Unplugging in the Mountains of Pennsylvania
If you’ve ever wanted to trade Wi-Fi bars for winding trails and campfire crackles, Pine Grove Furnace State Park is the kind of place that makes you slow down – in the best way. Tucked inside Michaux State Forest in south-central Pennsylvania, this peaceful campground is surrounded by tall pines, rich history, and one of America’s most famous trails – the Appalachian Trail.
We picked Pine Grove Furnace mostly because it was close enough for a day trip to Gettysburg and right on the Appalachian Trail (how cool is that?). What started as a practical stop turned into one of those spots that stays with you. We visited in May, when the trees were lush, the nights were cool, and the campfire smoke lingered just right in the mountain air.
Our campsite was long but narrow – plenty of room lengthwise, but a little tight for maneuvering. With our still-developing RV-backing skills, it took some teamwork (and a helpful camper) to get parked. Once we were settled, though, it was pure calm.
The first thing you notice is the quiet. No traffic hum, no notifications – just the breeze and the birds. There’s no cell service at all, which was strange at first, but also kind of refreshing. T-Mobile’s satellite texting worked fine for quick messages, and we used Starlink to check in when needed. Still, it was nice to actually disconnect for a bit.
Pine Grove Furnace State Park is more than a campground – it’s a window into Pennsylvania’s past. The park sits on what used to be an iron-making village from the 1760s. The old stone furnace still stands today, once used to smelt iron ore into pig iron that fueled early American industry.
When the iron business faded out in the late 1800s, the area slowly transformed from a working industrial site into a summer retreat, and eventually into the state park we know today. You can still feel that history all around – from the preserved furnace stack to the small museum that marks the halfway point of the Appalachian Trail.
Pros:
- Peaceful and quiet – perfect for unplugging.
- Friendly and helpful campground hosts.
- Beautiful forested setting with trails and lakes within biking distance.
- Great weather in May – no AC or heat needed.
- Fuller Lake is gorgeous and easy to reach.
Cons:
- No cell service (depending on your perspective, this could be a pro!).
- Showers have preset temperatures and timed water bursts.
- No hookups, and tree cover can make solar tricky.
- The road in is a little twisty but manageable.
We only had two full days here, but we made them count. One day was spent exploring Gettysburg, about 40 minutes away. It’s one of those places that’s impossible to describe until you’re standing there – powerful, somber, and full of stories.
The next day, we kept things local and took our bikes out on the Mountain Creek Trail, which runs roughly a mile from the campground to Fuller Lake. It’s a gentle, shaded ride that follows the creek through the woods – quiet, scenic, and just enough to make you feel like you earned that lakeside rest.
Along the way, we stopped near the old furnace ruins, where Layla found some striking bright blue rocks in the water. We later learned they were slag – a glassy byproduct from the park’s 18th- and 19th-century iron furnaces. When the molten iron was separated from impurities, those impurities cooled into colorful, glass-like chunks. Over time, bits of slag washed downstream, and now you can still spot them in the creeks – blue, green, and shimmering in the sunlight.
It’s a cool reminder of how the park’s past literally flows through it – pieces of its history still sparkling along the creek beds today.
We spent the afternoon at Fuller Lake, which used to be an old iron ore pit before it filled with spring water. Today it’s a clear, calm lake perfect for swimming, picnicking, or just soaking up the peaceful atmosphere.
That evening, we made dinner over the fire and watched the sky fade behind the trees – no screens, no rush, just us and the woods.
If your idea of a good trip involves unwinding, reconnecting, and breathing actual fresh air, Pine Grove Furnace Campground is the place. It’s not fancy, but that’s exactly what makes it special. Between the rich history, friendly community, and access to both trails and lakes, it’s the kind of spot where you can reset before heading back into the chaos.
Next time, we’ll plan to stay longer – maybe in the summer, when Fuller Lake opens for swimming and we can check out Laurel Lake, just a bit farther down the trail. Pine Grove Furnace might not have all the modern amenities, but it has something better: peace, perspective, and plenty of pine-scented air.
Travel Turtles 