Allegheny National Forest surrounds Bradford, Pennsylvania with over 500,000 acres of woodland at elevations between 1,300 and 2,300 feet. The region experiences cold winters with heavy snowfall and mild summers with temperatures rarely exceeding 85°F. Most campgrounds in the area sit near the Kinzua Reservoir, which was created in 1965 when the Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Allegheny River.
What to do
Hiking the North Country Trail: The North Country National Scenic Trail passes through Willow Bay Recreation Area. "The campsites are less than a mile from the North Country Trail. Other, smaller trails are here as well," notes a Willow Bay camper who appreciates the variety of hiking options available directly from the campground.
Swimming at Twin Lakes: The recreation area features a designated swimming area, though water temperatures stay cold even in summer. A visitor mentions, "A great place to visit! Camp hosts are friendly and helpful. There are 50 campsites, which 23 have 20 and 30 amp electrical service."
Boating at Kinzua East KOA: Located just 7 miles from Kinzua Wolfe marina, this campground provides convenient water access. "We spent a week there, nice campground. 2 sides border the Alleghany National Forest. Only 7 miles from Kinzua Wolfe marina," reports one reviewer who enjoyed the proximity to boating facilities.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: High Pines RV Park offers spacious camping areas. "We had a site in the full hookup back in section, they are very nice spacious sites. The park is close to the Allegheny Reservoir and the Kinzua Bridge," according to one satisfied visitor who appreciated both the site layout and location.
Clean facilities: Visitors to Kinzua East KOA consistently mention the cleanliness of bathrooms and overall campground maintenance. One camper states, "Stayed 3 days, 2 nights from a Sunday-Wednesday and we practically had the place to ourselves. Helpful staff, clean bathrooms!"
Natural setting: Kiasutha Recreation Area offers waterfront sites with forest surroundings. "Our campsite was waterfront and beautiful, but the majority were just a wooded setting. They all seemed decently spaced apart, or at least felt that way because they had trees between," reports a camper who stayed at this Allegheny National Forest campground.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds close between late October and April due to harsh winter conditions. Maple Lane RV Park operates from "April 1 to October 31" according to their listing information, which is typical for the area.
Cell service limitations: Willow Bay Recreation Area has minimal connectivity. "Went the week of April 23 2024 and had the place just about to my self. Was peaceful and quiet. Both camp hosts were super nice and friendly folks I'd definitely recommend Willow bay to anyone. No cell service with AT&T or Verizon," notes a recent visitor.
Infrastructure issues: Some campgrounds have ongoing maintenance challenges. At Twin Lakes Recreation Area, a camper reports, "This campground used to be run by the forest service, but was closed several years ago. My understanding is that so much infrastructure had gone by the wayside that the forest service didn't want to deal with it. A local nonprofit group has since taken it over and they are slowly getting things fixed."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Allegany State Park's Quaker Area offers family-friendly amenities. "The lake is a great place to spend some time. There is a nice big playground. Spot to grab some ice cream/snack," mentions one visitor with children.
Close campsites for social kids: Some campgrounds place sites near each other, which works well for families. "We stayed at site 131. It was nice and clean. We were not far from the bathrooms. But this area, all of the camp sites are right in top of each other. It was great for the kids because they were able to find instant friends and ride their bikes around," notes a parent who camped at Allegany State Park.
Family activities: Several campgrounds organize regular programming. "This is an awesome place to camp. New improvements to the park have been made the last few year! They runs daily activities you can go to and learn about different things in nature," shares a visitor to Allegany State Park's Red House Area.
Tips from RVers
Electrical challenges: Twin Lakes Recreation Area has limitations RVers should know about. "At the moment there is NO water here, however the dump station is operative. BTW, we've camped here for over 30 years, and we have loved this place so much we've become camp hosts ourselves!" shares a long-time visitor.
Site selection for big rigs: High Pines RV Park accommodates larger vehicles but has varying electrical service. "High Pines is a nice place. Located right on a main road but road noise really isn't a problem. They have a nice layout with pretty spacious lots. Our site only had 30a power. Most seem to be that way. Looks like some updates are on the way," advises an RVer who stayed there.
Parking pad surfaces: RV camping near Bradford, Pennsylvania often means dealing with varied parking surfaces. At Kiasutha, "Driveways had old pavement, some were not very level but wouldn't be a problem if you can level. Roads and parking spots in RV section are gravel, which would be fine, except for the ruts from water flow that need filled back in."
