5 acres hosted by David W.
1 tent site
David is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
All to yourself
96% of recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp felt private.
It took seven years to carve this winding trail and two-level scenic campsite into the wooded hill behind our home. Now completed, I feel inspired to share their solitude and beauty with others who will appreciate it. From the top of a steep drive, a brief but precipitous hike leads you high up very quickly through a mature forest to some steps that lead the first of two camping locations leveled within clefts of rocks forming a pair of overlooks. A soft, level campsite awaits you there under a canopy of trees where you will find everything you'll need for a small-scale deep forest outing.
The lower level either stands alone (1-2 persons) or serves as a base camp for the Northwest Expansion area (3-4 persons) a very short hike away. (Please inquire about additional campers.) The expansion features a roomy 13 x 15ft groomed tenting surface, a stone fire ring with steel fire pit, and plenty of extra space to spread out. It provides an additional layer of privacy and a (leaf-permitting) northwest view that usually includes a sunset.
[Note: Reservations include use of both the lower level and the upper Northwest Expansion camping areas. Keep in mind that the technical nature of the trail and terrain makes it unsuitable for most children under 10 years old.]
Hundreds of feet away, there are a few homes residing below the camps, but you are high enough above the world below to enjoy a sense of separation from it. Were these camping areas part of any state or commercial campground in Pennsylvania they would easily be among the best tenting sites in the state. Even among Hipcamps we were awarded a top-ten rating in 2018 and 2019+ - and we've improved since then. People love it here.
Guests will find a huge, well-stocked chest of supplies at the lower level to furnish virtually any extra thing(s) that may help you camp in comfort, from a Coleman cookstove and table, an air pump, a kettle, a 8x10 tarp, plates and cups and cutlery-there's even a Scrabble game and playing cards. You get the idea. ** We ask our guests to arrive prepared with their own supplies and to use the supply box as a backup for items that may have been forgotten or to fill in for things they do not want to purchase for a single outing.** (Please do not depend solely on the camp supplies to meet ALL of your camping needs!) We took items on most camping lists and tried to have them waiting in the box so you can visit without worrying about forgetting anything.
Firewood bundles can be purchased at any time during your stay. We try to keep an abundant supply in a woodpile at the trailhead that you purchase as needed via cash, Paypal or Venmo. Wood can easily be gathered, there are even hatchets and hand saws in the supply box for cutting fallen branches down to size. We also provide a two-person hammock, plastic Adirondack chairs, battery powered lanterns, citronella torches, etc. Cell chargers and jugs of drinking water are available upon request.
The woods are teeming with resident species of woodpeckers, owls, warblers and more, and vultures and hawks and can almost always be seen riding thermals overhead. If you're lucky the turkeys will come to roost in the woods above the area as they often do. The best part is that no one else will know you are up there.
In addition to overnight stays, daytime and evening hours are available too for morning bird walks, lunch breaks, herbal retreats, sunset cookouts--whatever guests might imagine doing in the privacy of the outdoors. Tree climbing and treetop camping are welcome and encouraged for anyone looking for a good place to hang their gear and enjoy the view. There are scores of great campsites waiting to be discovered up there for experienced and responsible climbers.
Please check out our reviews for more relevant details and feedback from our guests. We hope to see you here sometime soon! Life in the forest is good! We have reopened for summer and fall bookings and made even more improvements to our land. Our rocky but welcoming forest is home to a rich array of trees and wildlife as well as an always private two-level campsite constructed among them. A multi-year "Top Ten in Pennsylvania" Hipcamp award winner, we have worked hard to create a unique and memorable place to pitch your tent and stay awhile. Nearby hiking, climbing, fishing, paddling and cycling options make Ironwood a great choice for those who seek them as well as for those who are simply looking for some solitude and a place to relax in the outdoors.
Ironwood Trail's property represents the northernmost reaches of the Hopewell Big Woods, the largest contiguous forested area remaining in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The area is considered to be part of the Schuylkill Highlands and Pine Forge is a stop along both the Iron and Steel Trail and the Forging Freedom Tour as designated by the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum. French Creek State Park, Birdsboro Climbing Quarry, and the Schuylkill Multi-use Trail are nearby, and the Daniel Boone Homestead, Hopewell Furnace, and other historic sites provide rewarding destinations for history seekers.
The two camping areas are constructed high on a property adjacent to and above a second property where our home is. The upper lot is such an appealing woodland that we instantly wanted to find a way to enjoy it, so we started clearing a trail. We were determined to move the stones needed to build a path that would traverse the elevated forest and ravine. Once we found the perfect place, we moved boulders, rocks and dirt for weeks to create a small level campsite. Eight years and thousands of stones later, the trail to the site was completed in 2016. The result is something much more elegant than we had envisioned, we knew right away that we had something special.
In 2019 a second, much larger camping area was added by popular demand to accommodate larger groups and bigger tents. It's a small additional hike to access it, but there is a reward for your efforts. Sunset views and treetop surroundings are even more impressive here. Enjoy a campfire in raised steel firepits and kick back in a comfortable chair. This trail leads to a beautiful place hidden among the trees, we hope you'll find some of what you're looking for here.
