J and D Campground

The Great Outdoors

Just over an hour’s drive east of the J and D Campground is the Lehigh Gorge State Park, which encompasses more than 4,500 acres around the Lehigh Gorge. Carved by the Lehigh River over thousands of years, the gorge provides a spectacular setting for hiking and biking, with its 26-mile abandoned railroad accessing several waterfalls and remnants of the Lehigh Canal. Highlights include walking through the 1860's Turn Hole Tunnel and witnessing the Buttermilk Waterfall, which cascades 50 feet down a rocky ledge. The Lehigh Gorge State Park is also a renowned whitewater rafting destination, with family-friendly Class I and II rapids, as well as more challenging Class III options.Adjacent to the Lehigh Gorge State Park is Hickory Run State Park, a 15,990-acre reserve that sprawls across the Pocono Mountains. It’s home to Sand Spring Lake, which is a popular swimming spot in the summer months before transforming into an ice skating rink in the winter. Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are also possible in the snow season. More than 40 miles of hiking trails wind through the park, including the famous Shades of Death Trail that passes through a colorful tract of rhododendrons. If you’re into hunting, white-tailed deer, black bear, and squirrels are all fair game in designated hunting areas.Head north from the J and D Campground, and you’ll arrive at Ricketts Glen State Park, which is considered one of the most picturesque natural areas in Pennsylvania. It’s home to more than 20 waterfalls that cascade along Kitchen Creek. Aside from hiking, the park is also a popular destination for kayaking on the waters of Lake Jean before transforming into a winter wonderland for cross-country skiing and ice fishing in the winter months.

Exploring the City

Campsites at the J and D Campground are just eight minutes’ drive from Catawissa, where you’ll find a supermarket for stocking up on grocery supplies. There are also gas stations here if you need to fill up your RV rental and a couple of eateries if you don’t feel like cooking.Catawissa was established in 1787 on land previously owned by William Henry at the confluence of the Susquehanna River and Catawissa Creek. A highlight of its downtown area is the Catawissa Friends Meetinghouse, a one-story log building that was used by Quakers as a meeting place as early as the 18th century. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.Partway between Catawissa and the J and D Campground is a large deer farm, which encompasses over 200 acres near Bloomsburg. More than 400 red deer are raised here, with tours offering up-close encounters that include hand-feeding. Jump aboard one of their wagons to see babies feeding and males fighting over territory, then browse the souvenir shops where t-shirts, hats, and antler keychains are available for sale.Camping at the J and D Campground also makes a convenient base for visiting Bill's Old Bike Barn, a motorcycle and Americana museum that houses almost 200 vintage motorcycles. Admire the early 20th-century Harley Davidsons and war-era Kettenkrad on display, then stroll down the recreated street of Billville, where you’ll find a retro-inspired barbershop, artifacts from the 1939 World’s Fair, and memorabilia from Elvis Presley’s heyday.Whether you want to stretch your legs on the hiking trails of eastern Pennsylvania or get up close to red deer, zero in on one of the campgrounds in Columbia County and start planning your next vacation.