Colonel Denning State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Colonel Denning State Park, found in Cumberland County of Pennsylvania, is a 273-acre area with a 3.5-acre lake. This park is located near the Tuscarora State Forest, and it is open year-round for day use from sunrise to sunset. In the summer, visitors come to this park to hike the trails and go swimming along the lake’s shores while, in the winter, visitors often come to go ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and ice skating.
This park is named after William Denning, who was never a colonel but served in the Revolutionary War from 1778 to 1780. In 1930, the state park was established as a state recreational area, and it was later developed in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Nearby Cities:
Couchtown, PA
McCrea, PA
Bloserville, PA
Loysville, PA
Spring 30-49 F
Summer 63-84 F
Fall 42-63 F
Winter 20-36 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Colonel Denning State Park
Campground Accommodations
Colonel Denning State Park Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: Yes; 30 sites
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 40 feet
Other amenities: Fire rings, picnic tables, potable water, restrooms, showers, public phone
Dogwood Acres Campground, Inc.
Dogwood Acres Campground, Inc., is a locally owned campground in Newville, Pennsylvania, that has been in the region for decades. It has a serene atmosphere that serves as an ideal resting place after your adventures in the state park. The RV park includes a total of 100 sites, and each of them comes equipped with full hookups. Amenities to enjoy here include a fountain, swimming pool, and fire rings. The address of Dogwood Acres Campground, Inc., is 500 Enola Rd, Newville, PA 17241.
Paradise Stream Family Campground
Paradise Stream Family Campground is a family-friendly RV park located in Loysville, Pennsylvania. It includes an on-site general store that offers supplies such as propane and seasoned firewood. Other amenities you can look forward to at Paradise Stream include heated bathhouses, free Wi-Fi, and a laundry room. The nightly rate for standard full-hookup sites is $64, and the nightly rate for full hookup sites with a view of the lake is $69. The address of Paradise Stream Family Campground is 693 Paradise Stream Rd, Loysville, PA 17047.
What to Do at
Colonel Denning State Park
Hunting is popular at Colonel Denning State Park during hunting, trapping, and dog training seasons. The species permitted to be caught at the park include deer, squirrel, and turkey. In the winter, visitors may come to the park for cross-country skiing, which is permitted on all roads and trails of the park. Once the park’s lake freezes, ice skating is also allowed in the swimming beach area from 8:00 a.m. to sunset.
All year-round, Colonel Denning State Park offers public educational programs, such as historical and ecological walks. There are also many youth programs hosted by park staff during the summer season.
Inside Colonel Denning State Park
Tuscarora State Forest is an ideal hunting destination, offering game species such as turkeys, white-tailed deer, and squirrels. You can also head to the forest if you are looking for a rewarding hike through the dense greenery. Spanning an impressive 105 miles, Tuscarora Trail is the longest hiking path at Colonel Denning State Park and certainly one of the most popular. There are also 200 picnic tables located throughout the premises if you want to enjoy a relaxing afternoon under the trees. Moreover, trout fishing, water skiing, and swimming are common attractions you can look forward to at Doubling Gap Lake.
Fishing
Visitors can fish at Doubling Gap Lake for trout in Colonel Denning State Park. There is one fishing pier located at the southwest end of the lake, near the restrooms, and this pier is also wheelchair-accessible.
Geocaching
Some geocaches exist along the trails at this state park for visitors to find, and the contents of these caches usually relate to local ecology or camping. Visitors are also permitted to place geocaches without a permit, and you may find clues as to where to find geocaches online.
Nature Watching
Visitors to this park can spot wildlife such as groundhogs, deer, squirrels, and songbirds when they rest at one of the multiple picnic sites. Many visitors also like to rent the additional two picnic pavilions at the park for wildlife viewing and picnicking. There are playgrounds found near both pavilions, and both pavilions and the other picnic sites feature charcoal grills.
Hiking
There are four hiking trails found in Colonel Denning State Park, all ranging from easy to difficult in intensity. The easiest trail is the Doubling Gap Nature Trail, which features benches and both begins and ends at the park’s lake. The most difficult trail is the Tuscarora Trail, which is a small portion of the Appalachian Trail that runs through the park. Other trails include the moderately difficult Rattlesnake Trail and the difficult Flat Rock Trail.
Boating
Non-motorized boats, including canoes and kayaks, may be used on Doubling Gap Lake outside of fishing season. Trout season typically extends from November to the Friday before Memorial Day, and boating is prohibited at this time. Boats have to be carried in, and they can be launched on the west end of the swimming beach.
Swimming
Colonel Denning State Park's Doubling Gap Lake has its own swimming beach located on the east side of the lake. This beach is open for use during the summer season from May to September. Smoking is prohibited at the beach, and no lifeguards are usually present.
How to Get to
Colonel Denning State Park
The Colonel Denning State Park is found 8 miles north of Newville and 9 miles south of Landisburg, PA. To reach the park, visitors are recommended to use PA-233, which has direct access to the entrance. There is no entrance fee to use this park, and there is a free parking area for all vehicles, RVs included, to use in the day-use area beside Doubling Gap Lake.
Entering Colonel Denning State Park
Colonel Denning State Park opens up at 8 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m seven days a week.
Colonel Denning State Park Per vehicle (1-4 adults) : $0.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Colonel Denning State Park
Visitors can enjoy Colonel Denning State Park any time of year since certain activities are only available seasonally. In the summer, visitors can enjoy swimming and boating while, in the fall, hunting and fishing become available. In the winter and spring, trapping and hunting may still be available, plus ice skating and cross-country skiing become quite popular. However, the campground at this park closes in the winter, typically from December to March, so those wanting to camp should plan to make their visit between the spring and fall seasons.
Wildlife typically found at Colonel Denning State Park include turkeys, deer, groundhogs, and squirrels. Many local species of songbirds and waterfowl may also be spotted, particularly on the swimming beach.
The campground at Colonel Denning State Park has 49 campsites that can accommodate either tents or RVs. However, only 30 of these sites offer electrical hookups for RVs, and only three of those sites offer 50-amp hookups.
Campers are encouraged to reserve a campsite at Colonel Denning State Park online or by phone prior to their visit. The fee to camp here may vary but is usually around $29 per night.
Pets are allowed at this state park and its campground so long as they are on a leash and are attended to at all times. However, pets are not allowed in the swimming areas or in any of the buildings on the grounds.