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Sycamore Island

Hosted by Allegheny · Blawnox, Pennsylvania
5 guests max
100%
·
8 reviews
Avatar
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 your own canoe, kayak, or rowboat; watercraft is not provided. 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. Sycamore Island and its campsite are managed by Allegheny Land Trust, a 501c3 land conservation nonprofit helping local people save local land in the Pittsburgh region. We are able to review and respond to camping requests Monday - Friday between 9 am - 5 pm. 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
Boat access only
Site is only accessible by boat
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
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.

Tent-only sites

1 site
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site

Downstream Campsite

100%
(15)
Tent site · Sleeps 5
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
Boat access only
Campfires allowed
No toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No showers

Reviews

100% Recommend15 ratings · 8 reviews
Recommends
· May 2026
Tent · With kids ·
Downstream Campsite
Really unique camping spot within the city feels really unique and lots to see on the island
P
Patrick W.
3 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
Kayak-Camping Annual Trip
Tent · With kids ·
Downstream Campsite
We’ve been coming to sycamore for our annual boys weekend Kayak camping trip for the past five years. It’s truly one of the best kept secrets of our region! We put in an aspinwall, paddle 3 miles up to the island and spend 24 hours spending time with friends, telling stories, making dinner over the fire, hiking, splashing in the water. An amazing place to make some summer memories
L
Larry G.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
Tent ·
Downstream Campsite
The privacy was so nice. And to have the trails maintained was perfect for late night walks.
K
Kenneth S.
11 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2025
Great rustic camping!
Tent · With kids ·
Downstream Campsite
So great! The campsite is large enough for two two-person tents, with a fire ring and picnic table. There's plenty of fallen wood around the island to gather for a fire - bring a hatchet or ax to chop it to size. If you canoe/kayak over, be sure to tie up; the river rose 3 feet overnight due to a downpour two nights earlier, and if my partner hadn't secured the canoes, they would have been long gone.
M
Melissa G.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent ·
Downstream Campsite
Second time back. Like the primitive camping. I shall return
E
Edward E.
8 reviews
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent ·
Downstream Campsite
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!
E
Edward E.
8 reviews
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
Downstream Campsite
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.
S
Sean D.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent · With kids ·
Downstream Campsite
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!
B
Bryce M.
1 year on Hipcamp

Location

Blawnox, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Allegheny Land Trust ..

Joined in July 2024
Response rate: 60%Response time: Within 11 hours

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