When it comes to prepping, the right location can make all the difference. In Pennsylvania, nature offers a multitude of opportunities for survivalists to practice their skills, refine their strategies, and enjoy the rugged beauty of the outdoors. Whether you’re looking to build shelter, practice foraging, or just enjoy some peace and solitude while honing your survival instincts, Pennsylvania’s wilderness provides an excellent environment for all preppers. The following list of the 30 best camping sites in Pennsylvania will help you prepare, practice, and thrive.

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1. Ricketts Glen State Park

Ricketts Glen, with its dense forests and more than 13,000 acres of land, is one of the best spots for survivalists looking to practice wilderness skills. The park offers numerous trails, ranging from easy to difficult, and its many streams, waterfalls, and remote camping areas make it perfect for honing your skills in water procurement, shelter building, and navigation.

2. Allegheny National Forest

If you’re looking for an expansive wilderness to truly test your prepping skills, the Allegheny National Forest provides it. With over half a million acres of rugged terrain, this national forest allows preppers to practice long-term survival tactics like trapping, fishing, and identifying edible plants.

3. Pine Creek Gorge (The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania)

The Pine Creek Gorge is a majestic and remote location that provides an incredible setting for learning and practicing wilderness survival skills. The deep ravines and sheer cliffs offer natural shelter-building opportunities, and its streams and dense woods are ideal for hunting and fishing practices.

4. Promised Land State Park

Located in the Pocono Mountains, Promised Land is a peaceful, secluded park with dense woodlands and serene lakes. Survivalists can take advantage of the park’s remote location for off-grid practice, including shelter building and fire-starting. The surrounding forest offers ample foraging opportunities, making this spot ideal for an extended stay.

5. Cherry Springs State Park

Known for its exceptional stargazing, Cherry Springs is also a fantastic place for preppers. With miles of woods, this park offers excellent opportunities to practice fire-building, navigation, and even camouflage techniques. The park’s remote location allows for a truly off-the-grid experience.

6. Trough Creek State Park

For preppers looking to explore rugged terrain, Trough Creek provides a challenging environment. The park features deep gorges and steep ravines, perfect for testing your navigation skills and understanding of topography. It also provides secluded camping areas that will allow you to practice your shelter-building techniques.

7. Michaux State Forest

Michaux State Forest is another excellent option for survival preppers who are looking to practice bushcraft skills. The forest’s expansive trail network offers an opportunity to work on navigation and orienteering, while its varied ecosystems are perfect for testing your skills in wild edibles and trapping.

8. Lackawanna State Park

For those in northeastern Pennsylvania, Lackawanna State Park offers an ideal spot to practice survival tactics. The park features a mix of forests and meadows, allowing you to practice fire-starting and shelter-building techniques. It’s a good location for learning to navigate in mixed environments, with several trails and ample wildlife.

9. Bald Eagle State Park

Located in central Pennsylvania, Bald Eagle State Park offers a combination of flat land and steep hills, which make it perfect for various survival scenarios. The park has numerous secluded spots for camping, allowing you to practice skills like fishing, trapping, and using natural resources to your advantage.

10. French Creek State Park

French Creek offers a unique wilderness environment for preppers. Its diverse ecosystem, with wetlands, woodlands, and streams, provides plenty of opportunities for practicing various survival skills. The park is also less crowded, so you can spend extended periods there without distractions.

11. Cook Forest State Park

Cook Forest is known for its towering trees and pristine environment, which make it a great location for anyone wanting to test their wilderness survival skills. The park’s dense forests allow you to practice stealth and camouflage techniques, while its remote campsites offer perfect isolation for long-term prepper activities.

12. Sproul State Forest

Sproul State Forest is a prime location for survivalists who enjoy deep, isolated wilderness. The park features vast woodlands, remote lakes, and several camping areas that are perfect for practicing long-term off-grid living, including foraging, hunting, and making shelters.

13. Tuscarora State Forest

Tuscarora is known for its peaceful environment and vast hiking trails, making it ideal for those looking to practice navigation and wilderness survival. Its remote setting makes it a perfect location for extended stays, offering plenty of opportunities to sharpen your skills in fire-making, shelter-building, and food procurement.

14. Weiser State Forest

For survival preppers who prefer a dense, unbroken forest, Weiser State Forest is one of the best locations in Pennsylvania. The forest provides a variety of habitats, including mountainous areas, wetlands, and old-growth woodlands, which offer a great space for practicing survival skills in diverse environments.

15. Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area

For those who are looking for true isolation, the Snyder-Middleswarth Natural Area offers an excellent environment for prepper training. This 7,000-acre area is home to some of the most untouched and wild landscapes in Pennsylvania, making it perfect for practicing deep wilderness survival skills.

More of Pennsylvania’s Best Camping Sites for Survival Preppers

16. Shickshinny Trails
17. Tionesta Scenic Area
18. Ohiopyle State Park
19. Mountaintop Campground
20. Sullivan County Campground
21. Little Pine State Park
22. Clear Creek State Park
23. Gifford Pinchot State Park
24. Nockamixon State Park
25. Delaware Canal State Park
26. Ravensburg State Park
27. Benezette Elk Country Visitors Center
28. Laurel Ridge State Park
29. Shawnee State Park
30. Cooksburg Campground

Survival Prepping in Pennsylvania’s Wilderness

Pennsylvania’s vast wilderness areas provide ideal settings for preppers to hone their survival skills. From building shelters in the deep woods to fishing in remote lakes, these camping sites provide a variety of landscapes that simulate real-world survival scenarios. The state’s diverse environment allows for testing various survival tactics in different ecosystems, including woodlands, wetlands, and mountainous areas. As a prepper, this means you’ll get the opportunity to practice building fires, identifying edible plants, hunting, fishing, and more.

Many of these parks and forests are remote and less frequented, which allows for a greater sense of isolation—a key component of survival prep. The isolation also provides an excellent chance to practice off-the-grid living, away from modern distractions. Additionally, many of these sites feature rugged, untamed landscapes that can challenge even the most experienced preppers.

Before heading out, remember to properly prepare: pack essential gear, plan for the weather conditions, and always have a reliable map and compass. You never know when you might need to use your skills to make it out of a tricky situation!