Sycamore Island

100%

4 reviews

· Blawnox, Allegheny, Pennsylvania · 14 acres

Hosted by Allegheny Land Trust ..

Tent site

· 5 guests max

Nomadic camping

Best for self-contained campers. There are no toilets, showers, or potable water at this Hipcamp.

All to yourself

100% of recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp felt private.

Boat-in

This Hipcamp is accessible by boat.

Camp on an island only accessible by boat/kayak/canoe or however you want to get across the river! Please read the full description. The island is open to visitors from dawn to dusk to enjoy the trails and wild scenery. Camp reservations secure your overnight visit to stay at the designated campsite area, which has a fire ring for cooking, a picnic table, and room for a tent or hammock. Sycamore Island can only be reached by canoe, kayak, or rowboat. You are required to have a permit for an overnight stay: Please sign this form before submitting your stay request. https://alleghenylandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Camping-at-Sycamore-Island-Rules-and-Regulations-4.5.16-Fillable.pdf Please plan your visit in advance- requests to camp the same day or day before may not receive a timely approval. Acquired and protected by Allegheny Land Trust in 2008, Sycamore Island is a floodplain forest with a ranking of “high significance” within the Allegheny River Biological Diversity Area (BDA) Natural Heritage Area. Before the island was protected by ALT, the island had periodic interludes of recognition and appreciation by humans as a natural refuge. In 1936, both Sycamore Island and Nine Mile Island were leased from the Pennsylvania Railroad by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, making these islands the first bird sanctuaries in the Pittsburgh region. The Harbor Isle Boat Club was in existence on the island during the late 1960s but was later abandoned leaving behind several significant features; including a barge that remains embedded in the sand at the island’s southern tip, a partially installed swimming pool, docking platform, and a series of offshore pilings in the back channel.You have to take a boat/kayak/canoe to get to the campsite. The campsite is located near the downstream end of the island. There is a flat area with room for tents or hammocks, a picnic table, and a fire ring for cooking. Please sign this form before submitting your request to stay. This is a required permit for overnight camping: https://alleghenylandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Camping-at-Sycamore-Island-Rules-and-Regulations-4.5.16-Fillable.pdf

What to expect

Tent site

You'll have this Hipcamp all to yourself.

5 guests max

Campfires allowed

Firepit. Firepit is for cooking only, please no bonfires. Campers may burn fallen wood found onsite- do not bring wood from an outside source or cut down any wood on the island.

Pets allowed

On leash

No toilet; campers must bring camp toilets

Picnic table present

No potable water

Bring your own water

No showers

Bathe in river or stream

Pack it out

Cooking equipment absent

No wifi

Laundry absent

Hot Tub absent

No playground

Things to know

Getting there

Check in: After 7:00 PM

Check out: Before 6:00 AM

On arrival: Head straight to site

Access: By boat

Cancellation policy: Strict

Minimum nights: 1 night

Accepts bookings: 3 months out

No wheelchair access

2WD accessible

Sycamore Island is only accessible by kayak, canoe, or rowboat.

During your trip

Follow the

Leave it better

Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.

Reviews

100% Recommend7 ratings · 4 reviews

Edward E.

8 reviews

Recommends

· September 2024

Tent

Second time back. Like the primitive camping. I shall return

Edward E.

8 reviews

Recommends

· September 2024

Tent

What a cool camping experience. With the location on an island it is uniquely suited for a quiet and scenic getaway. I would go there again!

Sean D.

7 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2024

Tent · Group trip

We loved staying overnight on Sycamore Island. We kayaked over from the public dock in Verona. It was fun to be able to explore the island and then camp out.

Bryce M.

8 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2024

Tent · With kids

We had a great time camping on Sycamore Island and will certainly be back! The actual camp site is nice with a big picnic table and fire ring- there was a good flat spot for our 2-person tent. Very easy to find kindling and small sticks to burn, which was all we needed bc we weren’t cooking over the fire. You can hear traffic from Allegheny River Blvd but it didn’t keep us awake. Some friendly kayakers came through in the early evening and late morning- the campsite is right on the trail, but that was totally fine. Overall, great experience!

Location

Blawnox, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of 𐓏𐒰𐓓𐒰𐓓𐒷 𐒼𐓂𐓊𐒻 𐓆𐒻𐒿𐒷 𐓀𐒰^𐓓𐒰^(Osage) and Monongahela Culture First Nations according to

Native Land Digital.

To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking