Best Campgrounds near Slippery Rock, PA

Stayed here on Saturday night of July 4th weekend. Arrived after hours without a reservation. No information on how to self register or which campsites were available even though some sites are first come first served. Found an open site, set up and went to bed. There were fireworks (prohibited) and the campsite next to us played loud music but it was before quiet hours so we didn’t mind. The loud music turned into a party with alcohol (prohibited) and the loud music continued way past quiet hours. No campground host or personnel did anything about the noise/party. At 12:30am we moved campsites because we couldn’t sleep. We saw sheriff patrolling the campground - don’t know why they didn’t quiet the offenders.

The campground is large with many sites so the probability of inconsiderate people is higher. I won’t be returning.

We needed an overnight with showers. This place is more for long term residents. Not ideal for an overnight. They have golf cart rentals that are more than the overnight site fee. The showers are in desperate need of a cleaning, or a complete knockdown and rebuild. The hose outside felt like it would be more sanitary. She also failed to let us know that to start the shower you needed a quarter. So after we forwent the extra charge of the golf cart and hoofed it over to the showers we wouldn’t have been able to use them anyway! There’s also train tracks close by that blare the horn at all hours and for a longer duration than normal. While checking in I did notice that they have fishing tournaments and other social gathering events. Everyone we ran into was very friendly. If you’re looking for more long term this would be the place for you.

Our first time at Cook Forest and the state park campgrounds. The park itself is very hilly and beautiful. Trails in area are well marked and maintained. Nothing beyond moderate difficulty, but some are one direction and miles can add North Country Trail is one example of this. 

The highlight of the park is the old growth forest. 300+year old evergreen trees and ancient stumps, moss, ferns. Some areas are fairy tail gorgeous. Offseason, which is when we were there (mid May) can be dead quiet. Like test your tinnitus quiet. This includes the campgrounds, where there were probably less than 20 campsites in use, most in the pets/full hookup area. 

The campsite is large and winding. Site quality and size and levelness is mixed.  And the services aren’t localized.  There are electric, electric and water, or even full service sites all over the place. Makes it nice, as you can be in a lesser used  ‘no services’ tent area, but find an electric site. Northern most loops are the more wooded and private ones. 

We went Sunday-Wednesday. Apparently it fills up on weekends, but we felt practically alone much of the time. Bath houses are consistent old, tired looking, but functional. No heat/open door style. Cleaned daily and plenty of hot, good pressure water. 

Cell coverage for Verizon was one bar or no bars. But typically one. On top of the fire tower hill across rt 36, there are two bars.

The campground is entirely in a flood zone. It gets so deep the locals cars have floated away. The weather was forecasted to rain for several days. Our camp area ended up in at least 6inches of rushing creek water (we moved when it was ankle deep). The owner relocated us to a concrete slab next to his house so we were safe and dry. We never should have been allowed to set up camp where we were initially. And it was a giant pain to break down camping stuff to relocate. That being said, the owner was nice. And I’m sure in good weather, this is an amazing spot to camp.

Cooks 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.