Camp at the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon! Leonard Harrison is a National Landmark with a cozy campground that gives you intimate access to the Pine Creek Gorge.
Leonard Harrison State Park Campground Review
With a remarkable location atop the rim of the Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the “Pennsylvania Grand Canyon”, Leonard Harrison State Park invariably appears on the “top ten” Pennsylvania campground lists. But behind the marketing and tourism, what is Leonard Harrison State Park really like? Is it worth it? Find out from someone who has actually been there!
Leonard Harrison State Park is located in Tioga County about 15 minutes off of Route 6. The first thing that struck us about the campground is its tiny size. It consists of a single loop with a total of 28 campsites. For an attraction like the “Pennsylvania Grand Canyon” we would have expected a much larger and busier campground. As you can see from the excerpt of the DCNR campground map below, the sites on the southern half of the loop are non-electric, while seven sites on the northern half are electric.
The loop is centered around a stand of trees and brush which provides an almost complete screen from the campsites on the opposite side. It is the inverse of most state parks, in that the sites on the inside of the loop are more wooded than the sites on the outside. The campground is almost entirely flat, except in the area of site 23. Even then, there is enough level ground for a tent. Here’s a view looking up the southern side of the loop from about site 4.
In our opinion there isn’t a bad site in the entire campground. Here is a view looking up the northern side where the electric sites are located.
Leonard Harrison has one bathroom/shower facility with one shower each for the men and the women. However, we didn’t have to wait in any lines given the small size of the park and the number of campers, many of which have their own facilities. Like most state parks, the facilities were clean and well maintained. Notably, the showers and associated changing areas were huge. Each was easily the size of two showers. There is a sink for washing dishes at the entrance to the bathhouse.
Leonard Harrison has a small playground, but foregoes amenities found at other state parks, such as ice and firewood for sale, an amphitheater for programs, and swimming. There are no cabins, yurts, or group tenting areas. However, the “Pennsylvania Grand Canyon” visitor center has a gift shop.
There is a reservable pavilion between the campground and “Pennsylvania Grand Canyon”. It is far enough away from both and tucked against the woods to give a feeling of a private party. The sea of black-eyed Sussans in bloom around the park was a masterful touch of landscape design.
This is the part where we offer our favorite and least favorite sites. In the case of Leonard Harrison, though, there aren’t any “bad” sites, and we would be happy to camp at any of them. If we had to choose, our preference would be site 23 for an electric site on account of being the most set back. But this comes at the cost of distance from the bathhouse.
If pressed for best non-electric sites, we recommend site 1 because it is also set back away from its neighbors. Sites on the inner loop under the pines (8, 11, 12) would also be in our top picks. Note that although site 6 is in the pines, there is a path to the bathhouse skirting it, so you can expect lots of foot traffic there.
Reservations can be made easily through the DCNR Website. As with all Pennsylvania state parks, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. There is little to no cell service in the campground.
Things to Do at Leonard Harrison State Park
Pennsylvania Grand Canyon (Pine Creek Gorge)
The main attraction of Leonard Harrison State Park is that it sets stop the eastern rim of the Pine Creek Gorge, marketed as the “Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.” When camping there you can beat the crowds and enjoy the spectacular views off hours at your leisure and even catch painted sky sunsets.
Turkey Path Trail
The Turkey Path Trail is a must-do when visiting Leonard Harrison State Park – if you can make it. The trail begins at the “Pennsylvania Grand Canyon” viewing platform and descends all the way down to Pine Creek at the bottom of the gorge. Although the trail is steep in parts, it is well maintained and is improved by numerous boardwalks and switchbacks. Along the way you will encounter multiple waterfalls and be rewarded with scenic views Pine Creek. We took the opportunity to cool off with a dip in the creek.
Barbour Rock and Colton Point
Although Leonard Harrison gets all the press as the “Pennsylvania Grand Canyon” the best views are actually on the other side of the gorge at Barbour Rock and Colton Point. These destinations on the more rugged western rim are the best kept secrets of the Pine Creek Gorge.
Pine Creek Rail Trail
The Pine Creek Rail Trail is one of the longest and most picturesque rail trails in northcentral Pennsylvania. It follows Pine Creek from the mouth of the gorge at Ansonia all the way to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River at Jersey Shore. The rail trail is known for its serene scenic views of the gorge, history, waterfalls, and – rattlesnakes.
Rattlesnake Rock
Rattlesnake Rock is a large conspicuous rock formation jutting into a bend of Pine Creek. It is a popular swimming hole and hangout with panoramic views as Pine Creek curves around it. Rattlesnake Rock is accessible from a large parking lot via a short walking path spur off of the Pine Creek Rail Trail. The highlight of Rattlesnake Rock is the 10-ish foot jump into the swimming hole. Visit our post [COMMING SOON] to learn why it is called “Rattlesnake Rock”
Stony Fork
Stony Fork is a secluded stream in a narrow ravine with multiple waterfalls and swimming holes. There is even a waterfall you can jump off of! But it can be tricky to find. Be sure to join us on this adventure to learn how to get there.
Concluding Thoughts and Recommendation
Does the Leonard Harrison State Park Campground life up to its reputation? Yes, but not in a way you might think. Although a heavily marketed tourist attraction dubbed the “Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania” it is one of the smallest state park campgrounds we’ve visited. During our mid-summer stay, we were surprised by how few campers there were. The campground was over half empty. Maybe the high vacancy was due to the semi-rainy weather forecast. Or maybe it was due to competition from the many private campgrounds in the area which offered more amenities. In any case, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay, which was enhanced by the quiet atmosphere, simplicity, and rural remoteness of this small campground. Our favorite parts included off-hours access to the Pine Creek Gorge and almost overwhelming opportunities for nearby outdoor adventure, only a few of which we’ve listed here. Stay tuned for more exciting explorations of the area.
For more information, visit the Leonard Harrison State Park Website.
Also, be sure to check out our other campground guides and reviews.
Here are some nearby adventures:
