Ole Bull State Park

Ole Bull State Park

Ole Bull State Park
4.5
About
Duration: More than 3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
1 within 10 kms

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles16 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
4
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
1

Carl B
Avon, CT142 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020
Remote. no cell phones, one radio station (religious). Good motorcycle and bicycle roads a round. Hiking swimming. Bathrooms were clean and modern. Many sites are fairly close - like a RV park rather than a traditional campground. Swimming shows 5 feet but is very shallow, really only for very young children. Trout stream through it with a lot of restricted fishing. Esp. sites near on the beach side of the campground seem to be dominated by large family religious conservatives, somewhat unfriendly. I mention it really if you are travelling with kids not of that sect... we felt "avoided" there as adults but there were a few kids who didnt fit with those groups who looked um... unhappy to be excluded.
Written 28 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MBeck
22 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019 • Family
We loved our 3 night visit there, even though it rained most of the trip! The cabin is wonderful inside and out! Its far enough away from other campers to not see them, but close enough if you want to make friends while fishing (which is walking distance away).
The cabin provided way more than expected since no where on the Internet could I find pictures or details of what there is, only by calling the morning we were leaving did I find out we didn’t need to drag along many extras. I’d say that was the only downside to the whole planning of the trip! I would’ve liked to see the layout of beds/rooms, and list of amenities. But since there isn’t, I’ll help you out!

They provide:
*pots & pans, cooking utensils
*plates, cups, silverware
*coffee pot & mugs
*toilet paper
*Games & books
*fans & 1 portable AC unit
*wood bundles on site for $6

You need:
*bedding
*dish soap/cloth
*toiletries
*matches/lighter (of all things that’s what we forgot lol)

*there is a little general store a few miles away but prices are pretty high for necessities!

Hope this helps!
Written 14 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dan M
Lancaster, PA, United States33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2017 • Friends
Very nice small state park. Well appointed, maintained (bathrooms newly refurbished!)

Camped overnight in March prior to a fishing trip. This is a great base camp for Pine Creek, Kettle Creek, Cross Fork Creek, and the Susquehannock Trail.

The camp has a variety of amenities including a year-round cabin, pavilions, electric and rustic camping sites.

We'll be back!
Written 29 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Danielle T
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
If you’re interested in driving to a remote part of PA where there’s no cell phone service and beautiful wilderness all around to be in what feels like a crowded trailer/RV park with no privacy or peace then this is the place for you. We just stayed last weekend (late June) and were extremely disappointed with our experience. The campsites are close together and right by a road that loops around the campsite. While we were there, large groups of people rode their bikes around and around and around that loop while staring at us and other campers. On the Saturday night we were there a group of 8-10 tweens and teens did this for hours until nearly midnight while being decked out in glow in the dark items.

Being without cell service and sleeping outside yet being surrounded by people was truly the worst of both worlds and was extremely disappointing. This should really be labeled as an RV park rather than a campground. The only upsides were the clean bathhouse, beautiful night sky, and proximity to beautiful forests, hiking etc. We will never, ever stay here again.
Written 28 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

apekel83
Ligonier, PA3 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
I've stayed at Ole Bull over the 4th of July several times in the past and always enjoyed the experience, especially with fireworks at Galeton being so close. This year was a complete disaster. Almost every spot was booked and we ended up putting up our tent in an electric spot, which was our first mistake. It had stormed and hailed right before we checked in, which had left huge puddles at our site and the one next to ours, limiting where we could place the the tent. We ended up on a bit of a slope but we were dry. We finally get set up and get wood from the campground host, which was odd in that I had to go track him down at another site in order to pay. Most state parks just have an honor box, so that was a bit weird. The wood was damp and we could barely keep a fire lit without the help of a battery powered fan.

When we finally got the chance to relax and try to have a fire, our camper neighbors decided to leave the most annoying bright blue lights on in their awning ALL NIGHT. They weren't even at their camper, they were visiting someone else's site, which was also completely lit up all night! I have never encountered such entitled campers as I have at this park. I think camping courtesy and etiquette is a thing of the past. The lights could be seen by neighbors on the other side, and we were unable to enjoy the fire due to being blinded. One night we just decided to leave and go look at the stars at Cherry Springs, just to get away from the lights. Children seemed to run wild through the park unsupervised, through out site and in front of traffic.

On the actual day of July 4th, my parents drove about 40 minutes to visit us and brought their tiny terrier lapdog, as they didn't know our loop was pet free. No later than 5 minutes later, a young male ranger on a power trip made my senior citizen parents leave the park and drive all the way back home! This dog will not leave my mom's side or lap and of course, by having the dog there we were violating the rules, but he could have given us alternatives like go to a pet area, maybe the picnic area? There seemed to be dogs all over. However, he told us to enjoy the holiday, which was the icing on the cake. His attitude was smug and ridiculous, on a holiday no less.

The best part of the experience was hiking up to Ole Bull's castles where we finally found some peace and a beautiful view. If you have a camper and kids, you will probably love this park. If you enjoy tents and quiet, please reconsider, especially on a holiday weekend!

We hope to revisit this park again in the future, but not for a long time, and definitely not during a holiday weekend, or maybe any weekend even.
Written 26 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

VA_Rover
Virginia77 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2017 • Couples
This was our first time camping at Ole Bull. We found the campgrounds and facilities very clean and generally well maintained. The campgrounds did lack the privacy we've encountered at other PA parks. The sites in the pet campground were close together and more like a grassy parking lot with some trees here and there. The sites could have used a little smoothing and gravel for parking to eliminate the muddy puddles and make it easier to level the camping units. We think the campground across the creek was nicer (no pets campground); i.e. A little more space, more shade and some sites right next to the creek. We understand the bathhouse in that campground can be messier due to folks tracking in sand from the beach at the swimming area.

The swimming area offers a nice place for the kids to splash and the adults to cool down on a hot day. There are several short hikes within the park. The Susquehannock trail system runs through the park.

We tried to make a loop hike going up the Ole Bull trail and returning on the Sawmill Creek Trail per suggestion at the park office. The Sawmill Trail is sadly neglected. It is very overgrown. It once had blue trail markings that are now very faded. Some markings were refreshed a numbers of years ago and are more legible. Some places the markings as well as the trail disappear. We totally lost the trail at one point near the end and bushwhacked around awhile before picking it up again. Shortly afterward we found the trailhead at the end of the trail...the sign was nestled in the middle of a multiflora rose patch. We had to wade across Kettle creek and hike the last mile or so back to Ole Bull. This loop had the potential to be a nice hike despite walking back along the road if only the Sawmill Creek trail had been better maintained.

Written 25 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Todd G
Marietta, PA74 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2016 • Family
This park has lots of amenities to make camping enjoyable. There are primitive sites as well as sites with electric hookups. There full bathrooms with hot showers, a swimming area with sand beach, beach volleyball, horse shoe pitch, pavilions, fishing, firewood for sale. It is close to Cherry springs for better views of the sky. Cross fork is just down the road.
Written 12 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rebecca T
Mount Airy, MD10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2017 • Family
We stayed at the campsite in a travel trailer for two nights. The campground was very quiet and very clean. The bathhouse where the cleanest showers and restrooms I have stayed at so far. They took very good care of the bathhouse and beach area. The beach area was perfect for our little kid to play and splash in the water.

Trails were nice and not to overexerting to get to and hike.

My only complaint is that the second night there there was a group of at least 20 people in tents, 3 tents per five people, One being by us and the other two catty corner and across the road. They were all gathering at the tent in the campground area next to us. They were very loud and always cutting across our campsite to go to the bathhouse. I don't understand the reservations and why someone didn't see that they were group WITH TENTS and asked them to stay in the group campground. Kind of put a damper to the evening.

Otherwise I will be back to this campground as it was a beautiful place to visit and stay.
Written 29 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jan P
Pittsburgh, PA164 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2016 • Couples
Beautiful quiet smaller State Park along Kettle Creek. Has an awesome sand beach swimming area. New shower house and restrooms. 2 camping areas within the park. Many hiking trails and the area has an interesting history. Also has picnic areas and pavilions for day use. Fishing areas right in the park!
Written 17 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Russell
Altoona, PA482 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Couples
We were there in August. The Beach is well cared for. I was wondering why it was empty on a hot day. I discovered because the creek water is very cold. I generally swim in very cool water and I thought this was cold. Still went in the water. The restrooms by the beach are very nice. Small but lovely park with character.
Written 7 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 16
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

OLE BULL STATE PARK (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

RestaurantsFlightsHoliday HomesTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire