Nestled in Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania, Ringing Rocks Family Campground offers a memorable camping getaway, especially for families eager to explore the nearby geological wonder of Ringing Rocks County Park. We spent two nights at this campground to experience both the camping facilities and the famous ringing rocks, and here’s our detailed review to help you plan your own adventure.
Entrance of Ringing Rocks Family Campground in Upper Black Eddy, PA, welcoming campers for a family-friendly outdoor experience.
Navigating to Ringing Rocks Family Campground: Choose Your Route Wisely
Reaching Ringing Rocks Family Campground can be a bit of an adventure itself. Our GPS initially led us from the east through Upper Black Eddy, directly from the Delaware River and New Jersey. Pro-tip: Avoid this route if possible! The road was incredibly steep, narrow, and full of twists and turns, making it challenging, especially with a camper or larger vehicle.
Approaching from the west via Marienstein Road, the primary access road from that direction, isn’t significantly easier. This road is also quite narrow with steep drop-offs on the sides. Passing another camper or large tow vehicle would be a tight squeeze. Overhanging tree limbs were also a concern – we suspect they were responsible for losing a rain gutter on our camper. While we did see some larger RVs within the campground, we were left wondering about their arrival route. Careful route planning and potentially calling the campground for specific directions based on your vehicle size is highly recommended.
Campground Overview: Gravel Sites and Essential Hookups
Ringing Rocks Family Campground operates as a private campground with a significant number of permanent campsites. Transient or temporary sites are available and are generally situated somewhat separately from the permanent residents, often in a designated section. All campsites are gravel-based, except for the playground area, which helps with drainage and minimizes mud. Each site is equipped with essential hookups including water, electric, and cable TV. However, it’s important to note that sewer hookups are not available at the individual campsites. Navigating the campground roads with a camper, especially when departing, involved some tight turns, so be prepared for maneuvering.
A typical RV campsite at Ringing Rocks Family Campground, designated as R2, illustrating the gravel surface and utility connections.
Amenities and Weekend Activities: Family Fun and Some Noise
Ringing Rocks Family Campground aims to provide a family-friendly atmosphere with planned activities, especially during weekends. During our stay, the highlight was a lively pool party, complete with a DJ playing music until around 10:15-10:30 PM. If your campsite is near the pavilion area, expect to hear the music – we certainly did from our beds while trying to wind down for the night!
The campground has established rules, including one stating that “unsupervised children under 18 must return to their campsites when the camp store closes” at 9 PM. However, we observed a group of teenagers still gathered around the playground area as late as 11 PM. Another rule restricts alcoholic beverages to campsites only, but we noticed some guests with drinks while walking around and at the pool. Amenities include a camp store, game room, laundry facilities (though the machines appeared to be in need of maintenance), shuffleboard, volleyball and basketball courts, and horseshoe pits. Wi-Fi is advertised, but we were unable to connect during our visit.
Families enjoying the outdoor swimming pool at Ringing Rocks Family Campground, highlighting the family-oriented amenities.
Bathroom Facilities: Tiled and Spartan Options
The main camp store building houses two sets of bathroom and shower facilities. The restrooms located towards the front of the building are more modern, featuring tiled finishes. A second bathroom area offers a more basic, spartan experience with concrete construction. This provides campers with a choice based on their preferences for facilities.
Interior of the modern tiled bathrooms at Ringing Rocks Family Campground, showing the updated and clean facilities.
Exploring Ringing Rocks County Park: A Geological Musical Wonder
The primary draw for our visit was Ringing Rocks County Park, situated just 3 miles from the campground. This unique park is home to a boulder field where many rocks produce distinct ringing sounds when struck with a hammer or metal object. It’s a truly fascinating natural phenomenon and a fun activity for all ages. Bringing hammers is essential to fully experience the “ringing rocks” effect.
People exploring Ringing Rocks County Park and hitting the boulders with hammers to hear the ringing sounds.
Important Caution: Accessing the ringing rocks boulder field involves navigating uneven terrain. It is not easily accessible for young children, elderly individuals, or anyone with mobility challenges. Reaching the ringing rocks requires climbing over boulders without designated paths. It involves scrambling, climbing, and sometimes sliding. We recommend caution and even suggest safety measures like bike helmets for children to prevent injuries. Even adults should be careful to avoid twists and falls.
Final Verdict: Ringing Rocks Family Campground for a Basecamp Adventure
Ringing Rocks Family Campground serves as a convenient basecamp for exploring Ringing Rocks County Park. While the campground offers basic amenities and weekend activities, it’s worth noting the potentially challenging access roads and some noise during weekend events.
Pros:
- Proximity to Ringing Rocks County Park
- Family-friendly activities and pool
- Essential hookups at campsites
Cons:
- Challenging access roads, especially for large RVs
- Gravel campsites
- Weekend noise from events
- Wi-Fi unreliability
Overall: If your primary goal is to visit Ringing Rocks County Park and you are looking for a campground with basic amenities, Ringing Rocks Family Campground is a reasonable option. Just be prepared for the campground’s specific characteristics and plan your arrival route carefully.
Dates of Stay: July 8-10, 2016
Cost: $44.00 per night
