Location(s)

PA is a GREAT state to enjoy the outdoors! I really enjoy camping and hiking in remote areas of north central PA. Its great to "get away" for a few days or more. Back a few years ago, we were having a fairly warm October, so I decided to take some time for myself and head up to the Pine Creek Gorge area to camp and hike for a week. That time of year, the campgrounds are already closed for the season, so the forest and trails around Pine Creek Gorge are pretty much empty. Occasionally you might see some backpackers, but  that's about it. I got a camping permit from the district forester (it's free) and off I went.  I came up from the southern end of the West Rim Trail  to get to an area in the state forest that I could camp. I drove about 10 miles on a dirt road to get to the Bradley Wales Picnic Area, which is close to the West Rim Trail of Pine Creek Gorge. I parked my station wagon there and proceeded to haul all my camping gear into the state forest, found a nice spot, and got set up for the next week. On the road on the way in, I passed a Forest Ranger driving along in his Jeep, we waved to each other as we passed each other moving in opposite directions. Other than trips out of the forest to get ice every few days, that was the only human I saw for a week. What's more, people didn't have to look at my ugly face either!

Once my tent and my "clothes line" were set up, I gathered fire wood and starting piling it up next to the fire ring that someone had put there, who knows how many years ago. How convenient. I kept my tent fairly far away from the camp fire. It's not a good idea to cook close to your sleeping area. Don't forget, there are a lot of hungry animals in the state forest and they can smell what you're cooking from far, far away! Raccoons can grow to be pretty large and they can be pesky as well as persistent when it comes to panhandling a meal! I never had any trouble with bears. They are usually shy animals and have the good sense to stay away from people, however, they are not above trying to get a free meal either! So, keep your living area far enough away from where you are cooking and eating and you will enjoy a good night's sleep! The most impressive thing to enjoy during the evening is the panoramic view of the stars at night in that area of north central PA. There are no large cities anywhere close by, so there is no "light polution" in the sky at night. What a wonderful view!

First thing in the morning, I would crawl out of my tent and fix something to eat, and off on a excursion down to the West Rim Trail for an invigurating hike to get the blood flowing! The West Rim Trail has been well traveled and traverses along the top of the gorge. There are numerous overlooks and some great places to stop along the trail to just enjoy the view. I liked to hike 6 to 10 miles, and I tried to make a loop hike that would put me back at my camp in time to get cleaned up, make some well deserved FOOD, and get ready for the evening show of the stars!

Something else to consider, once you have the camping gear, all you need to do is get a camping permit from the District Forester that allows you to camp in the state forest, its all FREE. Keep in mind that you can't "car camp" along the West Rim Trail, only overnight stays by backpackers are allowed. However, if you find a nice spot that's in the state forest, you can park your car in a safe place that is set up for parking vehicles (instead of just parking it along the road) and you can pack your gear to where you're going to camp. I got some great exercise and fresh air, and just chilled. What's more, I was about 4 pounds lighter when I jumped on the scale at home when I returned.

Highly recommended vacation, especially if you have to deal with the stress that living in the 21st century give us!

Note: The Google Map shows Wellsboro (according to the zip code) as the location. The easiest access to Pine Creek Gorge and the West Rim Trail is through the northern end at Ansonia, PA. It is about 10 west of Wellsboro along Route 6. If you prefer campgrounds to the state forest, there is a primitive camp ground (no flush toilets or showers) on the western side of the gorge (Colton Point) and a full amenities State Park on the eastern side of Pine Creek Gorge (Leonard Harrison State Park). Leonard Harrison State Park camp ground is under construction until 2008, however you can access the overlook while its under construction. Here's a link that shows where it is: 

http://www.stateparks.com/tioga.html