Birdsong cottage at the Free Spirit Campground is the perfect cabin getaway! Located on the perfect…read moreplot near the campground entrance and a short walking distance to the pool, nature trails, and general store. We loved waking up and enjoying breakfast on the large deck, as well as tossing a frisbee in the backyard by the firepit. Everything you need in a kitchen is included with the rental. The cottage is super open and welcoming! Just a short drive to downtown Carlisle and Dickinson College! Very convenient to Harrisburg, and the Appalachian trail.

From the owner: Camping, Cabin rentals and Recreation.read more

Bruce (the owner) gets drunk and walks around yelling and cursing at guests for playing music too…read moreloud before quiet hours start. He cursed at me in front of my wife and children. Super disrespectful!!! It happened to us twice over the course of a year. We will never go back there.

I believe that this place would be great for a weekend or week long stay, but if you are staying…read morelonger, it's not that great. They do have activities and a wonderful camp store, but there are some downfalls to long term stays. My husband and I stayed here for a little over a month while having renovations done to our home. If it weren't the fact that it was the closest campground to our home, we probably would have stayed elsewhere. Some of the spaces are extremely tight, while others are large enough for two sites. Site #221 and 127 are huge, as are 215, 216, 217 and a couple others in that area. Then you get to the full hook-up sights and are squeezed in like sardines. Some campers can't even open their awnings it is so tight. And if you are in the spot near the one end, you are surrounded by two spots with permanent rentals, and another spot where they back right up against the side of your camper. You have nothing to look at but other campers. You are only allowed one vehicle per site, which is fine for short term, but if you are actually 'living' there and have to go to work every day, who wants to walk half way around the campground to get to your vehicle? Especially when there is plenty of room for two vehicles. You seem to be watched constantly by their 'security' staff and somewhat harrassed more when you are a long term guest. Nobody seems to chase anyone down that goes over the 5 mph speed limit either. (One plus is that "Bob" is not there anymore). There were people flying around, kicking up dust, it was awful. Dirt bikes, three wheeled motor bikes, driving like idiots around small children, pets, etc. and nobody said a word. And the guy on this three wheeled bike had his music so loud you could probably hear it in the next county! They will also nickle and dime you for just about everything. Don't show up early, you will have to pay. Pull through sites with only electric and water cost more than full hook up sites. We couldn't even have our kids visit unless they paid to come in. I understand if you are having some big party, but we were living there! If you are unfortunate enough to be near the trash dumpsters, hold your breath because there are no lids on them and it gets pretty rank on hot days. And there is one other thing for certain, if it rains, it WILL flood. Don't let them tell you any differently. Heavy rain for a long period of time sends a lot of people packing. The creek will overflow and anyone near it will be flooded out.

Website won't work right. Could not reserve a spot. What good is a website when you have to call…read morefor more than 15 days? It like they want to discriminate on the sound of your voice.

This is by far the best campground we have ever been to. The owners and staff are really nice! The…read moresites are huge and most have lots of trees. We were at site #14 right on the creek than runs through campground. They have a sweet deal if your local for seasonal use. We were from out of town, not full time RV but travel throughout US six months out of the year. If you go here don't forget to get some of the fresh fruit and tomatoes in season. We got huge heirloom tomatoes for 3 for $1. Unbelievable, they were so good. Reasonably priced, we paid $49 a night! Sell good dry firewood too!

Paradise Stream was a fun relaxing camping trip with friends and family…read more This was our first visit and we were impressed. The staff was friendly, welcoming, and helpful. The campground is large and organized into different sections/site types including cabins and glamping tents. There are sites overlooking the lake and ones that are more secluded. Our site was in the 200 block and very level. It took no time at all to get the camper set up for the weekend. Water pressure was good and steady power. WI-FI was also average for a campground. If you enjoy a campfire and plan on staying a few days spring for the "cage" of firewood/weekender. It is a large metal cage of firewood they deliver to your site for only $50. That may seem like a lot, but with single bundles costing between $7-$10 at most places this is a deal. We had a steady campfire going for 3 nights/days and still had wood left. There are amenities for kids and adults from the pools, lakes, and activities to the wine shed and music. Everyone can find something to do that they would enjoy. There is a well-stocked general store and ice cream shop!

This was our third year at Paradise Stream. As with past years we enjoyed our stay! One plus is…read morethat the past two years we had a different spot than the first year that we absolutely LOVE - already booked for next year! The campground is clean and the staff are very friendly. The owners are top notch. The camp store does not disappoint. They have everything you can imagine, and the salted caramel iced coffee is a MUST! Plenty of activities for everyone. The shuffle board and pickle ball areas have been updated for this year, and all the other areas are still in great shape - pool, game room, gaga ball, etc. Spending time riding around the campground in a golf cart is a must if you want to see everything. The views from the top near the lake are spectacular! Glad we made this one of our summer 'homes!' It does not disappoint!!

I've now hiked Pine Grove Furnace twice -- once on a warm February Saturday morning just to get out…read moreand move, and once specifically to check out the Appalachian Trail Midway Point marker. Both visits delivered exactly what I was looking for: quiet, well-maintained woods and a chance to disappear for a bit. Parking was easy both times. I found spots right near the trailheads without circling or waiting, which immediately set the tone for a low-stress hike. Even better? Across both visits, I saw a grand total of three other people. Three. If you're looking for seclusion and space to think, this is a solid choice. The trails themselves are clearly cared for. They were well-maintained, free of trash and debris, and the recent tree work was evident in the best way -- cleaned up, safe, and thoughtfully handled. Blazes were easy to follow and intersections were clearly marked, so navigation on the ground wasn't an issue at all. One important heads-up: I had zero cell service with Verizon either time I was there. None. Plan ahead. Download your maps, save your trail info offline, and don't rely on pulling anything up once you're in the woods. It's peaceful... but it's disconnected. Beyond the trails themselves, there's a lot to appreciate in the area -- from Appalachian Trail landmarks like the Midway Point marker to the surrounding natural beauty that makes this part of Pennsylvania so special. It's one of those places that feels quietly significant without being overrun. If you're looking for a quiet hike, a reset, or just some time in well-kept woods without crowds, Pine Grove Furnace is an excellent option. Peaceful, scenic, and exactly what it should be.

Charged us $34 for Pine Grove group camping even though I said twice we didn't stay in the group…read morecamping area and that it was a Michaux site, the worker didn't believe me I guess. The physical sign next to my site said $10 per night for PA residents, $15 out of state, the employee told me "No none of our sites would be that cheap". No intentions on returning which is unfortunate because the site was very nice and spacious and had a small fire pit. Don't charge us for Pine Grove Furnace State Park Organized Group Camping when we stayed in the Michaux State Forest campground just a tad further down the exact same camping road.

seasonal campers since 2022. This is an amazing facility for that weekend getaway. Plenty of…read moreattractions nearby away from camp. Best campground we have ever been with. Owners are amazing!!

Owner was very nice, took time out of her busy day to show us the campground. Hopefully joining…read moresoon!

Easily marked hiking trails, clean restrooms. Nice mix of easy and difficult trails. Plenty of…read morepicnic tables and grills.

For families with mobility issues or physical disabilities please do your research with certain…read morepavilion picnic areas. I was very disappointed with how our accessibility concerns were initially handled at Little Buffalo State Park. Pavilions 1 and 2 are extremely difficult, and for some people with disabilities, practically impossible to access from the parking area. I called the Little Buffalo State Park office on 7/9/26 two days prior to our family gathering to simply request to have the gate at the end of the access road to be opened temporarily (as we had the last several years), so family members with serious mobility limitations could be dropped off closer to our Pavilion 1. We were not asking to park there permanently. When I was told they would not temporarily open gate for us I asked to speak to Park Manager Jim Eckert to discuss this but he never called me back. There were 2 office employees I spoke to 7/9 and 7/10. One office employee named Tracy, who showed little empathy or willingness to help and ultimately hung up on me when I suggested going above their head and call DCNR (Department of conservation and natural resources.) Thankfully, Ryan Donavan at DCNR apologized and stepped in immediately and resolved the issue by making sure the gate was opened for drop-off. DCNR was wonderful, responsive, empathetic, and helpful--and the park rangers were also wonderful. We also found that a wheelchair could not even get through the bathroom stall entrance serving Pavilions 1 and 2. And not even a grab bar near the urinal. People with disabilities should not have to fight for basic access. The Americans With Disabilities Act is the law, not a suggestion! Little Buffalo State Park needs to seriously address accessibility at Pavilions 1 and 2 and how accommodation requests are handled by park manager Jim Eckart and staff. They were not at all empathetic or willing to help us find a solution. I would not want this to happen to another family. Thank you DCNR for stepping in.

I headed up to Cameron-Masland Mansion on a warm, sunny October Sunday, planning just to check out…read morethe scenic overlook... and accidentally stumbled into the Friends of Kings Gap Annual Garden Harvest Day. Food, crafts, live music, crowds, and enough traffic to require Park Rangers directing cars--definitely more than I bargained for, but sometimes that's half the fun. The mansion itself is a gorgeous 32-room stone villa perched on the mountaintop, built in 1908. On this day, the inside was open to wander through, though I admit I was a little disappointed to find vendor booths set up in many of the rooms. Not exactly ideal for soaking in the mansion's character or snapping quality photos, especially when another full field of vendors was set up right across the street. Still, it was cool to step inside and imagine what life here must have been like in the early 1900s--quiet, peaceful, with endless valley views. Speaking of views: the terrace overlook is the true star here. On this bright, cloudless day, with the leaves just beginning to turn, it was absolutely stunning. The terrace even had two velvet chairs and some pumpkins set up for a fun fall photo op. I spent the most time here, just taking in the sights and thinking about how many people have stood in that same spot over the last century. I also popped by the Education Center and wandered through the mansion garden (though the garden seemed like it could use a little love). All told, it was a fun stop that combined history, nature, and a little unexpected festival energy. I don't know that I need to go back, but it was definitely worth visiting once--and that view alone is bucket-list worthy.

We stopped by on a whim today. We drove to the top of the mountain to the mansion. What a…read moregorgeous view! There's quite a few pull offs with picnic tables. There's walking trails and a bridge over a small creek. There's also an education center.

I spent the afternoon at the beach area. There were a decent number of people but it wasn't too…read morecrowded. There are a bunch of Adirondack chairs and a small bathroom area. Overall it was a great place to spend a hot Sunday.

We were here for the Flat Rock Trail which is listed among the top 10 hikes in Cumberland County,…read moreand is featured on PABucketList.com blog. After a quick stop at the ranger's office for the map and information, we went straight to use the restrooms and at the same time check out the surroundings around Doubling Gap Lake. There is an easy 1 mile nature trail along the lake as well as the moderate 1.2 mile Rattlesnake Trail on the foothill of the Blue Mountains, but we're here for the kill. We're deadset for the 180 degree vista view at the summit of the Flat Rock Trail. We knew it would be strenuous, so we paced ourselves. Trails are easily recognized and sufficiently blazed. There is a fork where you can either take the "Preferred" or the "Challenging" route. We took the latter. More than half of the 2.4 mile trail to the summit are rugged with sizable rocks, so a good pair of hiking boots and poles are highly desirable. It took us about 1 hour and 40 minutes to get to the summit. The view was amazing. There were also more than half a dozen buzzards gliding back and forth near the summit. We spent 30 minutes enjoying the view, snacking, and taking lots of pictures before we headed back down. It actually felt even more punishing on the way down because of the rocks, especially punishing on the toes. We took the "Preferred" trail on the way back which is almost a quarter mile longer. It took about the same amount of time on the return trip. We felt it on the legs the next morning, but it was a rewarding hike.

If you're looking for an easy but super cool hike with big payoff, Hammonds Rocks in Michaux State…read moreForest is a must. I stopped by on a warm, sunny October Sunday morning while in the area for the National Apple Harvest Festival (about 30 minutes away), and somehow had the whole place to myself. It was so peaceful--just the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze and the occasional thud of acorns falling from the trees. The walk in is short and easy--basically a flat stroll past a couple of informational signs to reach the boulder outcropping. From there, the fun begins! Hammonds Rocks is about 400 feet long, with massive stone formations to climb, wander, and explore. I spent about 45 minutes hopping from stone to stone, taking photos, and checking out different angles of the formations. Even without climbing, there are plenty of spots to enjoy the view, though the tall trees do block some of it. Still, with the leaves just starting to turn to their fall colors, it was absolutely beautiful. The info signs are worth a pause, too--they really put things into perspective. One noted that when the sediments making up these rocks were deposited, the spot where I was standing was on the shore of a great ocean...530-600 MILLION years ago. Wild. Absolutely mind blowing! As for access: don't panic when Google Maps tells you the next few miles are unpaved. The gravel road is manageable if you take it slow and keep an eye out for some monster ruts. (Speaking from experience: this 40-something woman in her beloved Alfa Romeo made it just fine.) Just don't attempt in winter without knowing what you're getting into--the roads aren't maintained in snow or ice. Overall, Hammonds Rocks is an easy, low-effort, high-reward stop. Whether you're climbing, photographing, or just taking in the history and scenery, it's a great way to spend part of your day in Michaux.

This is the worst camp site ever in the ground. Are the rocks very hard to get a good steak in the…read moreground. The campers that come there are disgusting. There was this fat white woman with her kid kid is noisy and very rude. Very intrusive in my area and she never scolded him once.The rangers are nasty liars they judge you the accuse of things fine for some thing that wasn't posted so they fined us and we didn't know that we couldn't do So we got fine for it