Take your RV on an east coast adventure by visiting the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania: Pine Creek George. Leonard Harrison State Park is located in north central Pennsylvania and offers highly coveted views of the canyon, thousands of acres of the Tioga State Forest, and the Pine Creek running over 800 feet below. Ancient glacial meltwater carved the deep channel into the Allegheny Plateau thousands of years ago, and it has been a stunning sight ever since.
Native Americans inhabiting the area used the gorge and its waterways as a major travel route. Early settlers that arrived at its lush forest resources eventually turned this area into an important hub to the lumber trade. Luckily, the gorge is now protected as a 12,163-acre natural area, the second largest in the state. Leonard Harrison State Park is named for Leonard Harrison, a wealthy and patriotic citizen who developed the original 121-acre park as a picnic lookout area and donated the land to the state in 1922.
The Keystone State has something to offer RV visitors year-round throughout the seasons. Leonard Harrison State Park is situated on 585 acres on the east rim of the canyon. Its famous hiking trails provide scenic overlooks, waterfalls, deep forest paths, and access to Pine Creek. The park is open year-round with a modern visitor center open between April and October that offers valuable educational programming. Whether you're looking for a scenic picnic spot or an active forest adventure, Leonard Harrison State Park has something for every visitor.
Leonard Harrison State Park is located in Tioga County, in north-central Pennsylvania. It is best reached via PA route 660 West and is about ten miles west of the town of Wellboro. If using GPS to navigate the rural roads, keep in mind many local roads are narrow. The safest way in and out of the park is to use the major routes through Wellboro, even if it takes extra time. Use extra caution during the winter months and during adverse weather conditions.
The campground is located on a separate loop before reaching the Environmental Interpretive Center and Overlook. All the campground roads and sites are unpaved, so be mindful of ground conditions and check with the park office in wet weather. There is additional parking in the day use area conveniently located near the environmental education center, scenic overlooks, and trailheads.
The campground at Leonard Harrison State Park is open from April to October. There are 24 RV campsites including seven sites with 50-amp electrical hookups. There are six pet-friendly sites available, so if traveling with a furry companion be sure to reserve the appropriate campsite. The campground is located on a single loop near the park office, and all campground roads are unpaved. The spacious campsites have a good mix of shaded and sunny areas and will be the perfect retreat after a day of hiking.
The campground offers amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, playground, water and dump stations, and comfort stations with flush toilets and hot water showers. Campsites may be reserved up to 11 months in advance, and there is a maximum of five people, or one family unit, per campsite. Be sure to reserve ahead online to pick your ideal campsite, as unreserved campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Unreserved campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Pine Creek Gorge is famous for its fall foliage display, and there’s no better place to snap a photo than from the overlook at Leonard Harrison State Park. The fall foliage color display here peaks during early to mid-October. Leave the campervan behind and bring your camera for an easy hike around the Rim Trail, which connects all the overlooks in the park. Any time of year, wildlife photographers will love the abundant wildlife population throughout the park. Common animals found include bear, deer, turkey, bald eagles, ravens and river otters.
If you’ve ever wanted to ride inside a canyon, Leonard Harrison State Park is a rare chance to do so on the East Coast. A nine-mile length road running beside Pine Creek Trail is available to equestrians for a chance to step back in time and enjoy the scenic canyon floor. The Horseback trailhead is located on Marsh Creek Road near the junction of US 6 and PA 362 at Asonia and ends in Tiadaghton.
The 62-mile Pine Creek Trail is a multi-purpose trail popular with cross-country skiers in the winter months. Over 60 miles of the trail are available for cross-country skiing and portions of it have ski tracks set during favorable snow conditions. The trail follows the Pine Creek at the bottom of the gorge and provides great views of the canyon from below while following the ancient waterways. Keep up with the park website to note any trail closures during the off-season.
Leonard Harrison State Park has a modern environmental interpretive center open during the summer and fall months. Park guides hold seasonal activities such as interpretive walks, astronomy activities, and watershed education programs. Kids will love the summer campfire workshops and old-fashioned apple cider demonstrations. Inside the visitor center, interactive exhibits and videos give an inside look into the local history and a chance to learn about the wildlife around you. Check with the park office for event schedules or to book a guided tour.
If you’ve brought fishing gear in your camper, Pine Creek is a great spot to break it out. The hike down the Turkey Path trail runs alongside the Four-Mile Run trout stream and leads hikers to the Pine Creek at the bottom of the canyon. The waters of the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania include trout, smallmouth bass, and panfish. Pine Creek is also available for rafting, canoeing, and kayaking. Other trout streams nearby include Marsh Creek, Stoney Fork Creek, Asaph Run, and Straight Run.
Advanced hikers will love leaving the rig behind and hitting the popular Turkey Path trail which leads from the canyon rim at Leonard Harrison State Park to the floor of the canyon where it meets with the 62-mile Pine Creek Trail. The Turkey Path trail is one-and-a-half miles long with rugged terrain and passes a scenic 70-foot waterfall on its way down the canyon wall. For a less strenuous hike, try the one-mile Rim Trail which links the overlook vistas along the mostly flat perimeter of the gorge rim.
