Michaux State Forest- Caledonia State park etc.

Hey guys.

I convinced the fiance to head out on an impromptu camping trip Saturday. I just kinda looked around on Google Maps and landed on Caledonia State park/ Michaux state forest.

Anyone with tips or experience in the area. Having never been up there I'm hesitant to bank on finding a campsite off a trail, though it seems that's ok with a permit?

I was leaning towards grabbing a campsite in Caledonia state park.

Any input? I know it's close to Rausch and everyone will be there for Toyota takeover but I don't have the time for it I'm afraid, would be getting out there Sat afternoon and need to head home Sunday morning.

 

I was JUST there this weekend with wifey. The improved dirt roads (key on map) were open with exception to piney mountain ridge road. the entrance to that on route 30 was closed off, but I don't know if the access to it up north was closed off. The south mountain side is a bit better to drive trail wise. (south of 30) There's a lot of connected roads and you can circle around. North of 30, it's just two main trails (Ridge road and piney mountain road) with other trails that lead out of the park and aren't connected.

Last weekend, we got in through the park off 94 in mount holly springs and went down ridge road to birch run road. we drove into Caledonia on our way to Gettysburg for lunch and then back to the south side to hit up south mountain. Think all told, put about 70 miles of gravel trails on saturday.

We tried hitting the "driveable trails" but the first 6 or 7 we went to were gated off so we didn't bother looking for anymore.

There's lots of places to stay since it's so close to Gettysburg. It's never crowded and there's so much land up there, you can usually find a place to pitch a tent off trail, as long as it's not someone's back yard. There are a lot of cabins up that way.

Pine grove furnace park is bit crowded with AT hikers. there's good bath facilities there so it tends to get crowded. Caledonia can get crowded too because there's a lake there. If you want water access, you should just head up to the reservoir in michaux. I've never seen more than a handful of people there and there are a few places you can go in for a dunk, but that reservoir gets deep FAST in spots.

If you have a permit, there is a small parking spot by the reservoir on birch run road (marked on map), and there's a few good clearings that are close to the reservoir. it's a little buggy and the spiders there are ground dwelling steroid packing mutants if you run into any of them. Build a fire and it's fine. We only saw two quarter sized (body, not body and leg) spiders the whole time we were out in the clearing by the reservoir. But if you don't mind, then tent away but we've seen more other times. There's usually enough downed pine trees for firewood, but it is primitive camping.

If you are going to camp there, camp to the reservoir side not on the creek that feeds it. If it rains, it's going to smell like shit. We've hiked through there in the rain or after a rain and it smells foul because of the creek, but the reservoir side is always great. there's more than enough stones in the clearing by the reservoir to set up fire rings, as many people have done, and the pine needles from the trees make for a great soft tenting area. There is some great backcountry areas to set up tents along that area but you'll have to carry in and out from your truck. Don't break rules about vehicles and travel off the trails to camp and they will leave you alone. Pack in, pack out if by the reservoir. We ran across 8 different forestry bureau trucks on saturday alone. Respect the rules and they are great to you. I can't think of a better place to camp then by long pine run reservoir. The water felt great saturday. It was probably about 70 degrees close to the shore.

if you get bored, you can always take one of the roads, go west and hit up the little college town of shippensburg. there are a few bars and restaurants as well as groceries/walmart/sheetz/rutters. south and east of there is pretty quiet until you get close to Gettysburg.

 

I spend a decent amount of time in the michaux but I've never camped before. I'm sure if you look on the DCNR website you can find the sites. Lots and lots of roads for exploring but I think all the "off-road" trails are for wildlife clearings or ATV's so they will be gated off.

If it was me I would go with the tuscarora forest for camping. It's free, first come first serve book the site online. Print out the paper and put on the site post. Maybe the michaux is the same way? Either way you have to dig a hole for a bathroom and pack out trash. I will say about the michaux that it's full of weirdos. Stay safe.

 

Wife & I camped there numerous times over the last couple years. Beautiful area and nice atv trails.

 

Dude what an epic response thank you. We will check out that reservoir that sounds great.