Bald Eagle State Forest PA

Made my first trip to Bald Eagle State Forest in central PA over the weekend of June 5-7th, 2020.

Free dispersed camping, dirt roads, and 4x4 trails. This place is amazing and very special for the east coast.

While by no means are the trails “difficult” they definitely have spots that get the blood flowing, for me. The hardest part was not being able to see below some of the deep pools. (And being solo)
My bone stock off-road performed amazingly! Perfect easy trails to practice and gain experience.

Thanks to all that came before me and posted accounts and routes of the area, it really helped in my planning.

Already discussing my next adventure to BESF!

-UPDATE 8/21/20-



Vista on vista




Nittany Mountain Trail



Red Tongue Trail

Negro Hollow trail

 

Very cool place. Been there a few times for some bike races.

 

I really have to check this out next time I am down there! Pictures look great! Thank you for sharing

 

I was just up there the 3rd and 4th. Will definitely be back.

 

Had another fun weekend exploring around the Forest August 21-23rd 2020.
Camped closer to the south west corner of the park. Got to check out a few more trails and vistas.

Henstep Valley trail


Sunsets on sunsets this trip

 

I have been planning on going out here soon! Hard to find this in Pennsylvania, especially Eastern PA where I am.

 

This place looks awesome! I have got to take a weekend trip out there

 

Same, maybe a weekend in the spring

 

Any permits needed?

 

Only for camping, but they are free

 

That's great. I've been wanting to go out there for a while.

 

As @fasteddieyj said, camping permits are free, just have to call ahead and reserve them. I recommend having a couple of sites picked out for backup, often the good ones are taken.

 

Awesome!! Bald Eagle is MASSIVE. I never knew there were trails... also spectacular Milky Way views

 

Looking for help from threads like this about Bald Eagle!

My first main question is confusion about camping. I’ve seen here and other posts say that camping is free with a permit. When I go to the site for the park to search for camping reservations, it shows various prices per night. Not a ton of $ but not free like I’ve seen mentioned. Am I missing something?

I’m looking and trying to sort by Tent sites (plan on getting tent that goes on top of a bed rack. I sorted Rustic Tent, I think, and it shows two loops for camping. One is basically all RV and the other is the rustic tent and non electric sites.

Overall, when you’re going down the trail roads like that, do you ever see anyone else? Curious about moving for traffic, and also God forbid I do get stuck, getting some help. I highly doubt that a Taco OR with proper tires in 4Lo would get stuck there, but I’m not in the same mindset on a trip like this when on a trail with my family and no other trucks, vs wheeling with just me in the truck with other friends in their trucks along for the ride.

 

Maybe you are searching the wrong Bald Eagle? There are a few including a state park. Check this website out for BESF has all the info on camping. Scroll down to the motorized campsite map. It has the sites numbered and the off-roading trails labeled!
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateForests/FindAForest/BaldEagle/Pages/Camping.aspx
Definitely free, definitely need a permit. I usually just call to get the permit but I think you can do it online.

You see some people but not a lot, and that’s in the dead of summer. On the shoulder seasons I’m sure it’s quieter. On the 4x4 trails I only saw maybe 5 other trucks over multiple trips. Even did some of the ATV trails and was the only one.

I’ve done maybe 60-70 percent of the “trails” in BESF that a truck is allowed down. So far I’d say everything is stock friendly. The puddles can get deep and that’s a bit scary. Took a few hits to the skids and maybe a frame crossmember, but I’ve done wayyy worse at other locations. I’ve only been solo and understand the apprehension, but it makes it more exciting lol. Hoping to get a crew together for a few runs this summer/spring.

Purple Lizard makes a map and I have it, but everything is on the motorized campsite PDF as well, I just like having physical maps. A bird in the hand as they say.

lemme know if you have any more questions!

 

Awesome, thanks!!

I am looking on this site
https://pennsylvaniastateparks.rese...021&contractCode=PA&parkId=880133&startIdx=25

Hopefully that link works, but if you click any of the available sites you'll see a fee ($14- $45 per night, depending what it is). I guess I wrongly assumed that Bald Eagle State Park was also Bald Eagle State Forrest lol. Maybe the Park is an "official" part within the Forrest, and they do charge for camp sites there?

If that's the case, I guess the difference is that in the Park sites there would be more traffic, but also amenities around or not far, like bathrooms and water.

I was starting to check out the Purple Lizard site. Thanks again!

 

Yeah your link is for Bald Eagle State Park, not Forest. I think they are close, but not the same when it comes to camping. I guess if you want amenities than the state park is the spot. When I use the motorized free campsites I usually drive to the day use spots to use the latrine. There are a couple springs through the forest we have come across otherwise we bring enough water to last the trip.

 

Sounds good. Yeah bringing a case of water is easy enough for 2.5 days. Makes sense about the day-use spots. Thanks again!

 

I love it out there, just a heads up we’ve had bad luck with the “motorized” spots and have had to sleep next to the road as we weren’t able to drive in with the roof top tent.

 

For our first trip out there in the spring, I opted for a cabin rental right outside the park. Honestly can’t swing the $1000’s for the tent and garage mount and sleeping bags etc etc we’d need, vs a couple hundred to rent a functioning house. But, I’m excited to drive all in the park.

I’ve watched YouTube’s and read the purple Lizard reports and all, and it seems like I shouldn’t worry about getting stuck with my OR with 2” lift. That one trail (negro trail I think) looks a bit dicey in spots. Traveling with the family and no other trucks/friends so I’d rather not get stuck and have to deal with that fallout lol.