Hyner Run State Park
Surrounded by steep mountains and the largest state forest in Pennsylvania, Hyner Run State Park offers impressive natural scenery by the truckload. It also boasts a pet-friendly campground, a swimming pool, and a quiet, relaxed atmosphere.
The campground is open from the second week in April until mid-December and features 21 electric and nine non-electric sites. Each site features a level pad, picnic table, and fire ring, and pets are permitted on designated sites (numbered 21-30). Warm showers and flush toilets are provided, while the heating in the restrooms is a very welcome touch during cold weather. Please note that while Hyner Run State Park also features a modern cabin that sleeps eight people, it's not pet-friendly.
There are no entry fees to worry about when visiting a Pennsylvania state park, but camping prices vary depending on the site and amenities you select. There's also a $2 nightly fee if staying with your dog, and your pet will need to be leashed and well-behaved at all times.
Covering 180 acres, the park itself is quite small and cozy. There's excellent trout fishing to be had in Hyner Run, which is stocked annually with brook and brown trout, and several other mountain streams just outside the park's boundaries.
If you're visiting in the warmer months, a large swimming pool and wading pool are sure to be a big hit with younger campers. Admission is free and the ADA accessible pool is open from Memorial Day until Labor Day.
Hikers also stop in at Hyner Run State Park due to the fact that the 50-mile Donut Hole Trail System passes through here. It's classed as moderate to rugged and designed with backpackers in mind, while there's also a 4.1-mile Long Fork Loop that leaves from near the pool area and explores the surrounding forest.
It's worth pointing out that cell phone service is somewhere between limited and non-existent, so you'll need to be prepared to escape the rest of the world for a little while during your stay. If that sounds like a bonus to you, make sure you pay Hyner Run State Park a visit.
