Open Carry in Delaware water gap recreational area and parts of PA Appalachian Trail

[BadgeofHonor]

Hi all,
I'm new here and this is my first post.
I'm doing some thru hiking in PA along the AT near the Delaware water gap.
I've applied for my CCL but have not received it in the mail yet.

I will be camping in the woods along the trail.
Are you allowed to open carry there? "There" referring to Delaware water gap recreational area and parts of the AT to the west of that area?
I understand you can technically open carry in PA, I just want to have a slightly better understanding of the legality in this area where I'm camping.

Looking forward to replies!

[R L Suehr]

It's a national park, so carry is legal in dwg. Your bigger problem is how to get a pistol there without a LTCF. Without it you can only transport it to certain exempted places (range, home, gun shop). You can't transport it somewhere, to just oc it.

[BadgeofHonor]

Thanks R L Suehr for your quick response!
I'll keep that in mind.
I know they're strict with to-from the range with no stops.

[alpacaheat]

It's a national park, so carry is legal in dwg. Your bigger problem is how to get a pistol there without a LTCF. Without it you can only transport it to certain exempted places (range, home, gun shop). You can't transport it somewhere, to just oc it.

He'll just have to walk there.

[scruff]

Is the AT a national park? I'm skeptical. PA's long-distance hiking trails go through a patchwork of state parks, state national forests, state gamelands, county & local parks, and private land, all with potentially different rules. I wouldn't expect the AT to be any different.

ETA: never mind - just found the answer. Apparently, it's all owned by the feds except for a tiny amount.

[45acp]

In regards to the AT, you may OC so long as it is not a state park, where concealed carry is required. You are good to go in State Forests and National Forests, county and local parks. I believe you may OC in SGLs so long as you have a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF), as it would be falling under PA Game Commission regulations. I can look into that a little bit later for you. Generally you wont get hassled for OC though you may get a few looks from other hikers.