Cowans Gap State Park Campground

We've stayed here at least a half-dozen times with a popup. The smaller B loop is nicer, but no electricity. Pets allowed only on a certain portion of the A loop. The bathrooms are clean, the lake is small but pretty, and the hikes around the lake, and up the mountain on the ridge, are as easy or as challenging as you want. Cell service is pretty much nonexistent so you definitely get unplugged.

We stayed in the smaller camping area B, which we enjoyed. Even on Labor Day weekend, it didn’t feel busy because of how few sites are in this section. Our site was level and sizable. The bathroom was clean and there was access to the very pleasant hiking trail going around the lake. We had no cell service with Cricket or Verizon.

Our first time at Cowans Gap and we loved it. 5 nights, 6 days with no cell or wifi to stress us out. Biking, Hiking, sitting around a campfire, very nice. Site 14 was ok, small. Weekend kids were noisy. Bathrooms and showers very clean. Firewood always available. Easy access to dump station. Coming back in July to a site we scout out. Looking forward to our next visit.

The drive in was exciting. Lots of sheepish hills and turns. As long as you go slow, you'll be fine. Leaving on the other hand was terrifying. Being the down hill version of the drive in.

A note on cell service. There is none. NONE. No AT&T, no Verizon, no TMoblie. They campground doesn't have WiFi either.

If you were planning on going out to do stuff off the state park, there's nothing nearby.

We brought our kayaks and had a nice day paddling around the lake.

Nice place and no connection so make sure you have a photo of the park map before you get there.

The site I had was definitely smaller than I expected but it still worked. Make sure to double check that before you book.

Camp was relatively quiet. There was the occasional dog barking or kids playing but that is generally expected with a high number of campsites. The privacy of our site was pretty good and we had nice shade.

The bathrooms were relatively clean and accommodating.

Overall nice place, quiet and friendly campers and staff!

What a great “new” to us campground! Sites were spaced nicely. Our site was pretty level. We had room to park 2 trucks and still have space for table and fire pit. Area A is larger than area B and sites 1-30 are on the two way road in and out. We were in sites 81 and 83. We backed up to the woods and a small creek. The view was beautiful! The lake had a 1.5 mile trail that was level and easy to walk. The beach area looked nice. There is a snack bar and sketchy wifi. The camp site area had NO cell or wifi service at all. They had a program each night for star watching and a full moon walk. There were other hiking trails with gorgeous overlooks. True park has boat rentals for the lake. The bath house near us was just toilets. The shower house was further away. You could walk it but it’s a hike and there are hills.

This state park is at the top of the mountain and has a smaller lake perfect for a short kayak trip or fishing. Lovely views from the lake and very nice secluded sites. Our site was up a hill a little but we were good. We were right aside of flushing bathrooms and the dump station. We didn't like you had to go all the way out and around to dump and then out and around again to leave. Other than that very nice park with hiking trails, lots of beautiful pavilions, picnic areas, building that had food for sale, peddle boat and kayak rentals, fishing, beach area for swimming, multiple boat launches. Definitely need a bicycle to get to day use area as the loop is very long. Also, watch for no pets allowed signs as it is just the first part of the sites in Area A.

The good: loved the little lake and the beach. The facilities are spotless—cleanest heated bathroom we have seen in a long while if ever. We stayed in loop B, which is smaller and a bit removed from loop A. So I can't speak to loop A. We had a great time looking at stars and took a decent hike on Plessinger trail. There weren't many kid friendly hikes to mountain tops or waterfalls, as there are in other places.

The not-so-good: uneven campsites are hard for renters, and we could hear traffic on the road throughout the day/night.

Overall, I think 3.5 stars would be right with this one. For an easy weekend camp, it's great. It lacks great kid friendly hikes and is a bit too busy for us, especially at the beach during the day, but we had a great time. Spot 191 is particularly uneven BUT you can walk right to the lake in less than a minute and have some lake view access. It's also really close to the bathroom (which is, again, outstanding).

We camped in a motor home two different times in site 184 & site 195 . The sites are not crowded, with plenty of shade & private. The bathroom is close by,has showers & is very clean. You can walk or ride a bike to the beach. The water is clean with sand on the bottom. Lakeside trail is short and easy. Tmobil no signal.We liked it very much and will camp there again.

We stayed in camping area A during mid April this year. It was a nice state park. Hiking, fishing, a lake, long creek. Clean bathrooms, heated bathhouse. Our site was #80 and had electric on it, water was just across the road. It was level, with a picnic table and fire ring. The ground was some pretty aggressive gravel, but it kept the ground pretty dry, and it had rained a fair amount in the days before we arrived. Very spotty cell service with T-Mobile. Some spots were more level than others, and others, some looked tricky for larger trailers. Weather was all over the place (as to be expected in this area in mid April. Had all four seasons in 5 days. Would revisit for sure. Totally forgot pictures of the site, but it was pretty typical for a state campground.

Had an electric site- it was nice and level. The bathhouse was clean and nice. It rained pretty much the whole time but still had a good time. Lots of trails. Even though the park was packed it didn’t feel like it.

Friendly staff lots to do pretty clean peaceful

Nestled in the mountains of Pennsylvania, this gem of a campground.
There is a beautiful lake across the road from camping area, which consists of; a very nice hiking trail the whole way around, boating, fishing,swimming & in season concession stand. Also, many hiking trails.

Absolutely amazing fall color on the lake and great drives surrounding. Bathrooms are clean and hot showers.

We had a great stay at Cowans Gap. Very pretty park in a scenic valley between two mountain ranges. Very easy drive from DC. The sites around us were nicely spaced apart (we were in Loop A, site 142) but some other areas did loop more crowded. Nice hike up the Tuscarora trail - pretty steep with a few rock scrambles that made for a challenging but fun hike with our six-year-old.

If you are used to primitive/secluded camping this is not the campground for you. We arrived and there was a ton of trash in our site. Someone left their air fresheners, handbag tags from marshalls, and a ton of other junk. This campground is also very noisy. There are supposed to be quiet hours but people were playing loud music from their cars, from speakers, and whatever else until at least 11pm. Our site had no privacy either, we were right next to several other sites (closer than other state parks we've been to). Physical distancing and mask wearing was not enforced/required. People in the close quarters of the restroom were not wearing masks and didn't seem to mind getting within 6 feet of other people. The woman at the front office who we checked in with even took her mask off because it was fogging up her glasses. Oh, and the wood that we purchased from the camp host was wet, so the fire was a dud until a friendly neighbor gave us some of his wood. 

The only positive thing about this campground was the hiking. The first day we hiked up the mountain to the west of the campground, and the second day we hiked up the Tuscarora Trail to the east of the campground. No other campers were hiking these, so we got to appreciate nature by having the trails mostly to ourselves.

Un lugar bonito para llevar a la familia y quedarse a dormir el sitio cuenta con cabañas y sitios de tiendas de campaña es silencioso y limpio todos los baños cuenta con regaderas excelente lugar

Our trip to Cowan's Gap was great--and the weather was amazing as well! 

The pros:

• Easily accessible and CLEAN bathhouse and showers. 
• Sites spaces out and separated by trees
• Lake access within walking distance
• Hiking trails nearby
• Polite, approachable hosts
• "Beach" access
• Camp store with concessions
• Kayak rentals on site

The cons: 

• You can hear the people on the beach from across the lake--lots of kids screaming
• The overlook access road was closed
• Camp store only open 11-5
• Firewood (purchases there) just would.not.burn!

Great place to camp. Sites all have fire ring and picnic table. Firewood readily available, $5 a bundle or 5 for $20. Would say you will go through at least 2 bundles a night depending on how long you like your fire lit. Incredibly clean bathrooms and private. Very quiet and family friendly. Great hiking around. Can hear some road noise on occasion, but not all the time.

Beach does get crowded during the day but by dusk it's quieted down.

We stayed in Campground B closer to the lake, not sure how A is.

Beautiful mountain retreat. Quiet and peaceful! There are many hiking and biking trails and a nice lake for fishing, swimming, and kayaking or canoeing. Swimming beach and adequate facilities. You are totally off the grid as far as cell, WiFi, and TV signal. Be prepared to be out of communication during your stay.

We went to Cowans gap last full for a Halloween weekend and the children loved it. We even won the campsite decorating contest. We went this summer and camped in A-tent with friends of ours who had never done it Before & After the amazing trip at callans gap they want to do it again. Awesome beach, nice sights, And a quiet area what more could you want.

One of our favorites! campground sits right on a gorgeous lake. Lots of fishing options including boats you can rent. A walking trail wraps around the whole lake. There's lots of hiking trails, a real sand beach and swimming area, pedal boat and canoe rentals. You wont be disappointed!

Great park. Clean bath houses

It is a nice campground. There is showers on site and depending on the time you get to the showerhouse it may be a cold one. Nice small lake within walking distance along with a beach. There is also a few hiking trails near the campground.

This is a great place for a long weekend away. The tent sites are nice and they have a number of dog friendly sites. Fun beach area, hikes and fishing.

Campground Review: Cowans Gap State Park was pretty awesome. Off the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Fort Littleton, through Burnt Cabin on Rt522, signage the entire way. A drive through the PA mountain-scape, excellent scenery to be seen.

The dog section is 1-30 and a few cabins are offered for them also. No restrictions for dogs on the trails but they are restricted from the rest of the campground.

Several trails to enjoy with easy to very strenuous climbs. Part of the Allegheny trail passes through the Buchanan State Forest, near the campground. Would be a good place to practice your backpacking craft.

New showerhouse facilities which are energy efficient lighting and heating. The water in the shower never gets very warm but they are very clean and well maintained.

There is plenty of water sports at the lake, watercraft, swimming and fishing.

Product Review: As a Dyrt Ranger I have the opportunity to review some pretty awesome outdoor gear. I received Mishmi Takin hiking boots after winning one of the monthly contests.

I love the color, I’m all about burnt orange. I have large feet and was happy to see that the company offers footwear up to 13.5 in. I ordered an 11, was surprised when they arrived and were a little big on my feet. So you may want to order a 1/2 size down. On the flip side though I put on my thick hiking socks, synched the laces down and they fit fine.

I wore the boots multiple times during our 8 state trip on several different trail types. I was impressed by grip, no slippage on multiple surfaces.

I hate to say it but I have sweaty feet! And wearing thick hiking socks in boots often leaves me with raisinie toes and damp socks/boots at the end of a long hike. I did not experience that problem while wearing the Mishmi Boots though. My feet stayed comfortable and were dry when I pulled the boots off back at camp. I am liking these boots!

Pet friendly (spaces 1-30, Campground A), nice shower houses with heat, well laid out beach, beach house, watercraft rentals, friendly park rangers & staff, and in the center of trails galore!

This was my 3rd trip to Cowan's Gap, and this year I reserved the large group tent site for mainly families of my son's soccer team. We had about 40 people, most of which were kids. Last year, we all stayed at a few of the single campsites for RVs but used tents. This was not ideal as the ground was all gravel, and it was right next to the road. The group site is much better, because it is set back into the woods reasonably far from the road, providing quieter and more natural surroundings. Also, many of the kids had bikes, so they were able to ride around the campsite without us worrying about cars on the road. The group site has tent pads which are flat and gravel covered, but the rest of the area is natural forest floor with some grassy and mossy areas.

Probably the best feature of the group site is that it is right next to a clean, shallow stream, so the kids could play in it non stop, catching minnows and throwing rocks with minimal parental supervision.

There is a private bathhouse for the group area, reasonably clean and with running water. No showers though. There are showers at the lake/beach area, but I'm not sure if they are open past Labor Day, and we went one week after. The place was not crowded at all while we were there this time, but during the summer season when I've been there in the past, the beach area can get pretty packed.

Firewood is somewhat challenging and pricey, as it is only sold by a guy who appears to be a permanent RV resident (living at camp site #1 for reference) in the off season. The park asks that no out of state firewood be brought in for fear of spreading pests like emerald ash borer.

Rangers are friendly and helpful, and we learned from one that the closest ER is only 11 miles away (Fulton County medical center in Mcconnellsburg) when my youngest split open his chin and needed stitches. There is generally poor to no cell service across most of the park, although by the lake you can sometimes get a few bars for texts to go thru.

Overall, everyone loved the weekend at Cowan's Gap. We had perfect weather, which certainly was nice. I'm guessing we'll go back again next year with an even bigger crew.

We arrived after dark, way past the 3pm check-in time, but didn't have any trouble finding our reserved campsite. There were plenty of signs; everything is well marked. We stayed at site 23, a tent site. Sites 1-30 allow pets. This loop was full. I would recommend booking in advance if you plan on bringing your dogs. Vet records or proof of vaccines weren't required.

The tent sites are paved so you can't hammer stakes into the ground. It was windy so we had to get the gear into tent so we wouldn't get blown away.

The water pump is located right in front of site 23. This was convenient but we also had a lot of visitors. If we stay again we would probably choose a more private site with less foot traffic.

The bathrooms were very clean. However, the closest bathroom didn't have showers. It also only had cold water. The bathhouse with showers was located at the other end of the loop; a little bit of a walk. It had three regular showers and one large handicap accessible shower. The sinks at this one did have hot water.

Check-in the next morning was very quick and easy. I had paid online when I made the reservation so I didn't have to do anything. The park rangers were very friendly.

We drove down to the lake from our site after we finished packing up. The lake was beautiful. There's a beach and swimming area. There's a little viewing area/dock with information on the bald eagles and osprey that live there. They have a little concession stand that sold drinks, French fries and some other snacks. They have a little gift shop with t-shirts for sale.

Overall we enjoyed our stayed. The only complaint we had, and it's a pretty big one, is that there's NO CAMP STORE. No place to buy bags of ice, extra batteries, lighters, or any other supplies that people usually need when camping. And this campground is in the middle of nowhere. There's no Walmart's or grocery stores for several miles. Luckily we were only staying for one night and had what little we needed. If you plan on staying for more than a couple days, make sure you come very prepared! There is a little diner though called Milky Way's that we stopped at for breakfast on the way home, not far from the campground entrance. I give them a thumbs up. Very good food for very cheap.

Have only visited the day-use area of this park, which was very beautiful, clean, and relatively quiet. Nice snack and bathing facilities close to beach, as well. This park is located in a quiet, mountain setting in south-central PA; feels like you're out in the country, but it's also not far off the turnpike, so pretty accessible. Would definitely return!