Ricketts Glen State Park

With a reputation as one of the best natural areas anywhere in Pennsylvania, Ricketts Glen State Park boasts some truly beautiful scenery. The park is home to the Glens Natural Area, which boasts several spectacular waterfalls in a pristine forest setting.

However, it's also home to a pet-friendly campground where you and your dog can bed down for the night. There are a few options to consider if you're planning a stay in Ricketts Glen State Park:

• Tent or trailer camping. The 120-site campground is open from April to December. Hot showers, flush toilets, and a dump station are all provided, and sites are typically well-shaded. Pets are only allowed on designated sites (74-94, 96, 100-120) for a fee of $2/night, and there's a limit of two pets per campsite.
• Cabins. There are 10 modern cabins available for rent year-round, with one of them (Cabin H) classed as dog-friendly. The furnished cabins feature beds, a kitchen/dining area, a toilet, and a shower. Staying in a pet-friendly cabin incurs an additional fee of $5/night, while a two-pet limit also applies.
• Deluxe camping cottages. Ricketts Glen is also home to five deluxe camping cottages, three of which (Seneca, Huron, Shawnee) welcome pets. These feature an electric range, microwave, fridge, table and chairs, and heating. Amenities can be found in the nearby shower house and a two-pet limit once again applies. There's an additional fee of $5/night if staying with your dog, with cottages available from April until October.

Wherever you choose to stay, pets must be leashed, well-behaved and cleaned up after at all times.

To experience the best Ricketts Glen State Park has to offer, we'd recommend packing your hiking shoes and tackling the 26-mile trail network. The most spectacular (and also the most popular) route is the 7.2-mile Falls Trail. This takes in 21 beautiful waterfalls, the highest of which is 94-foot Ganoga Falls.

However, take note that with so many waterfalls around the trails can get quite wet and slippery, so wear appropriate footwear and take it easy. The trail is also steep in parts, so make sure you leave plenty of time to not only walk the entire distance but also stop to admire the many sights along the way. Of course, make sure you and your dog have a sufficient level of physical fitness before setting out, and that you're both nimble enough to negotiate any tricky sections of trail.

There's plenty more to do at Ricketts Glen, including swimming at its 600-foot beach, renting a boat to explore 245-acre Lake Jean, and maybe even catching a glimpse of an elusive black bear.

So if you're searching for a pet-friendly camping destination with abundant natural beauty, Ricketts Glen State Park is one of those places you really should visit at least once!