Parker Dam State Park
A charmingly rustic park in Huston Township, Pennsylvania, Parker Dam State Park offers the quintessential American camping experience. Even better, it's an experience you can share with your canine companion.
Spread over 968 acres, the park sits on the shores of a scenic lake and is surrounded by Moshannon State Forest. The 20-acre Parker Lake features a sandy swimming beach and calm waters. There's a seasonal boat concession open from Memorial Day to Labor Day for anyone looking to rent a paddleboat, canoe, kayak, or rowboat, while the lake and several nearby trout streams are also popular with anglers.
If you're feeling energetic, Parker Dam State Park has 16 miles worth of hiking trails to explore. A selection of these are multi-use trails where bikes are welcome, allowing mountain bikers to link up with the extensive trail network in Moshannon State Forest.
The good news is that Pennsylvania state parks don't charge any entrance or day-use fees. However, you'll need to make sure you're aware of the camping fee that applies when booking your site.
The campground is located on the eastern edge of the lake and is open from the second Friday in April through mid-December. Most sites have electric hook-ups and pets are allowed on designated sites. There's also a large one-room cabin, Tyler Cabin, that sleeps 11 people and is pet-friendly, but dogs aren't welcome in any of the campground's other cabins.
If you're camping with your canine companion, make sure you remember to stick to those areas of the park designated as pet-friendly. You'll also need to keep your dog leashed and under control at all times, and clean up after them whenever necessary.
If you can manage these simple responsibilities, all that's left to do is enjoy some quality time in the great outdoors with your canine pal.
