Stony Fork Creek Campground

The Great Outdoors

Camping at the Stony Fork Creek Campground is a good base for visiting the Tioga State Forest, which was established on land that was logged in the mid-to-late 19th century. It’s named for a tribe of the Seneca Native American people, with “Tioga” translating as the “meeting of two rivers.” Stretch your legs along part (or all) of the 30-mile West Rim Trail, which offers spectacular views along the Western Rim of Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon. Also known as the Pine Creek Gorge, this 47-mile natural wonder carves through the Allegheny Plateau and drops to 1,450 feet at its deepest point.Directly north of the Tioga State Forest is the Hills Creek State Park, which centers around a 137-acre human-made lake. Previously used as a pigment mine for the paint industry, the Hills Creek State Park was opened to the public in 1953, with beaver dams once scattering the now-flooded lake. Beavers are still abundant in the area, and the lake is a popular fishing spot, with walleye, yellow perch, and largemouth bass all for the taking. Ice fishing is also possible during the winter months, with mostly yellow perch, bluegill, and walleye caught. Canoeing and kayaking are also possible on the lake, or you can swim from the sandy beach that’s open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Birdwatchers may be rewarded with sightings of ospreys and bald eagles, as well as great blue herons, pileated woodpeckers, and migrating waterfowl.Drive in the other direction from the Stony Fork Creek Campground, and you’ll arrive at the Susquehannock State Forest, which is also named after a local Native American tribe. It’s traversed by the 85-mile Susquehannock Trail System, which accesses the rugged mountains of the spectacular Hammersley Wild Area. Aside from hiking, the Susquehannock State Forest is also a scenic area for horseback riding, mountain biking, and ATV riding while cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are popular during the winter months.

Exploring the City

Campsites at the Stony Fork Creek Campground are just five minutes’ drive from the village of Stony Fork, which is home to a small country store where you can pick up basic supplies. Alternatively, you can continue to Wellsboro, where you’ll find a larger supermarket and a gas station if you need to fill up your RV rental, as well as a handful of eateries that include a family-style diner and a bagel shop.If you’re interested in the local heritage, stop in at the Tioga County Historical Society, which has been preserving and showcasing the history of the region since 1914. You can trace your own links to Wellsboro at the Rhoda Ladd Genealogy Library, with a variety of artifacts and historical records on display.Around an hour’s drive south of the Stony Fork Creek Campground will see you in the heart of Williamsport, a historic city that lies along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. It’s home to a handful of fine museums that include the Taber Museum, where the people, places, and events of north-central Pennsylvania are explored. See still-life works by 19th-century painter Severin Roesen and learn about the region’s Native American cultures, then admire the more than 300 trains that comprise the LaRue Shempp Toy Train Collection.Williamsport is famed as the birthplace of Little League Baseball, with the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum chronicling its history since the 1930s. It includes a Hall of Excellence where individuals who have left their mark on the league are honored, as well as an interactive Global Connections Touch Table where you can learn about every Little League program in the world. Another highlight of Williamsport is Millionaires’ Row, a stretch of Victorian mansions that were built by lumber barons in the 19th century and are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Whether you want to explore the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania or learn about the roots of Little League Baseball in Williamsport, book an RV rental in Tioga County and start planning your next vacation.