Bald Eagle State Park — Attraction in Howard Township

Let me start off by saying that I am an avid camper and have been to many campsites in PA. This site left a lot to be desired. My friends and I came to the rustic camp loop and we had 8 people total between two camp sites for 2 nights. We were visited by the park rangers multiple times throughout the weekend as well as a visit from the camp host. As soon as 9pm hits, you may as well just go to bed because we were told even whispering was too loud as the sound travels at night and they said another campsite complained about us being too noisy even though we were doing our absolute best to keep as quiet as possible while still trying to enjoy our weekend. On Saturday alone we were visited by a few different rangers throughout the day who came to tell us the exact same thing the ranger before them already told us. After the host visited us regarding our noise through ranger #3, it eventually just started to feel like harassment. We explained to the host in the morning that two from our group weren’t able to get to the site until 11pm so any noise that was heard that late was due to us helping them unload and get their tents set up and make a quick meal before bed. We repeated this to every ranger that came by to talk to us about how “noisy” we were. We must have been visited regarding the previous night’s noise at least 5 times. Outside of the multiple DCNR visits for noise issues, the site itself wasn’t ideal. We also had 3 other ranger visits regarding the location of our tents which we had pitched in the trees behind our gravel site. We had to move our tents back to the gravel which was directly against the road and absolutely meant for an RV. Staking down our tents wasn’t even possible so it was lucky that the weather was kind to us. You could see the other sites easily as they were all pretty close together and your tent is super out in the open and right against a road which hardly screams rustic. If you have to go to the bathroom, there are 2 litrines and, depending on where your site is located you may want to drive to it. They definitely need some cleaning, though, as the smell was quite rank. There is no way to wash your hands and sanitizer isn’t available so make sure to bring your own. And if you want a shower you have to pay $4. I’m not even sure there are showers in the rustic loop so you’d probably be paying $4 and driving 20 minutes to the modern loop just to take a shower. The hiking trails were lackluster and a bit confusing, and it was impossible to rent a kayak or canoe which was disheartening. Only SUPs, jet skis, ski boats, and pontoon boats were available. There is a railroad track nearby that we never heard in use, but be careful about long leashes on the trails. You can only have 2 cars at each campsite, so if you need to use the overflow parking be prepared for a good hike back to your site. You can pull your car up to unload but be careful about leaving your car sitting for too long at your site before moving it or else the rangers may come by and tell you to move your car. And when trying to leave this morning one of our friends couldn’t get his car started. We had to wait for someone to come and tow his car and during that time, despite knowing the situation, we were visited by ranger who said that we had to get his car off of the site by 3pm with or without the tow because the next set of campers are in at 3. So checkout is 3pm and so is check-in. There is literally 0 maintenance done by the park staff between the time you leave and the next set of campers coming in. So god forbid the next set of campers does something like say a pile of alcohol cans were left by the previous campers when it belongs to them so they don’t get in trouble, I’d be concerned they could send you an unwarranted fine and you’d have no way to dispute the claim for lack of proof. There is more I could say, but I think I’ll just leave it at the lake view on the rustic side is absolutely beautiful at sunset and the tunnel under the train tracks is kind of cool, but it’s not enough to make me drive 4 hours...

The only reason I am giving 3 Stars is because I try to practice honesty and fairness in any review I make a point to post. The water was absolutely beautiful, the boat renting process was easy and stress free, the trails were easily accessible and described accurately (i.e for beginners, or if rocky and needing higher experience) and the beach was clean and absolutely breathtaking. That being said, I would not ever EVER try to camp there again. Maybe its the site we picked, in which case there should definitely have been a better description of what to expect. Our tent site was Rustic 51. Never. Again. We had an entire Jeep packed to brim with our weeks worth of camping gear ... with no way to bring the car to the actual site for unloading. Instead, we had to make over 20 trips up a steep, rocky and unstable incline. While we are not in the best of shape, we definitely are used to hiking and camping. The incline up to the site had us slipping, gasping and over a week later, our backs are still in pain. We noticed other sites had paths to get to them too, but ours was definitely the more steep. The site was secluded (which is what we were looking for) BUT in our personal experience, NOT tent camping friendly. We had to move the tent around 4 times before we could find a place to plant the pegs. When I say it was rockier than any site we have been to, it is no exaggeration. The sheer number of stones, jagged rocks and other such things usually found in nature was overly abundant, to the point where one wonders who surveyed that area and deemed it compatible for any tent bigger than a 4 person, maybe. Our ankles and feet were badly bruised by the end our stay, even with us diligently trying to avoid them. Again, rocks are expected in nature, but one does not usually expect a site that was that spacious to have limited land to actually use. To top it off, the picnic bench provided is at a horrible slant. Placing anything on there was a risk and took serious concentration. Overall, our "relaxing" vacation we have been looking forward to since last June was a complete bust and we will be happy to never return. RV camping seems to be their preferred clientele and the amount of sites for them was overflowing, if not tinier than one usually expects to see. Conclusion: Gorgeous and perfect for a day trip, but they definitely need updated descriptions of the sites and...

We stayed a few days in the beginning of July after the 4th camp site 58. Rustic camping. The picnic table was on its last legs we had to put flat Stones under the one end just to be able to sit on it. We had to put wood under the stove to be able to cook. Than there was an active railroad right next to the site with a train that went through at 1 AM in the morning and throughout the day. We have our dog with us who we kept on a 25 foot lead or a leash the entire time the campsite across the way site 57 had two dogs they were constantly running around getting in our campsite in the middle of the night while our dog was in the tent with us they were constantly looking for their dog who kept getting off of the leash it was so hot that week we did get a boat and go out on the boat on the lake which was beautiful and peaceful we paid on the honor system for a shower as the sign said showers are not kept up or clean. The camp host asked us if the dogs from the site across from us were a bother so they were aware that they were in Violation of the leash law. We left early morning after making sure our campsite was clean after all we knew where we had been in n the site. Get home and a week to a week and half later get a summons stating we left dog poop in the site. Of course we did not since the minute our dog went we cleaned it up and she never left our side. I carried poop bags with me every where. The fine is around $250.00 more than the site even cost and they expect us to pay for it with no proof of it even being ours since we left and the dogs across from us were there. I Sent a letter explaining it was not us in the situation at the campsite and then we were sure we cleaned up everything from our dog they sent us a letter to tell us we have to go to court this is for an a half hours away from us I work and cannot take time off to drive 4 1/2 hours for a bogus charge I requested a zoom meeting with the judge and was told I have to pay the fine and everything in full before it would be granted somehow I thought in the United States of America A person was innocent until proven guilty but apparently in this small town in Pennsylvania they try to get out of stators to pay bogus fine and then prove that they are innocent in order to get the money back if anybody else had the same problems with these people if you’re from...