Nancy's Boat To Shore Campground (Pa)

Overview

Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore Campground offers a secluded, primitive camping experience at Raystown Lake, accessible ONLY by boat (absolutely NO motor vehicle access). Located on Raystown’s western shoreline in the main channel between mile markers 15 and 16, Nancy’s provides a peaceful getaway from the busier developed areas of the lake. The campground is approximately a 20-minute motorboat ride or a 1.5- to 2.5-hour paddle from the James Creek and Aitch Boat Launch areas.

With 50 designated tent-only campsites, Nancy’s offers a mix of open, grassy sites to shaded, wooded sites, all within easy access to the waterfront. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with a grill. Excellent fishing, abundant wildlife, and direct access to the lake by boat make Nancy’s an ideal destination for campers looking to disconnect, explore, and enjoy a more remote Raystown Lake experience.

Recreation

Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore Campground is an excellent destination for campers who want to spend their stay near the water and away from the crowds. Bring your boat, kayak, canoe, or paddleboard and explore the coves and miles of undeveloped shoreline surrounding the campground.

Fishing is a popular activity at Raystown Lake, with opportunities to catch smallmouth and largemouth bass, muskellunge, striped bass, brown trout, and other species. The secluded shoreline also provides excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing, photography, swimming, paddling, and relaxing by the water.

Campers can explore nearby destinations by boat, including Trough Creek State Park, Seven Points, and Lake Raystown Resort. For those looking to explore the region by land, nearby trails include the Terrace Mountain Trail, Old Loggers Trail, and Allegrippis Trail System.

Camping at Nancy’s is best suited for visitors seeking a self-sufficient, primitive experience and the freedom to explore Raystown Lake from the water.

Facilities

Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore Campground is a primitive, tent-only campground accessible only by boat. The campground has 50 designated campsites, with a maximum of two tents permitted per site. Since there is no motor vehicle, ATV, or ORV access, campers must bring all necessary supplies, including potable drinking water, as no potable water is available to refill on site.

Each campsite includes a picnic table, lantern hanger, and campfire ring with grill, and campsites can accommodate a maximum of two tents. Sites vary from open, grassy areas to more secluded, shaded sites. There are no electric, water or sewer hookups, but vault toilets and dumpsters are available for campers. Shower facilities and waterborne restrooms are seasonally available at Seven Points Beach (Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends).

Because of its remote location, campers should plan to arrive prepared with everything they will need for their stay, including drinking water, food, camping supplies, and appropriate equipment for transporting gear by boat.

Natural Features

Raystown Lake is nestled within Pennsylvania’s Ridge and Valley Province, where forested mountains, steep slopes, rocky outcrops, and deep valleys create a scenic and rugged landscape. The shoreline around Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore Campground is surrounded by mature oak-hickory forest, providing a peaceful setting and opportunities to observe a variety of wildlife.

Raystown Lake is the largest manmade lake located entirely within Pennsylvania, stretching approximately 28 miles through the surrounding mountains. The lake is fed by the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River and features 118 miles of largely undeveloped shoreline.

Nancy’s location away from public roadways provides a particularly quiet setting for experiencing the natural character of Raystown Lake. Campers may encounter white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bears, and a variety of resident and migrating birds while exploring the shoreline and surrounding forest.

Nearby Attractions

Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore Campground provides access to several popular Raystown Lake destinations by boat. The James Creek and Aitch Boat Launch areas are located nearby and provide convenient access points for reaching the campground. Aitch Boat Launch also provides an opportunity to refill drinking water before heading to camp.

Across the lake, Trough Creek State Park offers hiking trails and scenic natural features including Balanced Rock, Rainbow Falls, and the Ice Mine. The Seven Points recreation area is also within easy boating distance and offers beaches, hiking and biking trails, the Raystown Lake Visitor Center, camping, disc golf, and other recreational opportunities. Nancy’s campers may also use the showers at Seven Points Beach.

Lake Raystown Resort is another nearby destination, offering a marina, dining, lodging, and additional recreational amenities. Because Nancy’s is intentionally removed from the road network, campers should plan ahead and remember that access to these destinations from the campground requires travel by boat.