‘Still Open, Still Awesome’: DCNR highlights open state campgrounds

(WTAJ) — Some campgrounds could remain closed this summer due to the federal hiring freeze, including three sites at Raystown Lake. But in response, Pennsylvania has launched a new campaign letting campers know the state-run parks remain ready for reservations.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is behind the “Still Open, Still Awesome” campaign. It highlights the 124 state parks and over 2-million acres of state forest that are free to the public all year-round. The DCNR said for the upcoming summer, they’ve already seen reservations at state park campsites increase by 30%.

Some of the increase could come from other campsite closures, but John Hallas, State Parks Director for DCNR, said it could also be because of a change in how people want to spend their free time.

“Across the board, we went up in total visitation 27% between 2019 and 2020. But as I stated earlier, I think a lot of people that weren’t maybe typical or regular park users or campers, during COVID discovered us and followed us and that that trend line has been rising as far as visitation and use ever since COVID,” Hallas said.

State campsites can be booked up to 11 months in advance and some weekends and holidays this summer are already nearly full.