Backpack Trail Guide

Trails

Top Backpacking Trails in Pennsylvania

20 routes. Each page shows when we last checked it. Updated October 2026.

Backpacking in Pennsylvania mostly means multi-day trails through state forests. The site’s trail pages cluster in the PA Wilds and north-central plateau (the Black Forest Trail, West Rim Trail, Susquehannock Trail System, Quehanna Trail, and Old Loggers Path), the northeast (the Loyalsock, Pinchot, and Thunder Swamp trails), and the central ridges (the Mid State and Standing Stone trails and the Allegheny Front Trail). They also cover three Appalachian Trail sections, the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, and shorter loops in the Allegheny National Forest such as Hickory Creek and Tracy Ridge.

Expect rocky footing, steep climbs in and out of stream hollows on the plateau, and dry, rocky ridgetops on the A.T. and the central ridges. Some trails have unbridged fords, including Pleasant Stream on the Old Loggers Path and Mosquito Creek on the Quehanna Trail, that can be dangerous in high water.

Most state forest trips need no permit for one night at a site. The Laurel Highlands trail is the exception: you must reserve its shelter areas. One guide suggests spring or fall midweek trips on the West Rim to avoid leaf-season crowds. Trip reports describe summer heat and rattlesnakes on the Black Forest Trail, and some streams run dry by late summer and fall. Hunting seasons run through December, so wear orange. Check current advisories too: Loyalsock State Forest has closed the Rock Run Road bridge on the Loyalsock Trail to vehicles (walkers can still cross), and the ATC lists the A.T.’s 501 Shelter as closed.

Quick picks

Allegheny National Forest

Central Pennsylvania

Eastern Pennsylvania

Laurel Highlands

Northeast Pennsylvania

PA Wilds

South-Central Pennsylvania

Backpacking in Pennsylvania: common questions

Do you need a permit to backpack in Pennsylvania?

On most state forest land, no: DCNR lets backpackers camp without a permit for one night in a location, and a free permit from the district office covers longer stays at one site, while groups of more than 10 need a Letter of Authorization. Tioga State Forest says camping permits are always required in the Pine Creek Gorge, though DCNR's statewide page ties that rule to camping along the Pine Creek Rail Trail. State parks allow backpack camping only at designated sites, and the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail shelters require reservations. Rules vary by managing agency, so check with the state forest, park, national forest, or national recreation area before you go.

Can you camp anywhere on public land in Pennsylvania?

Not quite: in state forests DCNR bans camping in designated Natural Areas and within 200 feet of a forest road, 25 feet of a trail, or 100 feet of a stream or open water, and state parks don't allow camping where you choose. On State Game Lands crossed by the Appalachian Trail, state rules allow only through hikers to camp, within 200 feet of the trail, one night per location, and 500 feet from springs, streams, and public access areas, while Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area limits camping to A.T. through hikers on trips of two or more days. In the Allegheny National Forest, a forest order bans camping on the Allegheny Reservoir shore or within 1,500 feet of its timberline except in designated areas.

Are campfires allowed when backpacking in Pennsylvania?

Often, but not always. In state forests you need the forest's permission for a campfire from March 1 through May 25, and no campfires are allowed when the district forester rates fire danger high, very high, or extreme. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area allows only self-contained stoves on the Appalachian Trail, the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail limits fires to stoves, fireplaces, or designated spots, and the Allegheny National Forest bans bringing in outside firewood. Check the managing agency's current fire danger before you build one.

Do you need a bear canister in Pennsylvania?

No canister requirement was found for the trips on this site, but black bears live in the state's forests. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy says canisters aren't required on the A.T. in Pennsylvania but strongly recommends them, and lists a free loaner program at the Berks Leisure Area in Wyomissing. On other trails, several of the site's trail pages suggest hanging food or otherwise storing it properly.

Is water easy to find on Pennsylvania backpacking trails?

It depends on the trail. Plateau trails in the north cross many streams, though some run low or dry in late summer and fall, while ridge routes such as the Appalachian Trail from Lehigh Gap, the Mid State Trail on Tussey Ridge, and parts of the Standing Stone Trail have long dry stretches. DCNR says only non-potable water is available at most Laurel Highlands trailheads and shelter areas, so treat it, and the Allegheny Front Trail page warns against drinking from mine-polluted Red Moshannon Creek. Treat all natural water and confirm sources before you go.

Is it safe to backpack in Pennsylvania during hunting season?

Hunting overlaps fall backpacking on much of the state's public land. The Pennsylvania Game Commission's 2026-27 dates include statewide archery deer from October 3 to November 20, antlerless muzzleloader from October 17 to 25, regular firearms bear from November 21 to 24, and regular firearms deer from November 28 to December 13, and seasons now include the Sundays within their dates. The ATC says everyone on State Game Lands must wear fluorescent orange from November 15 to December 15, which covers much of the A.T. in the state, so wear orange elsewhere too and confirm dates with the Game Commission.

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