Hawk Recreation Area — Hotel in Strasburg

I've stayed here on two separate trips in the past couple years. I enjoyed it. It's close enough (to the Delaware/Maryland area) that you aren't driving all day to get here, but it's also far enough out into the countryside that you feel like you are secluded and have stepped away from civilization.

You kind of have to watch for the turn as you cross over into West Virigina or you might miss it. It has signs, but they aren't always obvious if you aren't going slow and paying attention. You will drive a ways down some narrow gravel forest roads before you arrive.

It is just pit toilets and the sites are picnic tables, fire rings, plus a cleared gravel area to pitch your tent. As others have said, your experience will likely be highly dependent on who your neighbors are, how many neighbors there are, and how loud they are.

Both times I have been here in separate years, I had no issues with anyone. There was a group of guys who appeared to be having a party, but they were several sites down from me, so they weren't really that loud. Otherwise, most people, me included, kept to themselves and were quiet.

I did thoroughly enjoy the nearby hiking trails which when I was last there were marked with colorful ribbon hanging from trees. One of the trails is just across the road from the main entrance to Hawk Campground. It loops back around to one of the main forest roads. On this trail, I saw my first ever bear in real life, so beware! The bear was fairly far away and ran at the...

I camped in this place for two seasons (2015 and 2016). I was really excited about it at first. It was secluded and on the primitive side, which I guess keeps it for the right crowd. But you do hear generators sometimes in the distance, and the spot appears to often be under a sky highway of low-flying planes. Two incidents turned me off: the mosquitoes and the stink bugs. If mosquitoes love you, go in spring and fall, but not summer. Also avoid stink bugs late fall because they come out IN DROVES! They will enter in every thing they find, including your hair and shirt and tent and bags, and between the car window cracks. They will winter in your car and fly into your face while driving next spring as they come out!!! These insects came over from Asia and they are now taking over large parts of the country. They don't bite, and the "stink" in the name is mild, but they are annoying enough to destroy every minute of your time, and land onto your eyes, tea, and mouth. They do so because they are trying to find a place to spend the winter. Also the water pump takes a lot of pumping to get you water, so take your water with you. On the bright side, I loved the mostly quiet setting and the breeze, and the lulling Hawk Creek when it is running strong. I was also able to have a strong...

Only twenty minutes from the matrix, and miles away from the sound of trains and highways. When we arrived there were only a few other guests and we were unfortunately the noisiest while getting set up. The Tuscarora Trail used to go by here but has since been rerouted. Sites do have the claimed picnic tables, fire rings with an adjustable grill and pea gravel tent pads which measure 15x12 feet. The wonderfully chilly stainless steel seats in the privy substitute for shots of espresso; I must recommend taking wet wipes to maintain that sticky fresh sensation. Hawk Run is a few hundred yards to the east down the wildflower trail. It is silt bottom and clean enough for back country...