## Overview

 Willow Bay is located within the Allegheny National Recreation Area, about 16 miles from Bradford, in northwestern Pennsylvania. It is primarily an accessible family campground that also offers rustic cabins available by reservation year-round. The facility offers modern amenities, including flush toilets and showers, but also provides access to great outdoor recreation opportunities.Most of campsites and cabins can be accessed by vehicle, some campsites are walk-to. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. 
## Recreation

 Visitors enjoy water sports, including boating, water skiing, swimming, and sailing on the 12,080-acre, man-made Allegheny Reservoir. Anglers can find walleye, bass, and musky. A courtesy dock is provided at the boat launch for easier loading and unloading during the summer season. Kayak and canoe rentals are also available on site, first come, first serve basis. The North Country Trail is part of the National Scenic Trail system and can be accessed from the campground and cabin area. It is open to hikers only; no bicycles of any kind, no riding or pack stock, and no motorized travel. The historic trail stretches across seven states and 12 national forests, wandering 4,600 miles through America\_\_\_s rugged northern heartlands. The area offers excellent wildlife viewing, as well as birding and photography opportunities. 
## Facilities

 The campground offers dozens of campsites available for tent or RV camping. It is comprised of four loops, some of which have walk-to tent campsites and others have back-in RV sites with electric hookups. Each site offers a table and a campfire ring with grill. Accessible flush and vault toilets, as well as showers and drinking water are provided. Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each one-room, 10ft x 12ft cabin contains a double bed and a set of bunks, with mattresses, to sleep up to four or six guests. The cabins have electricity and heat, but there is no running water and no kitchen or bathroom inside. Guests use the campground facilities. Cabins also have access to an outdoor table, campfire ring, and pedestal grill. Each cabin has a covered front porch with a porch swing. Guests staying at the cabin will need to bring their own bedding, including blankets, pillows and/or sleeping bags, as well as their own cooking and eating supplies, food, and other camping equipment. Firewood and ice are available for purchase on-site during Peak Season, April - October. Shower houses and water are on 4/1 to 10/30. To confirm late season call 814-363.9090 or go to www.alleghenysite.com. Updates on Facebook 
## Natural Features

 Built in the 1960s by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the campground has an open appearance unlike other Forest Service facilities in the area. The campground was recently renovated and cabins were erected at the site between 2003 and 2011, offering a different kind of experience for visitors to the area. The campground and cabins are situated on the shore of Willow Bay, off the Allegheny Reservoir, which is also called Kinzua Reservoir. The facility is in forested hills, at an elevation of 1,400 feet. Campsites vary from being on grass with no shade, to being nestled in small stands of mature Hemlock trees (location within the campground is mentioned on the site list). Cabins are nestled in the surrounding forest. 
## contact\_info

 For facility specific information, please call (814) 363-9090. 
## Nearby Attractions

 The Seneca-Iroquois Indian Museum and the Salamanca Rail Museum are popular historic sites that are located just over the state line, in Salamanca, New York. It is about a half-hour drive from the campground and cabin area. The Zippo/Case Museum, located in nearby Bradford, PA, showcases the history and products of the Zippo, Case, and Ronson Companies. It is open 7 days a week except New Year\'s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, and admission is free.
## Charges &amp; Cancellations

 Cancellations or changes must be made on line at Recreation.gov

Willow Bay Recreation Area

The camp grounds were great. Staff was very helpful and nice. Camp sites were decently spaced out. Fire wood was priced fairly well but they don’t usually deliver($).and they sell worms at the gate along with ice. 

The RVs had their own loop and tents and cabins were on the water down a wooded trail.

The reason this was 4/5 is because you have to unload the car then walk everything to the camp. There is no drive up access for tent camping.  A wagon is highly encouraged

Additionally, vault toilets on the tent side and plumbing and showers on the RV side. Bathrooms were very clean and didn’t smell, the showers were hot. 

I saw some boats anchored at sites which I thought was nice. I also got to peek into a cabin and it was pretty cozy. 

Willow Bay 

Surprised!  First of all, the Hemlock loop has literally zero Verizon coverage.  If you walk up to the entrance of the loop, you’ll get 2 bars.  We’re staying at Willow Bay again in a few weeks, but in the Aspen Loop.  We already drove by our future campsite and it registered 3 bars.  Back to the review.  We stayed at Hemlock #56.  The fresh water spigot was at the end of our driveway, which is on a slight incline.  A couple of extra tongue blocks would’ve been useful since the site slopes in the front and at the back. The site was surrounded by 20-25’ of woods, so a lot of privacy.  We ran low on fresh water, so a 75’ hose was long enough to reach the fresh water spigot.  The other campers used the spigot, but they toted water carriers.  Electric was 50 &amp; 30A.  Nothing disappointing, just very quiet and private.  The host had ice and firewood for sale.  There were no sewer hookups at the sites, but if need fresh water, fill up at one of the spigots before you park.  Also, my wife said the showers in the Hemlock look we’re VERY nice and clean.  We saw the cleaning crew go in there a couple times a day to keep it up.  The Reservoir is a very short drive away and our walkie talkies reach back to our campsite. Definitely worth a future visit. 

Willow Yay!

Willow 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.

Quiet nights, Easy days

Most beautiful and peaceful place to tent camp! Definitely a long drive for us but it was beautiful before we got the snow and even during (what we could see). One thing I didnt like was we have to drive to the hiking trails.

Beautiful 

This was our third trip here. One of the best campgrounds in the state, especially in the off season. 

Beautiful Campground 

This place was recommended to us and we really did not know what to expect. Our site was right along the water. We have sites 76,77,78. Some sites were better than others. Some pros were water access, fire pits having grates, privacy. Some cons were the bathrooms were stinky porta potty things that never had toilet paper or lights at night and the hike to your car from your site. There is no service there so make sure everyone is on the same page. The camp offers ice and wood for a small fee which was convenient and there were nice bathrooms with showers about a min drive away. 