Monday August 4
The weather’s been so beautiful lately that I did the only logical thing: I threw caution to the wind, packed my van, and set off to sleep in the woods on purpose.
I’d heard good things about biking at Moon Lake, tucked away in the heart of Pinchot State Forest—a place that sounds serene and mysterious, like it might have fairies or at least decent cell service (spoiler: 5G, better than at home). It’s about an hour and a half northwest of home and not far from Nanticoke, Wilksbarre and Hazelton.
Moon Lake has 12 primitive campsites, which means: No running water, No electricity But yes! A composting potty that I like to call “The Doody Dungeon”.
When I checked the site list, only two campsites were reserved. This meant I had my pick of the remaining ten—which felt exciting until I realized I had to actually pick one, without accidentally choosing a mosquito breeding ground or Bigfoot’s front porch.
So Monday morning, off I went—fueled by ambition, granola, and the blind optimism of someone who gets lost easily. I arrived, set up camp like the rugged outdoor goddess I am, and was ready to hit the trails on my bike.
I was not familiar with the trails, nor could I find a good map so I was a bit worried I’d get very lost, get stuck on a trail that was too hard, or both.
Moon Lake had a reputation of being “rocky”. Just how rocky? I was about to find out.
I was just about to set off biking when I spotted two local bikers(guys) clearly seasoned (they had clip-in pedals)and looking entirely too calm for people about to ride across a field of ankle-breakers. I did what any responsible adult would do: smiled, waved, and immediately followed them like a stray puppy with a hydration pack.
They didn’t seem to mind. Or they were too polite to say anything. Either way, I was now part of their crew, silently praying they didn’t plan to launch off any jumps and that I could keep up.
I mentioned that I had never ridden here and asked if there were any gap jumps? They told me that there were no jumps and they were too old for that stuff.
The trails were well-maintained, marked, surprisingly flowy, and just technical enough to keep things interesting without immediately launching you into the underbrush. Yes there were rocks but not rock gardens-solid rocks with no dirt.
The guys had been riding awhile so we came out of the trail at their cars and I was on my own. I didn’t get lost per se, but there was a moment where I found myself talking to a tree and asking it for directions. It was not helpful. Thankfully, I had cell service, which felt like a small miracle. The kind where you whisper “thank you, signal gods”
Back at camp, I cooked dinner over the campfire. The stars came out. I slept like a baby.
In the morning, I ventured out for another ride and found every spiderweb in the forest with my face. But I had a great time, didnt crash(foot dab, bail off bike doesnt count as a crash) and didnt get lost.
I packed up feeling accomplished, refreshed, and slightly dirtier than I prefer.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. Great trails and quiet campground.
Moon Lake camping rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Moon Lake Biking Summary: Trails: Gorgeous but techy.
Map: I have not located a helpful printed one.
Locals: Friendly and fast-but I caught them on the uphills with my ebike.
Me: Still alive, mildly bruised, very proud.
Would I ride there again? Absolutely.
