Backcountry Camping

The Appalachian Trail runs through Pennsylvania and New Jersey portions of the park.

NPS Photo/ J. Grier

Backcountry camping is permitted only along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and only for hikers on multi-night trips with extended mileage.

Camping is restricted to through-hikers who are hiking for two or more consecutive days. Camping is limited to one night and ten people per campsite. Self-contained stoves are permitted; ground fires, charcoal stoves, and grills are prohibited.

Hikers may not camp:

• Within 100 feet of any stream or water source
• Within 0.5 mile of an established roadway
• Within 200 feet of another camping party
• From 0.5 mile south of Blue Mountain Lake Road to a point 1 mile north of Crater Lake

No trail shelters exist along the Appalachian Trail within the recreation area. The nearest shelters are Kirkridge Shelter, PA, 6.4 miles south of the Interstate 80 bridge, and Brink Road Shelter, NJ, 4 miles north of the Buttermilk Trail spur. Mohican Outdoor Center offers camping at NJ mile 10.3 and Worthington State Forest can be reached via the Douglas Trail at NJ mile 4.6.

If you plan on parking your vehicle overnight within the park boundries, be sure to fill out the overnight parking log.

For specific rules and regulations, visit our Superintendent's Compendium.

To learn more about the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, visit Appalachian National Scenic Trail (U.S. National Park Service).