Raymond B Winter State Park

Surrounded by Bald Eagle State Forest in central Pennsylvania, Raymond B. Winter State Park offers a family-friendly campground in a quiet and pretty setting.

The park sits in a shallow basin bordered by rocky ridges and dense forest and centered on Halfway Lake. It's open year-round for day-use visitors, but its 61-site campground is open from the second Friday in April until the middle of December.

Sites accommodate tents, trailers, and motorhomes, and most feature an electric hook-up. Toilets, showers, a dump station, and drinking water are all provided, and pets are allowed on designated sites (1-4, 48-49, 52-61). While there are also three camping cottages in the campground, these are not pet-friendly.

You don't need to pay an entry fee to access the park, but make sure you check the cost of your campsite before booking. There's also an additional $2/night fee when staying with your dog, while you'll need to make sure your canine pal is leashed and well-behaved at all times.

The lake is the main attraction in Raymond B. Winter State Park. Fed by mountain streams and contained by a sandstone dam, it's a popular spot for families to swim during the summer. One word of warning though: the water is freezing, regardless of whether you visit in May or August. Happily, there's plenty of space on the sand if you need to catch some sun and warm back up after taking a dip.

Outside of the swimming area, the rest of the lake and the streams that feed it offer good trout fishing. There are also 150 picnic tables spread throughout the park, many of which offer lovely water views while you sit down for lunch.

There are 6.3 miles of trails for hikers to explore, and many trails connect with longer treks through Bald Eagle State Forest. The 1-mile Rapid Run Nature Trail takes you on a scenic loop of the Rapid Run Natural Area and is easy enough for the whole family to tackle.

Other park highlights include a playground, access to 25 miles of mountain biking trails in the state forest, and the chance to catch a glimpse of deer and many other wildlife species. The campground is quiet and neat, but make sure you book in advance if planning a stay in the summer peak period.

Then you can simply relax and enjoy a peaceful pet-friendly getaway in this beautiful part of Pennsylvania!