Crooked Creek Lake campground provides pet-friendly sites with water and electric hookups throughout its small camping area near the lake. Camping loops accommodate tent, RV, and walk-in sites with amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, drinking water, and flush toilets. Pets must remain leashed at all times within the campground boundaries. Mountain Top Campground, located approximately 25 miles west, offers year-round pet-friendly accommodations including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins with spacious, level sites situated on grassy areas. Silver Canoe Campground stands out for accepting all dog breeds with no breed restrictions against bully breeds, a rare policy highlighted by campers with larger dogs. Sites at Crooked Creek Lake are positioned close together with minimal privacy, though the quiet atmosphere makes it suitable for campers with well-behaved pets.
Hiking opportunities for dogs exist throughout the Crooked Creek Lake recreation area with multiple trails accessible directly from the campgrounds. The lake provides water recreation options including a swimming beach, fishing areas, and boat launches, though pets must remain outside designated swimming zones. During summer months, early morning walks are recommended as the exposed camping areas offer minimal shade. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours beginning at 9-10pm, helping minimize issues with barking dogs in the close-quarter camping areas. Grey water hookups at Mountain Top Campground allow for longer stays without requiring black tank dumps, convenient for extended camping with pets. The small creek adjacent to Crooked Creek Lake campground provides a cooling spot for dogs during hot weather, though water clarity varies throughout the season.
$15 - $35 / night
"This is a small campground next to Crooked Creek Lake. The lake is manmade and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. There is a small beach and picnic tables."
"Nice small, quiet campground near Crooked Creek. Affordable as well. Love the lake, there is even a little beach for the family. Definitely worth a visit."
$48 / night
"gravel lots with wood boarders lots of grass on each site as well
full verizon coverage lte
30 + 50amp services
grey water dump on most sites
water
open year round
cons
no kids park
no dog"
"We recently stayed at this campsite with our 3 very young kids and dog. What amazing views from this location!"
$8 - $51 / night
"Family friendly and there's a little fishing lake. You can rent paddle boats or canoes to paddle around the lake."
"Large sites, nice restrooms, big hall, pool, lake to canoe, boat & fish. They have a small cafe for breakfast and lunch. You can rent the hall for parties and weddings."
$25 - $50 / night
"We rented space 16 late August 2020 and our friends (and their kids) rented #17 on the inner circle, right next to us with the playground right behind us. Great spots!"
"This is a nice, quiet small campground with a small lake. Our grandchildren loved it. The boat launch is a nice size to fit 2 boats at a time. The only problem is the beach is not that great."
$30 - $300 / night
"Very family friendly place and pets are welcome too! My son loves the horse rides on Sundays"
"The nightly RV sites are close to the park entrance and are relatively flat. The campground hosts themed events, game nights and arts& crafts."
$44 - $49 / night
"Right on the water, clean, and private access to the lake. Dog friendly cabins were available. We cannot wait to come back."
"The creek surrounding the island does make it cold at night so make sure to pack warmly."
$10 - $20 / night
"Just pull in and grab some firewood 7.00 a 5gal bucket full and pick your site. there are 10 walk-in sites with 2 beauties down by the creek, 7 or so observation platforms you can camp on and to many to"
"We wanted a secluded site and close to Pittsburgh. We arrived around 7pm and there was no check in, we drove around for a while trying to find a spot with a fire ring per some helpful campers."
GuideThis is a small campground next to Crooked Creek Lake. The lake is manmade and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. There is a small beach and picnic tables. The lake is great for kayaking or small boats. We fish and kayak the creek opposite the lake.
GuideWe have tented and RV'd at Clear Creek. A must do when camping in Pennsylvania. The Clarian river is great for kayaking . Multiple trails off of park. Biking and breweries close by. if you have RV/travel trailer do NOT recommend the non-power sites, they are not level enough, you may really have to bring up the trailer. There were wonderful campsites hosts when we there
Pros; excellent location, great friendly people, clean and stocked bathrooms which include showers. Some sites are separated.. great camp hosts
Cons…a few sites are really close, however not a bad thing here as we got to meet a lot of great people, so for us it was kind of a Pro.
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.
TravelerOverLl great campground. The sites are a little close together but we still enjoyed our time there. Staff is super friendly and there was plenty for the kids to do, pool, arcade, fishing, and playground. Decent size dog park to let your dogs run and decent trails nearby.
GuideSites are super big and is a great family owned campground! Super close to a local ice cream shop and has a great dog park and is fully paved. Large fishing area and Camp store! I love that you can use Campers App at this campground and I love getting the Notifications when I camping there!
ScoutGood location for outdoor and city experiences, along with a relaxing getaway. Workers and permanent campers are very friendly with all the amenities necessary on site, including nice dog park. A small campground that didn’t have many kids for ours to play with during our visit. In addition, hill keeps permanent campers separate from temporary campers.
TravelerWhile most of the campgrounds in the park are no pets- there are 2 loops that allow your furry companions! Loop F includes electric spots! Loved seeing the 'neighbors' dogs get excited and curious when I walked my 4-legged best friend around the site. Clean area , close to a modern bathroom (a few stalls & even 2 showers!) Looking forward to going back at the end of the month.
Scoutnice campsite the closest to Pittsburg that i found. 35 mins
pros
amazing views at this mountain top campsite
45 per night for me ymmv
clean campgrounds
level gravel lots with wood boarders
lots of grass on each site as well
full verizon coverage lte
30 + 50amp services
grey water dump on most sites
water
open year round
cons
no kids park
no dog park
no cable hookups
moderate wi-fi (to be expected)
no black sewer hookup (does have dump station and honey wagon)
TravelerIn the past 5 years, I've made 13 trips to Raccoon Creek State Park and spent 16 nights in a tent there. It is my local state park and I can tell you lots about it.
The D loop is really great tent camping at Raccoon Creek State Park. It's tents only, no RVs. So it gets a really fun, party vibe on Saturday nights during the summer. There's a trail right to the beach near the D loop, so it's a great place for families to go with pets. The sites are big, wooded, and all close to the bathroom.
The C loop, however, doesn't take pets (which stinks). When we have our dogs with us, we gravitate towards the C loop. It's fine, but it's not as fun as the D loop.
When we don't make a reservation and we have our dog, we end up in the F loop. It's not our preference (but--let's be clear--even the worst site in the F loop is better than NO trip!).
Crooked Creek Lake recreation area sits at approximately 940 feet elevation in western Pennsylvania's Armstrong County. The 350-acre man-made lake was developed by the Army Corps of Engineers with camping facilities positioned among rolling hills of mixed hardwood forests. Fall temperatures average 50-65°F during the day with camping available through mid-October, while summer months can reach 80-90°F with high humidity.
Lake activities: Crooked Creek Lake offers kayaking and small boat fishing without requiring a special permit. Raccoon Creek State Park provides additional water recreation with a "great little beach area to lay out and enjoy the sun. The hiking trails are in excellent condition and the park keeps them clear of fallen debris," according to Jim L.
Disc golf course: Located within the main campground area at Crooked Creek Lake, the disc golf course offers an alternative recreation option. Keith noted the campground has "disc golf, corn hole at campground with kid playground" making it suitable for varied skill levels.
Horse riding excursions: Sunday trail rides are available just 25 miles away at Bear Run Campground during summer months. Jeani B. mentioned "My son loves the horse rides on Sundays" as a highlight of their stay, with rides typically lasting 30-45 minutes along maintained trails.
Affordable rates: Campsites at Crooked Creek Lake run approximately $25-35 per night for electric sites. "Nice small, quiet campground near Crooked Creek. Affordable as well. Love the lake, there is even a little beach for the family," notes Amanda in her review.
Mountain views: For campers willing to drive 25 minutes, Mountain Top Campground offers scenic overlooks. Jennifer H. describes it as having "premium sites at the edge and have a nice view to the hills beyond. Basic amenities. Some ice and fire wood that are self serve."
Quiet atmosphere: The campgrounds maintain 9-10pm quiet hours, creating a peaceful environment. Lily B. noted that even though "the spaces are pretty small and completely out in the open but it was grassy, quiet, and cheap," highlighting the tranquil setting despite the modest site sizes.
Site selection: Most sites at Crooked Creek Lake have minimal separation and privacy. For larger RVs, Keith advised "tough to get our 36' fifth wheel in. Don't pass the drive coming in. We had to drive few miles to get looped back."
Limited facilities: The main camping area offers basic amenities with seasonal restrictions. "Government obviously not putting money into the restrooms," explains Keith, though they maintain functional flush toilets and a single water supply point near restrooms.
Dog restrictions: While several campgrounds are pet-friendly, Silver Canoe Campground stands out for accepting all breeds. Indy A. explains they chose Silver Canoe because "they don't hold breed restrictions against bully breeds. This place is literally a diamond find for us."
Playground access: Select sites 16-18 at Bush Recreation Area for immediate playground access. Kassie F. notes "It's definitely a great choice for families, especially those w/young children- there's a nice playground and green space."
Swimming options: The beach area at Crooked Creek Lake provides monitored swimming from Memorial Day through Labor Day. One visitor mentioned "the lake is great for kayaking or small boats. We fish and kayak the creek opposite the lake."
Weekend activities: During summer months, several campgrounds offer organized family events. At Bear Run Campground, Amy S. explains "Every weekend there are activities, there is a heated pool and Friday night Bingo. A great place with even better people!"
Hookup logistics: For RVers at Crooked Creek Lake, come prepared with extra hoses. Keith advises "Bring two hoses to reach your camper. Dump station is out the exit by ranger building. Pull out and make a left and it's about 500' down road on left by pavilion."
Access considerations: Mountain Top Campground accommodates larger RVs but requires careful navigation. Corey L. suggests "The roads get narrow so if in an RV call them for the easiest way in. If you are Overlanding like us just follow the map."
Grey water disposal: Keystone State Park Campground offers more complete hookup options for extended stays. The park provides "water and electric available (50 amps), grey sewer available. For the black you can dump here or have someone pump out," according to a review from the campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Crooked Creek Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Crooked Creek Lake is Crooked Creek Lake with a 3.7-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Crooked Creek Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 63 dog-friendly camping locations near Crooked Creek Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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