Bald Eagle State Forest Overlanding

[Jobofly]

I am planning my first overlanding trip ever. We are heading to BESF. I just received my purple lizard map and have started planning my routes with OnX Off-road. Would love any tips or advice on overlanding and Bald Eagle state forest. We are just doing an over night. Leaving early Saturday morning and returning Sunday evening. I’ll have my Mojave and my buddy will have his Wrangler Willys. Should be a lot of fun. I am sleeping in my lost canyon truck bed tent. He is sleeping in his cab.

any advice is welcomed. Thanks everyone.

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[Benbean66]

We are but a few hours away from BE, and It is definitely on our bucket list of places to hit. I'll be following along to gain some insight on your trip! Have fun!

 

[JeepinPete]

You are looking at dirt/gravel roads for the most part. Nice place to spend some time.

Do know that the state forest campsites are no longer free. You have to reserve them online. $10 a night last I checked.

Pete

 

[Jobofly]

You are looking at dirt/gravel roads for the most part. Nice place to spend some time.

Do know that the state forest campsites are no longer free. You have to reserve them online. $10 a night last I checked.

Pete

Yes i did call the park ranger to get some information and found that out. Do you know of any campsites near a good fishing spot?

 

[JeepinPete]

Can't help you there. If you are up to staying at state park campsites, Poe Paddy and Poe Valley are both on creeks/rivers that are stocked for trout.

 

[ggdillon]

Hey! That's been my backyard for my whole life! Weird to hear it as a overlanding destination. I have some recommendations. Here's a few. Reach out if you have other questions. Good views. Good fishing. Good gravel biking. Better mountain biking in adjacent Rothrock SF. Nothing too extreme on driveable trails, but fun. The Purple Lizard map is the best source of info.

Campsite:
Site #61 on Hoofnagle road near Weikert has adirondack sytle lean-to. Nevermind sleeping in the trucks, just sleep in the lean-to! The parking isn't perfectly level if you are set on sleeping in the trucks at that site, but there's room for two trucks (but it's RIGHT beside the road) and the lean-to is a dry place to hang out by the fire if it's raining. Good central location.
If you're set on sleeping in the truck, many of the sites are a bit off the road and have flat areas to park. Unless it's near the first day of trout (4/6) the sites are usually open, I wouldn't worry about having specific site reserved, you can just play it by ear although cell reception is typically poor except for the ridgetops.

Campsites near good fishing: I'd focus on Penns Creek if you're a fly fisher and want the special regs streams and Poe Paddy is right on the creek. Nice rustic campground. Train tunnel to walk through. Or drive up Poe Paddy Drive to my favorite overlooks (Ingleby and Penns View) and camp on Poe Paddy Dr or Pine Swamp Rd. (but not all are great for "overlanders" as they close to teh road with small parking areas). White Deer Creek is stocked but I haven't really been through there in years, but I bet the campsites near there fill up for first day of trout. Poe Valley lake and teh stream down to Poe Paddy is stocked and well-used for first few weeks of trout too (I'll be there mid-April).

Trails: My favorite for mud is Sharpback Hollow Road. Bypasses exist for bigger mudholes. Some of the ones near Stony Run Road are too deep for me to try as I"m usually out by myself w/o a winch. After doing that trail, you should also get out of the trucks and walk (partly on-trail, mostly off-trail) this location: 40 deg 56.5884 N, 77 deg 11.7040 W. It's a lesser-known craggy overlook of the Gooseneck ravine.

My favorite trail for rocks is Paddy Mountain Road. I usually do it a couple times.

Beer: Elk Creek Cafe in Millheim. Or Rusty Rail in Mifflinburg on your way in or out if you're headed in that direction.

Have fun!

 

[Jobofly]

Hey! That's been my backyard for my whole life! Weird to hear it as a overlanding destination. I have some recommendations. Here's a few. Reach out if you have other questions. Good views. Good fishing. Good gravel biking. Better mountain biking in adjacent Rothrock SF. Nothing too extreme on driveable trails, but fun. The Purple Lizard map is the best source of info.

Campsite:
Site #61 on Hoofnagle road near Weikert has adirondack sytle lean-to. Nevermind sleeping in the trucks, just sleep in the lean-to! The parking isn't perfectly level if you are set on sleeping in the trucks at that site, but there's room for two trucks (but it's RIGHT beside the road) and the lean-to is a dry place to hang out by the fire if it's raining. Good central location.
If you're set on sleeping in the truck, many of the sites are a bit off the road and have flat areas to park. Unless it's near the first day of trout (4/6) the sites are usually open, I wouldn't worry about having specific site reserved, you can just play it by ear although cell reception is typically poor except for the ridgetops.

Campsites near good fishing: I'd focus on Penns Creek if you're a fly fisher and want the special regs streams and Poe Paddy is right on the creek. Nice rustic campground. Train tunnel to walk through. Or drive up Poe Paddy Drive to my favorite overlooks (Ingleby and Penns View) and camp on Poe Paddy Dr or Pine Swamp Rd. (but not all are great for "overlanders" as they close to teh road with small parking areas). White Deer Creek is stocked but I haven't really been through there in years, but I bet the campsites near there fill up for first day of trout. Poe Valley lake and teh stream down to Poe Paddy is stocked and well-used for first few weeks of trout too (I'll be there mid-April).

Trails: My favorite for mud is Sharpback Hollow Road. Bypasses exist for bigger mudholes. Some of the ones near Stony Run Road are too deep for me to try as I"m usually out by myself w/o a winch. After doing that trail, you should also get out of the trucks and walk (partly on-trail, mostly off-trail) this location: 40 deg 56.5884 N, 77 deg 11.7040 W. It's a lesser-known craggy overlook of the Gooseneck ravine.

My favorite trail for rocks is Paddy Mountain Road. I usually do it a couple times.

Beer: Elk Creek Cafe in Millheim. Or Rusty Rail in Mifflinburg on your way in or out if you're headed in that direction.

Have fun!

Wow this is so helpful! Thank you so much for the information. We plan on hitting those trails you mentioned. Probably wont bring my fishing stuff this time but i will scout it out for next time.

 

[Jobofly]

What an amazing trip it was. Hit every rated trail and my Mojave handled them like a champ. Highly recommend Bald Eagle State Forest for overlanding and camping.

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