, covering approximately 9,020 acres in southern Columbia County, is a favorite destination for both experienced outdoorsmen and families. The forest offers 17 designated motorized roadside campsites across four tracts, providing remote camping experiences with basic amenities. Each site includes a parking pad, picnic table, and fire ring, but no developed facilities or modern conveniences. Some sites are roadside pull-offs while others are hike-in tent-only sites accessed via defined trails. The Mud Run Equine Camping Area in the Haldeman Tract offers specialized sites for horseback riders with high lines and hitching posts. Primitive backpack camping is permitted throughout most of the forest without a permit for single-night stays, provided campers observe setback requirements from roads, trails, and water sources. The forest features extensive trail systems including connections to the Appalachian Trail and the popular Roaring Creek Trail. Mountain bikers particularly favor the forest, with the Rattling Creek Trail System designated as an Epic trail by the International Mountain Biking Association. Reservations for roadside campsites are made through the Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests reservation system up to eleven months in advance.

Directions

From PA-42 between Aristes and Numidia, access the Roaring Creek Tract of Weiser State Forest. Specific campsite locations can be found on the Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests Reservation website.

Nearby Campgrounds