Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Allegheny National Forest, PA has a lot to offer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Allegheny National Forest and user-submitted reviews.
$20 - $130 / night
"20/night basic site has a picnic table and fire ring. Each loop has. Pit potty on it. Shower facility in the park, very very hot water. Quiet, friendly people. Dog friendly. Bear area..,take note."
"The sites are spacious with all different types of typography - large boulders, slopes, flats all with grass and dirt, handicap accessible picnic tables and fire rings."
$20 - $40 / night
"They all seemed decently spaced apart, or at least felt that way because they had trees between. Driveways had old pavement, some were not very level but wouldn’t be a problem if you can level."
"Pros - Sites are well spaced and most have plenty of trees in between. Shower house is clean.
Multiple buildings with flush toilets throughout primitive section.
Large beach area for swimming."
$20 - $53 / night
"HIGHLIGHTS: Paved loops great for bikes
Lake with small clean beach
Canoe/kayak rentals (closed 2022 season)
Several nice playgrounds
Clean, modern bathrooms
Several kayak/canoe launch areas"
"super cute, very quiet camp grounds. rustic tent, camper hook ups. 2 level camp geound with walk to tent sights. well lit, heated shower house andnbathrooms. garbage dumpster. recycling bins. wood sold"
$20 - $100 / night
"Campsite layouts are non traditional with large driveways and often times the tables and fire rings are below the driveway. "
"mak sure which site you book as some of them are walk-ins. A night sky that you can see the Milky Way and more stars then I remember."
$20 - $67 / night
"We stayed in the pet friendly area, which was nice. There is a pet trail through the woods that was really great to take our dog rather than walking around the campground."
"The sites are good sized, have a picnic table and fire ring with grill. The bathrooms need to be updated. There are a lot of cracks and crevices where bugs hide and lots of chipped paint."
"Whispering winds provides convenient hookup sites with fire pits and level gravel lots all along a beautiful rolling stream that provides natural music to create a relaxing environment."
"We were back in the electric only campground area right on the creek. It was very quiet back there and water fill on your way in. The creek makes the most beautiful flowing sound."
$51 - $65 / night
"Located right on a main road but road noise really isn’t a problem. There no pool but they do have a game room that offers free games for the kids along with a playground and basketball court."
"I don’t really care about hook ups but there’s full hook ups here and I have a nice flat private spot."
"We head out to Allegany State Park every year in late fall. The cabins are perfect for cooler temperatures and cozying up beside the wood stove."
"This park is massive with two distinct zones in the park and over a dozen individual campground loops."
"Nice cabins ....little bit noisy but nice setting and close to things to do!"
"We spent a week there, nice campground. 2 sides border the Alleghany National Forest. Only 7 miles from Kinzua Wolfe marina. Great surroundings. Clean bathrooms, just a nice camp."
$22 - $57 / night
"General: This Park is spread out along the Clarion River and, as such, is deceptively large. There are electric and non-electric sites, as well as cabins."
"A Pennsylvania favorite, Clear Creek State Park is a beautifully maintained, scenic park, right on the Clarion River in the Clear Creek State Park."
GuideWillow bay campground is run by the National Forest Service. The reservable lots are wide and numerous for a out of the way sight. The campground services tent sites, RV sites as well as small cabins with electricity. There is a central bathhouse near the oak loop. Closer to the boat ramp sites- most of which are tent ready, there are vault toilets. These sites are less than a mile from the North Country Trail. Other, smaller trails are here as well. The New York State lone is less than five miles away- providing access to Allegheny State Park. The closest town of note is Bradford, which is about 18 miles away. It has all you need to get your necessities. The cabins were small- one twin bed and a set of single bunks. You need to bring your own sheets. There is a small heater imbedded in the wall. It keeps things from getting too cold, as it was when I was there. Fire ring and picnic table provided. Charcoal grill as well. The only problem I had was with the wildlife. A mouse or something kep crawling in the space between the roof and ceiling. There is no cel service here, and you shouldn’t need it either. Places to visit are too numerous to mention, but I will give a shout out to the zippo case museum, absolutely a must.
ScoutCooks forest is absolutely gorgeous. I look forward to returning as there are a lot of hiking opportunities we missed. We stayed in the pet friendly area, which was nice. There is a pet trail through the woods that was really great to take our dog rather than walking around the campground. Our site was right next to a drinking water spigot and a path to the bath house. The sites near ours were in a wooded area, which felt more private than many of the other sites we saw. There was a fore pit and a picnic table. Our fire pit was behind where the camper was parked, which also felt more private. There is no alcohol permitted in PA state parks, so alcohol is prohibited in the campground as well. It was a great spot, and we look forward to returning.
RangerWe stayed here on a busy weekend. The sites are good sized, have a picnic table and fire ring with grill. The bathrooms need to be updated. There are a lot of cracks and crevices where bugs hide and lots of chipped paint. I didn't shower, so no commentary on the warmth/pressure. Look at the campground map before you book your site if being close to a bathroom is important; ours was across the campsite behind us but we had to step in a rock set in the stream to get to it without walking around the loop. Plenty of trees and shrubs for privacy. Lots of firewood both in and outside the park. It's a decent drive to Clarion PA to a Walmart, but there are small camp stores close by.
LegendGeneral: This Park is spread out along the Clarion River and, as such, is deceptively large. There are electric and non-electric sites, as well as cabins. On a Friday night in late October, it was nearly full. One man we spoke with said he raised his kids coming to this campground and that it is often challenging to reserve a site unless done far in advance (I believe I reserved about three months ahead of time).
Site Quality: The sites vary in size and quality. All have either rock or grass “driveways”. A picnic table, fire ring, and lantern hook complete the site. Some sites are tucked in among large pine trees, some are directly on the river, and the non-electric sites are up a hill away from the river and shaded.
Bathhouse: The one at the very end of the campground was modern and very clean. The showers looked very clean, but we did not use them.
Activities/Amenities: Several hiking trails, a disc golf course and, in-season, a swimming pond and canoeing. Unfortunately, we woke to rain the next morning that looked like it was going to stick around for a while, so we did not get to explore as much of this park as we would have liked.
Conclusion: Our stay was nice but brief and it would be nice to return.
ScoutThe campground is well kept, the bathrooms are clean (a bit of a walk from this cabin), and the pool is inviting. Being tall, the bunkbeds were a challenge, so maybe have the kids stay in this one. Very close to Cook County State Park and Allegheny National Forest for fantastic hiking. Cell phone reception is not great so don’t count on it too much.
RangerA Pennsylvania favorite, Clear Creek State Park is a beautifully maintained, scenic park, right on the Clarion River in the Clear Creek State Park. The Park offers movies on an outdoor screen, regular nature talks and walks and has an onsite museum. The park has tent sites, RV sites and cabins. Clear Creek runs through the campground and is a perfect spot for a BBQ or Picnic. It also has a designated swimming beach with sand. There are multiple hiking trails leaving the campground. There is a general store just 5min from the park, plus multiple private firewood options on the road in. The park also sells firewood bundles. The Clarion is a crystal clear, shallow, rock bottom river perfect for a cool off, fishing or kayaking. There are two kayaking/tubing companies in Cook Forest to hire watercraft to float the river. Both floats don’t go as high as Clear Creek State Park so you won’t float past the campground, with the longest being 9 miles. The facilities are always clean, with large shower areas and always fully stocked with tissue. All sites have fire rings with adjustable grills. The best un-powered RV site is site 40– private and waterfront. The best powered-RV site is 39– private and waterfront. There are also two very private tent sites that are waterfront(classified as Kayak In tent sites) numbered CR-001& CR-002. Both waterfront, shaded with fire rings. Excellent tent sites! Note you can only book them for 1 night at a time. No phone reception at this one! They welcome furry friends at selected sites!
TravelerThe park is on the scenic Clarion River and offers tent camping, some sites are paddle in only, RV sites, small and larger rustic cabins, and even a couple of yurts. It’s very well maintained, including the restroom/shower houses which were very clean. The upper loop tent sites are a bit more secluded and there is plenty of space for the larger cabins. The smaller cabins are more clustered but we enjoyed staying in them on a couple occasions. Be sure to bring kayaks or inner tubes for lazy hours on the river. There are kayak rentals nearby also. The Clarion River is full of wildlife including bald eagles hunting the river and an occasional black bear nearby.
Be sure to visit Beartown Rocks that is close by. It offers a nice view of the rolling hills of Pennsylvania.
RangerI live nearby so I'm a bit biased towards the park. Definitely one of my favorite places to day hike. The trails are well maintained, and the scenery changes every few steps. Lush hardwood forest; plenty of shade for summer hikes. Not crowded at all in the off-season.
We stayed in the Indian Cabin #I11. There are 4 twin sized bunk beds but be forewarned, the springs and mattresses were ancient during our stay. There is a small table, a refrigerator, electric stove and oven, and there is heat. The windows do not open very much so bring a fan if you're camping in warm weather. The bathhouse is clean and the showers are hot.
The cabins can be difficult to find in the dark, but they are located just behind the campground offices. If you pull around to the rear of the building and look across the creek that is there, you cannot miss them.
GuideCampsite layouts are non traditional with large driveways and often times the tables and fire rings are below the driveway. With this layout you get more privacy with very few sites having and overlapping with other sites. Pitching a tent was easy on the driveway and fairly level. Some sites had large high sided fire rings which take away from the fireside relaxation of a shorter camp chair.
Bathrooms and shower house was below the standards of many of PA State Parks which we regard as the benchmark for campgrounds at reasonable prices.
Boating and biking all accessible from the grounds. No need to drive to the trails at Jakes Rocks.
Cabin camping near Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania, offers a serene escape into nature with a variety of amenities and activities for outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there luxury cabins available in Allegheny National Forest?
While traditional luxury cabins are limited in Allegheny National Forest itself, nearby areas offer more upscale options. Quaker Area — Allegany State Park State Park provides cabins with wood stoves, tables, and chairs for a cozy experience. Most forest cabins are rustic rather than luxury, designed for basic shelter and comfort. For more amenities, consider private options like Forest Ridge Campground, which offers well-maintained cabins with access to modern facilities like clean bathrooms and a swimming pool, providing a balance of comfort and forest immersion.
What types of cabin rentals are available in Allegheny National Forest?
The Allegheny National Forest region offers diverse cabin options to suit different needs. Willow Bay Recreation Area provides small cabins with electricity, ideal for those wanting basic amenities while enjoying the forest. Clear Creek State Park Campground features both small and larger rustic cabins, as well as unique yurt accommodations along the Clarion River. Throughout the forest, you'll find everything from simple one-room structures to multi-room cabins with varying levels of amenities. Many cabins are strategically located near hiking trails and water features, though availability varies by season.
What is the best season to stay in a cabin in Allegheny National Forest?
Fall is widely considered the prime season for cabin stays in Allegheny National Forest, with spectacular foliage transforming the landscape into vibrant colors. Dewdrop provides an excellent base for autumn exploration with its private campsite layouts. Summer offers warm days perfect for swimming and hiking, while spring brings wildflowers and fewer crowds. Winter shouldn't be overlooked - Red Bridge Recreation Area provides access to snow activities, and cabins with heating sources make for cozy retreats during snowy months. Each season offers unique experiences, from summer water activities to winter wonderland scenes, making year-round cabin stays appealing for different reasons.
How much do cabin rentals cost in Allegheny National Forest?
Cabin rental prices in the Allegheny National Forest area vary based on size, amenities, and location. At Cook Forest State Park Campground & Cabins, rustic cabins are typically budget-friendly state park accommodations, with rates generally ranging from $30-$100 per night depending on cabin size and features. Parker Dam State Park Campground offers similar value with their cabin options. Prices typically increase for cabins with electricity, indoor plumbing, or multiple rooms. Private campgrounds near the forest often charge more but include additional amenities. Reservations should be made well in advance, especially for summer weekends and fall foliage season.
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