Situated in a peaceful mountain bend, Colonel Denning features a small lake beach and is a gateway for exploration of the Blue and Tuscarora Mountains.
Colonel Denning State Park Campground Review
Colonel Denning State Park is located in the historic Doubling Gap of the Blue Mountain in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. “Doubling Gap” is so named because Blue Mountain makes and “S” shaped curve here, doubling back on itself. Situated as a gateway from the Cumberland Valley to 96,000 acre Tuscarora State Forest, Colonel Denning is an excellent base camp for outdoor exploration.
The Colonel Denning campground is located in a narrow valley between the slopes of Blue Mountain. It is arranged in an upper main loop on a hillock and two lower spurs along Doubling Run. There is a third spur consisting of walk-in sites and an organized group tenting area further up Blue Mountain. You can see the arrangement of the campground in the excerpt of the DCNR Colonel Denning State Park Campground map below.
Sites 1 through 5 are adjacent to Doubling Run on the northern spur and are some of our favorites. These would be great sites for kids to splash around in the creek and to relax listing to the trickle of flowing water. The sites on southern spur along Doubling Run are fine as well, but not quite as nice, because the bank is steeper and the sites appear to be slightly smaller. The only disadvantage to these lower spurs is the uphill walk to the bathhouse. Here’s a view looking north from site 1.
Sited 19 through 52 on the main loop are uphill from Doubling Run. Although on the side of a hill, the sites on the upper loop are terraced you can find enough flat space for a tent. There are ravines/hillsides along the north and south sides of the main loop. One borders site 40 to about site 52, and the other runs from site 20 to 22. You can get a good idea of the lay of the land for each site from the video below. Here’s a view of the main loop looking northeast from site 46.
Colonel Denning has one bathroom/shower facility. There is one shower each for the men and the women. However, we didn’t have to wait in any lines given the 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. There is a sink for washing dishes around back. There is also firewood and ice for sale near the campground host, site 12.
Colonel Denning State Park has a day use area with a playground, pavilion, and small lake. The lake features a sand beach swimming area. There is a trail from the northern Doubling Run spur, near site 6 that leads to the day use area. You can also drive there from the park office via Doubling Gap Road. The day use area has its own parking and bathroom facilities. There is also a concession stand and canoes available to rent.
Although the lake is small, it is quite scenic, being sandwiched between the mountains. The maximum depth of the swimming area is about four feet. The lake itself is shallow, being mostly four to six feet deep with a few eight foot holes. You can see the details on the DCNR Doubling Gap Lake Map. The one mile Doubling Gap Nature Trail is a worthwhile loop running the perimeter of the lake and extending into the woods along Doubling Gap Run.
Our favorite campsites are 1 through 5 along Doubling Gap Run. However, as mentioned above, this comes at the cost of an uphill walk to the bathhouse. Our favorite sites on the upper loop are 33 through 37 because they stretch into the woods. If you don’t mind lugging gear and want more privacy, the walk-in sites are a good option.
Our least favorite sites would be 19, 23, 25, 34, and 36 because they are on the sides of the hill overlooking the bathhouse.
Reservations can be made easily through the DCNR Website. As with all Pennsylvania state parks, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. There is no cell service in the state park or surrounding area until you reach the Cumberland Valley.
Things to Do Near Colonel Denning State Park
The Flat Rock Trail
The Flat Rock Trail can be accessed from the Colonel Denning campground trailhead at 40.27990, -77.41832. From there it is 2.3 mile ascent to the spectacular Flat Rock Vista overlooking the Cumberland Valley. The trail is rocky, especially near the ridge, but worth it. The Flat Rock Trail intersects a number of other trails along the way including the Tuscarora Trail, so there are many opportunities to create trail loops for further exploration.
Tuscarora Chimney Rocks
Chimney Rocks is a formation that provides a wilderness view down the historic Henrys Valley between the Blue Mountain and Bower Mountain. The trail to Chimney Rocks primarily follows gated Tuscarora State Forest roads except for a rough 0.2 mile section down the side of the mountain leading to the outcropping. The 6.8 mile trail loop can be accessed from Laurel Run Road and includes a hike to the scenic Doubling Gap Vista along the way.
Pandemonium Pioneer Cemetery
The “Pioneer Cemetery” as it came to be known, is the burial ground for residents the ghost town of Pandemonium in Henry’s Valley. The stone and split rail fenced cemetery contains several dozen marked graves and many more unmarked. The valley was settled after the Revolutionary War. A tannery built in the 1840’s and a town sprang up around it. The tannery closed in the early 1880s and was superseded by a lumbering boom in the 1890s due to the creation of local rail lines. However, after the timber was harvested, the town dwindled and was completely abandoned by 1912. The cemetery is remarkably well maintained. The earliest marked grave is that of Solomon W. Henry (died 1855) and the last is that of Daniel D. Henry (died 1902).
Square Hollow Vista
Square Hollow Vista is a roadside scenic overlook and popular hangout with the locals. This vista of the Cumberland Valley is located at 40.21724, -77.54487.
Concluding Thoughts and Recommendation
From its location in the mountainous “S” curve of Doubling Gap, Colonel Denning State Park is a gateway to the adventure of Tuscarora State Forest. The campground was small and felt even cozier being divided into upper and lower sections. Although situated against the slope of the Blue Mountain, the campsites are well designed to provide enough flat space for tents and campers. The day use area and small Doubling Gap Lake with its sand beach are great amenities for kids. The only thing we didn’t love about the campground is that we could hear vehicles periodically blast down the mountain from nearby Route 233. I suppose that comes with being located in a strategic mountain gap. Thankfully though, the campground is set back down the valley, so the campground isn’t directly against the road. We’ve camped here several times and would gladly make a return trip for further exploration of the mountain trails and abundant scenic views.
For more information, visit the Colonel Denning State Park Website.
Also, be sure to check out our other campground guides and reviews.
