Free camping near Russell, PA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Russell, PA there are 21 camps: 8 free, 13 fee. The closest is Buckaloons Rec Area, 9.1 miles south-west of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Nct-Tracy Run North Shelter, 12 miles out. The circle crosses a state line: NY and PA.
Who manages them: 21 on the Forest Service.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckaloons Rec Area | 9.1 | Fee | — | 2.3 mi to Starbrick | — |
| Hooks Brook Boat To | 10 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Russell | — |
| Hopewell Boat To | 11 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Russell | — |
| Handsome Lake Boat To | 11 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Russell | — |
| Pine Grove Boat To | 11 | Fee | — | 10.0 mi to Clarendon | — |
| Nct-Tracy Run North Shelter | 12 | Free | North Branch Tracy Run (stream) | 5.8 mi to Stickney | — |
| Dewdrop Rec Area | 12 | Fee | — | 7.8 mi to Clarendon | — |
| Willow Bay Rec Area | 12 | Fee | — | 12 mi to Russell | — |
| Morrison Boat To | 14 | Fee | — | 9.0 mi to Clarendon | — |
| Tracy Ridge Rec Area | 14 | Fee | — | 10 mi to University of Pittsburgh Bradford | — |
| Nct-Hammond Run Shelter | 15 | Free | Hammond Run (stream) | 3.5 mi to Klondike | — |
| Kiasutha Rec Area | 16 | Fee | — | 8.7 mi to Sheffield | — |
| Nct-Chappel Fork Shelter | 16 | Free | Chappel Fork (stream) | 3.7 mi to Elijah | — |
| Ranger Cabins | 17 | Free | English Creek (stream) | 3.7 mi to Stickney | — |
| Red Bridge Rec Area | 17 | Fee | — | 8.9 mi to Kane | — |
| Hearts Content Rec Area | 18 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Clarendon | — |
| Nct-Gibbs Spring Shelter | 20 | Free | Two Mile Run (stream) | 1.8 mi to Gibbs Hill | — |
| Nct-Hunter Station Shelter | 20 | Free | Pell Run (stream) | 2.7 mi to Truemans | — |
| Nct-Queen Creek Shelter | 20 | Free | Middle Hickory Creek (stream) | 2.1 mi to Hearts Content | — |
| Minister Creek Campground & Trailhead | 22 | Fee | — | 8.5 mi to Sheffield | — |
| Nct-Cherry Run Shelter | 22 | Free | South Branch Tionesta Creek (river) | 0.9 mi to Cherry Run | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Russell, PA, not a driving distance — a camp four miles out across a canyon can be an hour of road. Cost is the audited three-state verdict on each camp's own record: free, fee, or unpriced where we could not confirm a price. A blank column is a gap in the record, not a statement that the thing is absent. Camps come from state and federal agency records, not from a visit, except the ones marked. Seasons, permits and fire rules change: confirm with the managing office before you go. Found a fee where we show free? Tell us on the contact page.