Stay the Night at Oil Creek State Park
Make a reservation for Oil Creek State Park.
Backpacking
The 36-mile long Gerard Hiking Trail encompasses the entire park. The main trail is marked with yellow paint blazes.
For shorter day hikes, use the five connecting loops blazed in white.
Parking areas are available at several access points.
Scenic vistas, waterfalls, and historic sites are prevalent along the trail.
Two overnight, hike-in shelter areas (Cow Run and Wolfkiel Run) are along the trail. Each area contains:
A fee and reservations are mandatory for use of these areas and overnight usage is limited to one night per shelter site.
Fires are only permitted in camp stoves, fireplaces, or designated locations and must be extinguished when unattended.
Standing timber and shrubs must not be defaced.
Camping is permitted in shelter areas only. Other special regulations pertain to these areas.
Contact the park office for further information.
Pets are permitted at the shelter areas. Please contact the park office for guidelines for pets.
Instructions for Making a State Park Backpacking Reservation (PDF)
Organized Group Tenting
Organized groups can rent a rustic camping area in Wildcat Hollow or behind the warming hut.
Each area has:
Each camp can accommodate up to 25 people.
Call the park office for accommodations for larger groups.
Advance reservations are required.
To reserve a group tent campsite, call 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), Monday to Saturday, 7:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. except on the Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day holidays.