Poe Valley State Park
Tucked away in a mountain valley and surrounded by the 198,000-acre wilderness of Bald Eagle State Forest, Poe Valley State Park offers a pet-friendly campground, a 25-acre lake, and more beautiful scenery than you can poke a stick at.
The park centers on 25-acre Poe Lake, which is surrounded by forest for as far as the eye can see. It's a particularly eye-catching spot when the fall foliage changes color, and most of the activity in the park is focused on the lake.
A swimming beach is open from May to September, and with a maximum depth of five feet in the swimming area, it's a good spot for younger campers to cool off. A boat launching area and 12 seasonal mooring spaces are provided, with paddleboats, canoes, and kayaks available to rent from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Warmwater and coldwater fishing are available, and the lake is stocked with brown and rainbow trout several times a year.
There are three miles of short trails to explore within Poe Valley, but these connect with the much more extensive trail network in Bald Eagle State Forest. This opens up a world of more than 200 hiking miles, while the 189-mile Mid State Trail also passes through the park.
The campground in Poe Valley State Park is set in a pretty, wooded area and includes a dump station, showers, flush toilets, and drinking water. There are 45 sites for tents, trailers, and motorhomes, with pets permitted on designated sites.
There are also three camping cottages available, one of which is pet-friendly. The cottage features electric lighting, heating, and accommodation for five people.
There's no entry fee to access the park, but camping costs depend on the type of site you select. There's also a $2 nightly fee if camping with your dog, or a $3 per night fee to stay with your dog in the pet-friendly camping cottage.
It's also worth pointing out that this park is in a remote location and is accessed via eight miles of gravel road. If you like being close to civilization and constantly in cell phone reception, this isn't the park for you.
But if you're looking for a family-friendly campground where you can get away from the rest of the world, Poe Valley State Park is an excellent choice.
